Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-10-24

OF
found 10 be directly the reverse Of what he believe,
they are generally understood to be- MIR. C then re adj
tom this volumes the following extract c the letter re-
fefred to: 'se 800
"The fact Is unqnes,ionable. tina, the Mn of Right,
and the Constitution OF Virginia. were drawn originally
y George Mason one OF our really great men, and
me mrs, order OF greatness The history of the
o.e 10 tue latter IL as iolows:I then at Philad--
pha with Congress, aud Knowing that the Convention
Of virginia WAS engaged la forming plan Of govern.
'"eh'. turned my mind 10 the subject and drew
sketch or outline OF Constitution with preamble
which sent to Mr.. pendle,on, President Of the Con
ven'ion on the mere possibility that II nigh, suggest
something worth incorporation into that before the Con
vention. He Informed me Afterwards, by letter, that
he received Il ON the day which the committee Of
the whole had reported to the House the plan they had
agreed that that had been so long in hand so sput
ed inch by inch and the sntect Of so much alteration
and debate that they worried with the
hac Produced and could not, from mere Isss u,ie
nave been induced to open the instrument again: but
that being pleased with the preamble to nine thew a.
doped il in the House by way of anne nme nj 10 the
port oil the committee; and thus my preamble became
tackled to the work OF George Mason. The Constitution
with the preamble, passed the 10Th OF June and
the committee ct Congress had only the day before IN
reported to that body the draft Of the Declaration Of
dependence The fact is that that pre- amble is prior in
composition to the declaration, and both having the same
OBJECT oil Jusiying our separation with Great Britain
they used necessarily the materials of ius,ifca
hon; aud hence their siInilitule.'
In this will be seen the most conplee and au
thentic REPUTATION OF all these unworthy and unfounde
impntatons against the trainers OF the Constitutions az
from being founded in truth IL here mon
stratcd, that thoy directly the reverse Of ruh-
Equally unfoundel is the still degrading imputa
uon That this Constitution made in the midst Of Pc
~, and was the hasty effect of terror and alarm Mr.
g. said he knew IL had often been tritcly said that the
tanners Of this Con stitution acted yh ropes around
Their necks and hence, the false and degrading infer
ence, that the instrument itself the effect of terror
and alarm Ii is true that the trainers of this Consii
tuition, did act in the midst ohe inrin perls-
IL Is true, that during their deliberations the country
was threatened with armed bands incidentally greater
in numbers and in military skill, than any force that
could be brought 10 their defence But II 4, equally
true, that this appalling force inspired neither terror
nor alarm did il disturb in the smallest dc gree ths
eqhanimiy oil mind Of single member Of the Conven.
ton. They continued their deliberations with the most
perfect camness and equanimi,y of mind, from the 9Th
May TO the 10Th Of June following; exhibiting more
remarkable spectacle Of heroic moral courage, during
mar deliberations, than OF consummate wisdom in the
maj production OF this Constitution-he first social
compact that ever reduced TO writing-the first
written Constitution that ever brought into practical use
the great principles derived from the natural rights
man. Yes, gentlemen, the 29!h Of Juns, 1916 il the
hrst day in which the glorious light Of liberty burst forth
upon 6enghted world through the Respondent mirror
oil THIS Constitution; and that ought 10 be the great
oee day. not only for the Virginia people, but for the
whole human race Mr. G. said. he never could salts
iacioriy account for the inaention almost oblivion
which had been shewn by the people of Virginia, 10
the 29h day of June, l776, which ought TO be com
memorated as the first in the calendar unless il was for
prefsrence given TO the 18th of July, which so shortly
followed it, and which ushered forth the Declaration of
Independence TO the world, But the Declaration OF
Independence apaPer OF incomparaby Importance
10 mankind, than the Virginia Constitution, which was
exclusively the production OF our Virgnian
and the only possible inducement which he could con-
eeve 10 Justify the people OF Virginia. in yielding this
preference to the 4h of July for etnoraiion In
stead Of the 29;h of June from their noble gene
rous se-denia for which they have been so Justly cell
ebrated on other occasions, in being willing to share
the honor and glory This great political discovery with
the people Of their sister States while the Virginan peo
Pile were, in fact, exclusively entitled to them. The
least attention TO the subject admonish us ALL that
tne Cons OF virginia extremely
ierent character from the Declaration of
The Declaration Of Independence /, act Of d-
pomacy 1t Is the declaration of ambassadors from
several sovereign States which at that time had
dered up none OF their sovereign rights, ound
even by any articles Of confederation for Il, should b.
recoiected, that the articles OF confederation
not entered into at the time of the Declaration OF
Independence nor for more than two years thereaf-
ter-the one having taken place on the 4,h of July
l776, and the other the 9Th Of July, l775. The
late projected aborve Panama Congress- il such sim
guar. eccentric conception coi have been carried in
to effect, would have presented precise resemblance
oil that Congress, which made the Declaration of indie
pendence: Whereas the Virginia Constitution is a
written social compact, the first entered into by
man, and forms the most instructive model, not only
Tor the People OF the other American states but for the
whole human Mr.. G. then observed that, after
having presented this outline view of Of the
general principles applicable to of The subjects
which were before them, and having given this
else sketch of the history of the formation of the Vir
GINA Constitution, he would now beg leave to call the
ATTENTION OF the Committee more particularly 10 the
specific subject under its consideration. That subject
involves the inquiry the mode of electing the
Governor OF VirginaShall he be elected by the Gen
era Assembly, or by the people Of Virginia! Mr.. G..
said he was surprised TO hear several highly intelligent
gentlemen Of the Committee, in speaking upon this
subj ect make the suggestion that Governor elected
by hs General Assembly would be- in fact, elected
by the People That there would, in fact he an essen
tia differ in the character and respop sbity the
Governor when elected by The people, and when elect
ed by the Legislature: Whereas he conceived an
election by the Legislature, much an election by
the people, IL the election male directly by
themselves. The mode only is diffsrent--The effect
the This result IS the effect of another plain
simple principle in nature, and, in practice univerally
received a legal axiom he who by another
acts by HIMSELF or in other words, that he who
cs thing 10 be done, does that thing himself When
the people, in their individual characters have elected
their Legislative Representatives aud invested those
representatives with power prescribe rules of conduct
Tor their observance, they have done all that IL ne
cessary Tor the security and preservation OF their rights
and liberties These rules essentially afford the pro-
lection of human rights aud liberties. Elec,ing the
would add nothing the security Of these rights and
liberties The question, therefore, resolves itself into
mere question OF fitness, expedeIcy and convenience.
Elections by individuals, in their individual capacity,
under certain crcumstances of securing TO the
extension Of rights. might impose upon them
Gus duties. In the present case calling upon the pee
pie in their individual character 10 elect their Govern
Judicial and other ministerial officers .h be con-
sidered imposing obligatory duty instead OF reserv-
ing 10 them an important figh and might conflict with
all just epons OF elections. What is an eisc,ioni
and bat the essential acquisitions In making
An election Tor representatives. is act OF choice be-
tween candidates. knowledge OF the objects OF tn
choice Is essentially ssafO making IL slightly In
the election Of Governor OF Va by the individual