Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-27
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
Mr.. RANDoLPH's SPEECH

appointment, aud yet deeper regret, that have
perceived an invinciplr reougnance on the Par'
Of gentlemen representing here large poruon
of the Commonwealth, extending from Cape
Henry TO the Mountains, along The whole
hneth Of the North Carolina line, that portion
OF i, in which my own District is situated, TO
lake share in this Deba'e-a renugnanee not
resul,iag-I say so from my personal know
ledge Of many OF them not resulting from any
want Of ability, nor from the want of just,
modest, and manly confidence in the abilities
thew possess: have looked to Norfolk; have
looked TO Southampton; l have looked 10 Dim
WI die: have looked TO Brunswick tor the
display Of ,alsn, which knew to exist Out,
sir, have looked in vain.
And il is this circumstance only speak II
with a sincerity have TOO much self respect
to vouch for, which has induced me 10 over
come the insupeI abe aversion,- insuperable
until now, tina, have felt to attract towards
myself the attention of The COMMITTEE.
Al long as I have had sny fixed opinions,
have been in the habi, OF considering the Con,
s,irur ton Of Virginia, under which have lived
for more than half a century.wi'h all Us faults x
failings, ana with all the objections which Prac'
teal men--not theorists aud visionary specu-
la,ors-have urged or can urge against 1t, as
the very best Constitution, not Tor Japan;-nol
TO- Caina;-not for New England;-or for Old
England; but for this, our ancient Common
wealth of Virginia.
But am not such bigot as to be unwilling,
under any circumstances, however lmperous'
70 change the Constitution under which was
born. may say certainly under which l Was
brought up, and under which, l had hoped TO
be carried 10 my grave. My principles on that
subject are these: the grievance mus hrst be
clearly specified. and fully proved il must be
vital or rather deadly in IFS effect; It's magni>
,udr must be such as will justify prudent and
REASONABLY. men in taking the always delicate,
often dangerous step, Of making Innovations In
their Fundamental law; and the remedy propos
ed musr be r. asonsole and adequate to the end
In view. Waen the grievance sna'i have been
thu. made out, hold him 10 be not loyal
subject, bu, political oigot. VIII" would refuse
10 apply the suitable remedy
PM 1 ill not summit my case to politicai
,hv,;,i,n. come hi. diploma from whence il
nv, who would a, once prescrib. all the med
;r,n., nf the Pharn,aoopGia not only for the
b;..,.r now have, but for all the diseases oil
.v-ry p.s.ibe kind ever might h,sein future.
Tn-sr are nv priuo iples, and ! am willing TO
carry Them out; for will not hold any prin-
cirlrs which may not fairly carry oul IN prac>
tice.
Judge, then, with what surprise and pain,
found tim, no, one Department Of this Govern
menr, no not one-Lr gisls'is Executive, or
Judicial, nor one branch OF ei'hrr, was left
pn,oucard by the spirit Of innouaiion; (!or /
capno, call il reform) When even the Senate,
ye. sir, the Senate--which had so lately been
,wep by the bosom Of ibnovaiion-even the
The Senate had not gone untouched or un-
sca;hsd-Msny innovations are proposed TIC
be made, without any one practical grievance
having been even suggested, much less shewn
Take thai branch oil the Government which
was 50 thoroughly reiormedin 1916, and even
that Is no, untouched Sir, whoever heard a
wni,per.-ob uy6e conditia TO Tins day thai The
Senator'S Of Virginia were ,so youthful@ new
or heard such q seutimen, in my life. And In
the House Of Delegates, what man ever heard
that the membsrS-I speak OF them, OF course,
in the aggrega,e-tha, the members were 100
vouns Ye,, even there-it is 10 be declared,
ina, ali men who nigh be elected 10 that body
between the ages OF 2, and "a are TO be DIS
franchised- and as regards the Srna,e all be
tween the ages Of 81 and 80. Yes, Sir-not
,oIv the ,prine and seed time, but the sum-
mrr and Hsrves, Of life-,ha, delightful sea-
.on which neither you, sir, nor car ever recall
1.-The dearest and bes, portion OF our lives
dueipe the period Of nine years, 'he very prime
Of human Iife-men are TO be disfrac hised. And
for what For ponucaI WeS'ih, HeAh-
no evil il suggs,,ed. The case Is certainly
yery rare ,ba, man uoder thirty |" elected
n me mber Of the Senate. 1t will then be said,
there /, no privatioo. and, therefore, no injury
H., Sir. there is q wide difference between =
n,n,, being MOI elected, and fundamental
Law ,,,mping s,igms upon him by which he
81. xrluded from the mobiles, privilege to which
m m.,it o, rxerion on his part can restore
HIM. Ba, all his ! suppose, is in obedience
to ,he al prevailing principle that uor popu6
ava. de, ave, sir-thr alI-prevsiling principle
chs. Nun sers and Numbers alone. are 10 rego-
i.,e all ,hings in po'i,eai sociey, in The very
go Of those abstract natural rights OF man,
nil constitute the only shadow OF claim to
.,.r,,,e. his monsi,ous Tyranny
wi, ,h. .e sensr.l r, marks, r. rm'' me- =" a.
,.mo, II am AFRAID !, viii prove an .oor I'VE
s,,emp,) to say something On the ssssfVa'ions