Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-05
hIDAY. Der 40

hibAf, OCT. ".
The Convention assembled al IL o'clock
aud vas opened with prayer by the Revd Mr..
Sykes ofthe Methodist Church
The Convention then resolved itself into
COMMITTEE OF the Whole, MIR. Sanard in In,
Chair.
Mr. Powell rose 10 address the Committee
lie began by stating. that he had never risen
under such embarrassment that he was n.
fiad. that hs had neither the physical nor
moral strength TO go though the task he had
undertaken that he saw around him the cor,
grogaled wisdom of the State men. WHO had
grown grey IN the service of their country
men. profoundly yersed in the depths of DO.
liiical science and that he had no treasures
DIVISION Nor power OF eioculion 10 grace his
speech
He stated. that they had been sen, here h,
the people OF Virginia 10 form a Constitution
for them-that ~ performing this work they
hadto appeal 10 the great principles of our gov
ernment and TO be guided by the great pre-
cepts Of justice that in forming this social
compact, they had TO he regulated bv this
grea, rule of action that they had no, been
sent here 20 hggle for any particular advan-
tage TO be gained by any one section over
anoiher-He declared, that no such principle
had been adopted al the polls that there Was
not an honorable man, who would have ac
ccpted the trust upon any such condition and
that they had come here 10 form n government
for the good of the who'll. He said, that of all
the rms of government. ever devised hy the
Wit ofman for the good of society. pure re-
preventative republic was tue best calculated
to effect the object in view, aud 60 hedge in
the Interests of the peonle--that no wise man
would ever think Of giving a Rcpubl lean gov.
ernment to Turkey--no wise man would think
n ana far RE-
France. where the experiment had been tried,
under every variety OF phasis, hut had been
defeated bv the ignorance II bad habits OF The
people. He was assured, that the people of
this state were qualised FOR such system ;
while he admitted, that IL would be unjust 10
give them pure Republican government, If
they were not qualified for il. Have the peo-
pie cfVmginia virtue aud iote llicence for IL
II thew have snch qualifications, would il no,
be unjust 20 deny ,bem such a form OF govern
ment He would answer for his own penplr
that they were pure aud intel igent--and he hac
no doubt that such was the character of the
rest OF the State. Not that they were absolu
teiy free from vice-bui that they Possesses, M
adequate degree u virtue 10 sustain such gov
eminent. We're they not vlrtuous in 70, wher
they breasted every storm, encountered ever,
danger, and spilled their blood for the Iibertic,
or their country Then. they were virtuon,
enough; and now, they are more intelligent
and by no means deieriorated in their habits
Ii IS true, that there have been agiiations oil
party spirit; but like storms in The physica
world. they have left the political atmosphere
purer than ever. These storms have passed
on without leaving one vicious track behind, -
But what other evidence do yon require ,ha,
no such deterioration has taken place, than the
character Of the men who fill this assembly
The people Of Virginia could moi have given a