Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-05

ms r.yolu,ion which succeeded us promulga-
ton.
For ,ha, inequality ofrepresen, alton OF Will n
your memorialisls have jus, cause 10 complain
there existed the excuse thai provision haa
then been made for periodical census 81 'he
people, and that compared with the monS'rous
disparity Of representation in The BRUSH mouse
OF commons, its model in fact as in terms, II
mer;s.d commentator rather than censure
However excusable authors unqnestio"a
bly, were, the defects Of the constitution must
be tried no, by their merits but its own. IL Is
readily conceded thar any prac'lcaoie apPor-
tionment Of repre- senlaion oil numbrrs, lis on'y
nroDer basis. will fall shoy, Of abs lutte perlec-
ton. But il is an insul, TO thr meanes' tapa'l
" on e, her side Of the Atlantic, to p'ead inns
una, oidabie necessity an apology lor So s'a'h-
ing defects as remediable as they arc obvious,
and which time mus. aggrava'e.
Is the constitution defective? Can II be a
mended? Is this proper period tor Us "a
meadmeni? These 4 reIhc questions which your
mrmoalis,s ask heir representatives, to submit
TO the peoD pie Of Virgibia, by means which Inc
constituted an hori les oil The present govern
ment can most conveniently supply.
If all, or any considt rablc part OF the deiec's
OF their present constitution. to whlchy"uf me
moriaiists have asked your attention, aret'-
er to be amended, they confidently believe Pc
Rod better suited 20 tia purpose, than the pre-
sent, cannot be hereafter e1 .eot d.
The {, deral consIiIu ION, 10 which the pom
teal parles in America owed their name ana
origin. has been recommended by us propitiou'
operation, and has, now, the sanction oil al
mos, universal acquiescence. Eve' the 90
mestic and foreign policy OF the United >'a'es;
/ n
those parties, has se',ied down unto tix"d sys-
TEN, acc ommoda,ed to rhe wants II me n 'tIon
and sustained in its affection by the test oil long
uied and uceessful experiment.
Respected alb Dad aud lranquil ct home, eve
~ portion of the American People have, for
some ,ime, enjoyed most favorable opportu-
ni,y of SUI veying he past, with view 10 guard
az inst fu ure danger: and, accordingly, many
ised HI frame of their government, by rerur-
ring, under tie guidance Of experience, 10 The
principles Of il, orlginAl structure.
Your memorialis,s will not aver that Virgil
| MIA. among tie last to profit by this p"opiions
season, has sunk in political consequence by
her own supinent S. but thew unhe sta lnei;
rrpel the unfounded assumption That 10 prac'i-
al ill has resulted from her neglect or lndIi
ference. II would be derosa'ory to freedom IL
SELF TO admit that no sensible Inconvenience
had arisen in 'he course of very near hall a
century, from he practical violation oil The gre al
principles Of political liberty.
" j. indeed true, thai des potism sometimes
Indulgcs is sub tots in the tra"sient enjoyment
Of their civil ,ish's. But d es not 5eoornr d
free nation 10 hold is liberty by tenure so
precarious, and i, is ,he quality OF wise one,
to say, by anticipation, 'he approach Of dan
ger.
The People of Virginia ran never be d'spos,
ed 20 res, their right OF amendi"g The defects OF
their Constitution, or the exDrdirncy OF lis ex-
ercise OF The Sudden pressure Of some untore>
seen calamity, which mlghi unfit them for the
labor, or place i, bevord heir control
Your memorialists.take occa aston to say, that
although the task IS painful, IS not imprac.
tic able 10 enumerate very serious grievances
which have been long since I'll , as wtl' as ma
nv others, which are .nnUaly resuI ing from
the impt rrec'ions of their present Go siilutlon
| from a many.headtd and irrrspo"s he Execu.
tive: from Crowded House Of Delegates
from an Unequal rrprr sen arIon, resting on u
basi, palpahly nd obi usy uujusr.
If nothing more. Msre To be eff cted by the
| anne ndmeni, they have pr p ,,ed. III N the pre-
| serva'iun of III, sum which few years have
| added TO The exptnsr Of The Legislature, toge
| Iher with that whlCh has "een long wasted on
| an useless Exrcn i've Ccu"cil he saving Of
sixty thousand doi.Is PEI 4nnum would ply
the cost Of d Cunveu ION. 1t i sum whit h.
| if restored 10 The po, kets Of h Pcop,, wo"ld
! be ora efu'ly received "r, if added 70 the fund
| ror Internal lmDIOvtm n o. The educ at,on of
| tie pooi if, instead OF beng Wasted. il were
| judiciou,ly ex ended, would promote III. difa
sinn Of us.ini knowledge, ani Augment the
wealth, comfort, and happiness # society.
! Can The laie obvious dtCl'n,Ion Il pubic spl-
rit in the commnnwe LII b. i'm; Ut d, SO ins iy,
| 10 any o her Cause as tote UNIV ,eld, ond cum :
| 5rou> siz, of the house Of Delegates? Does it
no, leal, of eoessiry, 10 the waste of lent and
Of time-,o protractod and expensive sessions,
| in which one branch Of the si>la ure can do
nothing, and tn other, under he cousutu 10
ha, nnthrng to do, but to adjourn. Does not
this state Of things drive from the legislature
mrn of industrious and active habits, or, while
there, impede heir usefulness? And Ayl! no,
,his account, in a great measure, for the FIRE
! qEent and almost entire renovation Of the m .
| hers of both bDusrS2