Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-05

aristocracy created by the British GovrSnme mt |
ielt in the raising and sppropriatng OF the Lit
Crary Fund. and the aris,ocrats avowed on this |
floor. that The poor sho,,Li NOT he educated because
il would raise them above their level" Sir. wss
not here az thet time; and. therefore, caunot say
what took r'ice--but this i 10 say, that never
heard any such thing before The gentleman has |
gone irto long hiso ico detail Of the operations
IT the British Government before Che revolution,
while Virginia colonyN ith this NAV
nothing 10 do because 10 not unSe, take &c defend
the British Covernmeut. But. he continued and
declared, that the establishment Of the present
Constitution, by the Convention Of 10 was bold
usurpaton, perhaps necessary. intended 10 cripple
the Western Count and pcrpetuate ar;stocrocy."
This proposition totally deny; and IL almost made
rny blood freeze when 1 heard it. Its well
known, Mir. Chzrmaa, To those acquainted at ell
with or HISTORY, that for several years before rs,
Virginia was in state OF revolution. The Brit
ish Government had been partially, Il not wholly
thrown of, md the affairs OF the colony were man
aged by Conventions, and committees OF safety,
and such like associations. 1 will read tue ordi-
nance OF the Convention OF l77o, Under which
that of '76 was chosen, who framed our present
Constitution. There MIR. M. read the ordinance.
which declares, ",ha, Convention should DO
chosen to provide for the exigencies of Govern
ment, in a constitutional way"-snd that each
county shall have the liberty and privilege OF G.
1ectng delegates, &c.]-He proceeded-Now sir.
i ask how the exgencies of government were TO
be provided for in constitutional way, without
forming and adopting some plan OF government,
lected for that express purpose, their acts shew,
and the old men who remember those things will
tell you:--At the period OF their election, the
people knew full well for what purpose they were
elected Yes, sir, they did form Constitution, and
adopted il unanimously the 10Th OF June, l776.
What did MIR. Pendleton, when chosen their Pres
iient, say! Here Mr. N. READ the address Of Mr..
II. when he was appointed President OF the Con-
vention and said that he would take the liberty OF
recommending its perusal TO his young friends in
the House; and inferred from il, that MIR. Pendlc
ton was fully aware at the time, OF the intention
Of the Convention to frame Constu,ion.-Mr.
M. asked il he Usurper' Did he belong to,
the aris,ocracys a man who had literally, almost
by the force of his Intellect and virtues, rails
ed himself from the dust and ashes. Here MIR.
M. read many Of the names on the list oil the Con-
vention, and asked VI the Ma.ons, the Henrys,
Nelson's, Cabels, Carringtons, Randolphs, yihes.
&c were usurpers, aristocrats:-No, sir, they
were the greatest advocates of free government;
not only ornaments To their own country, but 10 hu-
man nature.
But, tir, the gentleman from Brooke says, that
Xohogany was not represented in the Convention
of l776 aud he liners tina, she surrendered 10
Pennsylvania, TO prevent the influence OF her del
egates against the adoption OF an arlsccratic con-
stituton.-Now, sir, the resolution TO appoint com.
Inssioners to settle this dispute with our sister
pennsylvania, about fohogany. was never passed
till the 18th OF Dec. I776, and the Constitution
was adopted in the June preceding-ot course this
county could not have been given up, or been un
represented from any such cause; and said Mr. NJ.
does the gentleman from Brooke, really believe, ii
there had been delegates from Yohogany, in Con-
vention, they would have prevented our iilustrious
ancestors from pursuing their pians?-Surely, the
gentleman must consider the then men OF Roho-
gany, OF no common order-periect Brobdignags-
indeed, il would seem that the gentleman must
have been reading Guliiver's, some such like
travels, instead OF the History OF Virginia. Mr..
Charman the resolution to settle our dispute with
Pennsylvania, althC' passed IN i176, was never IL
nally acted upon till 1855 Virginia appointed, as
4
Commissioners Mr.. Lewis, believe
Charles (here MIR. Nelson, OF Aibemarie. correct
ed Mr.. M, and said, Andrew,) and two others,
who tho learned, had not been accustomed to sur
veying, except farther than measuring the cam
pus o college, OF the height OF steepe. MIR.
Lewis was practical man, but he was sick and
could not attend; and ! have heard the old men
mention the complaint he made, OF the mistake /:
committed by these ' star-g azers, as he called
them. These men met by the celebrated |
Rittenhouse, who got the advantage, OF which he
did not hesitate, as 1 have always understood, TO
hoasi.-liowever, Virginia ratified the acts OF her
agents, rather than have any further contention
with her sister State. She cheated, no doubt
---shebas never made contract with the North, !
chat she has not been cheated the North i
ought to know and the North W est 100. that al
tho the TuckahoeS may DE cosxed or Cheated they
can nev-.r be in,imdaled. So much for the charge
against the OF the Revolution, about the cess
sion of Yobogsny. Bat, the gentleman says that
the North Western Territory, then called, en- |
bracing the States Of Ohio. Illinois, Indiana, &c. |
was ceded away by the arisocrats from the same
motive, to keep down Western Virginia. No such
thing, Mr.. Chairman have not had time TO ex-
anime infinitely, our archives upon this subject but
1 will read extract from essay, in the South
srn Review, on the Georgia controversy, which
contains synopsis OF the historical facts in regard
20 this mater-a work of great merit, sustaining
Virginia principles, and which, beg leave to re-
commend to the young gentlemen, who hear me.
Mr.. nj. here read long extract from this work,
IN which, il was stated, that in Sept. 1850, Con-
gress recommended to the States, 4 liberal sur
render of portion of their territories; and on tho
tories which might be thus ceded, " should be dis
posed of, for the common benefit Of the Union;"
and formed into Republican States, &c In COM
Piiance with this request, Virginia the I'd of
January, $751; ceded TO the U. States ali her lands
30 the northwest OF the river Ohio. On the 81
nj March 1871, about two months after this csssion
by Virginia, Maryland, the only State that had
held of from the confederation, came into the Uni
on, Gel Thus, sir, il seems that Virginia ceded
this territory, at the earnest recommen dation Of
Congress, 10 insure the confederation. Yes sir
she gave it up as peace offering 10 this Union
and now she is to be reproached forsooth, with
wish, thereby, TO fas.en arisiocracy on her sons,
and cripple the West Sir, Mr. Madison drew
and proposed this OF ces3ion; and who can &C,
cuse such man, as mild always, az the Dew of
Heaven with an intention TO establish or perpetu.
ate an oigarchy, or injure and keep down his ore-
thTen OF the WesH Such positions are wholly un.
tenable. The gentleman from Brooke, is totally
wrong in his whole historical detail and deductions
The young gentleman from Frederick for whom
j have very high respect, has admitted, that
when new government shabe formed in fixing
the ratio OF representation, regard should be