Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-07-22
For he Uisehag Conp7l
4 NEW CONSTITUTION |
CELEBRATION At HOMn

= T.
ed on this day to recount the yalo, &.
deeds and glorious victories achieve S.
the heroes Of the revolution, to review q
Iassiduity, ability and zeal of the frs, 8,
| gress, to recall to mind the assembled 4, p
and patriots who devised the federal s.
stitutlon, and in a word to spread bs !,
the present generation the disinierss q
heroism aud exalted patriotism, aud q
blood and treasure which were toe n. &
paid for the liberty we enjoy. These i
siderations and reflections are WORTH q
attention of free citizens, and the cel1 3
ton of this day reflects honor upon q
sons of so illustrlous progenitor.. ia
seized upon il as an hour of leisure. 4
time IF one tine can be more sacred h 4
another most propltlous 10 the ins5
tons of liberty. / have feared We ars
building like master workmen upoo
foundation which our fathers have Dana
4 doubt has crossed my mind that W
we are boastlng long and loud of our
constitution and the many blessings
teudaut upon our happy form Of Cove
ment, we are not using all the necess
means TO ITS preservation; and whls
are recouuting the laurels won by
heroes Of the revolution, that we are
rearing up other heroes, who like them, n
cover themselves and the country i,
glory. fear we shall be like a you
man on whom a handsome fortune
descended, but who spends his time
gasconadmg and boasting of his veal
/ till the usurers have eaten him up. q.
fathers have done much for us they h
truly rendered us great, free and haparl
they have laid broad and strong the 70
dations of liberal government; but there
nothing Cat least of human creation in
transltory world so permanent and 50
rable as to defy alteration and main
It's utility without labour or care. T
attention of the sages of the revolutions
directed to the frame of government; Oh
must be to ITS preservation and to ADD
and beauhfy the fabrlck. For this usa
! labour no time seems more likely to
propltIous than the present. Virginia, d
Antient Dominion and the pride of n
Union, will ere long assemble a numb
! of ber choicest Saves and tried pairiols
form for her new constitution. It's
this instrument from the pens of these s..
es and patriots that confidently look !
no inconsiderable advancement in our sT
tenn of government, and as | have told b
doubts and fears, will also venture to q
press my hopes.
] dare not presume that | have thoug
of all the excellent provisions which ,
new constitution will Ingrait into the CO
sttutiou of the State Nay, doubt
but the system will be more judIcIous
every respect than any thing which J ba
been able to imagine, but know that
great and good men who will compo
that body will not regard with contemp
Gus indifference the suggestions of /
humblest individual Three addto
have forcibly struck me as being big.
necessary TO all our state constitution
FIRST, provision al the public expense
the education of all the children born
raised m the State. Secondly, that ni
nation and good moral character eh0
be the test upon which young men sha
be admitted to or excluded from the ri
of suffrage. Thirdly, a provision for le
ing a fine on all those who have a right
suffrage and DO not exercise 1t.
! can but hatter myself that most %
men, at least on reflection, will JOIN one
my first proposition: that the constiut
should authorize the education at the p
he expense of all the youth born or ran
in the State. To accomplish this desI
bic object, every State IN the Union Is
bundantly able, and therefore no argum
need be made on this head. The o.
questions then are first, whether the s.
10 or is not interested IN the general e.
cation Of her citizens; and second
whether It IS proper or not that she sho
concern herself 10 that which has lor
most part heretofore been considered
cluslyely the duty Of parents. The (
| question seems to me 70 be Of easy solut
Every man who has the right Of suGr
10 in effect a sovereign. and may be s
to decide the destinies Of his country.
foolish sovereign cannot reasonably be
pected to act wisely, whether be be 10
person ola Virginia farmer or THE gr'
est potentate Of Europe. The degree
intelligence which subsists 10 any COM
nifty depends very much upon cuslf
which custom the laws contribute pos
fully to establish. Examine for NON
the state Of society in the different part.
the earth and we shall see this fact yerii
Witness the situation Of the Indians %