Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-31

quence in society by standing out as the especial
champion OF the poor, am always reminded of an
ola aequalntance of mine, one Signor Manuel Ordo-
nez, who made n comfortable living and amused all
opuient fortune by administering the funds of the
Ioor. Among tho strange notions which have been
preached since have been on the political theatre
tifere Is one which has lately sesed the minds Of
men, that all things must be- done for them by tho
government, and that the to do nothing for them
selves
The government is not only to attend 10 The
great concerns which are its province, but it must
step IN and ndiv ais of Tho ir natural and NOR
al obligations a more perncious notion canno,
prevail. Look 1T the ragged fellow staggering fiom
the whskey shop, and sec the sattern WHO has ronc
there TO reclaim him; where their children, Run
ming about ragged idle, ignorant fit candidates for
the pententiary. Why is all this so? Ask tho man
and he will tell you. 'Oh! the government has TN
dertakcn to educate children for us. Il has CIV
en- MS premium for idlcncss, aud now spend In H.
quor what should otherwise be oblre,i 70 save To
pay tor their schooling. My neghbor there that is
so hard at work III his field yondcr with his son,
can't spare the boy 10 attend EXCEPT IN tho winter
months, tine school which he is taxrI TO snpnort for
m NO lie has to scuiie hard make both ends meet
at the end VI the year, and keep the wufifom the
door ltIs children can't 20 to school yc, he has to
pay part or the tax 10 MAINTAIN it,. SIR, is ii like
the friends OF the poor TO ahsolvc them from wha,
nature, what God himself has made their first and
most sacred duty For the education Of their chill
drcn is the first and most obvious du,v of every pa
rent, and one which the worthless alone are ever
known to nerlcct.
Dir. Chairman, these uIl be deemed I fear un.
connected thoughts; but they have been the amcnt
oil lay had Tor years. Rumirui ion and rt s:iun can
do no more; they are thoroughly corcoctcd
In tho course Of not short or uucYcutful lie,
have had correspondence with various persons N ali
parts Of the Union, and l have seen ncntleincn on
their return from the North and Eas, as VOL AZ
from the States OF the West, and neyor heard
iron, any of them, but expression of opinion as
related to US III Virginia. 1t in the sentiment
II not in the language of Virgil, Oh, Fortunate if WI
knew blc~sednc>s. Thcv advise us with
one voice"Stck 10 what YOU have rot; stick to your
Constitution; scl, 10 your Right of Suffrave Don't
give UP your tseeh III Representations. we have
soon enough of the opposite system, and too much"
have received and seen letters athug this spir
Il from man who dare not promu!natc suoh a sent
Iaent at home, because it would only destroy their
hopes of usciulness-from North Carolina from
South Carolina, from Georgia, from Alabama from
Pennsylvania, and from NV York
Sir, the day, when it may, which secs This
old and venerable fabric OF ours scattered in ruins
ma the matock and spade digging the foundation for
new political ed'iice, will be day Of jubilee to all
hose who have been, and who must be in c,pgic, |
With those principles which have given 10 Virginia
ler weight and consequence at home and abroad ri
understand Alright the plans which are in ari,ation
had sooner the day should arrive, that mus, close
ny eyes for ever, than witness their accomplishment
as, SIR 10 tins CONSTITUTION we all that we have
reserved; tmuCh know is los. and Of great volu,
ut all that we have saved from the wreci, of o,rno
teal fortunes. This IS the mother Which, has rear
all oar great men. Well may she be called mac
&. nlaier oira'n She has indeed produced men and
lightly men.
ave been living for fifty four years under govern
ent which has no manner of authority and is
zero usurpation at best.--Yet, Sir during that time
&c nave changed our government; and call tho at
'ntion OF this body To the manner i'm which TINT
LANCE was made. The Constitution of '88 was
ibmltcd to tho people; and Convention was call
! to ratlfy 1t. and what that Convention, |,
as the Old Ilouse OF Burgesses With nickname
-the old House OF Delegates, Sir with nickname
in which the same municipal divisions of the State
'erc rcgarded-the same qualifications rcouirrd-
lie same qualified freeholdcrs were returned from
ne same districts and by the same shcr.s--nud We,
the waving OF magic wand, they were converted
lto convention in which Warwick was made
quail with Culpeppcr, then by far the largest county
the state do not gentlemen see where the
oint OF their own argument leads 10; lfitis a sine
ua non OF legitimate government that it must
AVE the assent Of ma Ority OF the people told Inv
he head, then is the Federal Government an usurpa
lon---to which tho people per Capita king num-
'ers---has never given his assent.
1t Is now thought necessary to have another Con-
'ention, and what is il? It is nothing but Tho Son
,te OF Virginia elected from the same dictrc,s Inv
he same voters, and returned by tho same sheriG:.
Ind many of them the self same men; vet when null
LplIed by four, By talismanic touch they BECOME n
Convention Yes Sir You can't trust tho Tiouso NJ
Delegates and Senate with your affairs, bu, Won cnn
rust smaller body. You can't trust the whole. /
)ut you can trust part. You can't trust the Sem |
iie' yet you can trust the same men from the same
districts, II multiplied by 1. Sir are we men? Or.
IRE we children For my share this is the first Con-
'entlon III which ever had a seat and trust in Cod
t viii he the last. never had any taste for Con
'cntions: or for new constitutions, made Nor ordor
jr Kept ready made, TO suit casual customers need
not tell you, sir, THAI was not a member of the
5 y Convention. No sir, nor was / member
II the HarrsbuTgh Convention Tor the Ct. ,lo,,oc
vile Convention. No sir, nor The Anti.Jackson
Convention. though had the honor, in very good
company OF being put to tie ban and anatiema of
hat august assembly; and when 10 their vcry qreat
surprise and alarm we returned their fire. thcy scat
cred lick flock Of wild geese.
Mr. Chairman, the wisest thinp This bndy could
To- would be TO return TO the people from whom thew
came, re "yecta. | am very willing 10 lend nv aid
20 any worry small and moderate reforms which can
be made TO believe that this our ancient government
requires But far better would il be that tbev ,varc
never mrdc and that constitution romainod I'M |
;hangeab'e like that Of Lycurgus, than thai We
iho I'D bTenl; IN upon the main pillars ofhe cdlGcc.
Sir J have exhausted myself and tired yon. |
Uhyglcally uunblg a recall r.,