Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-11-24


certain instructions he had received in rela
ton to the vote he should give on the grea
question lately pendingbefore that body. Th'
citizens of Norfolk have had meeting, dis
approvingofthe instructions,as not being The
act of majority +; complimenting the char
acter and independence of Gen. Taylor, ant
requesting his successor, Mr.. Grigsby, t.
resign that they may have an opportunity o
re-electing Gen. Taylor. 1t seems to be
generally believed that wide attempt is
making in Virginia to influence unduly the
members of the Convention by getting ur
instructions from constituents. The man
who obeys such instructions contrary to his
own views Of truth and duty deserves not a
place in deliberative assembly.
THE AMERICAN Navy. A letter from
the late John Adams to Thomas Jefferson
written in 1922, has lately been. published
in the collection of President Jefferson's
Correspondence, in which Mr.. Adams speaks
of the latter, as having been in fact the ia,
Their of the American Navy. This must
strike all, old as well as young, as strange
matter. The opposition of Mr.. Jefferson to
the Navy, alb primo origine, is matter OF
history !; and twas one of the leading meas
ures of the party that came into office in
1901. We speak of it as matter of histo-
ry, and because we are unwilling that an
erroneous impression should get abroad at
this late day. Mr.. Adams would feign have
US believe that Gen. Washington was op-
posed to Navy, when in fact he strongly
recommended its establishment, in his com
munication to Congress so long ago as 1896.
This is but one of the many instances in
which the second President attempted to
undervalue the noble character and the glo-
rious services of the Father of his country
| Mr.. Jefferson, beyond all controversy,
was opposed to regular, respectable navy.
His idea was, that gun boats were the real.
cheap, national defence, and earnestly re-
commended that they should be built, and
afterwards strove for their increase. And
they were built, and the number was in
creased, and almost made the service a by
word; and then they were suffered to go to
decay, or were sold. They cost the nation
much money, and something on the score of
reputation. 1t was not the administration,
but it was the universal sense of the COM
munity that saw the necessity of placing
the navy on respectable footing, and of
discarding the little pop guns that ever and
anon were seen in our harbours.
VIRGINIA CONVENTION. The question
was taken on the 18th inst after John Ran
dolph had closed the debate, in relation to
Judge Green's proposition to amend the re-
port of the Legislative Committee, by strik-
ing out the basis of ,ohite population erclu-
siuely and inserting achite population and
taxation combined. The votes were AZ to
AZ. Mr.. Powell, the chairman, voted in the
negative, making the vote AZ to 48. Judge
Marshall and Mr.. Madison voted in the mega
tive, and Mr.. Monroe in the affirmative.
On Monday, the 10th it was moved to
amend the report by introducing the federal
basis of the number of whites, and three
| fifths of the slaves. This after days de-
bate was decided in the negative. Yeas AZ,
Nays 40. The members voting as before
Mr.. Monroe made another speech recon-
mending the white basis for the House, and
taxation for the Senate, by way of COM
promise. 1t is said that some bitterness is
gathering in the convention.
| On, REFORM IT ALTOGETHER. Our Bos-
ton papers are not now so regular as we
could wish. Thursdays papers did not ar
rive till Friday those of Friday, on Satur-
day, with the exception of the Traveller
which was received in season, and Satur-
days papers came yesterday morning with
the papers of the day. We say, Mr.. Post
master, or Messrs. Printers, no matter which
sob, reform it altogether"
| THE FEDERALIsT. During the debate
the other day in the Convention, in Virginia
the 54th number of the Federalist was quot
ed, and was attributed to Mr. Hamilton
Mr.. Madison arose and stated that he had
furnished correct key to the authors of the
various pieces; and that the number refer
red to was written neither by Hamilton mol
Jay, but by himself. In one edition, if moi
in more, this number is attributed to Jay.
BosToN CUsToM-HoUsE. We are not il
the habit of noticing the frequent removals
made in the Custom-H House; for it is verify
poor sort of concern from beginning tc
end. And now we only mention that Ezra
Davis, worthy man, has been removed from
4 Office to make room for Ephraim M. Gun
ningham, the notorious and infamous pub
Usher of the Cunningham correspondence