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


To the Citizens Of the Senatorial District conipos-
ed of the Counties of Alleghany Amherst, Gooch-
land, Fluvanna and Nelson. s'
Perceiving, in the Enquirer of The l7th instant
that appeal has been made TO amongst others,
by some of my fellow citizens of Fluvanna coun-
~, asking disclosure of my views & opinions on
some Of the important questions which will en-
gage the attention or the Convention proposed to
be held in October, i, with cheerfulness, proceed
to-day before them such views as the enquiries
presented. readily suggest.-i shall do this with
out reference to any possibility Of my being called
upon to serve as member of that Convention
hut simply from the respect which entertain 70,
the people of that district which so long honored
me with their confidepce, as their representative
in Congress. No man approaches with greater
difiidence the isaportant subject Of constitutional
reform IL the few surviving sages Of the Revo-
luton reluctantly consent to undertake tls ardu
Gus, this profoundly interesting tass--wi,h what
hesitation. with what insuperable reserve, should
less wise, andless experienced men venture on an
undertaking Of such mighty, such porten.ous con-
sequences!
In a country extensive as Virginia sire tciling
from the Chesapeake Bay TO the Ohio, from the
Potomac to the Roanoke, containing population
Of more than million Of souls, great diversity
Of views, interests and opinions must be expected
70 prevail. a diversity OF local circumstances
operating upon different sections Of the State. is
calculated to produce greater difference Of views
and opinions. If, therefore, from an unfortunate
excitement in the public mind, the different sec
lions oil the STATE Snouiu meet convention with
an Interchangeable perseverance and unalterable
adherence to their own particular views, the at
tempt at reform must prove abortivc, If il result
in nothing more pernicions to the public good.
Symptoms OF strong excitement have already APP
peared in the public prints-and, as the time for
the election approaches, the fever excitement
seems to threaten to arise to high degree Of in
fismmation. Some Of the public prints have been
applying strong stiinuants to this morbid state of
Inflammation ever since ii was ascertained that a
CsdnyentiDn w 10 he hPi flara haaD
wanting ardent, jealous and strenuous young men,
who have lent their aid to aggravate the evil.
Should this state Of public feeling continue to rise
higher and higher the period of election draws
nigh,-not all the wisdom, not all the sagacity,
not all the prudence which may be concentrated in
that body viii be able TO produce any thing
which shall meet the appreciation of the people.
We're II practicable for the great body of the peo-
pie to assemble in person, and not by deputies in
Convention, to organize new constitution, and
they from every section OF the state should attend
with fixed determination TO sustain their own
particular views and opinions; inexorably deter
mined TO yield nothing, 10 sacrifice peace, harmo-
N.Y. the integrity of the State, 10 the obstinate
purpose of having their own way; l would asi.
what could be expected TO result from such an at
tempt at reform? What can be expected from de-
putes elected and commissioned by tiieIr cons,i-
tucpts aroused TO this feverish Of excitement
and last, though not least in i'm portance, in what
state will the public mind be when called upon to
decide calmly dispassiona,eiy and with tina, strong
pie Of the state, upon the work of the Convention
when its proceedings sha! be submitted to them
{ofs their ultimate decisions,
Beware then'o those, conjure YOU. who strive
Iapubiic and private, by newspaper addresses and
ID other ways, 20 excite the jealousy Of one por-
ton OF the people against another; who de.
nounced as hostile to reform, all the prudent. al
the moderate, and all the discreet men OF the coun.
try,who do not blazen forth in newspaper essays &
IN stump orations, their ardent attachment 10 the
people, and their uncomfortable desire of reform
We must be moderate, must be disposed to
friendly conciliation;' we must be exempt from
prejudice and passion.if we expect to 10 any thing
in this interesting business. Every reasonable man
must see that he who gets into this convention
will not be seated on bed of roses Many a thorn
lies hid in this iowery mead.
am not opposed TO reform, because | believe
the right of suffrage as exercised is Too limited
and must be enlarged. But to what extent? is
the enquiry. Were 10 obey the feelings of INV
heart, should not stop short of universal suffrage
1t isfuily 80 years since was first in public ife
/ have certainly experienced twenty elections
and never once canvassed or objected 10 a VOTE
Appropriated with elections, know that 10 cleo
ton scarcely occurs without many defective votes
state this fact as more ineligible and Of more
weight than thousand professions.
Such is the characteristic loyalty and nttaci-
ment of The people of Virginia TO their STATE that
ibciieye no injury would result from extending
this privilege TO every native adult. Their love
and attachment AT least in Old Virginia so strong
n
ing spirit, that a security for permanent attach
Inent to their native land is found in the natural
dispositions OF the people. But Virginia is not
peoped by natives: she aouhds in Inhabitants from
foreign lands, from neighboring states-whose
opinions, prejudices, feelings, views and senti-
meDts are not homogeneous with our own. We
have no large, populous, turbulent, seaport towns
and cities. whose influence, raniied and extend.
ed into the interior, might produce an influence
banefnl to the quiet of our elections in remote paris
Of the state, and, therefore, think the elective
franchise may be considerably extended. The
facility Of naturalization by the laws Of the United
States, and the equality Of rights secured to al
citizens OF every State in the Union by the Con
stituton of the United States, render inpracticab
all discrimination between native and adyenutiou
Inhabitants The Bill Of Rights, annexed 10 Oh
old Charter, shews, that wisdom suggests not on
~ that the attachment should be permanent, bu
ufat the interest should be common. The in
terest should he common among the people,
That community Of interests should be liza
bfe to community Of burthen. That they VIII,
impose burthens on their fellow citizens should
be equally liable to butthen themselves. Our de
claration OF independence, our Bill of Rights shev
an intimate relation between the right OF taxafio,
and representation. Reason, Justice, deman,
their Unon--Their severance will be productive
of evil. ], therefore, say in reply to the FIRST on
9niry, that the right Of suffrage ought TO be eS
tsndedj that reason, justice, peace, security an,
'bs public happincss will alone direct the liTniia