Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-09
From the Richmond Haig. Del. 8.
VIRGINIA CONVEN lion.

between
bryan 10 collec, in large numbers about the
| CAPITOL, but without any accident or in,errup-
lion of order. As it approached noon, the
| Members Of Convention began to assemble IN
the Hall Of Delegates, audit was soon apparent
| that very full quorum Of the body was i" at
tendance. In perusing the appearance OF SO
many distinguished and venerable men, in wit
Messing their saIutations after long separations
| and when met ON SO interesting an occasion,
&in reflections on the consequence Of an event
fraugb, with so much veal or woe to Virginia,
the public were deeply engaged until MIR Ma
Olson rose in his place, TO call the Convention
to order. His address was brief, snc delivered
in SO low tone, thai IT was lost to d greater
part Of the audience.
! Mr.. Madison rose, and reminded the Conven-
| ton, that in the organization oil a dei'era'iFt
assembly, thr first step was hr appointment "i
q presiding officer. He had therefore risen f'r
the purpose Of nominating James Monroe. he
STA ed tina, he considered improper 10 make
| any reference To the merits OF Nj. Monroe; ana
it was equally nnne, essarv, as The whole OF nat
| gentleman, public life was familiar to the pub
with The nomination OF James Monroe 10 oe
! the Presiden, of the Convention.
| MIR Doddridge suggr sting the inu ility OF
| ballot, the question was put, Uiua uoce, by ME-.
! Madison, aud Mr. NJ nroe elected nrm. con
| Thereupon he was conducted To the chair by
| Messrs Madison and Marshall, whence he
| add,r ssed the House as follows:
"Havine served nv county from my early
life, in all us highest trusts and most Difficult;
emergencies, { ON the most important oi which
,ru. | have lately retired, / cannot otherwise
than feel. with great sensibility. this proof oil
the hiph confidence IF this very enlightened
and rrsprc,abe assembly. 1t was nv earnest
hone and desire that very dis i"guished GIL
zen and friend, who has pre-, dcd me, IN Sc
,eral Of lhes. high trusts, and WHO had JUS
cl i'm to tina precedence, should have 'ak'n
this station, and deeply regret the consl:er
atisns which have intG, ID him TO dtt line
IT, TIE proofs # his very important services,
AID the purify Of his lie will go down 10 our
latest pos,eriiy, aud his example aided by th"i
of o hers, whom nerd no mention, will give
Strong prop 10 our free ,ys'em OF government.
Iregret my sppointment from ono'her con-
side ration, fear tina | shall not be abl. TO dis
| charge the du,e, OF the trust with advantage
| To my country. have never heiore he'd sucn
| q saion, aud am ignorant OF he rules OF ht
| hvu,e-I have ais" been flic ed, At late, wit
| ln6rmitv, which still exists degree TO form
a serious obstacle Being placed, however, here,
will xert my hest faculties S, physie al and men
tai, such IS they arr, al every hazard, 20 dis
charge lis duties TO ine sa faction OF THIS as
sembv and Of nv country
This assembly j. called for the most impor-
| tan, obiec- |, is TO amend our Constitution
Tn
| OF free republican government Our Consti-
| ,ution was The FIST that was formed in the
union and il has been in operation ever since.
! We had al that period he examples cnly OF
thu ancien, republics before Us. We have now
| the experience Of more than hall a ceniury o.
| this our own Cans tuition & of those OF all our
sister States. IT il has def cts, as think u has
experience will have pointed them out, aud he
ability and INTEGRITY of thus enlightened hodv
will recommend such alteration, "a l. deems
| proper, TO our constituents, in whom hr pow
er Of adopting or rejecting them is exclusively
vested.
Al other republics have failed. Those Ut
| r rme and Greece exis, on WV history. In ne
| terri ORE, which hev ruled we the ruins
| Of ant len, buildings only u. governments
| have persisted, and The inhabi aats rxhihlt u
| state Of decrepilude and wret h, dness, which
IL trIghuu' 10 nose VINO v 81 'ht't'
On the surjecl Of order, and method OF
proceeding, need say uothny to this semhl'.
| The importance OF the call, and the man"er al
-ejec ion, give ample assurance that n" da ger
| nrei ne ,prrehended on tha' subject. Our fel
low cr'zrnii" the elections they have mad,
| have looked % he grea' cause a. issue, and st
le' ted hose whom hey thought most compe'
,eo' 10 its duties. They have no! de'o'td them
| selves ~ i"di iduas, bnt have regarded pinci-
| pie and ught TO secure II. In his l see
strong ground TO conGle IN tht S abhiy and
success Of our system l. inspires me w''h
equal confidence, hat he result of your labors
VIII ORE, pond with their most ssnguine hop 5.
1--WE are happy 10 stare, Ma, MIR Monroe
looks young and bet err than we had card.
pr were pre- pared to expect. Mr. Madison 90.
in viz scity of countenance, aud aIertness of
movement, surpasses what we had hoped to
set