Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-09
From the = noheste, Republican
LETTERS tRoM }. Il CooRS no ais CONSTITUENTS
LETTER H.

10 ihr People Of :. s9er.cs ant Jsg6ysoa eopnfies.
observation-disclosures PREDATORY letter which I
lately addressed to you, reserved myself the pr-
Niese tsaluaole 10 one who is uncertain whether he
will have leisure discuss alt the topics before him
and ANXIOUS to make of the most importantly of
treanc my sub ec IN desu!tory shall make
literal use OF the privilege IN tins, and my future
comnnn'calions If, indeed there shall be any future
1t s my purpose after tsnosnp of some pre
ltmnary matters, to discuss the important Question
how far your "gt Respected, and your ate,ets Sc
cured by the apporonmen' of representation made in
the new constitution,
WHAT your rsS,s are, in regard rcprese NATION is
tins SIDE OF the mountain, aud between YOU md me-
question winch needs discussion. say TO YOU
~ sa,i he floor Of the il, the very act
OF expressing my determination support the plan of
representation since adopted, that entertain" On
co nnon wh YOU "a political creed, which all the
cioQuence OF ITS opponents has not shaken, ana which
viii continue 60 be creed So long as hit. and consc;
BUSINESS 1t is tina, J;ceaaen are the solr .Ir
inents out OF which republic should be formed. and
that s4ny Is the Only just rule for the distribution Of
power among them"
ihis say is your creed and il is mine H. regard 10
our political rights But had 1t been your fortune as
mine to liste for weeks together to the spen
eid eusons OF eastern eoqmence, you might PC r,aps
nave oeen led to doubt whether had any rights at
all. Aou might have been half persuaded TO believe
t'at the noble and eevating theory of the natural
rights of men, promulgated in the i7th cen,ury NV
Lncke aad his enlightened coemp orares adopted IN
Firinia at the OF the revolution, aud consecrated
By the blood of our fathers poured in its defence
WAS, after all, gorgeous fabric Of the Imagination n
Splendid illusion, winch having lived to its dted day.
Was destined now to be dispeed by the elrurenc. Of
the new lights OF the 18TH century. 10 convention
Ut Virgins statesmen, Were found OF dou.,,e ed
patriotism and distinguished ability, who, dazzec and
msled by the btilliancy of their thoughts, and
bewiliered the ni;zes tfser own l-
Question all the principles wbch be en- onnsld
cred, for century aud half, the very aioms Of 20
htcai science Milking rAsa tabula of the political
chart by which we steercd through, and weathered
the storm of the revolution, they conten led that
There are no original principles of government
whatever;
That the original and natural freedom and equality
of men is mere absraciion;
That the doctrinc of the right of the ms;or;ty q,
govern isa valgsr faacy;
That government controlled by e.nere nu,rbers'
or, IN other words by the people, system of legal
lied rapine; nd,
That question about the distribution of milf
icsl power, IN the organic law of country, most be
dec1,ed by San enlarged ,ediency," and without
any 10 pruc'pies or supposed natural rights;
whether it rishtully existed any where OF deciding
how much power it was expedient bestow on this
or that section OF the common weath, or how many
classes of the community expedieDt TO admit tn
SD ire IN the government they did not undertake tn
lnoTm u.s. BY failing to do which, they tacitly admit
ted, as numoy conceive the necessity of res,rtnr
to some original principle without which the new pa
tent engine, "expedeucy, could not be set in motion
And If night be permitted, with all Difference to
hazarl the idea, would say that their argument, forci
bly, reminded OF the supposed oriental theory that
the world rests the back of huge turtle: the ssil
theory being silent the question on what dies
the turtle rcs2
And here will take occasion to say, that whatever
doubts may have heretofore entertained about the
every organic law, fnurdcd on the idea that the e,
preston OF some rights might be msconstrued into
the nega'ion OF others mt expressed; am tho.
roughly convinced ut the great practical utit, of such
solemn declarations For know by experience
that such is a,dacity the human intellect riot
ing in its strength, and impatient the RESTRAINT of
established principles, that delights to call in cues
ton all esl abshed truths human and divine The fun
damentai and essen,a principles all free iustitu
tons might have received ,her dcaih-wound, in the
convention OF Virginia from the hands Of daring limo
raors, but for the Fictitious aid they derived from the
solemn annnncia'ion that vas made of those prnc-
pies IN the "deciaratlon OF rights instrument en-
ueared to ;he people of Virginia its association
with ali their glowing rccoltccons of revolutionary
glory. No candid man, who was q member of that
body viii deny that the declaration of rights was
stumbhngolock IN lie way of the real innovators 10
whom I have ail'ded. they cod1d openly assail
people; neither could they other hand entirely
conced the-what shall l say?-almost contennt
with which they regarded it. 1t undeuiaby, an
admirable instrumental very able paper, con;sininr
very correct pTinciPes-very. But, after all they
were abstract prnCp les-merc abstracfions-rrrui-l
ring great modification when applied to the actual
concerns of men.-Ali which means in plain FngIish
that they of sort OF earth but to furnish
line sentiments fer fourth of July orations.
seek mt, fellow citizens, by this statement of E,ct
TO excite or t" foster, IN your minds, feelings of sec
iiohal dislike, already strong the welfare Of our
common country. And therefore accompany the
statement have made with the strong asse ver.ton
my belief, that the gentlemen alu,lad to rns-eprese,
ted IN these points tne opinions and feelings of
their constituents. Neither do asser. that the here
sizes Rave described prevailed generally amopp the
eastern and southern members. And Willie am on
ms part OF tue s"2jeo. my feelings impel TO saw
that 1t the eastern ana southern members generally
Were fair sample .: t!ir eastern and southern PEG.
pie they are people whom tnay proud to cali
countrynen ani f-ilow citizens.
Do you ask Iow it happened that l. SO deenIv
Impressed Win the dsiormy Of these anti-repu bcan
doctrines, and SO thoroughly persuaded of the truth
OF the great revolutionary principle. the equality of
men voted for constitution which does not proDose
precisely equal distribution of power among the i
treemen oil the STATE? answer you IN The language
which used on the floor of the convention when On
The l9th of Dect mber, FIRST announced in concert
with my friend Mr. HENDERSON, of Loildoun our Z.
termination to support tile compromise plan Of repfe-
senaiion proposed by Gen Gordon, and assigned our
reasons for the course We intended To pursue
II cltlns to the hope That a constitution would be
''foTrn"d by whic thu equal representation of the
People Vrginia, in boil Of the aCislalige hndies