Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-11


would any friend Of bis country wish, or be willing TO
see such an after -, Surely, have 10 soIitician
so re.k'ess-so i,iatonal--so inia,usied-so wild
Inc idea Is idle: for the effort would be let
us suppose, that in such attempt there sh. uld be
something Ike more general conss nt-some thing an.
preaching to union OF action between different and
opposite sections o the Sia,e-Sii what would be the
coGsequence!-What good could resul!-Gov. rned nv
no bAed understood principlesc by ne Ie-
gal regu'"nons-how could the people act in any
cert or harmony:-There could be mutual--no re.
appreciated coniJence-no good understandings. All
would be Observation-Disclosures Dtent-If we sur.
pose, however, that the people, under all these isad-
vantages, should at last be able TO agree upop an As
semoiy or Convention Of Delegates, what a theatre
would II not be OF Earring interests-of mutual dis.
uus'-Jeaousy and contenton?-Would not every prin.
c,pie oil dscord-wouid not all those prejudices-al
those suspicons-which agitateG the country during
the Session OF the late Cow have the most uu.
controcd-the most unbo ed room for action,-And
10 carry out the Imaginary case-we further sup
pose that such Convention could even agree upon a
constitution, formed under such circumst.nces:-
every disastrous planet shedding its evil and IN .yn.rt
influence upon the hour OF its conception and of its birth:
formed under such /. IL 10 be
believed that IL would be good-an eaui, abe-a Jesi-
rabe one! And how could put into ope How
could new Governnent-thus instituted and ordained
ever be organized Only by Revolution!!-What
would be the character Of that revolution il |. mpos
BILE to tell Ii might be quiet and peaceiul-It might
De accompanied with civil aud blood.hed. Surely
then, proposition of this cbaracer-augh with such
eviis-if it presented-not the probabily-but even
the remotest prospect OF con sequences 40 danyeou.
and diretulshoud be promptly reiec,ed by every trn.
Vi,ginian with feeling. Of antipa,hy aud horror.
bu'' perhaps 1t may be said, that you will reject the
new amended Constitution, another Cow nton-simi.
lar TO the late one-to be assembled in regular and
legal manner-might be again authorised and called
through the aid and interposon of your Legislature.
that you might thus again be enabl ID 10 elect xour "a
presentaves, and that improved Constit uton NOR.
adapted to your wishes aud views. mig hit be the result
But what reason-wha rational foundation is there for
such an expecation' Even il another Convention wa,
to be Called what we'll expectation could he
entertained OF any good desirable result, Surely
none;-increassd irritation and augmented dificulty
would, In all probability, be the only conse
III late Convention, elected under the most vor
able and suspicious circumsi ances-n time of iran
guilty and OF mutual confidence, too vour
most faithful servants, and The best talents YOU cou
lect,-tOund itself encompassed with difficulties and Or
stacles almost insurmountabe ;-what could Conven
hcn, now chosen, be able TO effect Convention o,v
ing It's very existence TO disappointmen-dsru.t ami
notwithstanding together, as IL would CHARGED
with irritated eelng-commisoned, il migh almost
be said to represent the ealouses the mia
oil society-local interests and local preiudices.n
pledged-What useful result couldsbe g.
pectrd from its debe ratons? What could such Con
vention be able to accomplish! No,hing-surely no
goou NO compromise could be made:-a storm of pas
siona'e and angry debate would siynaize their ses.on
and they would have at las, disperse-no,bng done
and bearing home to their constituents feelings nj.
teriy at war with the union and harmony and peacc f
your society The friends of republican institutions
would be NOR thed--the enemies would triumph The
principle that man Is capable of self government
would be moved-would be shakeu-and well would
be the isaue-most fortunate indeed would II he n .
large POI ton Of the world did not point AMI n,
the progress OF these eveDs-to any such period in
your hisiory-as reason 10 doubt the truth of this
your favourite theory, and as Justification of ther
own different political doctrine.
Let II not br ,aii that a Convention. now elected
would he hetter able to represent the wj.he, and feel.
ings OF the State They would only bring more discor
dant elements into action and into collision
,ee"nsS ana sectional interests would be represened;
out me ieengs oil The whole State could yer thus be
brought TO unite and settle down upon different nrinc
piles, or perhaps upon any Constitution.
The formation of the organic, fundamental law for
any socletyis work, delicate and difficult
as s TO restrain the exercise OF individual hts and
nuhueu, a. !" must be- upon compromise OF interests
this naturally suits from its object and its nature. and
must always be tie case, while man remains what ba
$50 long as he continues TO be governed or
ny motives oil private interest and expediency Ere
quent changes in il therefore, and feouent intermed
ngs WIN IT, are nJudicious and ought as much as pos
sible to be avoided One experiment has already been
fatty tried '''J anu
2-Tbe only other alternative il eouaIlv nna..;r,h,
sun more irighfuI-equay repugnant 10 your hest
interes's and feengs.-lt il division OF the State
Man, we well know when pressed by anv in which
aggeVes h'In and from which he wishes 10 be reev.
ed IL often little particular, and with all his boosted
Judgment and reason, is frequently woefniIy mis-.
taken IN his choice and application of A remedv.-
ou' surely no man ever erred wideIy-no man
was ever so blnd-so nfa,uated-so lost TO reason
ana 10 sense, az mus, be that politician, who would
seek remedy Tor the distra ctions with which Won
were lately agitated, in a division of the State If
du ing the period OF your late excitement the State
co"ih nave been separated into great and nearly
equal divisions, does any rational man believe that
hose distractions would have ended?-That each divi-
sion would have been quiet-tranquil?-The came
causes OF distust-at least in OF those divisions
The unequal distribution of the slave popuIation-
would stil have operatcd;-snd the same discomfort.
would 'ull have existed. They would have been
Uah,Ierred, II is true, to narrower fied-the theatre
Tor 'heir action would have been conracted-but The
scenes exhibited would have been Just as alarming and
violent And even II IT is supposed Tor a moment that
lie idea oil division was seriously entertained WHARF
would ask, would you fix the fatal dividing Ine,-
Where should il commences? How should IL proceed,
"he!e should termnate?-all your feelings your
associa'ions-yonr very habits of ipte1copr.e os
thought aud OF action, would make the task of lie To-
caUoD dilcult-imp )ssLle. In the very act of ma
KING civsion-so the ill latrd sepsra,ion
shoula be d"creed-you would feel the shock-vou
"ouid sl,fInk from the unnatural disme mberment-
every ieeilng 81 your nature would revolt-and ere
II could be hnally effected YOU would with a frantic
oui an honest rependn and concern arrest the fatal
the suicidal measure
The more the alternative of div.on If a.. co..
u considered and examined the more reason Won o. I'm
Ind TO abhor and to reject it,
Your present form Of Government with all IL, i'm.
projections, has hitherto produced or has greatly as
sisted ~ producing, Union aud harmony among the
dneTent sections of the State, most truly beneficial
anu i0funate union which through period of 6ftv-
Iour years-through times Of varied vcissitude and
Uiai-has remained wholly unbrokeD;-and harmony
"hich has continued almost undsutbed IL i. not
u'mcut TO account for 50 happy state of things A
legislature large az the 10 which YOU bava
been notwithstanding assembling and ire uenv
changing its members-difused among Won a eene,.I
acquaintance and general intelligence Political in
formation was every where circulated The feelings
the Wshes--'hs stes of .r.