Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-09-24
Gbe Constitutional geaDig.
HENRICO ELECTION.


As friendly Mr. Legh's election We should betray
distrust of the validity of his claims, by excluding
the elaborate, and vehement attack which occupies
so much space in our columns this morning while as
the conductors OF Press. not nominnlly only bu.
absolutely free, we under the self imposed ne
cnity of opening to the decent advocate of every
political opinion. We do not say this by way of
apology to Mr.. Leigh or Mr.. Leighs friends, but
embracing this opportunity re-a6irm the ndepend
ence of this Journal and to the impression
iRdlstriously made by enemies, that it vas partzan
and sided
we have abstaned from any interference in the
Henrico election hitherto, beyond the occasional
preston of verbal opinion; but the county in
which we live, and Press is now used to con-
vey attack of Mr. Leigh, calculated to make
some impression TO his disadvantage, we feel that we
have the right to speak of the Henrico election and
that this is the proper occasion for doing So
When Mr.. Legh's purpose of stan ding for Henri
CO was first made known, W. felt the prejudces and
the opposition, liable be felt by Conventionists
and Non Freeholders. We Witnessed his early eff
forts against the call of Convention in 1894, his
unrelenting opposition throughout the intermediate
period. and finally, his vehement resistance of many
CONCESSIONS which We believed 10 have been demand
cd by the people, to be withheld by absurd and anti
republican fears of their agency in Government, and
to be necessary to square the practice TO the theory
of our Institutions We had seen him discharge the
rights Of man from his political creed, and ridcule
them idle distractions, deny to numbers the right
to rule, and transfer to other qualities discard eve
~ thing like feeling sentiment from his reasonngs
and prefer Republican Government the cold
ground of utility, and look for that political safety in
the antiquity of existing institutions. which he des-
o.xoI, Cd, D. T.,
anazement, him and his Eastern associates, in the
Convention, avowing tenets which expect
ed would the Atlantic in time, which least
of all, never imagined would first find home and
resting place IN Virginia. humble
caption, with the principles of Hambden, Sidney,
Russell, Locke and Jefferson hostile tendency,
the change revolution, deprecating them asthc
last and of national curses considering political
institutions made for the people, but the people
for GezD, intoxicating acquieseence in things as they
ore, and which if generally received, must have
rested the Revolution of 1899 In England as well as
OF I716 in America! Such sincere impress
sons of the new doctrines broached by the Heroes
of the mixed basis in the late Con venon. Vne and
reflection have satisfied that the advocates heated
by debate and struggling for power, went farther in
speech than in thought. I'VE knoH many of them
personally we II, and that they are as good Repub
nps az ready to strike for liberty and die i'll her
cause, as any others
But N any event. whether the sentiments described
be really Mr. Lsigh's otherwise, is not material
to the present question The convention has passed.
rinGples have been decided, and all that remains to
be dGae is to arrange details, and to SGT the new go
vernment agoing in the best possible manner. were
Mr. heigh monarchist land we all know him to be
republican in thought and daily fe his abstract opn-
ions upon government would aot IMPAIR his capacity
TO be useful in che next General Assembly. Ills
opinions on Religion, have just as much to do WITH
the matters which will be canvassed and settled there
vast field of labo- lies before that Assembly, only
inferior in consequence, to the Convention ltsen
Where is the laborer whom the people OF HenrIco
can employ, 81 competent TO de @at is expected of
a representative? MIR. Mosby is gentleman OF
rood sense and independence-Mr. Williams an n-
sellgsnt lawyer and worthy gentleman--Mr. Ran
dolph highly intelligent and perfectly independent
Mr. Mayo equally we'll informed and respectable
Sume perhaps all of these gentlemen, are more close
" identified in daily habit and association with the
people of Henrico, than MI Leigh--some of them
perhaps hold opinions generally popuar--but
is any one of them, all of them together, Icould
they all be in the House of Deegstes,) qualified to
hold the sane high place with Mr.. Leigh IN its delib
erations shed the lustre over the constituent
body to exercise the same influence TO render the
same valuable service to the county and the State?
All, even those gentlemen themselves, will answer
in the negatlve--for 1t has happened in this Henrco
canvass vhat we believe happened before, that
all. Mr. Leighs compeptors have conceded to that
gentlemen superiority--a concession not less hon
durable to him. than to the candor and good sense OF
them who make it. Eminent IN debate learned
above all the State in its statute laws With weight
of character to give the utmost effect to bis Abilities
and with not merely capacity but positive lore
for work. for It's sake it is self-evideDt that Mr.
Lelghs qualifications for beng servceabIe to the
people of Henrco. must be rated far above those Of