Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-16
FROM THE wELLspuRG GAZETTE.
No. III.

Fello'c Cti-ens Of U1esteyn Tiyrinin:
zen: S'ordons compromise became by accident the
llosI famous OF all the compromises 1t obtained its
celebrity from no sort of merit whatever Suppose
PAIR OF scales in equipose or nearly so take ono
pound ont of one scale and place it ,Ipon the floor
the other scale OF course by the law of gravity
Ponderates. Shall we ascfibe any merit or an,
aceaSht to the pound upon the floor? But if Won mn
inc pound on the floor, into the scale which has pre
ponderatcd 1T has then the merit of nyinp orea,c,
had this scheme. ''"0ii heFn
Gen. Gordon made good speech in favor of tho
1rh,ie basis, and so did John r. Cook. ESQ. of The
valley; They failed not to disseminate correct
principles. For these speeches we never censnreJ
them But when the era of comeromises arr;vad
TINS trying period to all those who had vanity tn tb;n
of to desire to be the saviours of the Com
.lohweaNh' We found that speeches were one thing
ana compromises another Unfortunately these pef,i
tleInen were too much alarmed for the integrity and
safety OF the State Possessed strong
ana fruitful fances they streams OF blood flames
or fire. villages and haInets. in srnokiuo rrins and
heard the screams widows and the cries of orphans
ali over the Commonwealth, where no other Gentle
man i'aa eyes 10 see or ears to hear such terrors
consequential upon our holding fast our principles,
upon our maintaining the doctrine of the white ba
SIS and upon our remaining firm in the doctrine of
equal rights to which these gentlemen had avowed
allegiance.
Our sagacious polite, and powerful enemies GOOD
Judges too, oil human nature, knew how to fiatter
ana whom 10 fiatter;-they knew how to alnrm
when TO alarm, and whom TO alarm. And whether
they suspected terror, vanity extraordinary pat
rlotisl to work in the bosonfs of the comnrnin;s;
friends of the white basis they knew how to admins
ter alternatives stlmulants or sedatyes ACCORDING
to the indications OF the symptoms lust rs the patient
required. Hence it was that Gen. Gordon's scheme
was well managed, and Mr.. Cooks patriotism much
respected. $500
We saw, indeed, the jeopardy in which cur hopes
We're placed, and feared that some person on orr side
OF the house, might take it into his head to be me-
dator and the saviour of the country, and whether
from vanity, or patriotism it mattered not if the at
tempt were made. we anticipated defeat We saw
TOO that when we were almost equally divided
s',ong tePtat1oD presented itself to any who wish
ed for the distinction, who was ambitious of tho
honor OF being the keystone of some great arch
stretched over the watets of strife. The evil antci-
Paed was unfortunately realized. .4nd no gentleman
pho stepped out Of our rd,ESto make a COMPROMISE
dnvolring the principle cver got bach again.
The eagerness with which our antagonists seized
the compromise was honorable to our cause, tbonrb
fatal to our triumph In that Convention. Posteriiy
cannot fan to view their almost unanimous acceptance
oil the compromise unequivocal surrender of
their principles; at least, an unquestionabIe CON
cessIon 10 the strength of the cause we plead II
must be viewed IN this light. One party plead
for one scheme or form Of government the other
party plead fOr another, and almost opposite scheme
OF government. In the mean time plan is proposed
not regarding either scheme in the abstract. One
party accedes 10 the new or third scheme the other
viii not; what is the conclusion The party which
accodes abandons its scheme from principle or
from policy; if from principle the other irumphed in
re1son' if from policy it triumphed in strength
Gen Gordon, feeling the greatest solictude for the
safety of this favorite tanting, watched over with
all paternal anxiety Its health and prosperity en-
crossed his whole soul Like kind and aAectionnte
father ne was willing to hazard every thing for it,
He would not permit 1t TO form my alliance viii auy
other scheme or principle. No principle could com
pound or amalgamate with it, 1t had no sort of aft
nty for any one truth in the science Of government
He would not suffer any rule OF future superintendent
to be expended TO it. He refused it the aid Of even
conservative principle lest it should detrac from it's
merit or It's support. lie would not even give per
petuty to 1T upon It's own rationale. This made it
paatable to the East. and they adopted it because it
was a nopri1cipted compromise
Still the West and their real frieuds in the East
did not quite abandon oil hope officiating this proet
Assurances were given from sundry gentlemen that
= Gee. Gordons plan sbouj be reioctcd, G. fG ua-