Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-02
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

The present year will be one long to be remembered;
!; WIN form an era in your history. In the of
thi' year. some already past. and others yet be de-
veioped will perhaps depaEd the blessings or the woes
oil yourselves and your posterity.
The Convention OF 1929, assembled at your CALI
perhaps the abesl body assembled in this anien
Commonwealth OF Virginia. body, containing not on
the younger promise, but the venerable paarchs OF
the iand'-having executed the high and responsible
trust reposed by your confidence, have adjourned
ihey nave agreed upon an amended Contributions and
10 YOU In your paramount and sovereign capacity that
constitution Is now TO be submitted for ratification or
election.
Will you ra,ify M or viii you reject it!-Impor,ant-
aimportant, indeed, your decision OF this
and momenous question. Your decision will be felt
| by future as well present times On your correct
gener atoms.
/ Ihis estimate OF the importance, which belongs to
your correct decision of this Que ton not over rated
or extravagant IL the amended Constitution he really
desirable and happy one, and is accepted great
anu long sought blessing will at length have been
cured ", on the other hand however il is thus desi-
rable and il be rejected if il be the contrary and
should be adoped then, in either event. the truth is
equally certain that great and grevous evils too
10 ne iremedabe,-must consequently and inc vitality
ensue In the one case, by the adoption OF bad Con.
stuoon' Its errors and imperecton.its yoke whether
injustice or positive oppression will be fixed, perhaps
permanently hxed upon your necks. In the other by
rejecting good one, the evil and the danger will be
no less mminent-The distraction of the countrv d.
vided in itsef-dissasfed with the old existing order
OF ihngs,-rejectng every new,-sll calling for fur
Their changes,-will discrelt the cause, and Justly
Importance of your determination, must be evident.
1t 10 the purpose OF the humble Individual who now
addresses you humble he is indeed and who owes
the only dtnction of his life, to the indugent par,ia
ty OF portion OF yourselves i'm seref of brief art
Giles, to bring under your view Of the mos, promi.
nent considerations Involved in this enquiry He wish.
es TO invite your attention, before you make your cleo
.ion' 10 lar and deliberate comparison Of the old ex
listing, aud the new amended Consttu on-ioa free
and d'passionae investigation Of the subject unbas-
| ed by party feeling or by local pr judce
PprhaDs fhatf hia anbi L.. l..
been fully and sufficiently discussed in the debates Of
the Conventional is true, that il has been discussed
and In many instances with transcen dant ability But
should not be recollected that all which has been adj
vanced in the Convention, offensive or defensive in
s character-controversiai in it, naure-an was con-
sequenty infected with the partial views naturallv
nay, necessarily incident TO discussion of This de-
scripion-Were not also the debates Of the CoDven-
ton issued forth to the pubc-burning with warmth
"a heat little calculated 10 invite or 10 assist dispas
.iona'e enquiry or dispas'ionae Judgment
did not statistical statements, unnvi,ing
tactics II tie nndersood-and other causes often EN-.
harrs's the vision OF the plain citizen, reading those
debates-and obscure the subject, if not totally hide IL.
merits from his view?-From their great length ton
many had metive or opportunity, 10 give them atten.
tive perusaIt the design, then, Of the humble in
hivi5ua who addr esses TO you this article and
who has no partial view to dpendno favoriie theory
to advocate honestly and faithfully, unbiased wholly
az he is--wih truth only for his polar stsr-o conduct
and accompany you, through enquiry impartial and
dispassonate, into this important subject-an enquiry
which surely must be necessary before you can cor
rectly or consistently decide the interesting question
whether you will still cling to the old, adopt the ne
amended Contribution The subject shall be conduct.
ed IN numbers too short TO fatigue, and in the plain style
OF an epistolarv freedom.
The result Of this scrutiny, II is firmly believed will
be conviction, thoroughly impressed that the amend
ed Constitution, proposed by the Convention for |
rathcaton, although IL may not be perfect in its every
feature, is the best, that at this time and under x
ing circurn'snces, could possibly be formed-perhaps
the very best that the dscordant interests and The
consequent sectional ealouses Of large state could
ever allow.
In attempting this invesg aGan-this comparison Of
the Constituions-while il certainly on gh 10 be can
did and free, still every circumstance demands that II
should be calm -d'passionate liberal The Storm IL
rue, has passed. and the angry OF freted feel
ing have subsided;but II will be long beore the ur
bid waters-the agitaed eiemenis-again become per.
ietuy clear II will be long-too long IL is 10 he fear
edheore there Is entire subsistence Of the excite
ment and the olarm-of those suspicious and aousies
which that storm OF kindred feeling produced. II
would yet take very little chafe again the temper of
society IL shall be my study, there iore to give no
provocation.
There is another obstacle to the fir and
nVes'igauonoi this subject, at which will now only
hint. and 10 which shall hereafter fotbear in any way
to allude l, requires 10 be touched with delicate
and careful hand But ills a circumstance which in
pursuing This investigation, shews the necessy and
calls loudly FOR the ex rcise Of literally candour
impartial judgment. II addresses itself TO your mag.
nanmity.-No doubt many individuals, and some sec.
tons oil The state. think that the adoption OF The new
CONSTITUTION viii involve sacrifice Of their peculiar
nterests' IN socetyior such II the nature Of socie
V-there must ever be some nterests-private and
ocaI-subordfnate TO the interests Of the community
But when the good and patriotic citizen rememhers
the blessings he enjoysrecolects what large propor
lion OF those blessings he owes 10 the common stock
the public fund of bene6ts-and considers how that
fund would be narrowed, destroyed II every part
cular Interest wssto be consulted at is expenses he