Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-08-06

esation that the vhoie discussion Of the merit Presi
defidt Election is precipdfe and premature" hope
you will regard imrortunate and least Of all
in presenting the claims and enforcing the
nomination Of our distinguished and able statesman, Benz
jamn W. Leigh for the Office OF the chief msgstracy of
ha Unon once again. through the columns Of your wide
~ circulating paper The feelings excited by the last
election have sbsded the former candidates long
o. In the field Of competition; the obnoxious aud o'ous
Tariff laws have been, TO the extent OF reasonable
plau repealed, or at least so modified in laudabe spirit
OF compromise as to SATISFY The South under the
Of conhning the duties the importation OF foreign goods
aud mauuxctures after the year lSi3 solely the pur
poses of the storm OF Modification has passed
away, without impairing the strength diminishing the
epiendour OF single pillar Of the grand temple Of IL
herties-the Union; and the Federal principles Of the
Presidents Proclamation, trust, have been reassgnei at
least In Virginia. the ioefl tombs OF the Alien and Sc
diion laws leaning ho,cever, the spirit Of patriotism that
dictated IL in full life and rigor. The people
calm aud dspassonatc aud consequently better prepared
than at any other fine, well TO weigh and rightly
prccate the merits OF those who may be brought forward
az Candidates for the highest and important Office in
their gilt JUDGED, the people themselves have already
commenced the Ere this, public meetings for
The nomination OF Mr. Leigh have been held in Meckion
burg, Lunenburg, Brunswick, Essex aud Caroline and
the published reports of the last oa
with sentiments favourable TO his election throughout the
whole range OF celebrations in Virginia. The people of
the Old Dominion saw too well the fruits OF procrasna
ton, developed in the election of Vice President
vote real bandonment OF principle and consistency by
enabling another Baltimore Conuenton impose upon
them " Nec York Magician ); will they permit
the golden opportunity OF putting forward man, true to
the principles of 9S and $50 pass and then
he compelled to choose again between the least If svs
But the Van Burenites the threshold and tell
Mr.. Leigh be elected for they ailsge) he is
not known sufficiently hrou ghout the Union; ergo we
must vote Tor Mr. Van Buren, 1t precisely because
latter IS so cel knon that he ought not 10 be
elected at least by the aid Of those who profess 10 belong
TO the Jeersonian School 1t is impossible however that
Me- Leigh can be unknown to the intelligent people of
the United States. When Mr. Giles and Mr. Brent were
members OF the United States Senate rom Virginia the
denied the right OF the Legislature to instruct them upon
the subject OF chartsrng the U. s. Bank Tin 1871 Mr.
Brent voted against the instructions Mr. Giles voted in
accordance with them, but addressed letter the Gene
raj Assembly denying the obligatory force their auto
ry 10 instruct them Mr. Leigh, then Young man wa,
at the time member Of the Assembly, and at the head of
Comniee appointed for the purpose, prepared report
IN vnd'caon OF the right and authority OF the Legislature
to Instruct which for force OF argument and beauty OF
style, was unsurpassed by the productions of the Oldest
ard abest statesmen of the day During the fall term of
the Supreme Court OF Appeals Of Virginia in 1870 Mr.
Leigh asked permission qualify bar
was then decided by the whole Court consisting Judges
M Fleming, Spencer Roane and ST. George Tucker that
in addition TO the oaths OF qualification heretofore used
" such eases he must take the oath prescribed in the Sd
lection OF the late Act TO suppress duelng; which he re
used to do and subsequently, on the 10th of November
Sl0 he again moved the Court admit him to the Bar
70 hittaking the usual oaths, ,oout the duelling one
nd after hearing him, through long and pow agu.
hent, manifesng the evident range research the
Court decided in favor of his admission the Bar with.
out taking the oath against duellng See LIST Mumtod's
Reports, page 1857 AT that time, Mr.. Leigh must have
been very young and his Speech certainly proves him to
nave been an able, eloquent Lawyer. From that time. he
mas been regular aud laboous practitioner tho Court
OF Appeals, in Richmond, where he now stands
iy at the head of his profession. His arguments able
eloquent and logical, be found i'm Mumiol's Re-
ports, Randophs Reports Gilmer's Reports and Leigh.
Repors--these the Lawyers throughout the Union At
leas nave read Mr. Leigs Essays in the public news
papers, have always been Interesting aud able as 10
arouse in the community spirit of enquiry as to the
author, which has resulted in the fact that his style and
manner are now we'll known in Virginia. that TO know
.ne author, Is necessary only to read his Communica
tons as they are published. Mr. Leigh was once deput
ed or commissioned by the Legislature of this State to
appear before the Legislature OF Kentucky in advocating
the cause OF Virginia in reference to conflicting Land
Claims between the two States, where, in opposition TO
the Cicero OF the Vest Mr.. Clay he won himself the
distinction OF great Orator and an able LACQUER
Since that time, Convention has called to remodel
!he Conshtunon OF Virginia which met in the Capitol in
the CITY OF Richmond on the 9th of October 1929 Thi.
Convention combined the choicest talent of the State
o. what was venerable Tor years and long service;
many oil those, who respected their wisdom
aud their ecquence; two of The Elk of the II
s., the Chief Justice of the United States of those
VINO naa been most distinguished in Congress the State
lie gsature on the Bench at the Bar to-
( her Tor the momentous purpose OF laying anew the
i''amenial law of the land" All eyes from Maine TO
Mexico from the shores OF the Atlantic TO the Rocky
Mountains, were turned with intense interest to the de-
alterations OF this sage Assembly. Madison and Monroe
Chief Justice Marshall, Giles and Randolph in the COL
den days OF the Republic, hal BEEN by universal accia
nanon placed on the towering heights of 'Me Cliffs of
fas, ana they with others less known distinction,
were called to the work OF altering and modifying the old
est tcritten Constitution ever formed TO shield and
serve the Liberties Of man. Mr. Leigh was n memher of
.ns also; and withstandng the great names
me distinguished patriots, the splendid genius and the
(supposed) nnriva'ed abilities with which he was sur
rounded, he and continued among them Ejont
IN argument, AMI ''a Cupid in eioquence'' brsakrg
down me barriers oil his opponents striking the
oil so many WIN conviction that, the form OF
adopted by The Convention, has been since Familiarity
termed -" M Leigfs CONSTITUTIONS. Since that time
with tina exception OF the ensuing session OF the Ic-
gisature Intended principally put the new Govern
.ncnt Into operation, MIR Leigh has remained in The
enjoyment OF private life The cool sequestcred shade"
oil whlcn has ever presented more charms 10 him
thsn (" The blaze IF glory, which may be occasionally
won In political warfire TO illuminate the public path
way OF victorious PartiZsns. When however the last
Legislature oil virginia looked TO the South and behe
me darken'ng smoke OF civil war; curling in awful and
Tremendous volumes above the southern horizon and nd
vancing with the dleadul flame of Notifications 10 con-
sune the grand fabric OF Republic and 10 blast for
ever, the last fond hope of political freedom tina, beat in
tho hearts OF phianhrops aud patriots and the same
time received the Presidents warlike manifesto from
washington City, denouncng upon the citizens of Sou,h
carolina who should resist the laws of the Union alter
ls OF February, the penalties Of violated soverejcntv:
they looked around for the patriot qualified to mediate
between The bclligereDt parties and com.
'nissoned Benjamin w Leigh, Esq, the minister OF ne
10 south carolina. He accepted the appointment re
paired TO Charleston, appeared before the an
tiofiiies OF the State as the Ambassador Peace
vailed on them TO suspend their Ordinance of Nuilif-
cafton, aud thus restored tranquility and harmony to our
almost "deeding country And yet ii is said by the
modest ond candid supporters OF the High Priest of
dgcians, that Ibis man, through whose
the Union itself has been preserved is not known be-
yond the limits Of Virginia It's true he never souobt
ONCE Even last winter he srenuously urged by
many members OF the Legislature permit his name 10
be put IN nomination for the Senate of the u States vet
under sre prospect of success he refused TO be run as
canddate, preierng the calm private 10 The s,ornos
n Nall ~