Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-10-23
The folIo~iar rr.pAie .Le.eh OF ,l.e Xirxini.

The following grsphie sketch Of ,l.e yirxini
Convention. 10 from the pen of Hvss ID. CAFES
Mt. Esq the sev Editor sr the Norfolk Beseoa
Mr.. Grigsby, will be reeollected, (,hoav
then very young.) VS. chosen to supply the v.
eaney IN that Distinguished body oce.sioo~d b
the resignaiioa Of t:eu. Robert ID. Taylor. Iii
remarks ara founded upon SEXUAL observation
and exhibit powers Of discrimination and Of de
i'ne.tion Of = very high o. der. We consider
Mr.. Grig,by IN acqusition to the editorial corp.
From the Norfolk Beacon, Oct. !.
THE VIRGINIA CONVENTION OF 1895. 30
Five years will this day eIapse, since tn.
Convention, which framed the present Con
sttution Of Virginia, commenced its session
in the Capitol We can scarcely bring our
selves to believe that so many precious rear,
have passed In apparently so short q time
There are some reflections Of Q more interes-
ting character that such an anniversary natu-
rally excites. u was about midday that
Mr.. Madison rose from his seat, and IN q fe W
words, spoken low and under great embar-
rsssmcat, nominated Mr.. Monroe TO the chair.
IL 10 not going too far to assert that the Con-
sention aud the community at large were
ready TO assign that honorsble station 20 the
sage OF Montpelier; but his prompt nomina-
$500 - 49, sssSttots - WStt - us own ccl-
ings, u y said, previously oscertained, Undue.
ed that body TO adopt his motion without dis
sent. u MIR. Madison was embarrassed in
nominating Mr.. Monroe, the latter was morn
than embarrassed IN returning his thank.
from the chair. IL was, however, n time of
generous excitement. Probably Virginia had
never seen as many OF her distinguished son,
gathered together; and when the voice of the
venerable Madison broke the stiffness. of
the scene-when we saw Madison and Mar
shall conduct their compatriot to the chair.
and heard him pronounce in faltering tones
has votive tribute TO those who had conferred
on hun the distinguished honour Of preceding
over their deliberations; we felt fllInes, in
our own bosom, which would induce US 10
pardon the feelings Of Others. Some Of the
elder members Of the body freely shed tears.
Is said from the gallery, where we were,
we saw none ourselves; but the scene was
touching TO one Of warm feelings and gener-
Gus seusibilities. We may more readily i'm
asine than describe the feelings OF Mr.. Mad
ison, Judge Marshall, and Mr.. Monroe =
They had sat before in similar body. and of
all those valiant and lofty spirits that fort,
years before had assembled near the same
spot where they then sat, with the exec ption
oil Two Others, not members Of the present
BODY, fhty alone surrirsd. They had not bee n
-'y Paci~ oouy siuCo ana the memory
OF Graysou, Wythe, PendIeton, Mason, Lee.
Henry, and their other compatriots, fitted n.
cross hem.-And here, by the way, in look.
ing over the names Of those Who sat in the
Convention Of 1888 and 1929, we see exem-
Piihed the wonderful effects Of the statute of
descents- There are, with the execution of
hr. Madison, Judge Marshall and MIR. Mon
roe, scarcely half q dozen Of the name, OF
the one 20 be found in the other and those
not hneel descendants, and, for the most mar
not related 10 each other and this, too. in
the Old Dominion, and in the space OF forty
years Farther, TO give the good old statute
us dne praise, we will say, at the hazard Of
the imputation OF rashness, that il thu Com
vention Of SO could have appeared in nron-
er person, or by their lneai Representative,
we are quite sure that, in degree and VARIETY
oil talent and moral worth, they would have
acknowledged their equals in the ablest and
most eloquent members Of the present Con-
ventioo. This ve say 10 no improper spirit.
We revere almost TO idolatry the great and
good name and fame Of our fatherS; but we
are unwilling TO succumb 20 that antiquarian
spirit that is Perpetually seeking to sacrifice
The present al the shrine Of the past.
IL will be remembered that the election.
Tor members Of the Convention had taken
pace early IN the summer; and the repuia-
uon OF great number Of the successful
candidates had traversed the Union. Public
expectation had fastened itself on the boSy !;
and - the session Was 10 be had in October
q period Of time when, according 10 Bari
HAL, half the American people arc on the
wing, u was not surprising TO find a large
number OF people from every section OF the
Union congregated II the CspitoI.-The pub-
llc had already singled out the persons Of the
drama, and assigned 90 the actors their re-
spectIve parts. u Is needless to say that
public expectation was entirely at fault
The great debate on the Bssis Of Representa-
tion at last began. Then came the splendid
debut OF Judge Upshur-a wonderful speech
by whatever test you may try II. Whether
We consider the hne action Of the speaker or
The happy eloquence and sound philosophy Of
the speech, Il was one OF the most powerful
addresses 10 which we ever listened. Notwith-
standing, one msy guess our surprise, when
on visit a short time Afterwards 10 the north.
We found eopious extracts from il printed in
,he northern ciass-books, and heard them
acclaimed IN the northern colleges
Cooke, Green, Scott, Morris, Barbour.
Leish, mercer, Joynes, Stanard and Ran-
dolPh, AL made good speeches on this yexsd
question but IL was not for his speech on the
basis question, which was . map Of the whole
subject, that Mr. Leigh won his great fame
on the floor Of the Convention. For year,
he had msdItatsd on the subject Of virsisia
Affairs add his knowledge Of every Thing
connected with them was so minute, that no
one who was not present or acquainted sith
tbs events Of the day, could fora an adequate
idea OF the extent and accuracy OF N.
knoWIsdgo. u 5000 appeared that the bu.i-
hess Of leadiog counsel for the Common
meAsh. ~ she then was, devolvsd on him
ns performed bis part brsVsly, boblJ, splso-
aS ., rule IN SyotaK runnelh, sptu,
ed doeendum Mr LsiEh was ap1us "A s,~-
nasaa~. se weston Of the sliEhtest de-
Ah % "eigh,isr matters Of the constitution
oe me 'pee'ho charge ~ the burning Of
Zee kegs Of damaged EunPo-dsr. ar tbs eco.
eral accusation q misruie 60 On ro,f,t. d.
he vas ever ready 10 take the hs,4 uttsyl,
regardless Of time or place, or the sst-h' -
metal pointed against him. You we're rese,,.d.
ed Of that fpOssession--that eternal rssa.
iness--ihattoO O'eioek ~ ihs morning courage.
which Napoleon 20 much admired IN Massc.
M.