Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-10-23

the comparative obscuriiy Of Mr.. Leigh with
the celebrity OF some Of his brethren, " hs
had shone in the national councils, quoted the
result to dcmonstrate the ignorance Of the
people, who generally sent their worst met
abroad and kept their best at home.
In looking over the list Of names, which
were called over and over again, day .tsI
day and month after month, til every ons bc-
csme disgusted with the sound Of his owr
name, some awful blanks sppear. .Ns~i,
osas J6tih Of the original msnbsys are in ~.
grsrs' Now VIC would infer q prieri tina,
such . body, composed mostly Of elderly
men, would soon pass away. But, as IL hum an
anticipations were eel st nought, those have
died, who for the most part, were strong and
active, and who had fair prospect Of attain
ing healthy old age. We might epare
ourselves for the loss Of Monroe, Giles, and
We might add Doddridgc and Randolph; but
who would have thought that the recording
angel had written the names Of Fitxhugh.
Campbell, Powell. Morris, Cloyd, Wilson.
Nacrae, Green, Taylor, Mennis, Bates and
Bsyly, in the book OF death men who's.
chances OF life seemed not only ~ good a.
those oil their colleagues, but equal to those
OF the same number OF men 10 be found any
wheret Yet the old and ioGrm are left 10
weep over their ashes.-When we coos,der
the diminution of numbers, the comparative
health and youth Of those who have died.
and the lapse Of years since the sdiournmen Mt
which may DO supposed TO bear upon all. but
particularly the aged, we almost turn away
rom the conclusion, that IL . proportion a te
decree VI mortality await the survivors. in
I'VE years, not more than one half ~ilI re-
main, and In ten years from this date, nj the
same ratio, scarcely dozen.
The mortality Is greater in kind and ex-
tent than ordinary calculations would have
allowed; and 10 seems TO Us almost startling.
AND the wonder Is not diminished, when we
consider the mortality Of the members Of the
virginia convention Of SO. The number of
that body, rs gathered from the ave. and
noes on the ratification OF the Federal Con-
stitution. was for that instrument SO, and
against 1t 20; which makes the whole num-
DER 10 De los. Now, with our know ledge Of
The names OF the survivors, we can recognize
only three living, viz Mr.. Madison, Judge
Marshall, and General Cocke.-Judge Stuart
was the last who died. Perhaps some eve
more severe than our own may detect here
aud there q survivor; but they will not over
reach half dozen. The interval between
the two Conventions was forty years and
three months; say 40 years; and the num-
Der OF the hrst was los, and the last 96. OF
los, the number Of the frat, strike off G for
The survivors rs above, and the name Of Judge
stuart, who died since the adjournment Of
the last Convention; and we have I6I who
died IN the space Of 10 years, that is 4 a year
which Is ut the rate Of 90 ia S years. The
last Convention consisted, as we have said,
OF 20 members; and in the space of FIVE years,
10 nave died, or (spesking OF the original
members) counting Judge Dade, who resign.
ed, and Doct Reid, who died, without having
taken their seats in the body, l8 have paid
the debt OF nature that Is Is out Of 20.
which is not far from I year, and ne arIy
one NTH Of the whole number. Thus il ap-
pears that the mortality Of the late Conyen-
tion nearly equals that Of the Convention OF
IS aud when the relative numbers Of the
Two bodies are considered, almost double, IL
IN the same space Of Hne.s
We began at the beginning, and will end
win the adjournment Of the Convention. III
the beginning was 4 scene of emotion, the
conclusion was still more so. The tide Of
party ran strong and full during a session OF
more than three mouths, and every one in
and out OF the Convention felt more or les.
during the time the intensity Of excitement.
but the time was come, when old and Young
-frieDds and enemies-were about TO pa RI
70 meet no more. No eye could have dis
covered the cloud OF death that hung back
ABOVE Them but we had almost said that
imagination had gathered cloud even dark
or Than The reality. For no one thought OF
me strong and vigorous. but every eye seem
ed liked on few old men Of exalted talent
and public worth, who would soon leave Us
and be no more. And when the Convention
aoJourned, all pressed 90 shake by the hand
hese venerable men Of the past age. We
anticipate, however, . little. On the last
Gay Of The session, II was early rumored that
hr. Randolph would present the usual reso-
luton OF thanks TO the chair; and this tended
10 heighten the animation Of the scene. We
need scarcely add that MIR. Randolph per-
formed THIS duty In his baPpiest manner
Soon after, when Mr.. Leigh moved the ad-
Journment, Judge Barbour, the President Of
the body, rose and pronounced one Of the
most appropriate addresses TO which we ever
listened. u vas full Of just sentiment and
elevated patriotism. and touched the heart Of
every one who heard him. when he concIu-
ued hs VaIedictory, the motion was put, and
the Convention adjourned sine de-
Our calculation may not be msshenAtiealIy
correct bait give our data, Nhiel, will enable
any one 10 form his own calculations