Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-05-18
From the Literary Messenger Of 4gprn.
CONVENTION OF VIRGINIA

I attended the debates of this body fort
night. The Capitol, in which the Conven
tion sat, is fine building nobly situated -
more so than any other have seen in ,hi.
country.
Richmond is a picturesque pluce the
James looks beautiful there in snripo inorn.
ing: the rocks, and islands, and flaming
rapids, and murmuring falls, and foatin 9
mists, all light and glorious, under a clear
blue sky.
The Convention boosted o! several men 81
Observation-Disclosures, Monree, Giles, Mar
shall, Randolph, Leigh, Tazeweli, &c
RIr. Madison sat on the left Of the speak
er-Mr. Monroe on tho right
Mr.. MADISON spoke once f,r half an
hour; but although pin might have been
heard 10 drop, so low was his tone, that from
The gallery could distinguish only one word
and that was, Constitution. He stood not
more than six feet from the Speaker. When
he rose, great part OF the members lief,
their seats, and clustered around the aged
statesman, thick ~ swarm OF bees
MIR. Madison was small man, of ample
forehead, aud some obliquiy of vision, Ct
thought the effect probably ofaye.) his eyes
appearing Ia be slightly intruverteJ Ills
dress was plain; his oyercnat faded brown
SarlOut.
Dir. MoNRoE was very wrinkled and
weather electromagnetic in attitude and
susiure, and his speeches only common place
hir. GILES wore a crutch-was then Go
vernon of the Stale. His style Of delivery
"as perfectly convers.tional-no gesture
no effort; hut IN ease, fiuency, and fact, sure
iy he had not there his equal; his words
were like honey pouring from an eastern
rock.
JUDGE MARSHALL, whenever he smoke.
90 it.hty splI a.,
attracted great attention. Ills appearance
was revolutionary and patriarchal. Tall, in
long suriout of blue, with face OF genius,
AID an eye of fire, his mini possessed The
rare faculty OF condensation he distilled an
argument t.wn 10 lis essence.
There were i7ro parties in the house the
western, or radical-:he eastern, or conser>
ral:ve. Judge Marshall proposed something
Az the nature OF a compromise.
JOHN RANDoLPH was remark ably de-
lrberate, distinct, and emphatic. lie articu-
lated eXceiiendy, and gave the hAppiesi Ct
acct 10 all lac said. His person was lrail and
uncommon-his face pale and withered-but
his eye radiant Us diamond. lie owed
perhaps, niese 10 aiis ruanner than Is his mat
ter; and his mind was rather poetcal than
logical. Yet in his eYu peculiar vein, he
~ rs superior 10 any ofhis contemporaries.
BENJAMIN WATKINS LEIGH cut
distinguished figure in the Conv eniion as the
leader oil the lowiand party Hi dic,ion is
clear, correct. eiega.t, and might he safely
committed 10 print just as spoken. Yet
shigh as he stands, lie is oct perhaps in the
highest rank of speakers. lie never iightens,
never thunders; lac Can charm, he can con-
.Xinee, bu; he Can hardly oxeTwhr!m.
sir. TAZEw ELL never saw up hu, once,
for moment, on point oi orders IA tall
iine-lo0king man.
r. T. BARBOUR presided over the body
with great dignity and ease
or thess seven extraordinary men. five
nave siace died. to wit Monroe, Giles, RAM
fuolFh, Marshall, and Madison.