Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-02-07
CORA.


airy last, observed, (and Ii il;oi T'iio c o a:t IF the lsih Jann-
munlcatiGn over the signature Of car ESSEX Man. in
winch the writer is pleased 10 rcirr 10 the late Essex
Convention, with an appeal 10 the resident VOTERS Of The
Congressional Dlstrict-w!ich appeal is apparently made
up OF declarations, rrcomurn additions, and advicci The
writer first, then, declares that in has great yenrra,ion
and respect for the old maxim, United we stand, divided
we fall; bnt (said hr) | cannot give my cordial assen. to
the proceedings of that meeting. Here il brcnmes up.
parent to every unpreiudiccd mind, that The Essex gen
tleman has lost sight Of that Republican principle so
long held sacred by the sons Of liberty, and his conduct
is such, that if effected would in all human probability.
produce a division amung tho Democratic Re publIcans
Secondly, he recommends John NJ. Garneit, Esq OF
Essex, as one who could unite The party more effective
~ than any Other man in the district. To this declara.
ton hImbly beg leave to join issue with the Essex
gentleman: by denying his facts: as for example, have
been, for several years past, i constant observer nf rulI-
teal events, and as far as my knowledge extends,
think ! can with ~propriety declare, that the nominee Of
the late Essex Con IGNITION, could unite the adin!nistrn-
ton party more effectively, and ii fact, he is one among
the most prominent men IN The district Feiln" cliI-
zcnS, am not in the habit Of culnglSing living men, but
| cannot, in Justice 10 my feelings, leave this par, o; the
subject, witl!nut passing an encnmlum on AIR. Garlcit
am acquainted with that gentleman, and have always
esteemed him as Il worthy citizen, an active democratic
republican: and as a gentleman, possessing integrity and
ability.
Thirdly: II is TO be regretted, that the Essex writer
has Owed more deeply into perilous danger. By advising
the call of another Convention, and that from Caroline
there ought 10 be from IL 10 10 det8atTs, anu fRCH
other county in proportion. My Essex friend, | pre-
sumo you are not aware of The dIrelul effects OF another
Conveniently for, be We well assured, The moment your
plan is carried into operation. it will produce confusion,
and awiuiIy fear a dissolution Of The Democratic ite-
publicans, and the rcincd, would br worse than the dis.
ease. Oh how the Wings would be delighted at such
Il calamity the young Wings would BE- constrained
to laugh with their mouths. while the elder, more
skilled IN those arts, would laugh in their sleeves al SUCH
il division; for it is their only hope OF Success. Hence
II ~ ibp i,nrnnrIul NaSbtnUtDu in his irlier 10 lna Ire.
sident of Congress, declared j; imprac'icail" to secure
all rights of inda pcndcnl soverei rnly ~ e1ch, AID yet pro-
vide for the interest and safety Of all Consequently ind.
viduas entering into society, must gave III u share I'll Iitc-
rest, TO preserve the rest. Now, if my Essex friend please,
| will put him on a better plan than Ir proposes, that Is.
to rive over another Convention, and let Us a. Il baud vi
brothers, unite together in one common cause, having
for our motto, Liberty and Independence, and irt US arise
in the power Of our strength; put on the beautiful ar.
mour OF: democracy, and declare To the world by precrPt
and example, that we will not subintto wear the yoke
of aristucracy! Fel!ow.cilizens, under those painful cir
cumstancrs, now beg leave to uIer, Tor your consiucra'
lion, Il few general remarks, relevant 10 Il ~subj"ct matter
Of great impor,nnce-a subject interesting to all those,
horn. sir, in 4 land Of liberty; and were 10 consult my
feelings alone, on The present cccasinn. dare say l
should return my pen without another scrip but have
determined, so long as | can raise my feeble arm and
voice to defend lhc rights of the people, having for th"ir
object liberty and democracy. The subject matter Tor dis
cussion is, whether the late Essex convention was mex.
pedient or not. do contend, and hope 10 be able 10
show, to The satisfaction Of the people OF the district, the
cxpedicncy of that Convention; this subject involves
three qucstions-first, was that Convention ex~pedient:
Secondly, had the people a right to form that Convcn-
ton ? and thirdly, was The nominee of that Convention,
Il judicious one To tLnse three intcrrogatorles, l am
constrained 10 answer in The affirmative.
Fellow ilizrus, il is under thuse three heads design
to defend a free and intelligent people, and have no
doubt but | shall to their satisfaction, introduce ample
le.timuny touching the premises: Fist, was that Coa-
renlion cx prdieml: 1t ccttainly was, as for example, you
are " ell aware that the hon. John Roane, our present
representative in Congress, has been induced, from his
advanced years and i'll health, to retire from the political
stage Of action, after the present session, and the De-
mocra'ic Republicans OF the District, have become
unwilling 10 be represented by any other than a warm
supporter Of the principles and policy which have cha
ractrriScd the administration OF our venerable Chici Md
ristrale consequently The People Of the District have
thought it most advisable, 10 exercise one of their re-
served rights by going into convention for an inter.
change of opinion, and to make due selection OF an III
disidual best qualified to rcpresem! them in the next Con.
grcss of the United States. This, felIow.citizenS, ~
one of those fundamental principles which alone belong
10 the people, in their sovereign and representatives cha.
ractrrs, (he power of choosing Again, at the time OF lie
Convention, there were supposed To be three candidates
before the people Of the district, two OF whom were said
TO be friendly to the Administration Here IS a conflict
of interest. Now the question is. would il be exprdlentt
for The Administration party TO run Two against one: !
answer No. For, in doing this, we should lose sight OF
safety in the blaze Of victory. Now, fellow citizens, you
plainly discover there is a difficulty existing, and how
is thai difficulty to be obviated' The redress is perfectly
plain according 10 the constitutional rights OF The pro'
pie. Fellow citizens, | presume you are aware that Inc
neopie of the district. for the special purpose OF obviat!nS
those unfortunate difficulties, have exercised one of
their inalienabIc rights, by uniting together IN Their
primary assemblies and appointed delegates from each
county to- meet in general Convention, and hav" no
doubt but the several counties composing the district,
land particularly the county of Essex: with her six intel
hrent d legates,D were fairly represented IN that Con
yeen,ion.. md ri venture 10 affirm that 10 try the test
over aud over again there would not be as fair 4 repre-.
s~cntation. Consequently, my Essex friend, rcstyourseii
| we'll assured that you and / are fairly represented IN
TIM, Conventions; that Convention met in Iarpalan'
mock the goth Of December last. and after mature dclibe'
i ration, unanimo usly Selected Colonel Archibald K tlaT-
wood, OF King Il Queen, as The most prominent success
sor of The honorable John llnane. Hence it is by virtue
Of that Convention, 1 truly hope those unfortunate din
cullics are now obvialed. Enough am sure upon THIS
part of The subject TO satisfy every unPrejudiced MIND
Of the expediency of that Convention.
Secondly, had the people a right to form INA, ConYtn.
ton: Most ussurcdIy, not only from example, but under
the protection of the National and Stale laws, The form
er declare that Congress shall make no law a%brldging the
freedom of speech or Of the press, or the right Of the
people peaceably to assemble and petition t'e govern
inent for a redress Of grievances. Having given yo1 The
protecting laws Of the General Government now otg
leave to illustrate the example, by the following pI!o'r
and simple figures, together with their Application: frst
only look To The great National Convention forming inc
Federal Constitution, in which you will discover tia'
Virginia was only represented BY three delegates. Ne"
York one, &c. Now, ! ask you, IS 1t not lar 10 pre-
sumo, that il Virginia. so large a space, was fairly repre-
scented with her three delegates in the great Natlona
Convention. that the District, a small proportion thereof
with her eighteen delegates, was fairly represented il
the Essex Convention? Fellow. citizens the great obJec
is, 10 represent the wishes Of the People-and i, is no
material whether that number be one hundred or Two, I
effect the object Again; look to the State Convention
forming the old and new Constitutions: In the iorme'
Eastern Virginia was represented by Madison and other:
the latter BY Leigh and others; Then ask you, in til
name ofcommon sence, whyitis, that the district have nc
now the same right Of uniting together, appoint her deie
gates, and carry her political drsignsint eaectby Conver
ton? The reason is obvious: it is because the minority ar
determined that the dominant party of The district sha
not be represented without opposition, and thus II Is 'he