Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-02
COMPLIMENT TO VIRGINIA. {!


EXTRACT from Me Eloquent Grafton detircrtd by w.
+. DAscY Esq, b.fore Me Cth:,ns IF North Carroll.
ma, on the condemnation ri The late .ina,rerSdry
Of .4mtriean Indeptndencc.
"a midst this scene Of strife and confusion, there was
one Safe which quaed not before The blast, which
stood mistaken amidst the storms Of political adyprs
ty-lhat State Virginia FIRST and earliest to sue
the throes of patriotism, she was the last to desert
the infant Goddess Of Liberty after lis birth She d.
rcc'ed lis toefng footsteps, sustained lis feeble et-
forts and sheltered from the rude blasts of arb
trary authority. No State, at this day, wieds more
moral force IN the Confederncy. Her power and IN
fuence are felt and acknowledged in the most re-
mote borders Of the Republic. For fifty years has
she continued to pronounce the same unaltercd and
unallerable decree favor OF her immortal doctrine
of State Rights. Desplsing the low ambition and
miserable ntrgues OF party and party men, she has al
;aned rank the scale States which others have in
vain underworld 10 reach. Looking TO the Consiitu
ton ne the grand charter of rights and the
Of our highest interest and concern, when confined
within the sphere nf It's enumerated powers, upward
and onward she moves protected by The impenetFable
hgis Of her principles pure as the mountain atmos
pere that sweeps by the base of her own consecra,ed
Monticello She is emphatically the parent Of States,
the mother and nurse of the Republic Her Madison
and her jefferson, names yet undimmed By the lapse oil
ayes, Will staaG conspicuous landmarks on The
boundares Of the Constitution, tc guide the ship .!
State amidst the rocks and qacksunds Of atitudInous
construction, long as the Republic shall BE- numbered
among The free States of the world! Ancient and Illus
tfious cid Commonwealth.
Among the faihlcss-.iitiful only she,
Among tie unrmerable f,l-e-uumovrd-
UnslIas cn-uns cduccd-rrierf 'ied.
MIR nrmbcr-nor example with her wrought,
To fem tuih change her conant mind,
Tho sIGg,c. From amidst them fouh she pass d,
Aud with rclnrtcd scOrn her Lack she turned,
Tin those p oud States Ia swift destruction doomed,
"Vrgna WAS tire fret 10 throw herseifin the breach
The vesal nane of patriotism, kindsd by the glowing
eloquence Of Henry yet burned on her a'tars Al her
suggestion tic States proceeded to appoint delegates
who assembled in Philadelphia in May, l737; and after
several months Of calm and tranquil elaboration, in
which all conflicting interests and political animosIlIes
were sacrificed ON Tie al,ar Of public gccd-aid,
broad aud deep, the foundation of our political fabric
by adopting present Constitution OF Government
-Af;er lapse Of six thousand years, the United
Sla,es present be only example of nation, una'-
tackled by foreign force, and undisurbed by domes.
tic nsnrrt cton. peaceably assembling and calmly de-
Gliding on The form of Government under which they
would prefer II l.ge. Man, no longer blinded by Tie
slavsI superstition Of By gone times, looks upon CO.
vernment as mystical science, secret known only 10
the initiated; Tn, lie every where, in The improved
and altered condition Of The people, the practical cPe
ration OF It's blessings mingled with that
Wellt,mpcred liberty,
Thp last nd 4 boon; d social man.