Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-03-23
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
To The Editorsof the Enquirer.
Il r ~ Na NJ

! To The Editors0f the Enquirer. o.o
CARROLL Co.. Va, March 3d. io79'
Gentlemen: In the year 1905 Rilche ann
Wo,sey and Auguslin Davis published Inc Sc
cond edition OF the Debates and other proceed.
| ,nes OF inc Convention OF Virginia, convened al
Richmond, on Monday, the ID day OF Jone' ileo'
for The purpose Of celebrating on The Cons'Iu'
lion recommended by The grand Federal Cosven-
lion" Whether any subsequent ediion has oeen
published know not; but, al any rate, Inc oooH
is now scarce and Difficult, 10 Obtain. During
tho mas, winter l. in vain, made dIlisent enqui-
fies Tor il in Richmond, but finding, by acciden,
copy in North Carolina, presented ny Inoinds
Richie 10 friend Of his in Thai Slate, laid VIC
Ienr hands upon il, and incon;inenlly brought u
h,nl, ;o,n The territory where il would be more al
home. How long may be permitted 10 relain
i know moi; for The gentleman 10 whom !! be-
onss places upon il The high estimate 10 when II
s entitled. l. however, like most ether virgin
ans desire 10 be possessed OF such treasure,
and my object in asking yon 10 publish 'h'S -
thar il NAV. rersdveEluTe, aIIact The al ehoh VI
s,me one who may be able and willing 10 as
sea-. he task o! lis republication:
l. needs but cuIsory examination VI u,s
wu.. . satisfy any reader lhat m VINO ~ou l
tnt, i.b 10 the country another edition OF ms
y.,,r -. record Of the wisdom, the elcquence
ami lie patriotism of cur ancestors. wou'u
impose upon our counirymen al large, anu
especially upon Virsinians, load ol deep
and lasting obligation. IL is. in uuih, monu-
ment OF The virtue and intellect OF The men
o, The olden day in Virginia, OF which every
man who owes allegiance 10 the Commonwealth
may be Justly proud. "There were giants on me
earth in thos" days" AID Of init llec'ual siahis
Virginia then had her full share In the arena
OF maj Convention most NJ those men were as
semblrc and in that momcuious conies, OF great
I.lo, ~ l.i,
puriance 10 themselves and their roseIi'y, ihey
were "s,rpped like wrestler lur he ring
Washington and LETTERS excepted, Virginia as
semblcG on that occasion her greatest ana her
best To form an estimate oi the materials CON-
posing thai body, let Us look IL The n, OF The
committee TN Privileges and Elections: BenJa-
min Harrison WAS lis Chairman, and his asstci.
ales were "a. George Mason, his Excellcn'y,
Governor Randolph. Mr. Henry, Mr.. 'r.!ee Nj
cnoas, Mr. john Marshall, Nj. Paul Caring
Ton, M. Tyler, Mr.. Alex. Whit, Mr.. Blair,
Mr.. Bland, Mr.. GIayson, MIR. FISHER MI. Ma
lhews, Mr.. John Jones, Mr.. Wyihe, Mr.. Will
liam Cabc, Mr.. James Taylor, (oi Carollhe)
Mr. Gabriel mes, Mr.. Cotpin, Mr.. lnnes, MI.
Monnoe, M Henry Lee, and Mr. Builii;" and,
on a subsequent day, MIR. Madison and MI Law
son were adted. Did ever ne sun shine n sucn
a committee before IT sincc7 And what mus!
spare such SCI ii men idr he purpose OF inves-
tieaune he ual.hcaion> oil lis members Why,
Sirs, The mere reading vi The list is enough 10
make VifSiniai's heart lhrob higher, and his
blood l,w more warmly with pride, while adnii-
raliuI ui their genius and yeneraton Tor Their IN
lssii,y chaslcn our feelings with sen'imcrt 81
revelenta and grateful awe. Sirs. every VlTsi-
Man (l nct every American) ought to place The
book in he hands OF his son, as The pfoudes' me-
mortal OF what Virginia was in her pa!mies
day, and The mos ahimallne incentive to cxer.
liun for The purpose Il perprIuaiIns her ancient
IenoWn.
" ith all care and proper reverence for the
ilustrlous assemb that promulgated amidst
tie stormy darkness Of TO the great charter
Of our rights, and with becoming respect for
that body Of men who framed our Fedora
Constitution, must declare my belief that the
Virginia Convention oe l7sS numbered among
lis members more great and good men than
were ever collected on any single occasion on
this continent This 10, Ks like bold assertion,
but consider the comfoslion OF st body. Who
vas The mate Of Patrick Henrl2 WHO ever
possessed such overwhelming cloquence. or
more glowing, fervid, courageous, daring patriot
i,m2 " no could overthrow the calm, collect
ed, logical reason OF Madison Who knows not
the vigorous intellect, the unwavtripg integrity,
the stern adhesion TO the right, The true and Tie
lust, OF the clear headed honest hearted George
Nlason2 What State, what country, whal
Congress, what Parliament what Senate Of
Rome, or Amphycl;opic council OF Greece
could show, al any given time. The superlors OF
George Nicholas, Peyion Randolph, John Mar
shall, John BLAIR, Edmund Pend elton James
Monroe OF Bland and Lee and Grayson, and
the venerable Myihc! The world may be
challenged 10 mate this body Of men. Macau-
Law, in his article on Warren Hastings, tells US
that The British Commons placed their best
men on the committee that conducted The pro-
.ecu,ion; and he leaves the impression that II
was the greatest set Of men that could be
found before or since in Parliament; bat give
him Burke, and Sheridan, and Grey. and Wynd
ham, and throw IN Fox, and Pitt. and Dundas,
and as many more as he can name and IN what
are they superior 10 the men whose actlngs and
doings a'e chrouic.ed in the book OF which
speak, They were n { superior-take them all |
in all, they were not equal.
II my North Carolina friend should not re-
claim his property, there is but one condition |
Of things that could tempt me 10 part from bis |
book, and that would be TO give II TO Mon
sieur Vattemare, TO be carried TO Europe, I'M
less he has already procured copy OF II, |
which, for The honor Of Virginia, hoPo may DC
The case
At the present time, the publication OF another
edition of this work you'd be exceedingly use
ful md proper. During The Admins r, ton OF
General Tay Tor, il i, thought that some con-
s,itutional questions Of ranscendant Importance
will be discussed. Can loo much light De thrown
upon these doubtful questicns' aud will not The
views OF the men Of IS iend TO enighten some
of our modern lawmakers?
| have no doub, tina, Virginia would eagerly
and promptly sustain the publication OF an
other edition of this work. 50 honorable 10 The
character of her ancient statesmen. This book
yculd, doubtless. be purchased with ayidity
rea nth interest, and cherished with reveren-
al rc- pect | am mistaken in my estimate of
n, ro.her virginians, if such should not prove
TO be he ISSUE.
Yours truly, SC, w. II. Y.
HlsviIle, March 4'h, lS49.