Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-05
OF THE SPECTATOR
.The Law thy calling well may be.

I That right is wrong and wrong is right.
And white is black and black Is white"
RICHMOND, FEB. q, 1851
| The C6hVenon is now lii the fu tide OF discussion on
the momen'os question Of Basis oeVea regularly pre-
nared and highly credtabe speeches have been already de-
iyered and as every member will feel II lncumben upon
himsefo define his POSITION and each Will On average
i consume not less than two hours you may well imag
inc that the Vernal Equinox will have passed before the
tedious proxity draws 10 a close Notwithstanding the
mschievous spirit omany OF these members and the want
of yeneraion which they manifest towards things made
venerable NV their antiquity and the cherished habits OF
mankind one cannot but pity the Convention for the ex
IRENE torture has condemned ITSELF TO endure. do not
know their feelings but infer from their movements that
sitting on a perpetual jury would be luxury to them.
Me- SbeYsv delivered his views last week in speech
of considerable length did not hear the whole of it,
Int sbouh udoe from that which did hear that for argu
ment and statistical research, it will compare avoraby
with any that have been delivered on this subject He very
RIGHTLY remarked in the outset that SO far as Augusta is
conceTned it is question of prncp le-her wealth and
geographical position being such that her interests would be
little afested by any decision at which the Convention
might arrive This position assumed by Mr. Shefey gave
IN his speech weight which doubt not has been felt
and will continue to be felt throughout the discussion
Having now heard number OF prepared speeches from
both sections of the body must say that ultra as are
some of the reform notions entertained by some Of the
western members they strike me as Infinitely preferable
10 those conservative doctrines which have heard advoca
ed by some prominent memoers from the East You can
snare the lime to read the inermnabe speeches delivered
and vet 10 be delivered by these consistent gentlemen you
will be shocked at the sentiments they EMBELLISHMENTS
which would be appauded by British tories and sconted
as ZOO high toned, by British Wings have grown up
in the belief that government by numerical MAJORITY o.
the 'people properly defined" constitutes the essence OF
repubicansm, as distinguished hom all other "lsms =
But not only do find Whg' OF Eastern virginia, out
Democrats who have been all their lives stirring up the
preudices of the ignorant against the Wing Party as too
conservative contendng with might and main TO overthrow
this cardinal doctrine of republican faith and endeav-
ong to perpetuate system in which the minority claims
the sovereignty on account Vt its wealth Is not consist
ency Jewell no,v2 What do the Democrats OF Augusta
think of their bretheren of the "South SideW
Eastern Virginia has this week fired off one ofhergreat
guns in the person of Mr. Scott of Fauquie As one oil
the strongest champions othe present system OF representa-
ton he is entitled to particular notice. III you were 10
search the Convention through and through for the speak
er whose characteristics most opposite to those OF MT.
Wise Mr. Scott would be your man. lie is luboerly IN
person and awkward in his movements his voice harsh
when elevated and altogether naudibe, generally, al Inc
termination Of PERIOD to those not Immediately arouhu
him. He not penny for the graces OIL eocu'oh au
the flowers of studied rhetoric, but tugs, tediousy ana
painfully at his argument like overwhelmed dray horse
But it is easy to perceive that il is poUeJut horse aer
ALL one Of those sturdy, steady, never tagging fellows
whose machinery Of bones and sinews appears 10 nave
been constructed for strength and durability rather Than
speed He is logical in the MAN, perspcuous, cogent
practical; and pernacousy adheres to the line OF argu-
men, he has adopted In ne he is the Ajax lebanon OF
his party on the floor of the Convention and VIII prove an
obsce sundy reforms, sauary and DINER
wise, which are to come before the body.
| tits impossible to say this early date, what may be
the issue of this discussion. am inclined TO think 1t WIN
prove an unavailng expenditure OF time, money ana eo
quence. Suppose some twenty or thirty Eastern hehe
we're to become satisfied from reflection and arguments that
eouay of representation is the true republican principle
(Which no consistent Democrat deny what would be
the effect of that change upon the pending question +
Bound hand and foot by their pledges, they would be o.
ged either to resign and give place to others less engh
oned or TO violate the reposed in them by their con-
st,ueas We cannot anticipate this, and must conclude
that the Eastern majority will continue unbroken to The
last What then can justify this immense expenditure OIL
breath and money? Why should the Convention contln
ne here concocng another antirePublcan Constitution
which WILL of course, be rejected by the majority oil The
peOpe2& 60
take Of SO important body as the present Reform Con-
yention that though called together TO consult and TO con-
slider scarcely ar individual member can be found SO Gold
and daine as TO suffer his mind to undergo change
Debsraon here is mere farce there is no change pos
sble no one aspires to independent craftsmanship; 1t 10
an rop mould into whose fixed and unaerable furm the
materials of the State be cast and this Convention Is
but the hireng thong that sweats at the furnace lhey
NAV talk as extensively they please, but wlihn these
narrow hounds is the paltry dignity other calling rgo
ously confined The "Caeuus" of Radicals in poll
tics is easier than it is in exact science Their trans
formation is governed by The single principle OF self IN
eres No matter what may be the doctrines and opinions
of the ndiydua-hey may be ever SO offensive to rePuo
lc,n earsyet YOU may trace them with nlalbe certain
| ~ to the wishes of a numerical majority at home :.