Constitutional Whig. [volume], December 12, 1828, Image 1

About Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832

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The Comtitntional Whig.
DEMOCRACY—THE CONSTITUTION—STATE RICIITS.
KAS^VTS & SMITH._
--- VHlGjNU, y R LpAY MORNING, DEC EMI 11 ’ R 12 i '828. ^
v\.« v v....
gfle Conatitutienal 2£li)ig. j
The following reflections arc particularly vain- i
able at this period; and wo ask for tliom the purlieu- j
lar attrition of. the render. —
Foh t.-ie Richmond Write.
J^otcs on Smith a f1'cnlf/i nj'
The authority of this writer is great, and many fo
l.d maxims ot political eror.omj are to he tiniud in his
work. Rut ho is not infallible. Whatever mav be the
confidence v\o are di.-po.sed to place in the sagacity
and strength of ins judgment, we siiail, n. yei ti”ele.-s.
reserve the mental independence to di.-senl from his
dogmas where they couilicl with each other, as they
sometimes do, and where too, os is not ui.frouuentSv
the case, they arc ut open war v.-ilii the whole current
oi iucts and the whole t enor of experience. Tiie hie
tory ot his own country is a strong and ornclical re
futation ot many or hi'- most ajv landed doctrines._
Sometimes too, his opinions are iublo to niisr; -pre.-un
tation, trom the geiesality of his assumptions, as it it.
utterly impossible tor any tfritcr on political economy
to preseu’ in an abstract treatise, rules and maxims
fit for tire government of all nations, under till circum
stances. It world be :i labor much more whhi ; t •
compass of the limits-! powers of’he h mi ••
a-fram if ] ill nations '•
cw.u luuiiviii.ijiv -1 un-t lepiiai-cuu, man
lor any one man to rear u sys'om of political economy, |
equally adapted to the incalculable variety in the ui'r 1
cnmstances, conditions a nd relations of a!! tin; nations •
oi the earth. A code »<} laws iur the government of
men in asocial state. ,»<•.(: open the moral qualities ami j
relations of men, which, are suppos to be simil ir nr.- '
der every lbrin of government, and in every variety of i
loenl situation. In corroboration of this tart. let us '
consider how many nations of the earth Jme adopted
the civil luw of the Uomuiis. Wo shall find that with
some modifications, it is the law «»f civilized Eurone at 1
this day. Even in England, which boasts of i^emn
mon law as the perfection of human reason! m uav rii* *
the maxims and rules of the civil lav will ho found in
corporated in its code; and several branches or' it--- >.i
risprudence, or rather .several courts in its judicial sys
tem, are entirely governed by it, ‘-sub graviori iegi;.'' •
That is, provided it dees not contravene the common
law, and the statutes of the realm. But when, or
where did we ever hear of u code of political econo- I
my which was adapted to such a general application, :
or which was ever deemed worthy of such general do- j
i'erence? Whence should it be derived? From the com
mercial code of any nation, ancient or modi rn.nr from :
the treatises of theoretical writers und specuiutivo ;.o
liticians? Depend on it this lias never been done; ii >r
is such a code likely to be devised in future, by the a d
junct or separate labor.--of the practical or theoretic:.!.
Political economy is a science oi* tHcts and circum
stances. In order to deduce its maxims applicable to
any nation, you must have before you ail the impor
tant facts and-circum. tonnes, relating to that nation.
I*s foreign and domes'ic concerns; it.-> physical and
moral properties and propensities; the state of its po
pulation, trade, resources, &c. &:c.; any cf which, if
omitted, or not duly weighed in the scale of policy,
will destroy all tee conclusions of the most profound
abstract logic, to he derived train A. Mmiih, ami the
whole college of economists, from the dawn of the
science to this present day.
Adam Smith, in chapter 2d,hook Hh {mil this •!,an
fer is the ground work of all the opposition to the A
merican Taritl,) says, "It a foreign country can sup- i
ply us with a commodity cheaper than we ourselves t
can make it, better buy it of them with sent: pat! of I
the product of our oten industry, employed in a wav in j
which we have sonic advantage.” ft ;s evident the 1
writer here supposes that the trade ho recommends is j
reciprocal. He says, we hail better buy such manu- j
Pictures as can he fabricated abroad clu aper than at !
homo, “with some part of the produce of our own in
dustry, employed in a way in which we have some ad
vantage.” Can any one fail to observe, t hur. in all this
chapter the writer supposes a case in which the na
tion restricting the admission of foreign manufactures,
has it in her power to purchase those manufacture?
upon better terms than site can make them herself,
and that too, in the exchange of the products of her
industry, employed in a manner more advantageous,
because more productive than when applied in the
making of such manufactures? This may he nil verv
true, without aOectiiijj tlie case in which K>nution re'
fctricts the admission of foreign manufactures, not be
cause she can make them cheaper or better, but
because the nation from whence they arc derived, re
fuses to take in return upon terms of fair and equal re
ciprocity, the products of her *>\vn industry. The *
torms nn«l habits ol society, the comiorts, and I may I
say, tin? necessities of tiic n* ion require these malnf- j
factures, and they must be made at home or procured !
elsewhere- But the country from whence they have j
been obtained, persists in refusing to accept in ex- I
change for them the products of the soil,and we must:, !
according to the nnti-t iritri.-ds, iiovertindcvs continue !
to bo tributary to th-selfish policy of a foreign power, '
to the total impoverishment of the coiuilrr, t-. the ut- I
ler destruction of all the brandies of its i.ui i- trv, ng- ;
ricultural and commercial, as veil a* manufacturing, j
to the annihilation nbnoul of the value of its proper- !
tv, even the very soil itself; and nil this to lie borne '
lor the sake of a few abstract maxims to be found in j
A. Smith, some of which, when fairly and candidly in- ;
terpreted, according lo the manifest iiUeniion of rhe 1
writer, require none of these great sacriMrea which
v.-c would so loyally make rt the shrine of his exalted 1
name. It i.> a bad thing to be so wedded to mv faith. !
political or religions, ns to ho ready to drive* madly i
against every obstacle that happens to bo in i‘s way, i
v/ith a sort of gallantry and devotion which hotter he- >
tome tho heroes of romance than tlm soldiers of the j
cross or of the constitution. But how riepl Table is i
that condition which impels us to a long a-. 1 disas? rous i
crusade, in which our zeal and fidelity*hate detriment, j
tor their only solace, and suffering lor their only rc- I
■ward, when neither the principle^of onr faith nor tlm !
demands of our intere.-ts, require any such painful and i
protracted labors at our hands.
Many of the dicta of this writer arc fr.m ?ed upon i
the sagacity of in- ividual in finding out tin most pro
fitable employment for the. capita! tney have ; t om
nvxnd. and u;K»n the empiricism of governmental regu
lations, where tln-v .undertake to encourage the em
ployment of capital in n particular w.ay. “It is,” says
A. bmith, “the maxim of every prudent master of a"
family, never to attempt to make at home, v.'hatit will
cost him more to unj,- than to buy. The tailor d<<ps
u >t attempt to make lit^ own shoos, but. buys them of
the shoe maker. 1 no shoe mv ker does not aItrpnpt.
to make his own clothes, hut employs a t n’or. Tu -
la rmcr attempts to make noil her the one nor tlie other,
but employs thorn different nitificors. Ail of them
find it their interest to employ their whole industry in
n way in which they have sour- advantage over tfmir
neighbours, and to purchase wit h a part of its produce*
'■ r what is tho same thing, with the price of a part of
it, whatever else they have occasion for. What is j
prudence in the conduct of every private family, can i
scarce he folly in that of a great kingdom.”
Such is the exae- language of the celebrated Adam I
Smith, and upon these identical jiot.ions, are founded
most of the object ions, to tlie restrictive policy. I shali
undertake to shew that while they possess great plau
sibility, they cover ihe most dangerous efrors. To
the flrgt. place, there ran he no manner of analogy be
tween the policy of individuals and governments". Ii
is not true, that what is best for the interests of
individuals is always host for those of nations nlsa.— j
JVfanv. very m.™*.* «bc hifiQvra! facts ami
nuns which ur.'io ocuerived I rum this work on thf
wealth ul nations in corroboration of wliat is bore ad
vanced. As I take no particular pleasure in condemn
tng this writer out oi his own month. ! shall reserve
f*r another occasion, a list of contrasted quotations,
whicn it 1. mistake no*., will place the iuets and rea
sonings of this great writer, in different parts of his
work, in such palpable opposition, that his ablest ad
vocates and most devoted udmiiers will find tliemseves
unable to harmonize the incongruous .mass, (n the
n eiin tune, I will present to the consideration of the
public, what has hecu said by Win. Cobb, n as to the
analogy of interests, as to the identity of policy exist
ing between nations and individuals. * In a very r. cent
number ol iiie \Y oe!$ly Ue«*ister, in an editorial tom
ineut upon rue Ituskisson p’jliev. Cobbet makes t.hu
milowing surewd and ingenious obscrvaiions.
tiiing so p. ui.'ible, and yi nothing more lake, than
the noli nth it two nation, could both protit lit.m tra
ding- v. I’ ii . !i other, ladividual cases were tat*-.! to
prove iln.t it might be so; but i most amply de
monstrated that there was no r.na’ogy in tie*
eases: th-ttiie trade between individuals of bodies of
peis ns. all m the same country,//ore ,.o atu/o >j u-./int
sucr.-r to trad • I otw.-en r.m which, fre^ the very
'*• 1 •>]•;•</.■) -<! to thus©
•' of not ions
to give up
. was neither
'i:' ' ' l‘*’*n ■" j'-.t c-ii.. e!v. upon a level, us
no.it ly pots-ible, with Mie poor -st and weakest na
l M;i iii t he world, i e-'Lle na.iions have always been
t iie st ten.mus inivocat.-s >.t free trade a, 1 n. iilraI
rights, {'(.w.-rful lui.inns on t!ie contrary have
' •• * * »* u*r *:aiv. Our
g.11.1.^ y. u,i tli. ir n cr.-'; !ur cmnsriair greater
g -.i.e .-o.it Miiit: :it. y were 11* receive in rt turn:
in tt.tr, iiir t!i-* ;: i;.". * - * rule.; relative to eoiiirn
biM"l; for the uosl rigid observance of blockades. a* id
,;\« tv iitityg tending to link,: coniuit ree vitid to
power. Vox ful nati Imv« alwm uvoured to
'iCHP i'>'er nnighl t r> >t;!l eeor, mi.! their feeble
■ rj still feeble. V iy< rfitl niitio iave n< ■ or
talked of wool r »ciiy: those : i • cry .out for
reciprocity, thal ye. their neighbour ur iter off limn
themselves . '■ 1 in is ,. ''it iitms this ingenious writer,
it was with Imgi.iiul, till she became encumbered
v .' ii debts, Lie her v :ry .-•id was mortgaged for more
than ir was worth and tintii she known; it which way
to turn to min dy ^hv craving demands ofla.-r nivriuMs
ol t t e-r -tiers. Per eg. s, nay f.»r centuries; iron; the
• e.riivsi ot lime. , sire carried on commerce under
a prohibitory system, and lit a, sort of cpmpul-iui
practised on li r iicightiuuivj. She did not gain
money, c mblless she did not gain riches by this i-vs
tern. so nineli as sue might have gained bv another
system: hut she pro- tided her neighbours from raili
ng even in preporti- i to what she gainc-d herself: she
tolerated :.o comtinirru by which she did not gain
more than her neighbours gained; and t hus sh > gained
her great relative preponderating power: she rejected
all gain that did not add to her power; and this was
the basis ot all her laws relative to commerce and
navigation. Her Statesmen were not such moon
blind wretches, ns terseeor imagine that they saw.
any gain in measures elucidated to make the profit of
her neighbours oijua.l to her own; they could not bring
themselves down to that luickster*like state of mind,
which could contemplate profit unaccompanied with
power: and therefore to talk to them about free trade,
would have appeared to be like the ureaniiug of an
ideot."—lift us conioniplute in this strong mirror the
true and living features of British policy. Cobbott
inay indeed be aid to hold the mirr r up to the
United bkatea, to tv (Jreat Britain Iter own im
age, and the very borfv of lier commercial system
its formy rtd prewre. Where is now the analogy of
Mr. Smith between individual ami imlionn! interests.
Does it not appear to b-, what in fat ! it is. a mere
plftusii.de p>ciorc of the imagination. destitute of any
real foundation in the affairs of rations. Individuals
are not. o much in the habit of viewing the success of
their neighbors with a jealous eve as nations arc._
I here is noimtn. iiaie danger iuthe prosperity of the
one. calculat ed to threaten the success or the iudepen
deneeot another. Amongst ind.v iduuis an envious and
jealous rivalry is considered as a murk of a want of
true magnr.nnnuy, and prims facie evidence of .the
destitution of the genuine attributes of intellee'ua!
power. But with nations the case is very different.
A watchful and j •>.loos rivalry is a law of their nature,
founded ia the great law of self preservation. Hence
the struggles and the n licitu.des we have witnessed,
ttr preserve in Kuropo a balance of power. Do you
ever hear ofits being necessary to preserve a balance
of power amongst individuals? How lb lse a nd decep
tive are most arguments of analogy; and t lie most pro
Ibuml logicians upon the most important subjei * i have
constantly warned us against this •• ignis latuus” which
is ever ready to lure its out of the path of common
sense. But these wry notions about the identity of
the policy adopted to the inter: sts of individuals and
ol nations ci.nm lor themsel via the authority of com
ion common sens inn every oilier kma
of sense when mid-applied becomes non-sense. None
will deny that nations are ion:] of power, that they
ere perpetually preying after it that a degree of s-T
fisluie. :-; is not only countenanced but applauded in
f hem which would bodcdtructi/c to the character of
any individual,ami which would array against him the
united execrations of his fellow-citizens. Where is
the analogy here between nations and individuals' In
fine, il may be fearlessly asserted, although the cen
trnry lias beenmainlirincd by the celebratedMr. 8mi>It,
that neilh r he nor uuy of "his u tourers can point out
a sing!- instance, in which the analogy of chars: ter
or of cop'birf fif for individuals and tor nations can be
fairly and strictly made out. The one is a natural,
tl’.o other a political, artificial being; and though, wo
have often h'-nrd of i lie nnn being suni; in the n j ■
C’uh, yet never till Mr. A. t.hnilh informed us of (■ had
we imagined that artificial entity, a political society
endowed in its aggregate capacity, with I he functions,
feelings, interests and propensities of the individual
man. Cobb:-! t. has well said, that “the whole set of
notions founded on fhissnppu.-ad analogy are an abrur
dif.y.” Thud iiefer ofail arguments drawn from ana
lug/, is that ve shall not stop at the point where tho
analogy ceases, and the very rnoineut. wc transpass
tint point (ifnot b*-ti>re) we arc plunged into a tuthom
h■ s gnlph ef error and ah.- nidify. Rut to show tin?
ahvirdity of Mr. .Smith s analogy -i little more in de
tail: He says very quaintly,.and with an air which
indicates great assurance on Ids part, that he had ta
ken fast hold - upon truth. “'Fhe tailor dors not at
tempt to make his own shires, but buys them of the
shoemaker, tho shtH-maker does not attempt to make
his own clothes, hut employs the tailor,” &-c. &c.
upon these solid maxims of individual economy, Mr.
Smith and his admirers found their hostility to tho
restrictive policy of nations the most wise and tho
most powerful. Here we se" the excellent virtue of
your analogy. J);d Mr. Smith forget that this max
im of individual economy is founded upon necessity,
ns v/eil as upon convenience? did he forget that the
pewuTs oi the individual are. : o limited, that he has
neither the skill nor the time necessary to the execu
tion of all those operations which enter into the com
position off he me-s of his comforts and enjoyments in
Civilized life? This economy of the individual then is
wise, because from the very constitution of his nature.
&. the limited character of his powers, it is absolutely
a necessary economy. Rut nrefhe powers of awliol ?
nation,thus finite, thus contracted* Must one nation,
like one individual, buy its shoes of another, its dotlus
of a third, its ginger breads of a fourth, and po on
through flic entire catalogue of the wants of a civili
JCd nation* li u v dcccli^l is analogy, wltcn it can
oemnlo n mind such as A. Smith's, fraught with the
must bouiuiliil stores of natural endowment and ofac
<(tured intelligence, into an absurdity so nuked anti
deformed that it must be at once rejected by every
, not darkened by political prejudices, and the
blind zeal of a party. PETROJSIUS.
THE TARIFF.
On the 5th inst. Mr. Long in the House of Repre
sentatives, moved a resolution for enquiring into the
i expediency of reducing the duty on salt and molasses.
jTho House even refused to consulcr it, by a vote of
102 to :i7 ! It. is thus that the promisee of Mr. Ritch-1
i° ;u,,i !lis confederates, ».. the nhused people*of Vir- j
: "m,a< wi!1 ho realized—tint the turiiT namely, would '
; be repealed by General Jackaons election. Howl
; h->ng will the people of Virginia suffer themselves to j
; be led by the nose by interested men. who for .-4:i
l-ter ends, iuilaine tin ir passions, by appeals to'
their fears for their purse: None know better than '
these men, that tin* Pari \ neither can nor will be
repeal- -.1, and that no man is more its iil end than the :
Presidentelect. • i
* MAG NAN [.Ml TV.
ATr. .Slouno, who hue: bt“>u chairman «>f ?!»•..• Commit- •
niilico «.f Elections torn immh.-r ofy*-:;rs, has this!
session boon removed by Air Slavonia. Delicacy!
s:iggcate<I another cour.e, * j
; _’
j hr. .Vo / Oii/iji tig:'.—A correspondent at Wash- •
ington throws out the following tiews, to the sagacity
.mii correct liras <''which we entirely subscribe. Mr.
’ 1 .ran th ■ P. M. (J. husboen more tiivored by cir
! cuiiisittiiecs, than any other individual whose uinbi
! tioii contemplates the Presidency.—Known bv the
| •hicksoniruis to be a faithful adherent, the late storm
Mii it blew so sirong against Mr Adams and his Cabi- :
j net, reached him a gentle and propelling breeze.!
j lies]reeled by i he Administration party as a good otii- 1
‘ :vr- Hr.d if he were guilty of using his station to the)
i prejudice os .Jr. .•vlani-d election, successfully eluding |
detection, the P. M. (». has enjoyed the singular teli- i
city o! being caressed by one side, and advanced bv the ■
otiivr—while tlie improvcuieat of the P. Office sys
tem, (in a considerable degree, the result of circum
Sr.inco.Sj under his tnanttgent ml, l,aa contributed to
enlarge ids popularity. This is the man who in our
'Opinion, will act the part of the fox in the fable, bu
t Ween Van Buren and Calhoun—the lion and the tiger
of the approaching political Drama. The I’. AI.
General is a man ot sound head, good habits of busi
ness, energy and industry—ipmuties intermingled
vviih a touch of the Jesuit and a smack of the Judas.
Wo remember a toast drank of Mr. Calhoun in
Massachusetts some years ago, in the following (■no
tation trorn Genesis—“Adam, where art thou?” Look
ing for Ijg leaves to hide his nakedness—Distrusted by i
ail parties and forfeiting even the confidence of his I
personal adherents, by his recent apoatacy to the priri- j
j cipies of his Congressional and Executive life.
Air. AI Lean will bo taken up as well from the im
possibility of reconciling or choosing between the pre- ;
tensions of Van Huron and Calhoun, as to break down i
Henry Clay in the West. The iirst may be a good I
reason, but the last is an idle and hopeless expectation. '
I “I don’t own know the current conjectures as to the count'." I
i Cabinet. Of one tiling, however, i have-.na le up my opinion" '
1 h ive no doubt tho Post Master lleneial wiil be pin forward {
aiiH lie'll I up to the West, a: least, is a lender ami a strong man!!
on tiie rise, 'i here’s no other wa> in keep * inv down, than bv 1
creating a rival hcyoml the inount.un.s. To tie sure, it clans the i
•st ngrk^Jnr upon ( alhoun, hut that Iw’siised to. It was lio.a- |
j when J ackson was proinoted over him. tie will have to lend a
i hand a^ain to defeat his own hopes. His fear of Van K. and
: hatred ot t lay, will, 1 think, leave him no alternative. I would
. not give a straw for his rhance for the 1 residency. Like the
, poor fellow of old, condemned to roil a In ; stone up hill, in; is
; forever labor a.*; to get it to die summit, when everv body secs ir
i must recoil on hiso.vn head. 1 doubt, however, if M’l.ean won’t
I prefer his present oltic", to the Trc-wurv. il lias moio practical
; patronage—is more disconnected and iiidept ndent—and above
• ill, h aves its occupant free from responsibility for the political
i measures of a disjointed Administration. These are crude,
i nations of mv own, whose fallacy inay butted! through by more
I practised politicians.”
Finis lo the Friends of Convention!
I! a Convention is organized upon the basis of couu- j
ty delegation, it must be obvious that it would prove'
a mere mockery, since the same minority which has
now the ascendancy in the Government, would retain
it undiminishcd in t he Convention.
Is the basis of con gressional districts, or fed
eral numbers any better? There are seven congres
sional Districts beyond the Hlue Ridge, and fifteen
below it; tiic superiority of the latter therefore in the
Convention, would be more titan two to one. Con
gressional representation is certainly more disiraltle
i than that of counties; but it must still have to the
(present minority a decided preponderance in the pro
1 posed Convention, and consequently from a Conven
tion so organized, no hope o< reloriuing the existing
inequality of representation, or?extending the ri"ht of
j sniTrage, could !>»• indulged.
’Hi ■. whole difficulty that opposes itself to the or
ganization of a ( onvontion, arises from the anomaly
now exhibited by the Governinentof Virginia—-name
ly, a powerful majority of the f>rr,t,/r on mho side, and
, n >' ~(i re majority of t lie pentile'* Hen rest nlolivc*, on
the other. In this stale of tilings, it is noparent that
j the people, and th? people’s interest and wishes, are
af the mercy of the people’s servants, their represen- j
tatives in the Genarnl Assembly. What is to be ex- !
peeled from the majority in the Legislature, represen
ting a minority of the people? Will they go into'
Convention with good faith? will they magnanimous- '
ly aid in organizing it upon just, and equal'principles? !
Will they permit every division of the Commonwealth,
to have its fair and just right, in the Convention? Or
will they, affecting to respect, the declared will of the
people, so exercise their power as to defeat that will?
\\ ili they insist upon the basis of Federal numbers,
when they must be conscious that a Convention so or
ganized will prove worse than worthless for all the
great purposes for which the people desire it ?
These are momentous questions, and upon the an
swer which the majority in the Legislature gives
them, depends the tranquility and prosperity of the
Commonwealth on the one hand, or discord and con
vulsion on the other.
Hut the friends of Convention in the Legislature,
have a plain and broad path to pursue. They cannot
accept, any compromise, which embrace merely for
the sake of getting a Convention on any terms, will :
leave f.lieir constituents hopeless of attaining through |
that Convention,objects which as freemen and Repub- j
le ans, they never can resign but with fh'dr breath.—
Let them therefore stick to senatorial districts as the j
least favorable plan they have the right of demanding,
und the only one canvassed, which can secure to them I
j the rights of which they have been long deprived—-is I
■ the advicecf A CONST \NT FRIEND.
To tiik Kditohs ok the KrciiM»M> Wrnn.
C.enilomci;: Mr. Kitcbie tinsrefused to publ: Jr Alai. Wimi
.lelence the charge ol Mr. Yuucey. 1 lo v. usadviud L
.w ' To°!> .Vr ‘“1s 10 *•» Mr. Kite hie, but he I,., ,,'u
to sec the wickedness that 13 covered with a smile, or l i nt
1 lc,“P' o<» it Willi her own imll.
and breathed .‘»'lJlWWswOcteat spirit; -tlie.e is such .1 i.ln „.
S^r#*** m,t «lcit trumps he has, w.m
bucb an uiimisirustiiig iguorT^e of the U«-««•, thru .cron
heart weuM weep to wm fhe game ol him.” Put alas' \'r
Ritclueis made 01 stejrner stud—ho had looked into 1,13 hand’ i
Hmi'^Hekn^v h.!*? ^ver-/c;*!j i,« ha‘l bettc, than he knew
1. ins. t. He knew he had voted against Juckson, l.ul 1 e did'i
know that his vote had gone to Richmond, them e throu-hdii'. r!
cm parts id the Mate, ;uid lnuiiiy, to lluek-ii.-haui. when k h , ;
been trucked about tor kitchen fat, like the iv*w> of u,\ ui de
Tnoy s courtship of the widow Wad..,an. (iullant mortal! n.nu
are tl e hunus mu. wh.ch thy IhaWess .I in-l.y, „t spirit
and Un unguarded and cont-din-., nature lias hed ;\ed ihVe’-’
e ll .nY" ‘ CICOr’ ,ny Yrijiuf. t.:al native gmulo'es pf|,,.:l,t
.hicn hroaihcs soswtvtly tinoueh ihv “’.ihesaud i. ,1 ” ,. ,or.
c\m fresam tile memory oft hy numerous friend - ami ,,
na this unkind blow, that has been aimed m ir-e '
has ura.vn m.irH plai„tive tom-, from f,.,.lm.«
eomorted the ghost of the ba‘,u mln-arted 1 oil... ’ ‘
9th Dee. 10.5. » fl .l ' li s
dineral stssrtMj'p.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
_ , Titksimy, 1H*c. 10.
Air. Ion Irom the Committee of Courts of .’.s
Uce, and Air. Yancey, from that id Chums, made re
ports—-as did ;\Ir. Hill an i Air. While ofiioeiMC c
Air. Ab/ra/t, from the committee on th H m< n
rejK.i Vd tiie iallowing rtrehuivn: “.That the Auditor
° public accounts, be directed to furnish for the n-e
ol tins Hou.-f*. two tubular statements, showing the
tree white population, the free colored population, the
slave population, and the annual revenue, in lie* ,t,Vi*
ral counties in each congressional district and in each
senatorial district of the State —ami the resolution
was adopted.
A resolute.>ti reported from the Courts of Justice
declining reasonable the petition of Philip Alexund r
ol Prince W illiam, praying that the laws conecinin.r
deputy shenns, may be so altered, as to M\e the eiviiF
tor tee tdvctu n of proceeding against the deputy sho
nft in default and his securities, or the fu. h sheriff
and that the official bond of the deputy she nils b<> put
on record; was opposedj,y Mr. Ala/on the moun
tiiat t he law already permitted this election—that eve
ry deputy sheriff was required to rjualily in cour
which was sufficient evidence of the fact, iff ha-beii...
deputy, or if it was not, that the law oermitti d the -
cording of all important papers, which rendered ti ;
application unnecessary. Air. May deprecated alter
ations in tiio code as tins time, when w<* were on in.
ove ot a Convention, as well us anj- new obstructions
to the qualification of persons as High Sheriff, w hich
were already so numerous, that in several counti-s ot
the State, no justice could be found willino* to accept
t he office. He thought that 1 he Legislature ought to
discharge indispensable legislation only, with the
view of enabling the government to meet the extra
ordinary expense of tho convention u ithout rcsortii ■’
to increased tuxes. .
The resolution was supported by Alettes. Taler of
I rince \\ ilnammid ll allure onianous grouuds^bii
was rejected by a large majority
The resolution of the commiuee of Courts of Jus
tice, deciariijo- unreasonable, the petition of Lewis
Jennings of Fauc-uicr, praying anew assessment of
tns lands, wag opposed by Air. Wallace, and adopted
by the House. r
On motion of .IV. Wray, leave was given to brie g
m n bill amending the act concerning Musgenburg &
\v ray, allowing them to change a mill gout. Ut for
red to Messrs. Wray,Booker of E. C. Gridin. Shield.
Brown of Warwick, Presson, Cole, Kiciiard-a.u of
.Tames City and Grigshv.
On motion ui . iIr. ^ltl.in-sen of Is!o of \V ;M;t, !eav.
was given to ’ ring in a bill, to incorporate the Trus
teesot the Sinkhiield Academy in Hc of Wight.
■Referred to Messrs. Atkinson, Holloman, Crump,
ivtiitMi, Temple, V, mnofDin. EoLseuu and Bur foot
Mr. Yancey,from the Committee of Claims, r oor
ted it inexpedient, to provide by law for the payment of
the drafts of the Colonels of the Gild and 7*1 s£*re<.i
ments fur stands of colours, and fur similar claims. °
Tiic resolution was opposed by Air. Rice* of p. G
wim moved to amend it by reading expedient. Air.
it. entered-into a detail oI circumstances, to enforce
the justice of the application. The resolution wo>
supported oy Alesars. Yancey, Witcher and Walls,av |
puhseg by a large majority.
On motion of Air. Woolfoik, Resolved that tie*
Committee on the Bonks, be instructed to enquire into
t**/* transactions ot the lute Treasurer v, it.li the Bank
of \ irginia and Farmers Bank of Virginia; whether tie*
Directors and Oflicers of snid Banks, or any of them
knew of the deception practised by the late Treasurer
upon the Executive, by cross checks. &c..or whctlier
they suppressed any fact necessary to enaldc th.* f x.
ocunveto ascertain tho true state of the Treasury;
and that said committee have power to send fbr per
sons and papers. i
Uii1 motion ot Mr. f ilzhugh of Ohio, Resolved that
the Committee for Court* of Justice, bo instructed to
enquire into the expediency of amending the act emi
titlcd an act, to reduce into one the several acts and
parts of nets, concerning witnesses, and prescribing
the manner of obtaining comraisbious ibr taking their
depositions in certain coses.
On motion ot Mr. Bland, Resolved, that.so much ot
the Auditor's communication as relates to the appoint
ment ot Commissioners of the Revenue ond t heir cou
11nuance in office a longer period than one year, he
referred to the Committee on Finance.
Various resolutions from standing committees, on
subjects referred to thorn, were agreed to by the
Hou*e, and winch wiii be noticed when they assuuw
the shape of bilJs.
T fir* following committee to announce to the Gov
ernor his re-election, was announced from the Chair.
Messrs. Goode. Smith of Greenb. Ilungerford, Jones
ot iSotlowny. Gordon, Lovell, Yancey. Gri"sbv and
Johnson of Chesterfield. ° •
On motion of Mr. Christian of Chs. City. Resolved
that the committee of Claims be instructed to inmiire
into the expediency of allowing to the heirs of John
AJawtow, an officer of tlie revolution of the made of
1st limit, the commutation pay to which said Afar«to-v
is entitled, in lien of half pay for life.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. Gordon, Ae/m ,
George. Km hr vat. . My era, Griffin of York.
WeoxF.soAv. j'lr.rFMr.F.H 10th, MSh.
Ue omitted incur report, of Tuesday’s proc.ec-!
d.n"3, testate that on that day, .Mr. Bvcr'e'l reported
a lull for continuing the K«maw|,a Turnpike to t.' c
mouth of Big Sondy River.
On motion of ,1/r. Craig, Resolved, that the Au
ditor in complying with the Resolution passed yesier
day reqmnii" certain statistical information, be di
rected so to distinguish the different items of Reve
nue. as to shew the direct assessments in each county
on a nos, slaves and other personal property, distin
guished from toe sums paid on merchants and ot h-r
licences, and that he be directed to include in the tab
ular statement* the area in acres of each County in
tne Commonwealth. , ^ ,n
J\Jr. ,Ve/*on remarked that he understood from the
Auditor that the tabu.’ ir statement* in the shape re
quired, could not be furnished in less than a week or
ton days. Tin thought a general view of the submet1
might answer the purpose, and enablcthe Committee
on the ( onvontionfo proceed.
..t'rn}Z find Mr. Ihnidrvlge hoped tho te.ao
miss Tiii.rht occ.yi.jti cnu.e delay. .hV. />. hoped the
■ >uniitit tty could proceed with its duties even with
;uut the muirniiti ton now wnig lit to he obtained.
I at/,-. al/uy Uiovt .1 t<. strike out the la>t clause of the
J ‘“••"OHtlion, reipurintr t*„- area of counties in ceres, no
thut inlori.uition could he of no value to the Commit
tee or the Home.
“Vr* r eonitl not consent to the amendment.
Un anv subject, Martlet: huly on this,the House could
not Italy too lull uata, whereas if found unmatn.ul it
coiiiil he disregarded.
.d/-. .'fay's uiolion was n-’~a'.ivei.
i , - ; ' ' •• ‘ItJ: it tit i ■ of ii nds .. -
j w,’y • ,f| ■ area ».l acre? oop-hl lo becxJsibiled.
j Mr. Ci'tti .... loroiutiun wool! be furn’u-lt
j cd by; *h • ani-.ci.: of r-wnii-. He Would observe.
l-itd j. 1 !,<• ent t fo-h ■ roicdicd b> his ic.a iuUun v.; r.
t not vtdttable, i» .Ii.regarded: hut it. was in.
| port int t.» i.uv-* ... . ii • • f rmulioii *vi.;ch could he fur
I Ms:». d.
// <i it:! t • t . ... : .i amend th>'t< viution by r«
[•imnu'r the Auditor to funuslt ctube..ir vtnlement cf
f he value of Land,. ■: ti\
ly.* 1 • -1 in Lion r" s then pu: -eii.
*/'• ''•! 'sHizIiU.t ol <in ei.h.ier oflbrcdu resolution
II . \ HoiuhuU'e i,: iiutuU be iiestrurted to eri
I V;iU,‘ ,J ?U ‘l»c.**xp 'l-.r v -freilnoin ■ :h» tolls on
■ -v.-i.awha KuadanJ Undoes. '
, • h\ jft.i ; iii \ i. itievod to uriieild ii <> re.~e!utivTl
; “’T n *;1 hum tumult c to «i.■ d», the e\u-;
dirncvy-f enforcing ihe payir.-: at of toLc o;» tho K>i.
u\v;.n ig.vd. u.
• '•■ •'.* • ; 7 - .- tl *n w■■ :
U ly distinct ironi Oe ».;.•» pres 'itvd bv h;uv, and
nupod it would not * • t;u Ju-d to it.
.1,. of Kt luuva said that the subject of the
resonu 10:1 h ;.{already bo.-n referred as Coiapreheiidi <1
.11 tiie re-a linen.i..! .-n of the Governor f. ra •ronera*
rr'T;i lhe 'r,‘r1^ U* Tho Choir therefore
dt c,d,:d ih tt the . : . : Wa«
i>tit 4it order.
i Mi.ui.iti-u ci hV. f\, re’/ of Loudoun, the -ourtxit
' 1,1 ' • J .... 1 iiii-eu to inquire in? >
expeuii. icy el ;>,.i--u.;u:r tin-several i.ms concert:
mg fiuvi's, tree negroes a.i.l urn!.,t toes—bv providin -
Mr : .;e nanv eilectnu] pur.i hm-r.t of white men, who
1 : ^ I';llJ:*rs ol’.er aid or iucihtv to ahtcoti
dmg slaves.
; ; R ilution instructing tL<
committee ot itjae,-,.. c. iueiujuir- into tin 1 cxpedii m.
;.,t ri’Uicvii.g ria* i.d»ti 1 .c '/ to tin* passage ufltrh t.p
JriHies River,oe< •. ned iij lams, &e. Ulopt d
- 0,1 :i -ih reA: of L of Wight. leave
w: - given to onug ill a bid providing for fumishimr
n ersoers oi tm: poor v.i.'ii the acts o,Assembly, ri-h '•
j tin—’ to tiicir duties.
Referred to M.*rs. A •Mason, 3Iu»l-n, (’rune.
A Mncaa ', Ingiiram, Rail;, r of Caroline. A: -
;/tug h. mot Greenbrier, Hunter, Tart-m, Panic*: itT. »
Carskaden.
Tiie bill for extending tho Kenawh/r Turnpike to
tne big Sandy being read a second lime, air. Jiram
moved to recommit it.
.Mr. Era-eft said if tiie motion V :.«? >’s -j..
purpose ot ainencliii-nt . he did not obh-.; ;.j i;_b t i '
lor t.ae purpose ol deiay. h- hoped i..i Moure would
not agree to it. 7’he Mil was an important c:ie. imd
been prepared Willi great 1 are, and he hoped » wuH
not be unneceasaiiiv delayed.
.Mr. Bryce said the motion was sugpc.sted L; the
1 pCsyd.ih.y that it required some aui'-iaim-cni—upen
, v,. i. - .Ur. E. withdrew ins opposition, ar. i tiie L- ;i
1 was committed.
1 >n motion of JUr. J\J-Cul/ough. Resoh t d. That t?;e
•-■munitlee ol Propositions t>nd Grievance- be im-truc -
ion io enquire into the expediency ofultf riiu. rt.r tixn ,
h*.’iuiiigtiie separate election J* JBenjam » WrMJ f.'
m i ;! county of Mason, from the Tliiitdav af;-r h •
election at the courthouse, to the same du;. eu wiiil'
it m h iJdeu at the court house.
i ii * resolution of the committee of C juris of iu -
' ' arI '' ■ ' ' ' I ■ ion of ti - , :u:,Z±
ot f.ie Court and bar of Augusta, stating that the
t^uarterlv Courts were crowded with bi Mute., and
praying Unit thy jtirisdu; ion of the month!v t. .f.
e.xi»Me.ied to ai.’ picas ol f.ie coiniuoiuvcui’
rend, «
.Mr. Doddridge,-1~ -'TW opoO.-*( d to nil ahei .
nous ot tin: general law, v.i.en we were aM ..,.v
mg on a new era. Mr- su-md be op nose, Lj mis' in
novation at any time, an-: iie therefore*!,'!;-.-' | ?y {
by Titnkmg out romw-Mc, ami i-.st. tin. he rcjtcUd
i ' eg* -at im , .‘. , ice ,
' tioti, and Mr. I tod
dnd£15 » iiniendmi ut was n«gui_! 7d • ■ — i .
resolution passed. ■
Tiie committee of Proi:ossi!i,.rs:njd Grieve 'CL.i -
; /crli/ijr the petition of Rose if. R-i.v of :-;t ' v [ -v
1 iK- Ilouse*V°rCe lft” ‘ llUr v-':it Halted to Gv
j Pel-itietis were presented by iles;rs. ..17Cm- fV.*
I f 'A>nn ‘)1 <n e'!/' • o ,duJ‘l- Ya‘il'!/- J enson of CJ,e«
tieid, .■hulersun 0} P. E. (ereg-irt/, l-'itzh -<-/e uf 01;.
Of'l, l)■■/heart, ,M CutloughZ W\ictur, JLif/tr.
nluch business was transacted in the way cf - -a '
,nS *»« sports of committees and biLT a fUti uni ^
eond time. c—
On motion of JJJr. Craig, the Hou.se a iioiimef.
A body of F-O Indians have made a hostile imm-c on ,v
"^VVInteBay. They were; *%” ™aZ£\l '
U i.i. Republican Hussars awl some trwuidly Indians Jut vf:cr
'* ‘’f'j* ►piniusli compel.ed l:> ictrcat. A rergrant, a cornor '
and 1. priv. ies of the Hu/. tus were killed and .< wounded
bevc.a.o: the friendly Indian* were v -iu«c!ed.~{2;«tf. H®
! -V.T tudien ir<’e.—T.’ic ft c evin<r lUZJ**:*' N°*'t 1<!‘
j p,;t0;"'“*V0r “,c 11,11 tdiun* o, a part ofXTmrS
; n.U.on ot lieuans, was received by last m/u, from a cit-wm <r
, I uw-ne, I inward county, and is d.ocd Aov 10 !» •« C‘
j H na ve just received a letter bom ./. Iloer) eitv sf.,(, .
I I. Agent, dated “( an,eminent i.eavo’;woith 4tb t,
^forming that the (irar.H ! awntes n„d |' iX?,?'*'’
o» 15<a* warriors, had ,(W,„ a u ir {;;, C?"’
apt„ 1st the whites: and that th. :r l.itcnti^^^cS
prmc’i.nlly to the Santa I V road, internet ou tra LX n j
should they fad in this, to fall e., tl I- b-.mtVr , .,nJ
Arkansas anti I ltd River, have,. d'cl^l "Cn'9 ^
to scalp all white men with whom th-v ma. me, ■ t^ ,rUt, i;’
Thr I'awitceb ?ho i.n* o. . ...
ded into three imntls. a, »»d aro.tli.;.
hnt destitute , . true emm,^ vXnXud XX-'X °f ^
tlic fie’I, several thoi, and warrior*. ’ J *' bring mm
some days. {She has dh edZc,M !<!" XC”v/.
audiences. .. ,"r, | ^s »» crowd
Km>trrnf:vn.—F^rthe Tn. or-a
this State have heen f lb- ! v.-h end r • ;,W»>Mr»stO
'.■’mi ,i!' 1 Kentucky. \ fra ell ftt ’ ' . *”"? V ‘
viilr »o St. Unis, counted ,,..i J. . „ h „ * Vi,‘ ■
for Missomi. Th- mr, ‘ ,, . '■’*-* "> 4
computed at several thoiiijn.Is. * * ‘•l',K>n 0> t--c Shiite I.:
Proposed fined f0 Cumber feed nn the J~ir~;v:n -;,r_
of Ihc } otoniec.-—* l ;rl- r nr. net nf the l.r, UnturvrJ
Virginia, passed nf if last *r io»> r r , *
formation of n c on,pony lo connect. hv n t.XXk Xc'-if
U,o town of rdtirilmr’.ii.iL in .M.-n-laml, w.tl.Vho 5
or leoesb.ircr, m V.r?noa. book*nf failwri:,»i h-t-.‘
boon npon-'d. and a s ;tr< ; r.I r.n.otmi ,.i • t
allow ofthcor^ntionoirthccwmponv. XXmU
,n? n* Stockholders, h i I at Wi^hr-Vp nn Ti,,
26th ultimo, Jo„v H. <W tvr-H oloct.ul fC" Vv
and James Mr] if,run;. fe„n, BeKer, Atfrr / V f i>‘.'
Dipoc ors. rho ant..aid of : t--ck subscribed hr
sliavoy) i, $WA 00. T;.m Mths-; p.tjon in* C^rJdin
;V’ ,,nn?n,Il;!,',y Pnln;;r'f! ... x:v fhouwn'>.‘a ,rf
tho :,,fl of (■.on-rosy nndof t:,o f'ftl. ot'\vr-i,..a s,V.n(J
to oit confidently .^period lo r„wo a t n.1r ,2
I to pave the road the whole du-taace—which Vi’l -,.‘