This is the lesson of history, and if the people of the United States would, indeed, preserve and extend the political union among their republican communites, they must, by prompt and energetic action, reform the government which creates it.

In this grand movement, Virginia, as well from the deep wrongs which she has sustained, as from other circumstances, is entitled to lead. With a powerful military organization, and fortified by Southern unity, she may yet play a great and useful part on the theatre of American affairs.

"Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant Nation arousing herself like a strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see her as an Eagle mewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled eyes, at the full mid-day beam; purging and unscaling her long-abused sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance; while the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds with those also that love the twilight, flutter about, amazed at what she means, and in their envious gabble would prognosticate a year of Sects and Schisms."*

* Areopagitica.

APPENDIX I.

Extract from the Journal of the House of Delegates of Virginia, Thursday, October 30, 1788.

"The House, then, according to the order of the day, resolved itself into a committee of the whole House on the state of the Commonwealth; and, after some time spent therein, Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair, and Mr. Briggs reported, that the committee had, according to order, again had the state of the Commonwealth under their consideration, and had come to several resolutions thereupon, which he read in his place, and afterwards delivered in at the clerk's table, where the same were again read, and are as followeth :

"Whereas, the convention of delegates of the people of this Commonwealth, did ratify a Constitution or form of government for the United States, referred to them for their consideration, and did also declare that sundry amendments to exceptionable parts of the same ought to be adopted; and whereas, the subject matter of the amendments agreed to by the said Convention involves all the great essential and inalienable rights, liberties and privileges of freemen; many of which, if not cancelled, are rendered insecure under the said Constitution, until the same shall be altered and amended;

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committee, that for quieting the minds of the good citizens of this Commonwealth, and securing their dearest rights and liberties, and preventing those disorders which must arise under a government not founded in the confidence of the people, application be made to the Congress of the United States, so soon as they shall assemble under the said Constitution, to call a Conven

tion for proposing amendments to the same, according to the mode therein directed.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that a committee ought to be appointed to draw up and report to this House, a proper instrument of writing, expressing the sense of the General Assembly, and pointing out the reason which induced them to urge their application thus early for calling the aforesaid Convention of the States.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the said committee ought to be instructed to prepare the draft of a letter in answer to one received from His Excellency, George Clinton, Esq., President of the Convention of New York, and a circular letter on the aforesaid subject of the other States in the Union, expressive of the wish of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth, that they may join in an application to the new Congress to appoint a Convention of the States so soon as the Congress shall assemble under the new Constitution.

"And the said resolutions being severally again read, a motion was made, and the question being put, to amend the same by striking out from the word "whereas," in the first line, to the end, and inserting, in lieu thereof, the following words:

"Whereas, the delegates appointed to represent the good people of this Commonwealth in the late Convention, held in the month of June last, did, by their act of the 25th of the said month, assent to and ratify the Constitution recommended, on the 17th day of September, 1787, by the Federal Convention, for the government of the United States, declaring themselves, with a solemn appeal to the Searcher of Hearts for the purity of their intentions, under the conviction, 'that whatsoever imperfections might exist in the Constitution, ought rather to be examined in the mode prescribed therein, than to bring the Union into danger by a delay, with a hope of obtaining amendments, previous to the ratification;' and whereas, in pursuance of the said declaration, the same Convention did, by their subsequent act of the 27th of June

aforesaid, agree to such amendments to the said Constitution. of government for the United States, as were by them deemed necessary to be recommended to the consideratien of the Congress which shall first assemble under the said Constitution, to be acted upon according to the mode prescribed in the fifth article thereof; at the same time enjoining it upon their representatives in Congress to exert all their influence, and use all reasonable and legal methods to obtain a ratification of the foregoing alterations and provisions in the manner provided by the fifth article of the said Constitution, and in all Congressional laws to be passed in the meantime, to conform to the spirit of those amendments as far as the Constitution would admit.'

"Resolved, therefore, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that an application ought to be made in the name and on the behalf of the legislature of this Commonwealth to the Congress of the United States, so soon as they shall assemble under the said Constitution, to pass an act, recommending to the legislatures of the several States, the ratification of the Bill of Rights, and of certain articles of amendment proposed by the Convention of this State for the adoption of the United States, and that until the said act shall be ratified, in pursuance of the fifth article of the said Constitution of government of the United States, Congress do conform their ordinances to the true spirit of the said Bill of Rights and Articles of Amendment.

"Resolved, That it is the opinion of this Committee, that the Executive ought to be instructed to transmit a copy of the foregoing resolution to the Congress of the United States so soon as they shall assemble, and to the legislative and executive authorities of each State in the Union.