Phenix Gazette

The debate upon the Convention question in
the Virginia House of Delegates, has elicited
the display of much talent and eloquence. Several
of the speeches are characterized by a closeness
of reasoning, a cogency of argument, and
an elegance of language, which are highly honorable
to the debators themselves, as well as
to their native State. They are not inferior to
the speeches delivered in Congress this session,
in any point of view,—and in many are superior.
Perhaps there is not in any State in the Union,
so many promising young men—men who bid
fair to act their parts well and nobly—as there
are in Virginia: nor do the Legislatures of any
State contain as much talent as will be found
in her Legislature. The reason of this we cannot
pretend to say; it may, perhaps, be owing
to the limitation of the right of suffrage in the
State. The fact, however, that we have stated,
is highly honorable to the intelligence of the
People who send, as their representatives, men
of such a character. It is as important, in many
respects, that the People should be ably represented
in the State Legislatures, as it is that
they should be in the National Congress. Under
a new state of things, Virginia would not
long be considered a fourth rate power.