The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-11
CALL OF A CONVENTION.

ihe committee to whom was referred num-
berOfOei:ionS from the citizens of iiffcren. parts
Of the fate, requefing the Legislature to take
neltures for the callofa convention TO revife and
amend the contribution of this commonwealth
and to whom ALTO was referred, a number Of re.
monltrances aeaina the call of arcopvention, hav.
ing deliberated upon the import ant fnbiett filb-
nitted TO them, with all the care and attention
which Its delicacy and its magnitude imperiouf-
ly demanded, now offer the following report |:
When the great Author of nature gave exit.
tence to man, he endowed him with mental
powers capable of progrcfiive and indefinite adj
vancemert, and impreted upon his foul delire
of approximating TO the goal of perfection in G.
very art and icience, and no man nor generation
OF men IS authorized to FAY to their fuccefIors,
that we have arrived at the acme of perfection in
any human lntitutiOn, beyond which it is irnpof-
iible for You to pats, and above which it is dam
gerous and prelumptuous for you to afpire had
an atiumptlon OF this nature been admitted, every
Improvement in arts and licences, as well in GO
Vcr1nent is in natural and moral phiIofOphy
would long iiDce have ceafed and the active
genialcurrent of the foul been chilled, and Sound
in adam1ntine chains. It is with felt Eatisfatti-
on your committee recollect, that the citizens
OF America were among tie frft to reff fuch an
ailunpton Of power, TO have BURT the chains
with which they were trammelled, and TO exhibit
ence of government was NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. art
and every fcence had been ftuiied, improved,
ana BROUGHT to degree Of peife Stability by the
progreive labors of fucceeding generations,
whilf that Of government, Of all Others the mott
intereiting TO man, remained for ages nearly fta-
tiOnary until the era ofthe American revolution.
TIE fame forms ard fyftcms which exifled in the
remote and dark ages ofignorance and fnoerffi-
tion were continued, and their antiquity fubflitn-
ted in the place Of right (; and he who dared TO
invcttigate their principles, ftretcbed forth his
band TO draw aide the veil, or exerted his men
tll powers to diiIipate the milts by which their
origin was eneelopped, was denounced az a trail
tor, or inundated as diturber of4he peace and
harmony of fociety: Int the citizens of Ameri-
ca have not only dared to eXamine-and to re-
D'H, bat 30 af upon the fuhie6t and taught
The world, that ancient forms can be improved
aud aneiorlled, and afyfem Of free government
rca.;f:d.
70 thc ef1b'ihmcnt Of this noble example,
ihc good ci';Zcrs Of this commonwealth have
Contributed - no i'nall degree they have fhown
that forus of government can be altered and a.
mcnded without thefe dreadful ard terrific con-
i"cHsncrs which have been prcditted Ivy thofe
who held power, and were hottie TO the equal
rights of man.
IN the vr1r l776, although engaged in bloc
az conteit with an invading foe. they etiblIihed
frame " free government. IN the year 1870
chat frame Of government was fuperceded by
the prcfcut conai;uton Of this commonwealth.
in Che l7'ter innrunent, as well in the former,
the principle Of proCreiiive improvement is re-
cog'ize6-" That Ill power is Inherent in the
people and all free governments are cNpRitut-
ed tor the'r mace and hlppiucis; for ,he ad.
v'nceTnsn ~ theft ends, hey have al al times
an nnalicrable and irdefcaiihie riest. 10 alter.
reform, or ahUi'h their government ia fuch DaH-
ne Re they nav think proper:" Thus the right
of TIE people - alier and amend The cornita-
ton, 4 righ. founded in reaion and in natural