The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-04-09
ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, APRIL 0, 1905.
VIEW
OF THE AFFAIRS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
VIEW
No. I.

VIEW
OF THE AFFAIRS OF PENNSYLVANIA.
No. I.
A Politician who fhould make the tour o.
the United States, would fnd few Political
events IT. any of the ftates to arreR his anxious
attention. In the fouth, the competition be-
tween the two prevailing parties has long 6nce
expired, and a triumphant majority of he peo-
pie is deeply devoted to the caufe of the pref.nt
administration. In the north, where there is 4
more equal proportion between the number and
the influence ofthe two parties, and where con
fequenty, there is an incefant ftruggle for Off
ces and power, he will find the ftates of New
Hampfhire and Madachulctts warmly excited,
and deeply intereted in the election of their 60
vernors, and each party in fact, pledginy the ge-
neral fuccefs of their caufe upon the triumphs
OF their favourite candidate. He will have ar
rived in time to witnefs the 10y of the republi-
cans of New-Hamplhire, in having borne the pa
triotic John Langdon thro' every oppofton (;
and to anticipate the republican triumph of
Ma!iachuietts, III feeling James Sullivan at the
head other affairs. II is in Prnn(ylvauia alone.
agitated by difcufiions of the deepeit concern
to any nation, and fplt into local parties, whole
oppofition has affirmed the mott difciplined
form, and whole zeal is commensurate to the
Importance of the fubiecf; il is here that our
traveller would arre!t his enquiries, while he DIFF
covered fubje6t 70 wei! worthy of his NOT at.
tentve inveitigation. He would at once per
ceive that thefc difculions would not be con-
fined to the mere local affars of Pernfy,vanil,
Respectable as that fa;e is from the number and
political influence of lis inhabitants but hat
they involved principles Of the ercatcit iinpor.
lance. relltine to the very theory OF goverr,rr,,
itfclf, and perhaps extending in their conftcnen.
ces overthe other tates of the union. 1t us
ALTO paufe for moment with our irquifitive
traveller, while we contemplate the principal
topics of this difcuflion, and offer few defu.-
tory remarks upon the views and conduct OF the
oppoGte parties. We do not pretend to be as
intimately acquainted with the various facts,
which will decide the merits of the quefion, as
thofe who are on the fccne OF action but per-
haps may make A better ufe OF thofc, which
we do poiefs. Prejudice and PATTON are not
leis dangerous FOES to the cauf: of truth, than
even ignorance itfelf.
There are two important auctions before
the people of Pennfylvania: 1T. Is their con-
fitution 70 defective as to juftify the calling of a
Convention 10 amend it And end. IF Con-
vention ought TO be called, has the legislature
the right to call one? Thefe quenions are OBJ
viouly to be fettled by different principles, and
are fufceptib!e of very different anfwcrs. Ma
ny may agree about the one who differ about
the other. There are in fact not iefs than three
political feets in Pennsylvania who have formed
different views of this fubje6t. There is one
party who think that the defects of their Conai-
tuition do not ijufify any recourfet to Il Conven-
ton. There is another who admit that the
contribution requires fome amendments, but
they deny the right of the Legislature TO call a
convention. There is third party, who acqui-
efce not only in the propriety of calling a Con-
vention, but in the right of the Legislature
to call one.-Let US briefly examine thefe fe-
parate queftions.
Has the iegi1ntme IF Pe1af1lvnmia n
right tn call Con7'epfion ? The conRi-
tuition of the United States, and OF almoft
all the oates, feem not to have been defigned
for immortality, in the form which they ORR
ginay a1umed. Mott of them admit the alb
itraet right OF the people to amend them, and
the abftrdct brobriety of amending them, when
ever experience n,ali have dfcovered their i'm
PROJECTIONS. Some of them have gone 70 far
as to deicrbe the particular mode, by which
convention Of the delegates of the people is to
be fummoped, for introducing fuch amend
ments. The federal contribution, for example,
declares that congrefs fhall call a convention
eHber when two thirds of both houfes fhall
deem it necefiary, or when the legislatures of
two-thirds of the ha.es fhal apply for it but
that the amendments Of the convention SHALL
not be " valid to all intents and purpofe" until
they have been "ratifed by the legislatures, or
by the conventions of three-fourths of the ftates
as the one or the other mode of ratification NAV
be propofcd by the congrefs." The confituti-
ons of New-Hampfiirs, Vermont, Delaware,
Maryland, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky and
Teunenec, have alfo made fpecial provifions
for their own amendment. In fome Of thefe
fates, amendments may be made by the ordi-
IL ylcr,if l,fs .,,I -. I. 1t
ly be introduced by convention. In Georgia,
South Carolina, aud Maryland, no amendment
can be made a part of the contribution, until
IT has been adopted by two fucceeding legiDa-
lures and the bill for this purpofe mutt be
publifhed in fuch time before the intervening
election as may enable the people 10 decide on
lis proprlety, and To- felea the proper mem.
bers: thefe contributions only differing IN the
majority of the Legislature neceflary TO adop,
it, and in the inf~rvai Of time between the pub
lication OF the amending Ill! and the election