Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-04-13
~ : ~ s:risei al he acme of perfect.
ovA;r any Arnarinsti,ution bevond which

~ S@f<nS t"stssutton, beyond which
Y. impossible Tor you to pass, and abov,
winch is is dangerous and prssumptuou
Tor you 20 aspire; had an assumption @
this nature been admitted, every improve
ment IN arts and sciences, as well IN GO
seusment as iu natural aud moral philosc
pny would long since have ceased; an
,ne active genial curreat Of the soul bee
s-niied, and bound in adamantine chain,
AZ rs with heart felt satisfaction you
committee recoileet, that the citizens c
America wr,e among the FIRST to ress
sacn an assumption OF power, TO hay,
nurai the chains with which. they Were
rammciied, and to exhibit tq !. world
thas Improvement even in the science o.
government was racticab!e.--Every arr
md every science had been studied, I'M
proved, and brought TO degree OF per-
feeiabil;,yby III. progressive iabors ofsuc-
ceeding generations, whilst that OF goyern-
ment, of all others the most interesting TO
man, remained for ages nearly stationary
until the era of the American revolution.
The same forms anu systems which ex-
isted in the remote and dark ages Of ig-
Norance aud superstition were continued,
and their antiquity substituted in the place
of right; and he who dared to investi-
gate their principles, stretched forth his
hand to draw asit. the veil, or excrted his
mental powers to dissipate the misls by
which their origin was enveloped, was
denounced as traitor, OF inundated as ii
Jisiurber of the peace and harmony OF So
ciety: bur The citizens of America have
not only dared TO examine-aud 10 effect,
but 10 a{a upon the subject and taught
the world, that ancient forms can be inn
proved aud ameiiorated, and system of
free government realised.
TO the establishment Of this noble cx-
ample, the good citizens of this common
wealth have contributed in no small de-
gree they have shewn that forms OF
government can be altered and amended
without ibssc dreadful and terrific eonse-
qusnces Which have been predi9ed by
those who held power, and were hostile
to IN. equal rights of man.
Ia ,hc year l776, although engaged in
bloody contest with an invading foe,
they established frame of free govern.
incht. In the year 1919 that frame of
government was superseded by the pre-
sen; constitution of this commonwealth.
In the latter Instrument, as well AZ in the
former, the principle of progressive i'm
provementis recognized-" That all pow
er IS inherent in the people and all
free governments are constituted for their
peace and happiness; for the advance
nent OF these ends, th-y have at all times
az unalle1ablc and indefea sibie right, to
alter. refarm Or abolish their government
10 such manner as ,Eey may think pro-
per :" Thus the right of the people to al
ter and amend rhs constitution, a right
founded in re2son and in natural Justice,
IS guaranteed by the constitution itself
Under this sanction, a humber Of the citi-
zens OF this comnonw ealth have address.
ed the Legislature by their petitions on
this deeply interesting subject; andha-
ing been thus addressed, It appears to your
committee, that it is incumbent on the pc
neral assembly to express some s,nti.
ment on the subject.
Before the committee proceed TO rive
an opinion they Offer few preliminary
remarks.
il isthe prerogatiye ofthe SOVEREIGN ,eo.
pie alone, toalter, amend, or to abolish neir
government that the power is not vested
in, nor DO they conceive il is claimed NV
the legislature, 10 assume the right al
dicfating 10 tire people on this impor,an,
subject that the committee, as member,
of Tie legislature, have come under IN,
most solemn obligation 10 support the con
stitution under which the government i
now organized, nor do they feel dispose,
10 infraet ia the smallest degree any Of il
provisions, while IL remains uDaI,ered b,
the people themselves. Yetwe conceiy
That the legislature have an unquestiohabl
right without violating any obligation, TO ex
press an opinion as to the imperfeelioB
of thar instruments; and especially az thei
attention has been called TO the subiee)
by the numerous petitions and remon
stranecs presented to the legislature.
This opinion perhaps might receiv
acme corrcboratiou by adyettiDg to III
Judiciary { co-oydiusis branch oflhe 20
Sernmsnl, the officers OF which are unde
Ike obligations with the members ofthe as
ssmbiy, 20 support the constitution of thi
AID Of the UnIied safes In DoNdss re
ports, Vol. III. p. z74 RSsPUs. Uersn
CopBRT, chief justice N'Bran thus er
presses himself" There is no provision
!. ff. fi. constellation that ia apch c.... IA.