Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-06

necessary operations, and unwilling himself
to be the leader. It follows, therefore. that
n Just estimate of the state of the public
mind, relative to any subject os a general
! nature, can seldom be made from counting
! the number of petitioners to .he Assembly,
either for, or against it. But the same OBJ
! jections do not apply to the plan proposed
in this instance by the House of Delegates.
, A plain method being provided of taking
I the votes of treehoiders in 4 regular and
legal manner, no artihce OF improper in
fluence could have been exerted to obtain
their suRrages; but their free and unbi-
assed opinions would most probably have
been expressed. The circumstance that
the people have hitherto not generally pc
! titioned the Legislature 20 call Conven-
ton, rs no proof that they are contented
with the present state of things, or unwil-
| ling that a reform should be attempted.
! The lntuenc OF those whose official situa-
tions make it their interest tn ret i'm eve
| ry thing in Sf1tu quo has doubtless had it's
| effect in dscouragiug free enquiry & check
| ed the success OF petitions Of that nature.
But whether the wishes of the people are
in favor Of a Convention, or against it, the
resolution proposed by the House o. Dele
| gates was not Objectionable since it could
not have had the effect of counteractine,
[ 49, ''6ait i6NN lu'lllSiitNi tilt UGSnS OF DfO-
perly consulting and complying with those
| wishes.
According to our bill of Rights, which
has been very Justly called the D itcal ca
techism of Virginia, ca frequent recur-
renee to fundamental principles" is essen
TALLY necessary "to preserve free gov
lcrnment, or the blessings of liberty to anv
people" But, if, in a country like ours,
in which large majority of the nation
are happily possessed Of considerable de-
gree of information. and ardentlv attached
to good order, and we'll regulated freedom,
recurrence to fundamental principles is
~ be accounted useless and dangerous if
the doctrine is to ne laid down. that we are
lreadv possessed Of " all Practical Political
hGhfineSs," ard of course thould never aim
1T lmnrDvement, ourbili O rights must be
acknowledged to contain falsehood, and
no case can be imagined in which con-
stltution once established could be altered
with propriety. The great examples of
inc peaceable formation and establishment
ct the federal constitution, and of the chan
ges In tn tcrms of government of several of
the other states /; lin none of which the
. hrebrand of discord has been lighted, -
nor, IN fact, any inconvenience sustained y
are sufficient to sfew that the mischicfs
dreaded from all attempt to amend the con-
stitution ofVivginia, are entirely magma
ry. The truth is that some good may re-
suit from calling convention; but no evil
can be produced, except the temporary ex-
, Pense and surely, that ought not to be men,
toned in comparison with the benefits
which would probably arise from those i'm
provements, which the wisdom of convep-
tlon consisting of the most able men in the
commonwealth might devise. We say the
most able men in the commonwealth, be-
cause men of that description would, on
. such an important occasion, be generally
candidates, and IN consequence of the good
sense and knowledge with respect to poll
teal matters which is diffused among the
people, would as generally be elected. An
Assembly of such men would not make all
terations IN the constitution on light or tri-
, Wal grounds, nor won d be disposed to lis
ten to every wild scheme of innovation
which inexperienced and visionary politi-
clans might suggest. We doubt not that
they would coolly and iudiciously examine
and Compare it with the republican princi-
pies on which it wasintended to be founded :;
with the various other systems now in force
in the United States; and with those i'm
provements in the science of government,
WI n Npe ic &C MS disc v - ince was
adopted; and that, having acquired all the
lSht On the subject within heir zach. they
would with Cautious, but steady hand,
proceed to lop off such branches as cou d
he pruned from the tree without injury,
and to engraft upon it some others in addi-
ton tn ITS utility and beauty. That a con-
ventlon chosen at this time, and by the
6eohfe Of Virginia, would act in this pru-
dent and circumspect manner, ought to
be doubted bv none but those whose opinion
1t is that the people are incapable of self
government, and should be guarded against
themselves as their own worst enemies.
Wedo a. uppoee on ention wouidintr, .
dnce nearly as many alterations as have at
different times been contended for by the
orators on this subject in the House of De-
legates; but firmly believe it would in m =
ny respects disappoint some of its friends
, as Wei as its enemies. We do not think
"a convention representing freeholders
VII ever establish universal suffrage, al
though it may extend the right somewhat
farther than it is enjoyed at present ne-
ther can we indulge a suspicion that such a
convention would abolish the Senate, and
; vest all the powers of legislation in one boz
, dy only. But we entertain no doubt that
a more equal representation of the people
in the House IF Delegates and Senate and
!. a new & less complicated jud ciary system
! would be among the fruits OF their labors
We will not enter more particularly
; at present, into an examination of the
detects constitution - h RENE SIC.
n