Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-12

to measure which has tendency 70 ,rsnseer
that power to its rishtial owners, the majority We
say she i19htfn osv1ters for, we presume it viii,
not, and cannot be denied, that it is fundamental
principle OF our government, that the will of the
majority should govern.
The practical result of this inequality of repre-
sentation has been systematic disregard, by the
legislature, Of the interests of the Northern and
Western people too notorious to require proof or
illustrations. and too severely felt TO be dwelt on
with temper.
Ands there no remedy for an evil Of such alarm
ing magnitude! Are the majority of the people TO
inger on from year to year in state OF homeless pa
litical bondageF
There is, fellow ctzens, but one remedy-It is
pointed out by the declaration of rights Z" recur-
renee to fundamental principles"-iron a change
OF circumstances, operating original defects the
constitution of the State is longer cficen, 10 pro-
tect thu rights of the people. practical results are
W war with ITS elementary principl Prot sing TO
guarantee equal rights to all the citizens leaves the
majority Of them subject to the minority in "A s.,e
oil virtual Embellishments
The obvious remedy is, such an amendment of
ue constitution, by convention of the people, rs
VIII bring IL back to its original prnrnies Rut
how To effect conventions If peop,e il the pr,at
difficulty. The legislature could afford grea, facjli-
ties for attaining the object but II rertinacousiy re-
fuses TO do So because majority of both its branch
es, representing lem MINORITY nf the people ar.
interested in perpctuatng state o. things which
secures to them all the powers OF government with
all lis honours and emoluments. Il turns q deaf
ear to the petitions OF the pespie praying t. aid
IN assembling convention. II has rejected rett;
ons OF sort without member. A bill providing
Tor this object rejected the last session. al
though 1T was actually voted for by the representa-
t"es OF large majority of the people of the state
FROM his quarter Ills idle TO hope for aid.
There is then. presented 10 the people, the al
tentative, OF submitting indefinite continuance
OF this monstrous and unnatural state ofthinrs or of
cn6eavouring, without the aid OF the Legislature
10 enecta tu' anl true convention of the people of
this Commonwealth.
Their right to do so who will be hardy enough IN
dispute Their right TO assemble in convention
" not derived from the Legislature. but frnm a
higher source. Ii is derived from the Almighty pa
vernon OF the universe, who created them free and
has given them the will and the power to ASSERT
their rights 1t is moreover gusranteed, If such
guarantee were necessary, by the declaration of
rights, which the trainers of the Constitution, in
the abundance OF their caution, thought proper to
make.
II their right, then, to assemble in convention.
ther personally, or by their Representatives, be
indsputab'e, and If the expediencv of doing so be
manifest, the only enquiry that remains, u.s. how this
desirable object is to be effected.
The task is admitted to be an arduous one but
resolution and perseverance are capable ofvanuuish-
ing difficulties which, to the timid and rresolu,e
appear rsurmountabe. To effect the object. some
sort OF organization and concert is Absolutely indie
penssbIe. meeting at some central point, from
various parts of the State, by those who have THU
great object at heart, is preliminary step Of obvious
necessity.
The undersigned would therefore respectfully
submit to their fellow citizens through ant the
state, of both political parties (for this is no party
question, and the trainers of this address, n~c
OF both political parties) the following PROPOSE
ton
Let the people of the different counties who ars
friendly to the object of this address, assemble Il,
county meetings, on the fourth ofJuly next (; or as
soon thereafter as practicable, and depute from
each county tworespectable and intelligent indvid-
n.'s, to meet at Stanton, in Augusta county, on
Monday the nineteenth day of August next for the
purpose Of devisng and adopting measures fer ef.
f'ctng Convention Of the People Of this Common
wealth. Let the appointment oil these deputies be
authenticated IN such manner as to the meetings,
respectively shall seem best.
meeting fills sort, composed ofintelIient men
from various parts of this State, viii nave the mean,
OF producing that organization and concert of &C.
ton in the majority of the people, which alone ar,
wanting. Without concert and organizations eye-v
effort which the majority may make t. attain fl or.
proper weight 10 the government will inevitably b.
defeated.
| We confidently hope, fcow-c;tiz rs of the Past
and the South that your magnauirni.y g. worn sonss
otlustlce. williuduce You cooperate heartily with
us in the great work Of regeneratinp orr roI;,ic.I
institutions Recollect, I'VE entreat YOU tina, when
voer coasts ravased by for ign foe AID vo,r
| populous cities threatened with des,rpetioc
your brethren Of the west aft r'led Won an aid nei
| ther tardy nor reluctant. In the hour Of ,c,,r d.,
tress, they reco,lected only that were an Vrr,
niaus--they thongi.t not, they spoke not, oftb n.
political rights, so lone withheld Secured BY H. IL.
remote situation from the ravsges Of the e,.mv
| they cherished no selfish feeling Of sccur.ty-;b,
| mpatized in Your sufferings, and they marched
| 20 your relief. The bones OF hupdreds are If :;
the camps of Norfolk, pledge ofte faith and ,l.s
| loyalty of tie North and tie W est. hU fiat co
ask Of you, nov, IS, to do MS barely iustce-to mai
| noble sacrifice Of that undue political rrenond. :
! anse which coincidence OF circumstauce bas 81, :
| you and which you know TO be incompotbts vi,,
| those principles Which have been consecr,, al -
the best blood of Virginia poured out in tbe;,. dc
fence.
| To you, f.lIOv-ctz ms OF The Nort' end W. .
! we will only say, that we persuaded on arc 80
| d.erlyimprrssed with the importance orr,oo.e ~
yonr political rights, and Transmitting them mir
nqired tn your children to consider the time as
abour which must necessarily he devoted to H. ~
| fecting Of this great object, n sacr fee v,orth
moments consideration. When the resepero,;n,' %
ourpo'itical institutions shall have been co4o,,Io,ni
il win be proud and consolstory reflection -. 80
Of ron that You allied in producing the -
which effected the glorious work.
I - ~ b Doyy, OfBcfkeicy
Iohn r. Cook, County.
.Mfred IT. Powell, : OfFrcderick
Robt. II; W"me' County.
James PindaH, OF Harrison
iona. Jackson County
nt peeso, OF Wood
o Coupty.
Ram Berkshtre' : or Monongelia