Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-07-17

tfy 10 MS friend in Richmond.
A just estimate of the many and weighty
cons de:ations presenting themselves in
favor of call Of Convention for the
purpose OF equalizing the representation,
I'D to sanguine expectations of tue sue
cess OF that proposition in the late House
of Delegates. But the western peonle
saw with astonshment, that the measure,
though sanctioned by the voice of the real
majority of the State. again received its
quetus in the Legislature. In despair Of
affecting Legitimate object, by the least
objectionable means, some appear to be
disposed to make An effort, which, if sue
cessiul, would lead to confusion, but which
will probably fail, at present, for want of
necessary concert. For myself, | do not
despair: ] cannot settle down upon the
Uelief that the people of the Low Country,
among whom was born and educated,
whom | know to possess many virtues.
and who value their own political rights,
too much to underrate those of others,
will continue to lnction the gross violation
of the privileges of one halt of their Eel
ow-C,tizeus.
And what are the reasons that can be
plausbly assigned for the pertinacity with
which the proposal to call convention
has been of late rejected. VIII the adj
versares of that measure encounter the
strong arguments in its favour, by alledy--
ing that no practical evils have resulted
from the inequality . Behold shew YOU
one--one of the greatest magnitude--one,
which in a Government like ours, which
as mirror reflects the opinions Of the peo-
pie, is OF the most momentous Character.
The people feel it as grievance-they
look upon it as a wrong-they regard It
as an oppression. Is nos this enough ?-It
is not the feeble voice of few Disconnected
and factious men that meets our ear it s
the loud bur respectful remonstrance
one half Of the State. 1t would be to nit c
purpose, that poll ical quack should as
sure them they suff-r nothing th.t the
evils OF which they complain are magma
ry, ard that they enjoy as much liberty
and as much weight as ifthey had full
representation. 10 such eDpIricism they
would reply by some strong and decisive
evidences of the reality of the injury they
sustain. 1t might not be difficult to pre-
sent some striking instances OF the prejndi-
cial effects of this inequality. Bat / am
neither disposed TO hIitaLe the ai.sady
fostering wound, nor do ] think it necessa-
ry to the question. Il is enough that those
who have right to complain, think that
they have reason. 1t was enough for our
Eorefathers, that unlawful burdens were
imposed. lc was not of the we ght that
they complained. 1t belongs alone to the
sluggish slave of Eastern Despotsm to
bend under oppression so long as nature is
capable of enduring il. Il is the part of
the Freeman to assert Ii s rights with mo-
deraUon but with firmness, and TO press
the constituted authorities of his Country,
to redress a grievance, before it becomes
intolerable.
Ii there could ever have been a doubt as
to the practical evil of the present state of
representation, that doubt must now sub
side. Whether it be practical evil to the
Western people or not, it has now become
practical evil TO THE STATE. 1t is
the prolific parent of all the discontents &
ill-humours, and heart-burnings, with
which heaven permits us at the present
moment to be afflicted. It's ready in
strument in the hands of any and every
factious and disappointed man whose pri-
vate views may be promoted by ferment
and commotion in society. The Catalines
and Cgthegus's, Of such there bc) can re-
quire no more powerful engine they can
wish no other torch Of djscord. So long as
we suffer the same growing evils TO CONT
nue., Cor they grow with the rapidly in
ereasIng dispropor,ion Of the population of
Upper and Lower Virginia. so long rs we
permit the harmony OF society to be dis
turbed by this jairing principle, SO long
shall we find ambitious and designing
men always ready to strike the dlscordant
string.
1t is an evil which we ought promptly to
remedy. The disease is at its crisis. The
disorder must not now be tempered with.
a prompt and decisive redress at the pre-
ssnt moment would at once restore that
harmony. which inauspicious events so es~
sentially interrupted. On the contrary, a
failure to attend to the Just expectations of
the Western people, Will, it is feared, urge
them on, step by step, IN a ruinous and
disastrous course. To what It may lead,
who knows, save heaven ?" Clouds
and darkness hang over its termination.
An amendment OF the Constitution which
would equalizc our representation, can
with no propriety be resisted, on the
form alone is now contemplated rcvOlu-
tion is meditated by none. To oppose re-
form because it may be carried too far, is
to use the hacknied argument ofborough-
mongers and protestant bigots, in support
Of Parliamentary abuses and Catholic per-
secuton. The tendency Of democr4cies, it
is true, is vaciliation and perpetual change.
The vice Of despotism is a scrupulous and
supersttious adherence to old abuses, and
decided rspugnancc to whatever bears
the semblanee Of reform. 1t is for us tc
avoid these equally dangerous extremes.
The steady character Of our Governmt nj
for forty years. sufficiently acquits us of z