Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-10-02
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA
LEGISLATURE.
No. w.
7 have attempted to show,

No. w.
Gentlemen,
have attempted to show,
1st, That you ought not to cat Com
vention of the people. (nor even to recon-
mend a call without previously consulting
the srishes of the fcotie:
81. That you may fyoferiy consult
those wishes. if the defects in the Consti-
tuition were sufficient to warrant the APP
peal: and.
81, That the inequality in representation
10 s." great asto require a remedy.
This brings us to the 4th Proposition
That the feotie ought to consent to call,
(when you make the appeal to tb<m.) and
hat you do not, that they ought TO de-
mand it at your hands.
The first branch of this proposition flows
'lir.ctly from the principles which we
have established If the defects in the
pre- S mt Const tuition be so great If the
inequality vt Representation he so Calling
and SO growing, as to make il preper for
you to consult the wishes of t',e peop'e,
they owe it to the cause of Justice. they
owe il to Themselves, to seek the remedy in
the Call of Il Convention. Who are in
terea.ed in the question Not legitimate
Princes, not privileged peers. nor privile-
ged priests, hut the feohie themselves. 1t
is their own government tor. az our Bill
of Rights declares, If is " insti uted tor the
common benefit and prote ction of the peo-
ple." If thu Constitution be founded on
correct principles, who will be benefited
by it ? The penpe. IT it be incorrect,
who wilt sustain tn. injuryf The peo-
pie. II It quiies remedy who ought to
seek it The people themselves-it is
their righc as well their du'v to do so.
Recommend it 10 them therefore, to pom
der upon this subject; point out the means
by " hich their wishes may be expressed
and the field of argument becomes open at
once to every citizen. Every one will be
led to investigate the subject; every ave-
nne by which truth may he poured in upon
the public mini, VIII b. thrown open;
the private circles, the public prints pub
tic meetings of the citizens VIII be called
into action-and the LusiHess of Reform
will go on with effert and with ut tumult.
If the defects which have been stated are
unreal, the people will protest against the
Conventions. But, if they are found to ex-
list, and TO be gnawing Ike cGucer into
the very heart of the Commonwealth, they
will bow to the urgency of the case, and
Weld their consent to the measures of Re-
form. They must consent, if not this day,
or the next, At least at some future time
tor the defects are too gross, to elmde for
ever the eyes ofthe people. A few men
may set their fa' es against the cause of Re
form lew may be alarmed bv the
prospect OF 4 ch-nge others may dislike
the trouEle some may trcmble for their
own intert SITS, as children fear a shadow
but the great body OF the people of Virgil
MIA ate too deeply imbued with republican
principles, aud too enlightened to submit
to their continued violation.
The people rcH cons mt TO Convention
The very vote which was taken by the last
House of Delegates, is a presunpt We proof
OF this fact. The votes W. re 81, in favor
OF an appeal to the people, ami 90 against
II. bu', II you measure the population of
the different counties. by the census OF 1910,
you will see at once, that the counties,
whose delegates were in favor of the law,
were much more populous than the others,
than in the ratio of 90 to Is. state this
circumstance, tha, those who are opposed
tn Convention, may, on finding the mea-
sure probable, be Induced to make the
appeal. and bring Their minds to acquesce
with as good grace as possible III the
will Of the majority.
What follows then, but that the people
of Virginia are not only bound to consent,
but that they gpW consent on the very first
appeal which is made to their wishqss
But if gentlemen, you do not think tit t,
make this appeal 10 them, thy are bound
tn demand il. What is more, they rcfN
demand it at your hands lfyou ref,ise it
this winter. think you th It you will stop by
stemming the tide! Think you that the
representatives of the people wilt arrest
their ciannours and conpl2intsf No-the
dtt cts os the Constitution must be m-nti
ed-Bow, then. to the destiny viii h a.
waits you; for it is newt ble. the spirit
of reform an nv has ynne forth. -
Next spring it will work with rednubled
animation --Memorials will be circulated
tor s'gnatuTes-Men will be call-d into
public life, who are at present reposing in
retirement, tn promote the cause Of reform
The small, still voice, which at present
scarcely whispers in the b"ees., will swell
into peal of thunder. HID we not bet
ter, then, submit with as much grace as we
can--wliie all is calm, and harmony-be-
tore resistance has lent its bitterness to
complaint, and pro 'uced a spirit of dis. |
cord between " Brethren of the same ia |
m.Iy ?"
Certainly, it is the duty of the people to |
demand your interposition--for you are too |
good Republicans not to respect their wish !
es. but, it is earnestly hoped, that you |
Will not need their remoustrances /; that |
you Will determine, at your next session,
to Consult them--and, that this great ques. |
ton may for ever be put to sleep.
What time can be more proptious than
the present, for amending the Consttu
ton Hitherto. il has been obi .cted, that
the season was not favorable that f,reign