Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-13
IMPORTANT MEASURES

On Tuesday. two important bills were ac-
ted on IN the two branches ofthe Legislature,
VIZ. the Senatorial bill by the House of Dele
gates-the Convention Bill by the Senate
The first was passed, by majority of votes,
and sent up to the Senate tor their concur
rence-Iheiast has been rejected in the Senate,
o to ~.
Of the first. we say but little, for we have
not mad opportunity to sift its details-to see
whether they can be brought within the pale
of the coustItItion.-Of The last we must
say a few words:
On this subject we may err: but never were
we more satisfied that we are right. We put
all interest; we put all .he feelings of many
who are dear to Us, ont OF the question. We
follow trath, let who will be the guide. We
liz orr eye upon that great principle. on which
Il republican constitution rests; the will of
the people. That viii should speak through
mqjerty. Does it exist in either branch of
the LEGISLATURE of Virginia! Ia both, the re-
presentation is unequal. In the Senate parti-
cuIarly SO. 1t isan inequality, odous in theory;
springing from no design to Cypress. because
il is the work of time, covering the western
forests with orulatou-but though design did
rot create the disease, wisdom should apply the
remedy.
The constitution then needs repair but is
il the wish of the people, DO the majority
wish it' Take their sense, FIRST; ask them if
they wiilhaye a Convention but how will Won
take that sense7 The friends OF reform must
do il, either ny agents whom they may consti
tute in the different counties or by an appeal
to the Legislature, prevail upon them to en-
ploy the Sheri,is and the other forms of the
law, to open poll and take the Votes of the
peOpic.-'ihe last is in every respect the best
mode-because il is the best means by
which: the sense of the majority can be calmly
and fairly collected. And this, let us say, is
the only reason why the legislature should in
teriere in matter, i'll which they have ns reg
ular authority.-Lct the legislature then TAI e
the sense of the people on the call Of Convcn-
ton.
I'll,
the last summer-We attempted to dcvcl-
Ope item in series of numbers, addressed TO
the Legislature, in September last.
We prayed the Legislature TO take the sense
of the people and such was the spirit at the
time they met, that we had no doubt they
would have readily yielded to that obiect.-
The bill, indeed. which was brought in, did not
answer orr ideas. W hiatt a Hu;fed Convention !
limit the People in their sovereign capacity p
Ask them TO dispense with Convention ut all,
or to bind up the hands of their deputies to
certain specified objects! Swear their depu-
tics even not TO obey the instructions of their
immediate constituents Fer orr own parts,
we are not afraid to trust "A Virginia people.
They are not French Iacobins, TO fly from one
extreme to another-they are cool and calm
men, whose deputies may be safely trusted or
il not safe to trust them, il is time TO tremble
for onrrepublican government The conStitIl-
ton may have other defects, as well as an une-
quail representation we fear not 10 trust the
people with them all. The bill then was not to
our taste III was not Sucn Il ore as tie
Stanton Convention. or the 10 petitioning
counties asked for-we are not surprised that
some of tile friends OF Reform should have voi-
ed against il yet with all its imperfections on
its head, il best to take il, than to lose the
measure aitogether-bu even this bill and eve
~ other is dead. What then will the friends OF
! retormlow DO?
Their course is before them, as plainly mar
| ked outas The sun in the heavens ADDRESS
| the people; address them in calm and dis
pass olate manner; carry reason, not pas
| soin 20 their .irc-sdes; address them as Virgil
mans, as friends of truth and ofpriuciple ; do,
as was stated in this paper in Sept last should
| be done, in case the bill failed "Ihe spirit
|. of reform and enquiry has gone forth Next
| spring, twill work with edoubed animation
! Memorials will he circulated tor signatures
| Men will he cailediuto public life, who ave at
present reposins in retirement, to promote the
| cause OF reiorm.-Thc small, sill voice, which
! at present scarcely whispers in the breeze,
| will swell into peal of thunder" Take some
means otcoecting the names of men who ale
| in favor ola Convention, that you may appear
| at the bar oiihe next Legislatures with so many
| names, as will satisfy the doubling, that the G
| are men enough who want reform, to ask the
| people ifthey will have it-Remove this doubt
! which prevails, and the work is done. Bnt Icf
no angry menace escape your lips-l3e calm s
coiiected-The moment you fiy INTO any thing
| like force, menace, or the slightest opposition
| TO the constituted authorities, the friends of
| principle will desert you. NOHr end ought to
be the happiness of Virginia-your meais, con-
rice ion.