Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-02-20

policy"
1t is deemed unnecessary to presentanv
upon ire different projects of
calling Convention with limited, or I'm
limited powers because the one, as well
as the other, Is considered as the com
mencement OF Il revolutions; and human
foresight, and human wisdom, then an
pear in all their impotency, when thew
attempt to calculate the direction, reyo
buttons will take, when once begun; or
10 scan the point of their termination
Electing the members, who compose the
Conventions under the freehold limit ia
the right of suffrage, might afford a raw
of hope, but can afford us no assurance
against miscellaneous consequences. Boil,
projects have their foundation in q.
same principle; that the present Cons,,-
tuition Is found, upon experiment, to be
incompetent 10 IT'S original purposes
and Of course, a necessity exists for re-
sorting TO some substitute and vhtn
this solemn declaration is once made IN
the people by the General Assembly. II
is vain to attempt to calculate its con-
sequences. One consequence ONLY is
certain that II will put INTO activity. al
the mischlcvous principles, and mischey
Gus political engines, existing in society.
and whether the people will have wisdom
and virtue enough, to resist and repei
their misc'ievous tendencies, is the Sc
Tenn, and awful problem, TO be solved.
by the bold and hazardous experiment.
1t is in vain, therefore, for MS to amuse
ourselves with reflections to ascertain
which ofthe different pillars of the fabric
shall be pulled down, and which shall re-
tain their places; the whole fabric is
demolished by the single act of calling a
Convention IN any form The beSt
and last hope, we can indulge of beiug
still longer blessed with the wise and w,
ncrable provisions OF the present Consti-
tutionis is, that they may serve as ouides
or landmarks, othOse whom becalled
upon 10 perform The unholv office of its
lmmoation, IN forming the new one. to
be substituted IN its stead. and if the
elections to the Convention. are tn be
made, as they surely will be, under all the
preludices, and excitements, which can
be brought to bear upon the principles of
the present Constitution, very little reli-
ance can be placed on tins last vestige of
hope.
Ii is both curious and ipstructinr
TO observe the striking contrast in the
principle, which actuated the wise saaes
III their declaration ofour Independence
ana that winch actuaies the sapIent re-
iormers OF the present day, in their pro-
LESSONS OF amending the Constitution
ihoSe SageS enumerated a catalogue of
practical evils, which had long been. and
were then borne, without the smallest
prospect of relief in any other wav and
then made the solemn declaration thar
these evils were too intoleralle 10 he
longer endured and that ii was better
to encounter all the consequences of
change OF government, or OF any revolu-
ion IN any form, than longer TO endure
existing evils; anu upon this ground So
lehnly !ustifled the act, before God and
The world; and upon that ground did thew
stand justified. But the reformers oftb;s
day, place their justification for reyolu-
ton upon the happiness we now enjoy
resulting from the profoundly wise es-
adjustments, formed and handed down
to us by these same sages. After gIan-
eng al some imaginary evils, which puz-
zie Their ingenuity to conceive and sug-
| gest, they declare That this is moment of
happiness and tranquility and upon
that ground must their justification stand
before God and The world, for the reyo-
luton they are SO eagerly empIoyed 10
! accomplish. Our ancestors were impell-
ed 10 act from unavoidable necessity
when surrounded with the most ALARMING
| perils. Our present reformers are per
fectiy free from perils of all sorts, sur
rounded with every political blessing.
and seem 10 be stimulated 70 action
merely by the sportiye frclic of the ina
| gination.
Our ancestors were guided in their de-
| alterations by actual evils, which suggest
! ed Their appropriate remedies. Hence
! the wisdom other establishments. The
! present reiormers fancy The evils. and
then fancy thereme!ies. What prospects.
can we indulge in favor OF aRv thing bet
ter than iancIiul results Our ancestors
delIbeTated with balters around their
necks, and were therefore impelled to
honest deliberations by the strongest Of
al! motives, self-securliy" Iftieir es-
Adjustments, should prove weak and in
| eflcacious, and fail oftheir objects. their
lives were known TO be the forfeit. The
! reiormers of the present day, not being
lmpelled by any of these strong motives
to honest exertiOn, may we not fear that
| some OF the most active par1izans. who
! Will springup out Of this revolution. and
WHO are vet entirely unknown, NAV in
! termix something Of seif.agorandizcment
nntheT objects; and to effect this. may
resort 70 every species of intrigue with.
and tiattery OF, the people, their conslitu-
! ents And what hope can we have. of
| beneficial results, from deliberations nm
| der influences like these Look ON
| this pc ture, and ON that" IF instead az
| immolatIng the principle of the freehold
limit OF fhe right Of suffrage in Virginia.
! principle believed to be- Of more real va
| lue. than all the princinIns i'm ali tbe