The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-05-07


; paired "a the latest periods ? vote for d
eonveBtlOn.
. MAJOR Pollard concluded by offering hi'
resolutions.
r Mr GEORGE " NELSON tool, III,
noor IN opposition 10 tie resolutions. Al
ter 4 few remarks, which were not heafc
hy the reporter, hIr. \. asked the meeting
10 pause sna reflect upon what they were
about fo do. We ore about 10 approach
, With prccipiatr, he had almost sad un
halInNed step, the constitution Of our coun
fry-the instrument cHdeared to us by Z
Thousand tender fecollsolons. When wi
reflect That tins constitution is the eniat.
ton Of the wisdom OF the revolutionary
patriats--thst, when our political horizon
ras o,rrshadowed 10y clouds OF dark and
threatening aspcct-When the storm ri re-
solutlnn peaied over our heads, this consti
;aiion safely guided our little bark through
/ the raging pillows of The tempestuous ocean
INTO the harhor Of liberty and lndepen-
druce. These considerations, said Mr.. \.
should bind rs io this instrument with the
strongest feelings Of ycneraiIon and attach
mrut Mr. y. protested against being CON
si1rrrd the advocate Of a defective system
merely on account nf lts antiquity but
this Institution aequlrJd additional lnsire
IN his eyes from having received the sane
ton IT age and experience. Mankind, said
Mr. \ are apt u be dissatisfied with the
present state Of thugs aud desire a change,
aud when they hate effected il they gene
rally find that they have gone from bad To
worse So attractive IS novelty 10 the hu
man mind lhat It is only necessary 10 show
Us something new, IN order to receive for
II our warmest appreciation. Mr.. N. pro
tested against this spirit of innovation,
particularly in the Affairs of government,
aud commended that We should not change
our constitution unless II was found To be
inadequate 10 those purposes for winch the
social compact was formed, or violated
| some great principle. Government is in
siitufed for the purpose uf securing the
happiness and safety Of the members Of
The body polite. Will any one say that
these purposes have not been attained Are
we not IN The possession OF rs much hap
pin,ss as was ever enjoyed by any people
under heaven Where IS the man who
complains Of any oppression Where is
the m1o who says his rights, his person his
property, are not secure No naughty
lordling can here Gomlnrpr over his poor
nclshhor The laws secure equality of
rlghts, Of pr, llrEcs aud lmmunlllrs to all.
Here every one can be emphatically said
10 live under his own vine and tx tree.
In discussing the resolutions before the
meeting, sad Mr.. n. it IS necessary that
should eudcayor IN the first place to show
that "e have a constitution. A consttu
ton, sad he, may be defined to hra rule Of
aclon prescribed for the government OF the
Legislature, to which tho people have given
express Or implied consent. 1t i, Ia the
legislature what legislative enactmcuts are
10 the people, the rule If their conduct
Now, II lcan shew that our constitution
Possesses thee tw6g Ldltles, namely, that
II has received the assent at the people,
and is obligatory upon the legislature, thls
question is put to rest. Call il what you
please, Il rs 10 al! lntcnts aud PURPOSES
constitution. The history If lis formation
Is briefly thls In ia, when the house ~
bargrs,cs was dssolt ed the members ofthM
body mt aud recommended To the people
of the state il elect delegates to Il Conven.
lion Ia BE- hela-in Richmond ~ the ensuing
Year, Tor the purpose # considering the
tiiru state of affairs, and adopting such re.
gnatlons as the general wrIiar, required,
The people, II pursuance of this recon-
m"ndaton, elected delegates 10 the con.
Ventlon, and that convention recommended
that Hsother should be held IN Richmond
~ thu ensuing year, 1t. A convention
mt III 20, IN pursuance Of the rrcommen-
UtttAD Al tin. ~ ,,,J
recommendations Of Congress, and that
Convention, elected at a time VIXEN, rem
the state Of thugs, change in our govern
mrnt must have been contemplated and
clothed with the power OF providing for the
general welfare, adopted our present e0n-
sututIan. The people have ratified II by
actions which speak stronger than words.
They have ratified it by continuing from
that time 10 the present period to elect
members 20 the legislature, by filing up the
other Offices Of government created by If,
and by acting IN every respect in contor-
NIFTY 10 It's provisions. The convention of
&c. said Mr.. n. was not an ordinary legis
hture. 1t possessed powers winch no le-
eslat1rc that has ever met since, possessed
That convention lad no limit To its author
tty except the obligation il was under 10
provide foI the general welfare. Butevery
succeeding legislature has acted under a
paramount Iaw--nam"Iy. the constitution.
The convention of 20 had authority TO
adopt any measure whirh they thought
would promote the p0hhc woa, hat the
succeeding legislatures, 10 matter how ex
Pcdicnt or beneficial they may esteem any
measure have no authority to enact it IT
be- IN violation Of the constitution. But
said Mr.. y. | care not whence the orginot
this constitution may be derived, contend
that the leg .iat-'re has 40 light % pass any
law invldlstiou otlts provisions. The a1em-
beers of the legislature are elected in CON
lormitytu tie provisions of this Instrument.
ttey are sent by thrir constituents to act
uldcr il, and If they were to pass any law