Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-13
RICHMOND. April rs. ieg4.
CONTENTION .nEETYWG.

The meeting of the Citizens of Richmond
ON Saturday Evening was numerous and res
pectable. The dist ssion continued near four
hours. Ii WAS spirited and interesting. We
shall briefly sketch the points and proce ceilings.
On MIR. Scotts motion, DR.. Adams 1.-THE
alayor) was called tn the Chair ard Mr..
John Rutherford was appointed Secretary.
Mr.. WINSTON addressed the meeting but
we were not IN situation 10 note down his
remarks
Mr.. MUNFoRD rose in favor of Conven-
ton. He observed that our constitution was
the first which had ever been formed by the
people, according To our ideas of consiitu
ton. IL was formed in the midst Of a Rev ol,,.
ton with the sword at our ihroats. Was it
surprising, that the experience of forty years
should have demonstrated that il was defec-
tive? Might we not then be excused for the
presumption ofattempting tn amend il ? For
tunaiely its trainers had laid down certain
principles in the Bill of Rights by which If we
regulated our course, we could scarcely err
They had declared the indubiiable right ofthe
people " To reform, alter or abolish" their
form OF government whenever IS IL should he
found inadequate or contrary to the purposes"
of its institution. The Onl, aus siion was
whether from the practical effects Of the pre-
sent constitution il WAS found to stand in need
of amendment The whole question was
then narrowed down to spoint az fact. If it
had proved defective. ii MAS our right and our
duty, as freemer and az citizens nf Virginia, 10
think and act for ourselves. We hive ia a
country, where our constitutions can be as
readily amended as our ordinary laws. Our
situation is very different from that of Revolu.
tionary France, whose constitutions were ac-
companicd by buodshed. Our Sister States
have set us the example. They have Frequently
amended by Conventions called in peaceabe
| manner. MIR. NJ did not conceive that any
man ought to be called disorgunizpr, or
radical, for attempting change of our con-
su'utnn. Though he had a personal inter
Isl ~ things remaining as they (beipg a
Clerk uf'hr III. Of Delegates for mary years.
yefhe adhered 10 the principles which he had
advocated in this Hall i'm 1900. H. had then
supported Convention, as Delegate ni The
vfnrlr II hoped his interests could not
swerve biz pr,nciul4s. His maxim was, Fiat
irSi;iin riot cgl1fa
SIR. IS. 'h-" rroce, ded To state that in his
hmr'Hip "piuiuu tie present constitution was
defecGv. ~ AZ rs ihsc. great branches. He
OH 80; o"fH tu me manner OF eieciing the
rr"mhsrs ef,he Legislature. and Ia the man
ner nf exercising their power after they were
elected A. to the first, he WAS uot satisfied
with th. rincipr az Suffrage. H. was nota an
advocate Of uni'crsi' suffrage but was moi
a hardship, thar -our principal nerchan;s,
who we're permanently settled Ia the com
no -alh with their f;,nir. and ther pro-
pcriy. should b" drnis d the privilege ofa vote
when man for trAe. fpr mrr- song cen
evcrcist freehold vo,e! For his own part
he was disposed ia extend The right of sui
| fragr within certain boundaries H.. nbirctrd
in The ncXl place tn the ratio of reDrrs' ntatlNn
in eve counties. Every county had its two
| d"ipga,ps no matter what was iis siZr; whe-
Their II was pigmy lik' Warwick, or giaDtike
Lnudrun. This Inequality was contrary 10
| the principPs laid down in the Bill Of Rights.
! The represent ion ought to be regulated ty
| the fra. porulatnn. unless indeed W n,ok
in the 8 5ths the sizes according /" The fed
era' arrangement ~ { any modification was
bette than the present system a TO The
Legislative body Itself he contrnd~d that It
w,s ton numerous. If ts numbers were re-
dnc'd from 900 90 100 the prnrl, ovid take
care % sruh ~ re discreet and ielibera.iye
. MN the business would not be- hurried over,
a1d much of it reserved till the close of Tie
session the laws might be more wi ly franz
ed and the expenses OF the government
would be consider bly, reduced.
Nr. " proceeded to auazr the Executive
| Department. re could not conceive The
NECESSITY ofan Executive Council. WHY not
trust the Governor with the exercise cf the
powers now NfStPu WI lnat department. ~ Ht
wanted counsel, why should he not take adj
vice of the Auditor in questions offinance. aud
nf the Attorney Geupral in questions Of law
&c. There would then be more responsibility
IN the Department. One councillor could not
then say, was not present when such
measure was adopted" nor another plead the
same excuse. The tenure nv which they
hold their Office is also liable to exception
! Though two nf the members are subjected
10 y scratch every third year. yet If in the
mean time they should neglect or violate
their duties. how they tn be removed?
| Mr.. NJ. objected tn the Judicirry depart
rnent. that it WAS excessively completed.
| We have courts, Tier above tier from The
county to the chancery courts and thence up
to the court of appeals. Justice is not so
speedily administered as il ought to be. For
his own part he would abolish the chancery
courts, and do away the distn elton between
courts Of law and courts of equity. Jhe
common law courts when vested with chan
| cerv powers, might invent new processes Tor
eypedifing tho administration If Justice. They
employ the trial nf jnry. so dpserypdIy heldlD
reverence nv all Yet il was strange. that me
trainers of the constitution. though they had
declared in Ire Bill Of Rights that " the an
| iient trial by jury is preferable To- any other
and Ought to he held sacred" yet they pau
gone on tO establish chancefy courts who"
disnensed with this Invaluable privilege
These courts are dIatory in the last degr'n
He was disposed to give tu The common Jaw
courts fhe chancerv power, whore we nig'.
| freely Enjoy he benrft of pira vocs Testimony
and iury trial.
NJ. VI said that these defects were SUN
cir"t To point 1.-THE necessity ofamendmen,'
Some gentlemen may indeed say. that Il ""'
beifcr To bfar the ills we have. than by "