Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-12-25
volotion which succeeded its promuIga.

For thatinequality of representation,
of which your memorislists have just
cause 10 complain. there existed the ex.
cuse that no provision had then been
made for periodical census of the peo.
pei. and that compared with the mon.
ssrous disparity of representation inthe
British house of commons. its model in
fact as in terms, itsmerited comnenda-
ton rather than ceDs3re.
However excusable its anthors un-
questionably were, the defects Of the
constitution must be tried not by their
merits but its own. 1t is readily con-.
ceded that any practicable apportion.
ment of representation to numbers, its
only proper basis, will fall shortsof abb
solute perfection. Butt 10 an jnsult
TO the meanest capacity on eitherside
of the Atlantic, to plead this unavoida-
bic necessity as an apology for suss
tanning defects az remedisble as they
are obvious, and which time must ag-
grsva,e.
IL the constitution defectiyep Can
il be amendedp Isthis proper period
for it's ,amendmenIP These are the
questions which your memorialists ask
their Representatives to submit to the
people of Virginia, by means which the
constituted authorities of the present
government can most conveniently sup.
ply.
Ifall, or any considerable part of the
defects Of their present constitution, to
which your msmorialists have asked
your attcntion, are ever to be amended,
they confidently believe that period
better suited to that purpose, than the
present, cannot be hereafter expected.
The federal constitution, to which the
politicaI parties in America owed their
name and origin, has been recommend.
ed by its propitious operation, and has
now the ssnction of almost universal
aequiescence. Even the domestic and
foreign policy of the United States,
which so long embittered the dissen-
tions Of those parties, has settled
down into fixsd system, sccommoda.
ted to the wants of the nation, and sus.
tanned in tie affection by the test of long
tried and neutrality-suspicious..
Respected abroad and tranquil at
home, every portion of the American
people have for sometime enjoyed q
most favorable opportunity of survey
ing the past, with view to guard
against future danger and, according
ly. many Of the old states of the union
have recently revised the frame of their
government, by recurring under the
guidance Of experience, to the princi-
pies of its original structure
Your msmorialists will not aver, that
Virginia, among the last to profit by
this propitious season, has sunk in poe
litical consequences by hor own supine.
pess hnt they unhesitatiDg ly repel the
upfounded assumption that no practical
i'll has resulted from her neglect or in
differences. It would be derogatory to
freedom, itself, to admit that no sensi-
BILE Inconvenience had arisen 10 the
course of very near half a century, from
the practical violation of the great prin.
ciples of political liberty.
ItisiDdsed true, that despotism some.
times INDUCES it's subjects in the tran.
silent enjoyment of their civil rights.-
But it does not become free nation to
hold its liberty by tenure so precari-
Gus, and it lie the quality Of wise one.
30 stay by anticipation the approach of
danger.
The people of Virginia can never be
disposed to rest their right Of amending
tie defects of their CONSTITUTE on or the
expedieney of its exercise, on the sud.
den pressure Of soms unforeseen Gala
nifty. which might unit them for the
labor or place it beyond their control.
Your memorialists take occasion
to say, that slshough the task is
painful, lit is not impracticable 10
enumerate very serious grievances
which have besn, long since, felt, IS
we'll as many others, which are annual.
ly resulting from the imperfoctions Of
their present constitution: from many
headed aud irresponsible executive:
from crowded house os delegates:
from an unequal representation resting
on basis palpsbly and odiously unjust.
If nothing more we're to be effected
by the amendments they have proposed,
than the preservation of the som which
few years have added to the expence
of the legislatures together with that
which has been long wasted on an use-
less executive council, the saving ofsix
ty Thousand dollars per annum would