Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-05-06
Mir. JEFFERSON-CONVENTION.
From the Richmond Eaqdrer.
MONTICELLO, APRIL 10, 1924.

Dear Si,' received in due time
your favor of the i2th, requesting my
! opinion on the proposition to call con-
vention for amending the constitution
of the state. That this should not be
perfect cannot be subject of wonder
when it is considered ours was not on
~ the first of the American states, but
the first nation in the world at least
within the records of history, which pea
ceably, by its wise nen, formed, on free
| deiiberation, o constitution OF govern
ment for itself, and deposited it in writ
ing among THAR archives, ready and
open to the appeal of every citizen.-
The other states, who successfully for
med constitutions for themselves also,
had the benefit of our outline, and have
made on il doubtless successive improve
ments. One, in the very outset, and
which has been adopted III every sub
sequent constitution, was to lay lis foun-
dalton in the authority of the nation.
To our convention no special authori-
ty had been delegated by the people to
form a permanent constitution, over
which their successors in legislation
should have nc power of alteration
They had been elected for the ordna-
ry purposes of legislation only, end at a
time when the establishment of a new
government had not been proposed or
contemplated. Although, there fore, they
gave to this act the title of consttu-
ton, yet it could be no more than an
act of legislation, subject, as their other
| acts were, to alteration by their success
sors 1t has been said indeed that the
! acquiescence of the people has supplied
the want Of original power But 1t is a
dangerous lesson to say to them when
ever your functionries exercise unlaw-
full authority over you, if you do not go
into actual resistance, it will be deemed
acqulescence, and confirmation Be-
sides, no authority has yet decided
whether the resistance must be instan-
taneous? When the right 70 resist ce a
ses' or whether it has yet ceased' OF
the IT states now organized, % have
disapprovcd our doctrine and example,
and have deemed the formal authority
of their people a necessary foundation
for a constitution:
Another defect which has been cor
rected by most of the other states is, that
the basis of our constitution is in oppo-
sitiou to the principle Of equal political
| rights, refusing to all but freeholders
any participation in the natural right
of self government. 1t is believed, TO I
example, that very great maj ority OF
the militia on whom the bUrthen OF mi
htary duty was imposed in the late war
were men unrepresentedin the legisatll {
which imposed this burthen on them.
However nature may, By mental or ply
steal discualihcations, have marked in
fants and the weaker sex for the pro-
lection. rather than the direction az go
vernment, yet among the men who ell
Their nav. or fight for their country no
line of right can be drawn. The exclu-
sion of majority of our freemen from
the right Of representation is merely ar
bitrary, and an usurpation OF the mlno-
rity over the majority. For it is believ-
ed that the non freeholders compose the
majority of cur free, adult male cih-
zenS.
And even among our citizens who par
ticipatc in the representative privilege
the eqaulity of political rights is entirely
Frustrated by our constitution. L pom
what principle Of right or reason can
my one Justify the giving 70 every citi-
zen Of " arAick as much weight in the