Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-13

! the expediency of calling a Convention to amend
the Constitution of the State, will be taken at the
election of delegate for the city, which will be
held Tomorrow, the frcclodcrs are informed, tina,
the subject will be canvassed and discussed on TN.
morning Of the election; and it is hoped, from tn.
highly interesting nature of the subject there will
be an early and full attendance of the FREEHOLD
| ERs. BY MANY FREEHOIDERS
|. RICHMOND Meeting FOR CONVENTION.
The citizens of Richmond assembled, pursuant to
notice, at half past four o'clock, on Saturday even
ing at the Capitol, to consider the question of the
call OF a Convention, to amend the State Consti,u-
tom. The Hall of the House of Delegates, the
Gallery. and the doorways, were filled to overflow
ing The meeting was mob in numbers, but i'm
gravity, dignity, and calm dcliberation, Il Roman
Senate. No man has ever witnessed promiscuous
aSscmblagc OF the people, where there was more
good order. and we believe VIC may add, more una
nimty. Except that the proposition, 81 that the
Constitution of Virginia defcctirc and required
on,cnd'neaf,' was assentcd TO with an animated and
fodTing dyc-and that certain instructions, moved
by most implacablc enemy of the Convention, and
which reflected on the understanding of the meeting
were rejected with "noes," which for loudness and
long continuance rescmblcd II death eroau there
was not the slightest approximation to tu,nul, or
| disorder. Every thing moved tremendously on
strikirgy illustrating the good sense and moIc,a-
ton OF II Firsinia Assembly, and the competency of
the people to deliberate with calmncss, and decide
with wisdom, the most Important affairs of sclfrov-
ernncnt.
For tho results Of this meeting, refer our read
crs To the Official Report, signed by Dr. John Adj ms
| President, and John Rutherford, Esq Secretary.
The numbers which attended were variou,ly es-
tiinated at f,om $40. to 800 persons. We are our
t,i,sH
dred The Resolutions, after the fullest and reest
discussion, and opposed too. by gentlemen OF talents
ana influence, were almost unanimously adopted.
iho' not counted no estimate that we have heard.
rcckoned the disscntients more than fortv-thosc
who approved, could not have Seen mich short of
three hundred and hi'y-of course the proportion
was as 8 or to one, i'll favor of adopting them
We congratulate our teilow-ctiZens on this re-
suit, with heartfelt satisfaction. II il afforded no
Other cause OF congratulation. t,s practical illi$T-
non tnat II has furnished OF the competency OF In.
people to estimate the defects of their government
their firm determination their inhcrcn; right
when discovered, to alter thcm--anl the digufcd
and dispasSonGtc manner in " hich they have com
menced the task OF rcforu-tlCse Alone must yield
to every Republican, ample cause of triumph and
eXultaton. But our congratulations, sufficient a.
would be these considerations for offering them, do
not stop here. We congratulate the country on the
hear approach of the period, when the nu nervous
and unbeatable defects of the Constitution of Virgil
ma are to be reformcd-when the vast expenditures
or public money, are tn be restricted within more
reasonable limts-whGn an useless and dcfofmc;!
limb of the government is TO be Topped away--wcu
some definition shall be imposed upon the unknown
extent OF legislative and judicial powers, and when
impossible constitutional barriers, shall be inter-
posed against the tyrannical extension of both We
firmly bolieye, and rejoice in the convection, that
the time is al hand, when the work which our ances-
tarc hnc,f E,,ic
all the rights which God gave them, not from cour-
tesy and the accidental virtues of their Rulers bu;
because those rights shall be well fortified and Sc
cured, that the Rulers themselves shall not dare to
.lvaie them.
We do not go to the length, nor docs any man, Of
desiring 10 abolish the Constitution of Virginia. We
contend that the basis of that Constitution formed
of sound and impcrshabe materials, and that parts
of the supcrstgucture alone, rotten and inper-
feet. This is IT,. universal sentiment, and why may
we not, there Ore so!a: what is good, and remedy
what is bad: That Sc,lt ersons entertain this
speculative oDnon. aiI 0;.ris, . at Of the proper
extent of reform, au-i thlt both axe considered by
third and more numerous class, visionary and
dangerous constitutes Gool argument against
any reform. Convention wOuld be composed of
the most eminent in tn Statc--men whose
whole lives had proved them to be able, honest mo-
derate and republican. Could we rGsionally apprc-
bend from such, the introduction of wild and rn;rcd
innovations, or that sort of political speculation
which characterzes, alone, period of violent and
Sudden revolution, or of anarchy One is al
most forced suspect the understanding or sincer-
ty of any u, who would advance such Idle su,ges-
tons.
Acknowledging then, as the most nveterate oppo-
nents of Convention do that there arc serious ,ic-
fects in the Constitution why is it, that any man
should be opposed to their removal, There is bu,
one rational mode of accounting for it, Itcanc only
be ascribcd to federal lcaven which extinct at all
other times, and in all things else, only ernents
when Mr. Jefferson is mentioned, and when there is
talk of approximatirg the government more close
y to democratic standard. At such time, True
penny still shews his teeth, though feeble from a &c,
and mortified by disappointment. 1t is to that root
ed and Interchangeable fear and aversion of the poo
De-to that spirit which, acquiescing in the progress
vesaCcunulation OF power, and encroachment on
the liberties of the people by the governments is ne
yer willing 20 recur to FIST pvinciples-which ever
ready TO gre, is never willing take aCdy, or TO
lessen authority that opposition to Il measure, so
necessary, practicable and safe, as Il CLovcn-
ton, is attributable IL this opinion. refer only
to classeS-;hcre indiviiually many fe1eralists
in favor of a Convention, the other hand, there
! are some republicans opposed TO it. We believe
that the first description, is comparatively the mos.
| numerous.
The meeting addressed by Mcssrs. Munford
Winston, Nicholas, Leigh, Robertson, (Attorncv
Generally Scott and Hallam. Ey the favor of NJ.
Kidd, who acted Stcuographcr for the Phcni &.
| newspaper, wa shall be enabled to pubshthc argu-
of gentlemen at length, which will be done,
soon possible.
/ We beg leave at this time, to offer some common
F,aries upon the arguments Of Mcssrs. Nicholas AMI
Leigh. We venture to say, that more extraordina-
~ and more an.i-republican opinions, were never
addressed to ,Htclliqent Republican meeting
When the one to which more particularly al
Jude. and which shall presently notice, first
broaohed by Mr.. Nicholas. there very general
impression that the gentleman was joking. No man