The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-06-05

81 -
If opinion, that no period s7l'ce the fodn-
a,tion of our republic, has ever been 81
AMBITIOUS as the pfescnt, Ia cool drIibeTa-
NON upon this subject. We INV eHiey a
nror,and peace, and the violence OF party
rrn;mosify il extinct IN Virginia. .N6ir
,berefore is t.ic t,ae To avail ourse',e olthc
virtue and intelligence OF our conntrymrn
and we may add, Of the wisdom aud
,xprrleace Of the few surviving patriots
and sages Of the Revolution, who have long
bsen the boast of Virginia, and the pride
II the Union. We believe thai thi. subject
will he calmly and d,passiouately cousj-
dpied-Abuniance Of TIM will have bren
sIllo ed for reflection. II IS at present un-
dergoing a most serious examination. The
hubble mind IS alive to every Augment for
~ against the proposed measure, aud will
nave received all the light and information,
which a jealous, and animated discussion
IS capable of tflicting. We believe that
our brst and most enlightened citizens
would compose the Convention: ti...t the
preyous agitation of tle questions 10 be
submitted 10 their consideration, will qua
Iry them to render the most ample Justice
to their country and that the right Of the
people ultimately To ratify or reject, ,in
such mode as may be deemed most elgi-
bic j the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Con
,ention, will ensure wise and sat, sfaetory
result 10 their deliberations. While your
nemorialists entertain all doe difference for
tut virtue, and wisdom of our ancestors
~ do not believe that even they, if now
dive, would pronounce their own work 80
free from imperfrction, as to be Incapable
u amendment. Time and experience
nave developed its excrescenccs and de
iects. Indeed, all human Institutions are
liable To corruption and decay. The same
constitutions sld laws are not equally poll
tic and wise, for all generations, ayes and
countries. Let us then profit by adj
monition aud experiences Let us r"ttin
what we Know to he valuable, and reject
or amend that which we have found deleC-
tive.
Your memorialsts would not for light
and transient causes" have engaged in the
discussion of this important question. The
defects Of which we complain, are, in our
opinion, neither light nor transient We
consider them not only weishty, but likely
70 become permanent and oppfeSSltt.-
While, therefore, We conceive the present
period 10 he peculiarly favorable for reform
and that the greatest caution and delbe-
ration would characterize the work of a.
mcndmcnt-we also eutertaiu the fullest
confidence that mntuh concessions and
harmony would SWAY the Deliberations OF
our C0ntrymen. Our sister states have
revised and re- modelled their constitutions
rraccably, deliberately aud satlslactorlly.-
We therefore do not believe that diseord,
iea0asy and i'll will would be enEendered
by convention but confidently hope,
that peace, justice, Iiberaliiy and patriotism
will GLpapS characteIiZe the conduct of
iIRGISIiNs.
The preceding Report being read, Nr B.
". Leigh rose to submit the Substitute,
which has aha ady appeared in this paper
,he said substitute concludes with the fol-
lowing resolution
Resoirsd, therefore, as the opinion of
this meeting, that ii is in no wlseexpedieut
timta convection should he call, Il to reform
Or alter the present constitution
Mr.. Leigh having read bis Substitute,
eypatiated at some lcugth upnr tI'e sub
jet.
'r Thos. Rutherford, enc Of the com
mtre, submitted the two following resoIu-
Mons, which were adopt i without oPPosi,
hon
Resolrea, That tie Report and Memo
raj winch have iuet been read, be inserted
in the newspapers of this city, TO the cud
t1al the citizens of Richmond may have
full opportunity of examining lis contents
and Of deciding deliberately, whether TO
adopt the salne.
Resoietd, That meeting Of the c!ti
2rns OF Richmond be called, to assemble at
his place on Tuesday the LIST day of June,
To determine whether they viii adopt the
Report of the cOmniittee.o
These Resolutions were passed without
opposltion--
And the meeting adjourned,