The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-23
TUE yIhGINIAN.
LYNCHBURG, NAY 70. me-,
CONVENTION.

anu lis HffisloN VIII SOM snow that The
Voice Of The people cannoi be- smothcrrd hy
The refusal of the Legislature II listen To-
their petitions, II MS rSulunsly bnasted
by great many Anti.Can,snltunsts,w when
the vote of the Senate WAS known which
denied In the people of Virginia the iight,
inasmneh IL It r,fnsed To accord 10 them
the means, of expressing their opinions ou
the subject, nj the polls, that thu question
was seilled--that Ne should hear nothing
more ui II. except the IDLE eNtfIlens of u
few individuals Ia gtsuscltate II, which
would themselves after short time, eva
porate N empty air. We say nothing of
the compliment paid, in this remark. To the
intelligence, and the persevrIng patriotism
of thu people Circumstances have shown
To These sanSulne opponents al political
equality, that, when the people nj Virginia
discover error IN their gn,rrnme nj, or in its
operations, they will not be- deferred from
eradlcahnG It, 10y appeals made 10 thor
vcneratlon for the works of their fathers, aud
by the nnwarrauiable dictum of Il few
individuals that no change IS necessary ~
that there Is no errur--that all Is fir and
cqual-and that, even II were uot, it is
" better 10 bear the Ills ee feel, tllan fly to
others that we know not Of II is uuuc
ccssary To reply 10 such assumptions, When
they meet their refutation IN the okpcu
cnce Of every day, and IN the knowledge of
every indhld Il all fair and equal,
when minority ol the people arc t4c law
makers Of the state ? When men, who,
should the state be- assaulted by war, are
called to fight its battles and protect its
iircsldes, are in peace, rudrly driven from
. IL 4 a a IA, a
reaching any clNil Office ~ the state? Is all
fair and equal when the insignificant coun
ties I'VE speak Of their popuIat,on) IN the
Eastern section OF the state, weld the same
power in the administration of government,
rs the large counties Of the Eelley and in
the Nesi a singular sort OF equality,
indeed, which accofds 10 one man III one
section Of the state the power of twenty 10
another But, ii there are drfert3 in the
constitutional they are sreu, felt and nc
noHlcdged, ~ VT contend they are
should any weight be accorded Ia the ad
vice of the Anti onyenllunl'ts, In endure
them, rather, than III endeN uring In amend
them, create others Of greater magnitude ?
Is not this "A singular doctinc 10 preach up
IN Virginia, the Iaud of lIruIy aud Of Wash
ngton In Virginia, that never yet stop
ped To enquire about the possibility resist
luS Une species Of tyranny, OF enconnterlng
a greater Surely il IL too late IN the day,
when we have living monument before
our eyes of the good elects Of resisting evil
IN its germ, in the existence of or own
free institutions, tn dread enconutefiaG a
new risk for the purpose OF pertrctnS
them.
We have, rs our readers viii perceive,
! scarcely limited al the many reasons which
might BE- urged IN favor Of the measure
itself The question has, however, since
the unprrt cdrntcd couluct Of the at
Legislature, assumed new shape and it
IS in that shape the people Ought now to
view il. II IS maNim, universally acknov
lodged aud acted upon in this country, that
the people are the fountain of power, and
therefore all questions affecting thcir
Sovereignty ought 10 be referred 10 thrir
exclusive decision. With the view ut effect
ing tins pHposr, petitions were presented
TO the Legislature, pray ing It's lntcrpo5ltIon
not ASKING II 10 enact IA Convention INTO
rxlStenee-but simply requesting il 10 an
thorlHc the sherllls To open polls at tie th,u
ensuing April elections, in order In asccr
tain the sense of the people Of the Com
monwealth. The House of Delegates, al
ways the most Republican because the most
responsible part Of the Legislature, granted
measurably the prayer OF the poliloners--
they authorized the fiothoiders In vote
This Was something gained. Satisfied that
majority even Of The ftc,holdcrs are not
in favor Of pcrpctuatlng the reign OF MUS
tice-cont lnced that they had not forgotten
the services of the less fortunate ela8s Of
their fellow citizens, (nbo psrchanee are
not able 10 purchase the sllUImum b0nllm ui
all that IL necessary 10 make a man intel
IelIgent aud pairlohc,) We were wiling IL
rest the fate of the question upon their de
cIslon. But the Senate Intrrposed, and the
bill from the House Of Delegates va mega
lived. tumble To justify the vote they had
given, by argument aud reason, for arg1
ment and reason always fail the advocates
Of injustice and oppressiou,) the Senators
rcsortcd To a KIND Of 8peciai Picaat9e, wor
thy of Il prtliio%gcr, but surely unworthy
Of those nho aspire To be the Lycur5uscs
aud Solons Of the land. Did the, attempt
to justify their vote, by proving rs correct
ness, nhrn viewed IN reference To the
question which elected il =? No. They
sheltered themselves behind the plea ot
ncomprtency to act; aud with lack Of
ambition, and hatred of usnrprd power
far from behg common with the politicians
of our day, aud certainly Of Il character
aud degree not often Witnessed, declared
that the people had the whole matter in
their uWu hands, and were alone c0mpe
tent to its decision that they had not the
power 10 act and could not therefore cxcr
else ii! Wonderful stretch Of ab5tcDinus
ness, which rejected pIgc;r,d PoeeE Had
not the people called upon them to act>
Had they not laid before them Their gricY
ances, depicted their wrongs, and pointed
to the evils under winch thcy lahotrd p
Did they not call upon them, not 10 dc that
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