Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-05-19
CIRCULAR.
TIE county of Loudoun, to the friends
of convention IN the several counties
of Virginia:


of Virginia:
Fellow ~.citisens, Under the authority
which we derive from the subjoined re-
| solutions, we invite you, in behalf of
the freebolders of Loudoun, to send
| from your respective counties, a depu-
| tation TO Staunton on the 25th of July
next. to cooperate with us, in devils
ing iawfuI and e1pedient mans Of pro.
| curing a contention, to amend the de-
| fects of our state constitution.
We have chosen July as the time of
our meeting, that it may not interfere
with the autumnal superior courts, and
recommending Staunton as the place of
meeting, on account of season being
that. when our lowlsnd friends frequent.
~ cross the Blue Ridge
The number of the deputation, and
the manner OF their appointmentw we sub
nit to yourselves, in the confident hope,
that there will, every where, be found
patriotism enough to accept the trust;
and that the ensuing county courts
will furnish the friends of a convention
with suitable opportunities for choosing
their deputies.
Our object, fe'low-citizens, is to com
pare our several opinions, and those of
! our constituents, in relation to the de-
fects of our present constitution; to
look into the abuses to which they have
led; and to recommend to the people,
such mode of providing for their a.
mendment, as common deiibera-
tons may suggest and approve.
We shall thus establish, in the only
practical manner, that unity of senti-
ment, and of correspondent action a
mong ourselves, so essential to our flu
! ture successive shall impart vigour
to our operations: repel the r~eproach-
full in~sinuations of u opponents: con-
firm the harmony, and increase the
number of our friends; and sound an
appeal, so distinct and audible, to the
| next general assembly of Virginia, as
to procure, we may hope, a just respect
for our rights.
We are indeed, aware, that many Of
you distrust this body, or account of
its present constitution; and think that
we should not await its aid, for the cali
of a convention, Even our opponents
seem to approve our delay, by denying,
or questioning the authority of the gem
eral assembly, to take the sense of the
people, in the manner we have reques-
ted, on the propriety of any change of
their present constitution. An aston
fishing conclusion! drawn from the alb
sence of any express provision in that
instrument for its future amendment,
that it is either un~alterable, like the
laws of the oriental despotisms, or can
be changed BY anarchy alone. The
safety of the people is the supreme law.
1t is not merely within the power, it is
the sacred duty of the general assem-
big, to comply with the wishes of the
people, by supplying, ifthey ask it, the
necessary aid for amending that law,
which binds the legislature, while tenn
anates from the people: and which
can be altered onlyby the people them
selves, or by an authorized convention.
Let any free constitution be produced,
and ifit contain provision for its amend
ment, that provision will be found to re-
quire the co-opperation Of the ordinary
legislature. Is the right admitted, at
all, of the people to change their con-
stitution? Who, then, shall deny to
them, the means Of exercising it, with
Lout CONFUSING the state? Or does their
really exist Alright, which cannot be ex-
ercissd, and is the solitary ard mournful
example of it, to be found, in that of
the people of Virginia to govern them
Ieselves, or to determine by what consti-
tuition they shall be governed? But
Iyet, fellow citizens, however repugnant
to your feeling this humiliating doctrine
may appear, let us unite in guarding "a
sainst its too obvious tendencies; and
give to those who would urge us to in
temperance, a still farther evidence of
our forbearing and moderation.
The resolutions of our constituents
have gore yet farther, in limiting the
power Of the contemplated convention
to the Office Of preparing and submitting
to the definite Judgment of the people,
such amendments of the constitution.
as the convention may deem expedient.
We nave sought thus cautiously, to
obviate, even the apprehension of dan
ger; and TO defeat the efforts OF one
class of our opponents, the alarmists.
Whilst they presumptuously assert, that
no two friends Of political reform, a.
4 gree as to its proper objects, they con-