Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-06-10

Meanwhile, will PROFOUND 10 the Pseudo
" Mason OF &c" few interr0gotorieS; to which
shall also take the liberty of afhAing TIE reason
able answers, lest our political sage should De out
of the mood to g gice response"
lst Is all power vested in, and consequently
derived from the people? So says the Bill OF
Rights.
I'd. Ought government 10 be instituted for the
common benefit, protection and security oil the peo-
ple' So says the Bill of Rights.
3D.. Hath the majority of the community an in
dubitable, unalienable and indefeasible right, to
reform, alter, abolish it, in such shall
be judged conducive 10 the public veal? So says
the Bill of Rights.
4th. Is it the will of such majority of the people
OF Virginia. 10 alter or amend the existing constitu-
ton oil the state: So far the vote which was
taken on the subject in 1924, together with the
Hood OF memorials presented to the last Legisla-
ture may afford criterion of that WILL It certainly
does erist, and has been declared
9th Is 1t the will of the majority ofthe people OF
Virginia, that the constitution of the state renaii as
1t is at present! So far the vote which was taken
on the subject in 1924 together with the rant oil
counter memorials against the memorials for a
convention presented to the last Legislature, may
afford criterion OF such will, it certainly does
not eriSt
9th Do not the results of those trials at the polls
IN many counties of the commonwealth, and those
memorials expressive of those results, unopposedb by
conference.-the from ant-conventioniss, entitle
the friends oil convention to a removal of all doubt
upon the subject? Most assuredly, or there is no
virtue in the discussion of the affairs of eminent
among the people; whose sovereignty, by this iuhi-
biton, receives vital stab.
9Th. How, then, should this doubt be removed !,
Certainly the most regular mode would be, by an
act OF the Legislature auhorsing the question 10 be
fairly taken throughout the state
Sth But suppose the Legislature still persist in
refusing 10 afford the facilities of their co-opera-
ton! The right will then result 10 the people to
decide the question by vote at their public meetings
throughout the state; and the majority If ascertain
ed to be in favour Of a convention, will have the
right to appoint delegates, Independent fthe inter
position of the Legislature according to the Sd in
terrogatory l. the Sd article of the Bill of Rights
and the principles of reform acted upon in &c, in
defiance OF the British usurpation. God send that
two or three anti-republcan members of our Senate
may never drive the people to such extremities
But the Pseudo Mason of '76, lays great stress
upon what he calls the strongest argument against
convention, viz. that " no two conventionists can
agree as 10 the changes they desire!' I,lefdble
'lonSenser' Does the gentleman pretend to be to-
tally Ignorant of the principle of compromised
which accomplished the final adoption OF the feder-
al constitution! Did the members OF that conven-
ton all agree, or did any too of them agree upon
every article OF that incompatible instrument of
political wisdom? Did the states all agree in its
ratification; or did constitutional majority, even;
agree upon every article? Was it not by compro-
mise, or, in other words, the social and reciprocal
principle which dictates 10 give and take that
reconciled all parties to the grand result? II the
gentleman says not, OF us has need TO be asham-
ed of our ignorance of the history of those times
The great stalking horse of the gentleman, is, the
freehold right Of suffrage Does the gentleman
know the origin OF that aristocratical principle;
He does know it; and he worshps it for the high anti
guilty CT its venerable progenitor, {" the military
policy ofthe northern barbarans of Europe" as de-
tailed in the teuda system of those primeval ages
whose landed supremacy, (then admissible enough,
10 supply the defects of political instiutions) has
been propagated through the whole monarchical
and aristocracal generations of' royal prerogatve
barony OF the manor, and rights of the premogeni-
ture, to that degenerate imp the right Of freehold
which cries '' como help me or sink But, to
be serious, do not believe there are many of the
most jealous friends Of convention, who wish to
establish universal suffrage. And, upon the
principle o! compromise, those who wish TO ex-
END II, and those who wish to retain it as it now
stands, might meet a middle ground, by extend
ing it in regard to the electors of tire lower house,
and retaining the freehold qualification as to cleo
tors OF the Senate If they cannot agree to abolish
the Executive Council, they might agree to reduce
intervals and in different manner II they cannot
agree to elect the Governor by vote of the peo-
pie, they might give him voice in the Couacil
Chamber, and perhaps modified UetO in the pas
sage OF laws If they cannot agree in reducing the
number OF the House OF Delegates, they might APP
portion this representation &c the population of the
state by DISTRICTS and prevent the arher increase of
that branch OF Legislature. If they cannot agree
to limit the Office OF the judges 10 a term of years
they in min Of .
Indeed, l might thus run through the whole cata-
logue OF defects In the constitution, and show
thousand modes in which convention might agree
IN adapting it to a better model than its present
form. To say they cannot agree, because their
extremes differ. is too ridiculous for serious refua-
tion. For one, | am always ready to compromise
my political faith with the opinion of the majority,
while that opinion Acknowledges the fundamental
principles OF POLITICAL LIBERTY.
TO THE EDITORS or THE ENQUIRER.
GenHemen:---A paragraph in your paper of the
29th ult signed DoEenes reminds me of an aIHcdo;e
j have heard related of the late Doctor Dryden OF
Goochland. He vas attending gentleman labour-
ing under mental arrangement The p1ient began
to talk to the Doctor upon the subject of religion
The Doctor having stimulated pretty freely, and
being somewhat in the " melting moods began to
wbimper, and observed to brother physician who
was present, an truth though the man be deliri-
Gus, he speaks some striking truths" Now, |
Messrs. Editors, il the writers 10 whom -Dioeenes
alludes be labouring under mental hallucnaton as
he would have us believe, we the people neverthe-
less are persuaded that they speak some striling
truths" such truths Messrs. Editors, as Diogenes
may attempt to ridiculc but will find himself una
bic to cOnfTOUeTt.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
?. 5. The request Of Diogenes that they get
out Of has sunshine ought certainly to be accorded
him, as 1t would be in the highest degreee nchari-