Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-16
pmyRsDAY M0@gaHao JUNE 49, 1885,

in the fulness of time, all these monstrous re-
suits and rank abuses should arise from defect
in the constitution which they saw but could
not remedy, the best talents in the land would
be enlisted in their defence, and that those
who attempted to restore the government to
its original principles, and acquire by peacea-
bic and la,cful means their proper weight in
the government, would be denounced as ia
collins and disorganizers.
The declaration of rights" Of Virginia,
speaking the language of truth and nature, an
nouncing and solemnly declaring principle
which God himself has implanted i'll the bosom
of every intelligent man, has said 'that all
men are by nature equally free" The same
instrument declares that ono free government
or the blessing of liberty can be preserved to
any people but by frequent recurrence to fun
damental principles" If it be fundamental
principle, then, that the freemen of Loudoun,
Frederick and Shenandoah are by nature
equally free, or, in other words, entitled to
equal weight and power, in the body polite,
with the freemen of Warwick-and if it be
true that the course of events, operating on an
original defect IN the constitution of Virgil
MIA, has brought matters to such state that
each freeman in Warwick has twenty-seven
times as much weight and power in the body
polite as each freeman of Loudoun, Freder-
ick or Shenandoah, -how strong case is
made out of the necessity of recurring to fun
damental principles-of the necessity of a.
mending the constitution, five would wish to
preserve ga free government or the blessing
ofliberty."
If, then the constitution requires amend
ment in order to equalize the rights of the
citizens, how is the amendment to be effect
ed' Frequent attempts have been made, dur
ing the last few years, to obtain the aid of the
legislature, either in assembling convention,
or in taking the sense of the people whether
one should be assembled or not. All these
attempts failed. 1t is pretended by the ene-
mics of reform that ga great majority of the
people are well content with their existing
Institutions" and until all the counties, or a
majority of them, shall at one session petition
the legislature to aid in assembling q conven-
| ton, it will continue to be asserted that ma
jority of the people are opposed to the mea-
sure. The friends Of reform and of liberty in
this part of Virginia, DESTROYS Of eliciting an
expression of the real opinion of the people,
and thereby convincing the Legislature that
there is at this time large majority in favor
off convention to amend the constitution, have
taken measures to effect preparatory con-
vention at Staunton, with view to the attain.
ment of that object.
Ifa considerable number Of deputies, from
various parts of the state, should assemble at
Staunton, the friends of convention will be
enabled to ascertain, by their report, the real
state of public opinion in their respective
counties on the great question Of reform-to
put forth, with the sanction of many respect
able names, AUST and temperate statement
of the grievances and partial Acknowledgement
under which large part of Virginia now ls-
bors-and lastly and chiefly to form and pro.
vide for the execution Of plan whereby the
sense of the people throughout Virginia shall
be taken in a peaceable, orderly and lawful
manner, on the great question of convention.
Having done this, and having collected proof
that it is the will of the people that the con.
stitution of the state shall be amended, the
friends of reform will "sound an appeal so
distinct and audible to the next general assem-.
bly,, as to produce, we may hope, just re-
spect to their rights" In other words, they
will bring to bear on the legislature the IRE
sistible force of public opinion indisputably
ascertained, and clearly expressed. "5Mi'
be treason, make aOhat you can Of it."
Is it not passing strange that this peaceable,
legal and salutary measure should be denoun
ced as Observation-Disclosures be compared te
the deservedly odious Hartford convention-
should be described as ga course which pro
fessedly excommunicates large portion ofthe
citizens" and which is calculated to"stife dis
cussion, '-and that its friends and promoters
should be charged with design "to separate
themselves from the rest ofthe community, to
organize themselves into adistinct society, and
Ito every practical purpose that concerns tins
great question: to acknowledge no fellow-ci
tizenship with their opponents! Is 1T moi
strange that man of talents; for such the
writer in question most certainly is, should
venture to throw off all this light and windy
defamation, in the discussion Of grave ano
important subject!
Can any thing be more idle than the cen
sure thrown upon US for inviting the friends
only ofa convention to meet at Stapnton'-
We, Of the larger counties, who are each
us but the t,venty-seUenth part of a free cit
zen, wish to rise to the dignity Of units, b.
taking away, by just and legal means, from
- coIln,,, c;t;,ano of Waru;ck RI The ey