Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-08-11


loving day (Mondiy) in the Episcopal Church
in this place, and on Tuesday at the Church Al
Bunker's Hill Services to begin at half past
ten each day.
The following is a copy Of the Memorial a.
dopted by the delegates at the staunton Con.
,enton, to be presented to the next Legisla
ture of Virginia.
TO THE GENERA ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA:
The memorial Of sp,dry citizens, debnfed from
various bdrfs Of the commonwealth aud essen
bed a, SlaHaten on he,25th day Of July, 1913,
respectfully represents;
That sourme uorialists having assem-
bled together to consult about the means
OF obtaining redress of various grew
ances under which they labour, in COM
mon with those who deputed them and
many other good citizens of this COM
monwealth, have thought it advisable
to address to you This memorial.
The grievances of which your memo
fiaIsts have to complain arise ont OF
certain defects in the constitution or
fundamental law of the state. They
cannot therefore be redressed but by
a cons enton deputed to revise and a
mend the constitution. But 1t is one
among the striking defects of that in
strusa eDt, that it contains no provision
for the amendment of such defects as
tbe proeress of the science of govern
aneut or a change OF circumstances may
sugoest. This defect, however, can De
sunplie1 by the legislature and the peo-
ME. And your memorlalists have
Fight to expect that il wH be SO
annlied. if they can show that there
is even one important provision in the
existing constitution which was origin
ally and always iaconsistent with the
great principle. on which all tree go
yernments are founded, and which, by
the operation of yarioas causes, has be
come still more oppressive snd injurious
in is practical fleets thar it vas al fir't
Your memorialists do no. impure 10
the wise and excellent men who Ira a.
ed the constitution, the defects IN lis
structure to which they ailude. In the
declaratio of rights of Virginia we see
what they wished il to be: in the constl-
t,tinu itself we behold an instrument
fashioned and modified by inauspicious
and uncomfortable circumstances.-
These are SO generally kaown that it is
deemed superhuous to state them. In
this dec !aiiRer of all imputation on the
wisdom and patriotism Of the trainers of
the Constitution, your mem 1rlaiists are
actuated by sincere feeling at love
and admiration for the memory Of the
men whose generous devotion to liber-
ty secured to US our rank among the ma
tons OF the earth, and the inestnable
advantage of free republican institutions.
To give to these Institutions that coDsls
tent shape which the trainers OF the
constitution so distinctly oncelved, but
found themselves unable to provide,
should be the aim of every citizen OF
the Commonwealth. 1t is the sole aim
Of your memoIialists They are persua-
ded that no period has occurred since
the adoption OF the constitution SO ia
yorable as the present to its revision
and amendment; the storm OF party
spirit being hushed, and the public
mind composed and tranquil They
fe ar that so favorable state Of public
feeling may not long endure; = that new
parties may arise, whose dissentIons
may prove unfavorable to cool and
dispassionate investigation of our fun
damental law.
Your fnemorialsts have affirmed, that
in our fundamental law "there is one
important provision at least which was
originally and always Inconsistent with
the great principals on which all free
governments are founded, and which,
by the operation of various causes, has
become still more oppressive and iniuri-
Gus in its practical effects than twas
at first" Need they exhibit their proof
in detail of the truth of this assertion,
while addressing enlightened body
as the legislature of Virginia. If every
man or, assuming the principle Of the
constitution as correct,-if every free
hotder of Virginia was in l776 ''by ma
ture equally free" or, in more precise
and definite language, entitled to an e.
quail share ofpofitical power, how could
that article of the constitution be iusti-
fed, which by giving two representa-
tiyes to each of the counties, distributed
that power among the citizens of Vir-
ginia in shares so grossly unequal
Your memo,ialists forbear to enlarge
on this topic, persuaded that your intel
lgence must soggest TO you this unayoi-
dable dilemma; either 50 much theore