The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-05-19
show what i. though. Of lhi. matt,~

ihev, THE FEnrLE Ar LARGE, may share. ~ tb
he ircehoders, III The con,t,nn ri.bi If al.
TRACE as enjoy ed hy their fellow citizen. IN n.
ihef states We ahs,on.ly hope thai the uIp
fsFusi.r ASS may bring these trrchtId rtn.
~ l" lhrH marrow bones. The legislature
| consists rhtdfiy OF individual fseeholdrrs.
ehiicu The 6etier Sort 81 ptopie and IN other
| aristocraiic titles ar nicknam,s. and. /. \ h.,
~, TINS legislature, though created rs an and
| or a. merely auxiliary To the constitutional
power and authority ollhe state, is now orpo
sed To grant which in ieith ought not 10 ex
~. We wonld advise canton aud discretion
!" these dePet.es, or the people Of the Iailtg
and tue Hea WIKI RuLK"
.-s@e""
VIRGINIA CONVENTION
The County at Lendonn, TO the friends of n
Convention in the several Counties of
Virginia.
feHow Chisehs:-under the authority
which we derive from the subioined resaln.
tons, we invite you, in behalf of the Tree.
holders OF Loudoun, to send from your res.
pectve counties, n deputation to Slannten,
on The 25th day of July next, to co operate
with US, IN deyising iarfm aud trpedisnt
means o. procuring contention, TO amend
'le defects OF our state constitution.
We have CHOSEN July rs tho time of our
meeting, that ii may not interfere with the
altldmnni superior courts and recomme nded
oIanhtoh as the place of meeting, on account
oi the season being that when our low land
friends frequently cross the Blue Ridge
The number OF each deputation, aud the
manner OF their appointment, we submit to
yourselves in the confident hope, that there
viii, every where, be found patriotism enough
10 accept the trust aud that the ensuing
county courts will furnish the friends of II
convention with suitable opportunities for
choosing their deputies.
Our object, fellow citizens, is to compare
our several opinions, and those of our CON
stuuenis, in relation to the defects oil our
present constitution 10 look into the abuses
10 which they have led; and To recommend
TO the people, such mode OF providing for
their amendment, rs our common delibera
tons may suggest and approve,
We shall thus establish, in the only practi
cable manner, that unity of sentiment and of
correspondent action, among ourselves, SO
essential 90 our future successive shall i'm
part vgour 10 our operations repel the re
proachful insinuations of our opponents ::
confirm the harmony, and increase the NUN
Der of our friends aud sound an appeal, SO
distinct and audible, 10 the next general rs
srmbly of Virginia as To procure, we may
hope, Just respect for our rights
We are, indeed, aware, that many of yen
distrust this body, on account OF its present
constitution; aud think that we should not IA
wait its aid, for the call of a convention
Even our opponents seem to reproye our de
lay, by denying or questioning the authority
of the general assembly, to take the sense of
the people, in the manner we have requested,
on the proprety OF any change OF their pres
ent constitution. An astonishing conclusion
drawn from the absence Of any express pro
vision in that instrument for its future amend
rpa ont hot 10 10 p5tbnr unolgaruIla liz. tAp
laws of the oriental despoiisms, or can be
changed By anarchy alone. The safety OF
the people is the supreme law. 1t is moi
merely within the power, il is the sacred dn
~ of the general assembly, to comply With
the wishes OF the people, by supplying, II they
ask il, the necessary aid for amending that
law, which binds the legislature, while II
inmates from the people: and which can be
altered only by the people themselves, or by
an authorized convention. Let any Tree
constitution be produced, aud il it contain
provision for its amendment, that provision
will be found TO require the cooperation oil
the ordinary legislature. Is the right admit
ted, ut all, of the people TO change their com
stitntion3 who, then shall deny 20 them, the
means of exercising il, without convnlsl1g
the state Or does there really exist right,
which cannot be exercised, and is the solitary
and mournfin example of il, 10 be found, in
themselves, or 10 determine by what censti
tuition they shall be governed? But yet, Eel.
low citizens, however repugnant TO yonr feel,
ings this humilatine doctrine may appear, let
rs unite in guarding against its too obvious
tendency aud give TO those who would urge
rs 10 intcmpcrance, a still farther evidence OF
our tOrbearance aud moderation
The resolutions of our constituents have
gone yet farther, in limiting the power OF
Il 81
preparing aud submitting TO the definitiye
judgment OF The people, such amendments OF
The constitution, as the convention may deem
expedicnt.
We have sought, thus cautiously, 10 ohvi
ate, even the apprehension OF danger, and to
defeat the efforts of one class OF orr oppo
nenis, the alarmists. Whilst they prcsumpfu
onsly assert, that no two friends OF political
reform, agree as 10 its proper objects, they
confidently predict that convention will
destroy the fairest features ofthc constitution,
that the independence of the Judiciary will
be suhvcrted and the fabric OF social order
be shaken to its centie! They would silence
fhe sufferer from existing evils, By threaten
ing him with the infection OF greater, IT he
seek rclict from the application OF suitable
correctives
TO those who are willing to trust the PEG
pie, these objections will lie answered by
submitting the acts Of the convention to their
final judgment aud control
ChqrieS f. Mercer,
Hiiiam Hi2eB
Richard II. Henderson,, - S
Samuel ". EdwdrdS, &C :
HMiam Y. Y. Mason, Z :
Syinor Bailey 50
Cnhbfu Po,ceii,
Joshua Osborn,
Johnston Gtreland, and : {
JOHN H. NJ Cobe,
The subjoiued resolutions, referred TO a
bovc were unanimously adopted, prior 10 the
opening of the polls tor tue county OF Lou
donn, on tine ] lth April.
!. Resolved unanimously, That the sheriff