Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-22
WM. NJ. BAYLY, Charm,

IA,
several editors throughout the be requested to
copy them.
WIN. NJ. BAYLY, Chairman
j. H. SMooT, Sec'y.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
FelloC Citicens
The Committee appointed pursuant TO the
foregoing resolutions, beg leave respectfully to call
tine attention OF tile lreehoders of Virginia. to the
important object embraced in them; and to submit
to you the following brief address.
In II government like ours, where the will of the
people Is the supreme law-where tyranny md usur-
patton ought never TO exist, and when discovered III
my department thereof, ought to be discountenanc-
ed and irowned upon, 1t behooves if we wish to
Apply the proper corrective, hot remain lisess
and indifferent, but to speak and act like men, who
nave knowledge of their rights and can ploperlv
appreciate them. The slave may hug his chains
the subject OF foreign potentate may bend the knee
and bow the head with un".illing acuuiescence to
measures and acts which he has no con,roul,
ho can murmur without suffering the most excruci-
atIIIg pam nay even death itself; but thanks L. the
genius and principles Of the Federal Constitutions
| our opinions can be expressed in relation to the
acts {" our representatives, aud that too with mpu-
nifty.
Recolect, fellow citizens the numerous petitions
which during the last session of the Legislature were
addressed TO that body requesting the sense of the
people might he taken, on the property Of calling
Convention TO alter the Constitution of Smginia.-
Dd they meet with the reception you expected? As
ffeemeh, some OF you from policy opposed the call
oil Convention to amend your State Constitutions
could you have thought that petitions ofsuCh weight
and responsibility of character would have been re-
iected?
When the application was not to call Conven-
ton Immediately, but to take the sense of the peo-
pie on the expediency of such a measure at the en-
SUNG elections in April, it appears to that none
but thos' who were afraid to trust the people, and
considered them their own worst enemies" Ia doc
fine admirably suited to the spirit of monarchy, but
fatal to republics) could have been found in oppo-
Sltion to so Just and reasonable demand. A ma
Jointly of the members of the Srhate were opposed TO
the CALI 0i Convention, in other words, to bill
which had passed the House of Delegates for king
the sense OF the people of this state the approach
lug elections on the subject of 4 Convention.
Thus, iellow-citizenS, you perceive, that your pc-
tionS, ched in decoIous aud respectful terms or
rather bill growing out of them, requesting re-
d esS oil grievances which exist in your State consi-
ulon oil the most unjust aud oppressive nature has
been rejected principles, which appear to us to be
al variance with your inestinable rights aud priv
legeS When minority of the Senate can act so
upuStiy and arbitrarily, by depriving us of an op
po.tuniy Of ascertaining the of the people of
this Commonwealth, this important subject at
the ensuing elections, by opening poll for that pur-
nose, 1t appears To US To be wise and proper to
bring INTO active operation those inherent powers
which appertain TO majority, and remedy our
selves the existing evils III the Constitution of Vir
ginla. We conscious Of the difficulties that at
tend this course, but believing that another appeal
to the Legislature to facilitate the call Of Conven-
ton would be attended with the same fate as the
last, therefore anxously request the freeholders
of Virginia, who concur in the sentiments we have
expressed, to vote at the ensuing election in their Sc
veral counties, for the call of Convention with un-
limited powers.
In furtherance of this plan, propose TO two mr.
more freehOldes to open poll, the day of cleo
ton, at their court houses, in tine month of April
next in two separate columns, at the top of which
shall be written "Convention" and mo Conyen-
ton" aud enter therein the names of the voters
who qualified according to law. When the poll
is concluded, the same shall be signed by the free
holders who keep it, and oath or affirmation in
writing be made before magistrate Of the county
borough, rty, or town in which the same is taken,
that it is correct If the freeholders who keep the
poll, IN the counties, &c composing the several Sc
Material districts in the State, shall on a compari-
son of the same Ito be mad By a majority of them
at some place they may designate and agree upon,
within their district ascertain that majority Of
the freehoders who have voted a the election are
In favor Of calling Convention, then the said free
holders shall as thereafter as practicable no.
tify the freehoders in their several Counties &C.
to meet at their several court houses in the month
Of next, on the first day of the court for said
counties, &c. to choose members to a convention,
to form constitution for the people Of Virginia;
the members elected to said convention from each
Senatorial district shall not exceed four, and shall
meet Stanton, in the county of Augusta, in this
state, on the first Monday in October next.
The credentials of the members to said Couven-
ton, shall consist Of poll taken at their election,
certified by the frceholders who kept the same, by
a meeting Of one OF more Of said freehoders, from
each county, &c III each district, at some place
therein, whose duty it shall be to compare the polls
so taken by them, and decide what members are
elected to said convention.
The counties in any district failing from want Of
notice to express theiI sentiments the election in
April next on the sabject of a Convention, are re-
quested. if favorable to the measure, to proceed
thereafter, previsus to the 18th August next. as-