The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-08-15

ton far the Following DRAFT ef The Memo-
fial addressed by that body to The Legisla
fnre
TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
VIRGINIA
The Memorial Of snndry Citizens, depa-
Ted from rafieus parfs Of the Common
teeaiib, aud agsembied al .Staunton on
The 25it day Of Jaig ls25, respectfully
represents
ThH your mrmorialisia having assem-
bled together Ia consult about the means
Of obtaining Il redress of various grlesdn-
ces under which they labor IN common
with those " no dcpuiei them aud many
other good citizens Of this commonwealth,
have thought 1t advisable TO address To you
this nempr1i.
The grievances Of which Your mem0ri-
] allsts have 10 complain arse out of certain
def.cfs in the Constitution or fundamental
Law ri tllr state. They cannot therefore
be redrrssed but by a convention deputed
II revise a61 amend The constitution. Bat
II Is one among the striking defects Of TINT
instrument, that II contains no provision for
i The amendment ri such defects as the pro-
gress of the science Of government or n
change al circumstances may suggest. -
Tins defect, however, can he Supplied by
the Leg slaiare aud the people aud your
mem1rdi5ta have right 10 expect th1t it
loH be so supplied, II they can show that
/ there IS one important provision IN the ex-
/ sting constitution which was originally and
always Inconsistent with the great pfinci-
pies on which all free governments are
/ founded, and which by thr operation DIVA
rloas causes, has become still more oppres-
slye aud injurious IN its practical effects
than it WAS at first.
Your mrnofialist- do not ifnpute TO the
wire and excellent men who framed the
constitution the defects in lis structure TO
which they alude. In the declaration of
rights nj Virginia, we see what they wished
il 10 hr; in the constitution itself We be
hold an instrument fashioned and modified
/ by inauspicious and anconirolable circum-
stances. These are so generally known
! that il is deemed snperlluons to state them.
In tins di7cl inner of all inspirations on the
wisdom aud patriotism of the trainers of
| tie constitution, your memorialists are ae-
tuatcd by 4 sincere feeling of love and adj.
mlrttion for the memory of the men
whose generous devotion 10 liberty secur~
ed 10 us our rank among the nations OF the
earth, and the iuestimable advantage of
| free republican Institutions. To give 10
those Institutions that consistent shape
which the trainers ol the constitution so
distinctly conceived, but found themsels Is
unable 10 provide, should be the aim OF e.
very citizen of the commonwealth. 1t Is
the sole aim of your memofallsls. They
! are persuaded that no period has occarre d
since the adoption of the constitution 50 IA
yorable as the present 10 It's revision aud
amendment The storm OF party spirit be-
ing hashed, and the public mind composed
and tranquil. They fer that 80 favorable
IA state Of public feeling may nDt long en-
dure !. that new parties may arise, whose
dissenllons may prove uniaYorable 10 u
cool and dlspass0ndte Investigation OF our
Fundamental law.
Your nemoriasts have affirmed that III
our Fundamental law "there IS one lnPor
tant prnYision at least which was original
] ~ and always Inconsistent With the great
principles which all free govern
nents are founded, and which by the
operation Of various Causes, has he-
come still more oppressive and injurious
IN its practical effects than ii WAS at ifst.n
Need they exhibit their proof in detail of
the truth of this assertion, while address
ing so enlightened a body rs the l.egsla-
tare of Virginia ? Ii every mda--or, asst.
ming The principle al the constitution as
correct,--lf every free holder Of Virginia
was in 1870 by nature equally free or, in
more precise aud definite language, entitlrd
10 am equal share OF political power, how
could that article of the constitution he
Justified, which by giving two representa-
tlVes to each of the counties, distributed
that power among the citizens Of vi gin.a
N shares 80 grossly unequal
Your men0tialists folbear To enlarge on
/ this topic persuaded that your intelligence
must suggest TO you this unavoidable di-
lemtna,- either 80 much theoretical njas-
tice cannot exist without great practical
evil, or the whole theory of our free insti-
tntlous IS founded IN error. Expecting
from convention remedy from all the
detects ot the constitution, your memorial
! lists pulposely abstain from enumerating
what they conceive tn be the Inperiec-
/ tons IN the organization Of the govern
/ meDt. These, injurious as they may be To
! the public veal, sink into nsignllicanee
! when compared 10 the defects IN principle
to which they have called your attention.
! our nemoflahsts therefore ask you to
enact a law for taking HE SENSE Of the PEG
/ pie at the ensuing spring elections on the
question of assembling in convention To a.
mend The constitution, and providing, that
i II II shall appear by the returns made to
the executive department, that IN lority
OF the people voting ON the subject are in
favor ot calling a convention, there shall
be a convention without further delay.
Appealing 10 the people as the only
source of political power, your memorial
lists desire that the proposition to take their
sense ON the subject OF a convention, be SD
modified rs to limit the authority of any
convention which may be called to the
simple preparation and submission to the
Judgment OF the people of slch amend
ments of the constitution as It's defects NAV
seem to the convention to reqpire--to be
ultimately adopted or rejected, in whole
or IN part, by the people themselves. And