Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-06-14
TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE 3D. 1885,

down into fixed system accommo-
dated to the wants of the nation, and
sustained in its affection by the test
of long tried and successful expert
ment.
Respected abroad and tranquil at
home, every portion of the American
people have, for some time, enjoyed a
most favorable opportunity Of survey
ing the past, with view to guard a.
gainst future danger; and accordingly
many of the old States Of the Union
have recently revised the frame Of
their government, by recurring, under
the guidance Of experience, to the
principles of its original structure
Your memorialists will not aver,
that Virginia, among the last to pro.
fit by this propitious seaso., has sunk
in political consequence by her own
supineness; but they unbesitatingly re-
pei the unfounded assumption that no
practical ill has resulted from her neg.
lect or Indifference. 1t would be dero-
gatory to freedom itself to admit that
no sensible inconvenience had arisen
in the course of very near half a centu-
ny, from tie practical violation of the
great principles of political liberty.
1t is indeed true, that despotism
sometimes INDUCES its subjects in the
transient enjoyment oftheir civil rights.
But it does not become free nation to
hold its liberty by tenure so precari-
GUS, and it is the quality of a wise one,
to stay by anticipation the reproach of
danger.
The people Of Virginia can never be
disposed to rest their right of amending
the defects of their Constitution, or the
expediency of its exercise, on the sud-
den pressure Of some unforeseen calam-
ity, which might unfit them for the la
Dor, or place it beyond their control.
Your memoralists take occasion to
say, that although The task is painful,
it is not impracticable 10 enumerate
very serious grievances which have
been long since felt, as well as many o.
theirs which are annually resulting
from the imperfections of their pre-
sent Constitution: from many headed
and irresponsible Executive: from a
crowded House Of Delegates: from an
unequal repre- sentation resting on ba-
sis palpably and odiously unjust.
If nothing more were to be effected
by the amendments they have propos-
ed, than the preservation of the sum
which few years have added TO the
expense of the Legislature, together
with that which has been long wasted
on an useless executive council, the
saving of sixty thousand dollars per
annum would repay the cost of con-
vention. 1t is sum which, if restored
TO the pockets of the people, would be
gratefully received, or, if added to the
fund for internal improvement, or the
education of the poor-if instead Of
being wasted, it were judiciously ex-
pended, would promote the diffusion
Of useful knowledge, and augment the
wealth, comfort, and happiness of So
ciety.
Can the late obvious declenslon OF
public spirit in the commonwealth be
imputed, SO justly, to any other cause
as to the unwieldy and cumbrous size
of the House of Delegates? Does it
notlead Of necessity TO the waste OF
talent and of time-to protractcd and
expensive sessions, in which one branch
Of the Legislature can do nothing, and
the other, under the constitution, has
nothing 10 do, but 10 adjourn. Does
not this state Of things drive from the
legislature men of Industrious ard &C
tive habits, or, while there, impede
their usefulness And will not this &C
count, in a great measure, for the fire.
quent and almost entire renovation OF
the members of both houses
A mutable Legislature must give rise
to mutable legislation: and deny to ev-
cry public enterprise the steady and
persevering support which is essential
to its prosperous maturity. What is
resolved upon this year by one body Of
men, is repealed the very next by their
| successors in office. Days and weeks
and months are spent in the election OF
public officers, or the preparatory IN
trigues required to unite SO large bo-
DIV, in the choice Of a particular candi-
date; while the ballot box covers both
partially and injustice from all respon-
sibility.
VIVA, is the present system OF road
laws, the repeal of which has been so
often sought in vain, but direct con-
sequence Of the unequal representation
of the people? And if, TO its notorious
ineficiency, be added its obvious injus-
tice, in making poverty and wealth e.
oually contribute to its support, what
country furnishes a more glaring ex-
ample of oppression } 1t has, indeed,
parallel at home, in that affiliated
! system Of tyranny, which EFFORTS, by a
county levy or capitation tax, great
portion of the subsistence Of the poor