Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-26

friends OF reform alone invited ATTEND those
meetings; and, consequently, that there ould be
opposition to their proceedings. II has never vet
been contended, that delegate to the Legislature
was no, duly elected, if in consequence OF encoun-
tering sso opposition, he had received but a very
inconsderable portion OF the votes in his county.
swell known, that Notwithstanding the enthusi-
assn and unanimity with which the people of Rich
mond paid every possible honour to the IS Nations
Guest" that not more than about forty citizens
attended the meeting held at the Capitol, to make.
arrangements Tor his reception, and adopted the
very appropriate resolutions offered by Mr.. Leigh,
on that occasion. And it has surely never been
pretended by any one, that because &c very small
minority Of the people" adopted those Resolutions,
that, therefore, they did express the sentiments
OF the Metropolis Indeed, the unanimity of the
friends OF reform, in those counties which elected
deputies Will, oil ITSELF very readily account for the
thnness OF those meetings, at which some OF the :
enemies OF convention. affect so much surprise,
| and upon which they have endeavored to comment
with so much asperity and wit.
certain class of politicians in England have
invariably denounced :" inexpedient and un-
wise. every attempt &c to amend or reform the
constitution under which they and their fathers
had so long lived free, contented and happy
The glaring inequality in the app6rtionment of
political ,rights-the subsection of the majority
TO the will of the minority the injustice and alb
surdity OF the &c Rotten Borough system, were
In vain urged by the friends of liberty and REFORM
as intolerabe grievances. The self-styled friends
OF government and order, {" EMO ing every right
and every blessing, which it is the object OF GO
vernment to secure and protect, and from the prac-
| teal operation of which, Gas they asser,ed) even
those who called for reform, hardly petended to
point out or complain of any actual grieyances,'')
stigmatized the friends of reform as mischief Gus
disorganizers, and reprobated their measures as
"tending to disturb the settled order Of things and
to lessen the veneraton of the people for their in
ial tn the,i
stability of government. That such doctrines
should have emanated from the pensioners and hire
| ilngs OF corrupt government, excite no sur
prise BUTT is truly astonishing, that blind vene-
ration Tor antiquity and settled order of hngs'
however absurd and inconye nient that order NAV
De, should IN an enlightened age and in republican
country, render any portion of our citizens entirely
deal 10 the voice OF reason, and utterly regardless
OF the light which time and experience have afford
| ed. The good and contented people of chesterfield
however hiied with veneration for " our existing
happy institutions, are far from being DESTROYS Of
any alteration, amendment, or reform''
An inefficient and irresponsible .Irecutive. COM
posed oil " grave and reverend" Chief Magistrate
the mere Ministerial agent Of eight yolng gentle
men, is an institution, il seems, ,oorfhy of pe,,e
rotioni
The constitution of the Legislative branch of the
government, is also considered by these happy''
people, to be so very perfect, as to require no
| amendment or reform. They are &c perfectly CON
tent with that unequal distribution of power
which allows 10 the Inhabitants of one portion nj,
commonwealth, t'centy seuen times as much poll
ucal weight as IS possessed in another. They view
sth the utmost calmness and indifference the dis
Establishment OF about half of the communi
ty, by most odous and unjust restriction upon the
| ItSht OF Suffrage, from the operation of which
however, the citizens ofthe ancient and pripieeed
6oroughs OF Norfolk and Williamsburg, are eo ire.
\ ~ exempted These garing defects ia the consti-
'ution, nave been very justly assimilated 10 the
" rotten Borough system of England; but strange
to tell, are considered by the good people OF Cbes-
'erhed to be so intimately connected with the pre-,
sent settled order of things as to deserye--re
rerdtion!
"A considerable reduction of the number of the
rouse o. Defegdtes, and the abolition of the Er-
| ecuftue Council, that incubus upon the body noI;
tic, which might well be spared would no donb,
increase the dispatch of business, improve the adj
ministration of our affairs, and save annually
large portion OF the public money, which is now
most unnecessarily and unproftaby expended -
90 desirable result howeyer,is considered by these
irienfs OF order to be of little or no conseo,,ece
when compared with the danger of s.,akinc ~.
sense OF the people," and permitting the will Of the
majority TO prevail. VAC
"A judicial system most admirably contrivea N
deiay justice, and consequently, 10 encourage inius
'ice ana iitIsaiion, TO the great emoument of law
yers, sheris and clerks of courts AT the expens =,
sumed g a settled order, - to which we must o,;e,
ly submit, rather than attempt REFORM and thus los
sen the veneraioii of the people for our existing
happy institutions
he state OF Virginia is rapidly losing her REIN
ldflue weight, influence and importance amoro Lor
sisters OF the confederacy. Laws paytoIiog oS ,s
i Sptrt 81 the constitution, which are wronp in min
cipe and UNJUST In their operation, and whose erst
ence IL Is to be feared will endure with the cons;
'u'ion' are gradually undermining the public pros
perity, and exciting dissatisfaction with LARGO ~
ton OF our citizens.
If grievances like these constitute &c tho so,,,o,
order OF things" which (tho' ueneratedbv sow
mas excited SO much discomfort throughout The state
why should this & settled ORDER not be d,s,,,h
ed Why should not every legislative facili,v he
AFFORDED to ascertain in irregular, peac eabe and ao
manner, the sense of the people, as TO The rro;e
OF perpeuating or redressing the grievance =.
| which they complaint Can il be believed ,bst ~.
irregular and dlsorderly movements of an insn,,ed
ana excited community, will be less likely .. 10
generate heats, contentious, and factions s,,ono
u.s. than the calm and deliberate pe
popular will under the SAT- con of Io,,9 ,I,,n.-
VINO hold such language, rather suspect. enter,ao
wei grounded fears that a fair expression &c ~
VIII oil the people, would result not only in d,s,h
ing, Dut IN actually overurnng sc the settled o,,,
OF antiqua'ed abuses, for which they profess ',a
| yeneraton. '''ue''
The friends Of reform have in all ages bss, :,
yariably chargedby the illiberal and tesipnno iii,
disposition to disturb the repose of societv rrhsi
accusation, is not the least obnoxious of the v.;
Gus charges with which the friends Of conven,o,
nave oeen asSaiied by those who are more fertile In
ouIly eiaii IN argument, and who are utterly in
capable of conceivng or appreci,,;n,r 49, IN
pure motives OF honorable rn;nds c., "5i aus
however, have as vet been opl ~ -, 80, .ha yes