Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-08-30

eeu"ss' al which some OF the enemies of a convc IN
lon' 4Dect so much surprise, and upon lch they bax
e'oede0tJcd 70 comment with much .,no,v ard vi
"A certain class of politicians England have nya
raSiy de"cuiiced as "inexpcdcnt and unwiscn ever,
attempt ITO amend or reform the constitution un,e
which they and their fathers had so lon lived free con
tented and happy" The garug inequality in the an
Portionnent of POLITICAL righ;she subsection of nc
majority TO the will of the ninority-tlc Injustice ond
aosurdity of the ''ifoUc Boroushn system were in
van urged by the friends of liberty and reform as in
lo'erao!e grievances. The selfs;yled friends of eo
serhent and order, enjoypg eue,y RICH. and every
esss, which II is the object of government secure
ana protect and from tl.c practical operation, of which
as they assertedl those who called for reform
hardly pretended 10 point or compaiu o., anv ac,ua
grievances Stigmatized tie friends of reform as mis-
chevous disorgansers and reprobated their measures
as teuding to disturb the settled order of ,hnrs and
70 lessen the veneration of The people for their
,'ons SO essential to the dignity authority and sabili
tyr OF government. That such doctrines should have
eH'ana'ed from the pensioners and hreinss of corr
| rupt government excite no SUNRISE But !. IL
truly astonishing, that blind veneraon for an,ouit,
and "setied order of things however absurd and in
convenient that order be, should in an
age and IN republican country render any nor,; of
our citizens entirely deaf to the voice Of reason and
utterly regardless of the light which time
encc nave afforded The good and contentet( ne oe
Chesterfield, however filled with venerat;op r .so,r
ehS'h9 happy institutions, far from being de;ro,s
OF any alteration, amendment, or REFORM
An inefficient and irresponsible Esec,pe cornnose1
OF grave and reverend" Chief Magistrate the mere
n'Se,int agent IF eight yo,,g gentlemen, is an ipsti
'ullon, IT seems ac0rthy of renerdtioa.
The constitution of the Legislature branch of tl,e ao
feiomeht Is also considered by these "happy" people
10 NC so very perfect TO require amendment or re-
torni They are ''perccy content' with that uncouat
distribution of power which allows 10 the inhabitants Of
one Porlion OF the commonwealth, ttcenty seuen times
as mitch political weight is possessed in another
They view with the utmost caimpess and ndiGerenca
The dtsiraHchlscnent of about half of the conmu
ni'y, by most odious and unjust restriction upon the
fsht 81 suffrage, from the operation of which however
ne ciiZensS,t the ancient and pioeged boroughs OF
Norfolk and Williamsburg, entirely exemptcd-
these giarIng defects in the constitution hare BEEN
very Justly assimated TO the ''rotfen boyoun SYSTEM
of England; but strange TO tell are considered bv h
good people of Chesterfield be so intimately connect
ca WIN e present setled order of things to de-
serve-rC1icr atjOut
A considerable reduction Of tho nnrl.ror,, ~
81 DelcSateS, and the aboio ion Of the Erecztj,e (oyn
CO. mat incubus on The body polite, which might so
wen oe spared would no doubt increase the despatch Of
business, Improve the administration of orr Affairs and
save dnnud/y large portion of the public mouey
winch IS now most unnecessarily and unprCfta blv OK
pended 60 desirable result, however, is considered
oy hesc friends OF ordeT" To be of little or no conse
quence when compared with The danger of al,inp tho
sense OF the people," and permitting the Will OF the ma
JOrity to prevail.
judicial sysicn* most admirably contrvcd to de,,,
lusce' and consequently 10 encourage injustice and ii
ugauon TO the great enoument of LAWYERS, sheriGs
anu CLERKS OF courts, at the expense the time mcney
ana morals OF the people las assumed Sscted order
TO which we must quietly submit, rather than aemnt
reoi ana Tins lessen the vencratiou Of the people for
our existing happy Institutions"
weight influence and Importance among her sisters
o. inc coniederacy Laws paftahins Of tie shirt Of
NE constitution, which wrong principle and unjust
IN their operation and whose existence il il In no for
VIII enunfe WIN the constitution gradually under
mining line public prosperity and exciting dissatis r,c
tlon W ith large portion of our citizens
1T grievances like these, constitute the seIelo rlc.
OF ing winch Though generated by some has excited
SO much discomfort throughout the state yhv slCud
'hls settled order" not be "disturbed;n WHY sf,orif
not every legislative iacity be afforded ascertain in
Il ale, on,Ip
people, as to the propriety of perpeatin or rlrcesr
Inc grievances Of which they complain? Can il bo he
'e'ed mat The irregular and dsorderly no, cncns of
an mshllrd and excited community, will he less likely.
ito generate heats contentious and factions arnonn Ne
ian ihc calm and deliberate expression of the uonuar
VIII under the sanction Of Lttr7 They who hold such
language, rather suspect, entertain wen grounded
learS mat a FAIR expression If the will of he people
would result not only IN disturbing, but in ctuaIy over
turning "the settled order" a. antiuuaf.I abugee fer
which they profess so much vcnl ration.
The friends of reform have ia ali ages been nya,,
bly, charged by the iIli5cra! and DESIGNING Win dc
position TO disturb the rep0sc society This accuse,
tlon is not the least obnoxicus Of Tie various carocs
with which The friends Of convention have been sail
ed by those who are fertile scurrlity iLan in
argument and who utterly incapable of concerino
orapPrcciang the high and pure motives of honorable
minds such charges however, have as vet been only
heard with the contempt they nerilcd by all liberal and
enlightened men, lfa free discussion of the princpIes
OF government and of political rights, should sometime,
excite warmth and contention. all who parcinoic
therein contribute lin proportion to the trnper tie,,
eylnce) TO the Intensity of the heat which NAV he pro
duced As the agitation of the elements occasionally
necessary to cleanse the atmosphere of its impurities;
ana as The amPutaon o! limb may be sometimes in.
dsPcnsablc to arrest the decay and dissolution of lIe
body OF which ii is member, should the remedy be;
al all times adapted to the nature and extent OF the evil
! ihey, who, by Withholding the corrective would pro
crastInatc the cure and thereby increase the algntv
OF the disease, however pure their motives will surely
be more Justly cbargcable with the convusons which
may ensue than those who by apply ing mild and ord
nary remedies in due time would obviate the necessity
OF resortlng 10 such violent and unusual-Tbc
only sure means of preventing "the heats contentious
is TO afford at once TO the people the necessary legislative
fac ies of deciding the interesting question which now
agltacs and divides them ! know the character Of
Nirginians too wCl 10 believe that tie aliaory would
not, at good citizens, quietly submit TO tic will of the
nrGjory, so soon as the of he people upon The
subject shall have been clearly and fairly asceraincd,
suppose, that cheats, contentious and factions i'll not
exist among us, so long The srength Of rarlcs a