The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-08-20
CHEsTERFIELD RESOLUTIONS


plot They ares beginning with laudable spirit of
oncation to kndle sort Of counter fire, aud thus
they will endeuvor to defeat the purpose Of the in.
cendiary by doing the job themselves. Do the peo
pie OF Chesterfield know, that the means which
they have adopted to battle the views of the conven
sionists. lead directly the accomplishment Of all
thatwe desire At their handss iftbey will pcrsevere
in the ministry Of their high calling and procure
general expression OF the sentiments OF Virginia
this subject satisfied to abide the issue. We
Will excuse thes want Of logic, while we are con-
,saraned 10 admire their frankuess. WHY do the PEG
pie OF Chesterfield deprccate enactment author is
ing the expression Of the popular voice with regard
TO a convention Have they not done in effect and
ir the zeal Of their opposition, hat they will be
qured to do by such enactment It is neither prac-
ticabe nor decorous however, for the people OF the
state to dispose of this question in the summary and
irregular manner which the people Of Chesterfield
have attempted. llis TO be settled by no sdewind.
The opinion of the people on subject of vital i'm
port, concerning which great diversity already
lists, is tot to be elected by county meetings and
pocket prcambles. 1t may be feasible enough for
the citizens of Chesterfield Warwick to muster
their rank and file at the tap of drum and charge
'n column on the enemy. Some parish demagogue
may get up barbecue or cock fight, and harangue
The sovereign multitude into a phrenzy of an,icon-
ed with malice aforcthought, arc carried by loud
'e'amation--mcn con. ard nobody comPrehending.
what follows? Similar meetings must be held in
more PopuIous -o""'irs. where every stamp will be
the theatre of discussion and every road n
scene Of turmoil, canvass and strife. If the ques-
ton is TO be fairly met and the decision acquiesccd
in let it be met at the polls Of the country and there
soemnly decided. We know enough OF these jun
tos and caucuscs, 10 believe that fair evidence
Of public sentiment is to be derived from such
sources. Whatesersis done there, is the work of
some one or two busy bodies, who pull the wires
and move the puppets at pleasure. IL is no uncom-
mon thing for the undivided burden of the drama to
devoive on single individual who will enact you
Punch and play the devil too in these stump parla.
mcnts. Let the question not be evaded by another
suberfuge less plausible than the thousand which
have been already vainly suggested. Why do the
enemies OF convention manifest 50 much concern at
the agitation OF this question, if they conf
dent in the strength OF their majority? Have they
ought to fear unless they really deceive Themselves
when they declare That three fourths OF the people
OF the commonwealth are opposed to reform! They
hold a two edged alternative to the friends of con
venion u is nexpedent, nay dar gerous cay :hey,
t. submit this question 10 the determination OF the
people, and yet they undertake every day at some
tavern MALTA parade, to dctern it for them
selves. II The result of these voluntary county
meetings could be relied with accuracy still! it
would be impossible certain the public senti-
,nent b. such means. They never will be uniform
Throughout, the state--thsy be free from pre-
judice excitement and influence. Let us meet this
question, then, fairly and frankly-that it may
never rise up in the midst o u.s. demon Of dis cord
TO destroy the harmony and prosperity Of Virginia.
From Me Rick,nond Exquiysrl
On MONDAY the 9Th instant, being the first day OF
Chesterfield Quarterly Court, the following Pream-
Bile and resolutions read to the people Assem-.
bled at the Courthouse and the question being sub
init ed to them, shall the same be adopted reject
ed II was ascertaned by actual division and
count that of the persons present. troo hunded and
thiryseDen voted for the adoption Of them, and three
TO re ect them.
Whereas the meeting recently held at Stanton
styling itself convention Of delegates of the friends
OF convention to amend reform the constitution
of this state, although that meeting was led
ofdeIegat deputed from only about third Of the
counties Of the commonwealth, and those delegates
nominated, in many Of those counties bv very small
ninorities oil the people the eof hath nevertheless
prepared a memorial from itself to the General As.
sembly, and another memorial to be circulated A.
mong the people for their individual signatures the
protested object oS which memorials is to obtain the
enactment ola law for taking the Of the peo.
pie the propriety Of calling convention TO a.
IN end reform the constitution
And whereas the united exertions Of the friends of
such rentioD, thus combined and organized TO
effect their purposes, may possibly betray the Lee
gisature into mistake to the real sense Of the
people on the subject, unless the friends Of our ey
istng happy institutions shall express their opinions
and wishes respecting the same:
.Res0lDed heref OTe AS the sense of the people of
the county of Chesterfield, now here assembled
that it is i6expe3isn. and unwse 10 call conven,
Hon 10 amend reform the constitution under
which and our fathers have long lived free
contented and happy, enjoying every rghtand every
blessing which it is The object Of government TO Sc
and protect and from the practical operation Of
which even those who call for reform, hardly pre-.
tend to point out or complain Of any actual grey-
ance, now felt apprehendcd in future
RcSoLred, also, That in opinion, it is inexpc-
dicnt and to enact law take the sense Of
the people on the propriety of calling convention
because such measure can only tend to disturb
the settled order of things, happily existing in
the commonwealth, to generate heats, contentious
and factions among us, and to lessen, or perhaps
destroy, the generation Of the people for their inst
tutions SO essential to the dignity, authority and
stability OF free governments; and because. truth
the experiment recently made at Stanton, how
otherwise ntendedJ doth of itself evince that
great body OF the people far from being desirous
Of any alteration, amendment eform are perfect
w with the constitution. and opposed to all
measures having the least tendency TO such ends
Resoircd, therefore, That John w Jones Sam
ucl Taylor. Lawson Burfoot, John Burfoot Parke
Poindexter, Archibald Thweatt, Edward II. Bots.
scau, James Elan, James Henderson John Archer,
Chares + Woodson, Edward II. Noseley James
Hewlett, David II Branch, Allan McRae. and Ed