The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-09-29

LfxcnDcRG, sEPrE aBER 70. 1875
CONVENTION.


1 II rue SuifmtHt 81 ttFcAH3th"te's
Itisby this time, we suspect, PRETTY g.
ncrally known throughout the State thai
soi.ia Of the zralous Auti-Convrntionlsts 81
Richmond. have pni in circulation Me-
mortal to The Legislature, for the pnrfose
of obtaining the signatures OF the psorle'
which, we hesitate not to shy, contains sen
pabiieanism. Ifitwefe, as its circnlators
would have the people believes memorial
prayiag the Legislature not To enact n
! Convention inlb existence, then II would br
question of policy, on which. as men may
! honestly difler, 81 40 reelection could BE-
cast upon their political principles because
they did 81. But, when lis design is to sti-
'ie the public voice 10 close the mouths
Of the peuple---to forbid the exp ession oi
popular ophDion,--hnd Ia perpetua'e the
reign ofibe minofily Il Ia we helleveJ the
minolay aIread, sway the seePirs Of pow
ct--li il not going too Ear 10 drnounc+, ai-
ter the example Of oar revolutionary fore
fathers, the act itaclf AMI Ia anticipate as
il, consequence unreslI aimed violence aud
tuDalt. Tue people may be deceived rs
10 the policy nfa measure; bnt they can
never be uIled into apathy or seduced into
Indifference when the servaets of them ere
alton negatively deprive them of On mali
enable and invaluable right.
What DO the conyrutianlsts ask Tor?
Simply, tlatthe sheriff. may b. authorized
bylaw TO take the sen,e OF the people as
To the propricty OF "a Convention at the en-
suing Spring elections, the sole duty ot
" hch body shall be to recommend amend
ments 10 the Constitution. " The head
aud front of their request hath this extent
40 mote" Why shonld ii be denied to
them We ask emplntlcally. what good
reason can be adduced to justify the refu-
sal There can be only one reason, ofany
sort, suggested as the prohabie ground Ut
ienlal and that il, that i; IS feared a ma
joriy !fMe people are in jaror cfa ConUea
ton. This Is hr sole ground Of objection.
| Aud, we ask, in all simplicity, whether, ac-
cordlng to the theory Of our mstitutiuns, if
| a minority be in favor of the measure, il
ought not to be granted at once? And if
i, be affirmed that a majority arc agains'
the measure, what safer plan than Ia de-
| monstrate ii by faig contest al the polls !:
But say the memoralists, the passage ofsuch
| a law would create disturbance and excite
ment where there is now peace and quiet
! ness. We deny il. Itwonld allay the cx
citomcnt that noo exists. Ii would enable
the strength of the two parties To be tested
aud the conquered would be satisfied. 1t
would settle the question, if not forever, ut
least for number of years. 1t would IN
/ trodcce peace, where there is now ,umult
I and for our own parts, and we know it to
be the sentiment of very many other friends
of the conventions, if We should find at the
polls that We were in the minority, we
would submit without a murmur. The
people have a right to be slaves, if they
think proper, aud though we might repine
at the decision of the question, we should
be perfectly contented 10 lctthem wear the
badge of servitude. A our hopes for the
prosperity Of our native state would perish
until another generation should spring up,
more deeply inhued with tie spirit of tol.
GRANGE and Justice, and more deeply i'm
pressed with the necessity Of exemphfying
in practice the maxims of political equality
which are SO frequently ionlished by nm
public writers and speakers, bnt which are
only regarded in theory" holding the
word of promise to the ear, and breaking
i, 10 the hope,"
A great deal is said in the Richmond Ne
morlai about the happiness which we and
our ancestors have enjoyed under the pre-.
sent constitution. But is il owing to the
wise and Just pro, lslons of that instrument
that all has been calm and sunshine No.
However wise and however just may be
It's provisions generally, nary Of them are
odlous, and wholly inapplicaLIe To the pre-
sent state OF society. Wrested by the arm
Of violence, in moment of great excite
ment, from the weakness of Great Britain.
manyof the colonial regulations were re-
t"lned init and are to this day cluos To
with the most devoted attachment ny tin
ariatocracy OF The country. The right
of suffrage, among other tlSngs, re-
mains now Us il vas under the Grown :
While other states have feed tnsir
citizens from the odjous restraint ilr-
posed by the jealousy of kings on the exrr-