Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-12-19

. me non,eX'sfans, as they were quan,ly Gale, Who
y to"uoted the reality of the material vcr,3 80
Their own existence. Yet, gentlemen RAM. W
= nshec AHis attributed u the arice of der, ~ -,
q" eXeruons OF a Disseminated faction. If we p -
I"hbout Teui'ons, we are asked what we b,se :, ,
tpr"r0siuon 10 submit this subject TO the peonIas =
Where = Tie evidence that constituents wish -,
a,itate the question:? And we are told I've ~ ~
right to egislae tie subectn II we presen, ne,
tons. how they received? The signatures of re
TONERS arc said 10 be frauducnily obtained 10
sent persons, perhaps, actually in existence a. q.
rnst, not ieeholders- The meetings too. convened
the people, have been said 90 be snlf-consutcd ieu
against the spirit of the constitution, and comparct 70
the Hartford and other tIeasonabIe conventional Ana
the unbiased instructions 10 their representatives OF
tie fee people of this commonwealth have been sct =
be cajoc'i from them by the aG,ce Of designing der
agcgucs VIVA: then, have we az INST the evils {.
which complaint? Suppose, for moment t.,a.
they exist, the majority, in simplicity perha
hut certainly in honesty, believe tl.cy do what .r
have we nj constitutional amendment? Ought Mt
gentlemen icloheu they in this easily assumed
garb of incicduy aid donht,) every principle al
justice and OF fair dealing, TO say nothing of political
consistency 10 extend the people, the of civ ny
snch expression Ct their sense as none can deem
eq"Ivocal, mean wi Iegis" yes, by of this a,
scus!y? BY Withholding which, by refusing ~
pass The resolution and the bill grow iii, the
Legislature exercises that power, which is termed b.
learned writer on government the "initiave mower
mean the power al Withholding fson, giving the
Pe"p.e' momentum ia any step to be taken, towards
Co'su'u,oUai amendment Now, sir, if ii viii
The one Iand. be deemed that far as the mere act
on snhserv'nS the wishes Of the people, by legally tax
ing 'eir sense, and organising convention. this pow
err IN every well regulated government, should he
ed IN the legislative body; would be highly in,J3-
lite and unwisc for any people in their sovereign car,
CITY leXcep IN Tie last resort, to give being Lty
with powers paramount To the Legislature aud To tl.
Constitution itself, without the intervention of ths
Legislature; equally true is it tho other hand ;ht
tar manifestation Of the public mind, favourable to
the measure, be obtained, If the Legislature refuse 10
make t'fs ana and necessary appeal to the PEOPLE or
10 act upon the subject they visit grievons oppression
upon tne state For, sir, IT IS amentstie truth that
IN The 'inPerecion OF all political other human in
s'uons, in defiance Of the check which, The cops,u-
emf has upon his representative, the elector unou lh
elected, the people may be thus egsativeF oppressed
Especially may il be the case on subjects Of rrea
general concern in Stale like ours where there is
vast extent of territory, and sparse populations boz.
rii'ca To popular concert. II these considerations
net sufficient 60 Justify the conclusion a,n NJ Ieast
horne out in il, by the fact novel i'm repbl;cs tina,
the majority among is controlled BY tie minority
las was Ter some tinc paradox, but now the times
give proof" And II is farther in proof sir from tI,,.
analogy OF the constitutions oi the sister State. For
almost III every insian where the Legislature is not
itself invested wrh power aricnd the constu,ou
with which, power Heaven l,cfcnl tl,a This eoiel.
lure shall ever be NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. rs are aIroadr
IFS r","ers, judicial and executive as well rs cpisla
N'r'i The vase tanners of the constitutions of other
ates guarding against the very evil Of which have
""'r To complain have especially provided that the
Legislature shall al stipulated and very distant
rIods take the sense of the people upon the merits of
the constitution, e upon the question contained in
The resolution bcore convention or no convention
let il not be said heCause there 10 such provision ~
orr constitution, that therefore, the Lcrsiature hos
flSi;' 10 make the appeal Common sense and the n M
I'll rights zen Us, thar ii the constitution be drfectiv.
Ire peoPin have right 20 amend it. Sound polio.
a'ded b! the analogy of the constitutions of o:to
SlaiGs, places flie authority Ia make The ,r,..,
"G 'eGsiaiive body. But here il may be remark "a
h'a' rs tic provision 10 amend, forms in the consi;
GtIons OF other States nf their most irnorfr.,
features 50 eIng coSS OlGiSSas in eur own IL con
s'itutes most atiicaI detect.
Although sir, but Gin minc Ibis great subject UGLY
no Ff"fr' ihr'hcf, nor iiSSaSs longer @. The
tonsc tau IN thanks for Kind attention .i
have been pleased o rcula ks nrcced,o
am well awaiC it does. rather their wonicd
IMAM from any "ciit Ia what have said. il no: ~.
supposed tat hold il iuevcicnce the constitution of
Httc idf from II. ir, heiirr know OF rra,it,
'i""c" as IS, by tie pen of the ustrious sage " n
framed II, and the the less i!lusrious NAM;
an" sanctioned u iii 80 II have pointed its imD,,
fectinns, II is because ny ijugcr dected AS n
" re- by tie bill Of rights have iuveghed against is
detects II Is Hecaus The words stumbled m,
by the BIZ! of rights if. young the political world have
found fault With the OF due proportion i'm this IA r
political rdigc it is because The work.
SHOP where The great master builders prepared the colossal
and majestic materials Tor us co'Airucture, and
not the most cnSSnIihe most majcctic,
in the u that which the build
es rejected, should have hrcu made the
ners Aud II still, have sufficient apology, let i
suffice that guided by the counsel great father
nt political faith he, who bcuuca thed MS LEGACY
uFest republican principles. Let husband them
and cherish them the less, because their iustous author
has passed. passed. from tabernacle t. become
the immortal ienant Of grateful thousands.
Josiah Quincy is elected Mayor of Boston, Quincy
}i69 Col Gee. Blade 1915.
NOTICE.