Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-02-07

Coaceton.It viii be obscry ed under the I.egisla-
tive head, that Mr. Morris of Wood Yesterday moved
the reconsideration of the Convention question: and
that Tomorrow is fixed upon tor entertaining the mo-
ton.
The rejection of the late bill, we have always looked
upon as an impolitic measure.-Let it be understood
by the freeholders, that the Legislature refuse refer
lhe question to them and violent reaction must cnsuc
throughout the body polite Our law makers ought
10 remember, that the people sovereign-tlat Il
Democracy, where every is called TO vote on the
passage of all laws, only set aside in our government
from the physical mpractcabily of its execution,
while all Republics acknowledge ii as the true pcriec-
uon OF human goycnment-and that where il is posi-
bic for the people to determine question directly il
always is, and must be better than TO have it deter
mined by their representatives. This question is one
of the few which in lis nature admits of being deter
mined by the people temsevcs-and as its nature thus
permits IT. SO 1t is the greatest of all questions upon
which the people be called to act. As the people
haze the abstract right of deciding all quesiions-a
this is tc greatest of all questions and one on which
they can act with entire convenience, say in the
name of God and Republicanisn, let the people say
whether they will calia convention OF not.
Every days experience proves that recourse must
be bad ultimately to the remedies of Convention
In of the most pupulous and wealthy Districts OF
the State, the people virtually state of anarchy
Thousands and hundreds Of thousands are deprived of
the administration of Justice, and that great end Of all
Government, 10 them, defeated. Judges continue
10 retain their appointments, rcn all prospect of
forming the equivalent services has vanished A lccis
lative remedy is irnpraccabc, without introducinr
greater evil than tho one cured. 1t is impossible TO
remove theun--and if an additional Judge is appoint.
cd the measure abhorrcnt TO all Republicans, c
vii pension list, must needs accompany it. To all
these msfortuncs, added the multitude of others
which have so often been depicted, there can be no
certain efec'ual remedy but the call OF 4 Convention
We have never yet seen but man. who did not ad
rnire the existence ofgreat evils under the present Con
stitutonand admitting this, there be but one OBJ
lection TO Convention the fear namely that the oco-
Pile will DO wrong.
Co"cntPtS Of CoH1ls-lt will be bv reference
to the proceedings Of a House of Delegates Yesterday
that a bill restraining the powers of Courts in the
punishment o. contempt, limiting the amount of fine 10
$500 and tlc time Of imprisonment TO one month was
passed by large majority Whilst we do not believe
that this power in lis present unlimited degree has been
greatly abused I've have beard of some few cases whore
II was We trust that circumstance the integrity OF
the bench, and not TO restraining features in tLe
character OF the power Itself Could we imagine that
orr beuci could he degraded by the presence Of such
monsters as Scroggs ana Jeeres, can imagine witt,
the same effort; that the common law doctrine of con
tepts could be welded TO the Destruction personal Ii
berry This is contingency 10 which VIC
IN common with all na0ns-aD it is guard against
The popular abuses which CORRUPT and unpriucipIed
judges n4ghtinilct that liis are imposed upon their
present undeincd and arbrafa osTsre, Even admit
ting tat the time viii come when power may
be abused--admiiing tat we shall neyerasbe cursed
with corrupt and yrannica Judges, and that public
opinion will always suffice to restrain the arbitrary e
ercl8e OF this power, ycs conceive the present bill
necessary 20 harmonic the letter and spirit of our In
sttutions as dccaratory Of the great fundamental prin
cipie that unlimited power is inconsistent with the ma
ture of iIepublics and the Liberties of mankind With
these opinions, we congratulate the public On the pas
sage of the bill