Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-01-27
3SteJDsesossU GGaaedg.
FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. 81, 1896.

FRIDAY MORNING, JAN. 81, 1926
Concention.-The question of taking the sense of the
people Convention, was settled Yesterday in the
House Of Delegates, the question to cngross the bill
by vote of lOl 10 "a! Thus majority of seven in
the Ilolsc of Delegates undertake to withhold from
The eehoiders of the State those facilities ofexprctsne
and collecting public opinion question Of the deep
est interest, which more than 10000 freeloldeIs have
requ sted 10 have given them. Three important ,;rcun
stances ought 10 be borne in mind. That the Con
suton contains provision by winch il can be amsn
d1d .. That ii is only by legislative facilities that
Convention can ever be organized without violcnc G
and possibly blood-shed. s. That ibis bill did no, pro
pose TO call Convention but simply 10 leave il to the
tirehoders, those who have the power TO say ;f
they would call a Convention or no. If thcse facts
are adverted TO, we think the decision Yesterday will
strike the Whole country with Just and indignant sur
prize. 1t is not the friends of Convention only. WIN
nave cause 10 compla-the whole body Of frceholders
arc agsrcved and treated with indign!y. They arc H.
teray told by that body, WHO are no more than thc
breath OF their nostrs who breathcd in and ont Of
political existence at their pleasure that thew the
ers of the soil, the lords Of the country the masters
of the government, and of the agents who administer
1t, are not TO be trusted with question which concerns
them only The foes of the Convention cndcayour tn
eiude Tins conclusion. but ii is ncvablc-for if thew
were willing to trust the frecholders with the question
why withhold it from thc!n'
The only debate that occurred, was on proposition
made by Mr.. Drcmgooe, to strike out the word ia,e
in the preamble, (whereas it has been represented 70
his si,t,,
sire Tie call OF Convention &c The majority in
that spirit Of dognatis which so often characteristics
maJoritea, determined by the crasurc Of the term lr,ce
that large portion Of the people of the Commonwealth
were not in favor Of Convention! More than l3 couu
ties, and those the largest in the Commonwealth voted
tor calling Convention, and have petitioncd for Con
vent'on, and yet a'ge portion of the people are not
Tor the measure! We never expected to see the I g
gislaurc OF Virginia resort to special pleading in
great question of legislation or TO assert as 4 enisa
tlre, what was neither true in fact what any indi
vidual member would probably seriously maintain as
true aud as individual If II counties, containing
majority of the white population of the State, with
considerable minorities all over the State do not con-
S'itute "a large portion" of the people, we should be
happy TO know what proportion short OF the whole,
would be considered large portion.
We DO not desire 10 be considered disturbers of the
public peace or as continuing the agitation of settled
question We can newer consider Nis question settled,
until the ireeho!dcrs al least, allowed to express an
opinion on It, We done with it for the present but
we hope those parts of the State most Interested will:
continue 10 pursue the political equality which. they
have right to enjoy, with rmncss and perseverance,
The question seems infinitely more important now than
ever-or if at first IFS expedcncy doubtful, the
i'bera course of its enemies By refusing 10 leave it ia
the arbitrament of the public, has given is friends tic
right OF complaining both of former inequality and O
recent in Justice.