Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-02-15


time for all who love their country, and
do MT mean to surrender their liberties
without struggle, to speak plainly, at
least. But, If IT be seditlous and violent,
it is nevertheless true.
have said, that, since the late Ie-
lection OF the convention 81. the go
yernDent de facto is tyranny aad an
usurpation. and not lawful government
which we are bound to obey. To test
the correctness Of this assertion let US
refer to the solemn declaration, which
you made when you threw off the yoke
Of England, of the principles by which
you justified your rebellion, and on
which you mean to found your new in
ssiNitions. You declared,
"rhat al power IS vested ia and cons qnent
y derived from tue people; that magistrates
are their .rustees and servants. and at all times
amenAole 20 them.
"rhst government is, or ought TO be. inst.
tuted for the common beneh protection and
-eclrlty, OF the cope, nation, or community
OF ali The various modes and forms of govern.
ment, that IS best, which ~ capable OF prDdu.
cling III. gfeatest degree Of happiness and safe.
" and IS most eflrcfually secured AGAINST the
DAGGER OF nal administration. and that when
any government shall De found gsdequ2tc or
contrary to these purpose, a majority of the
community hsth an mdubitsbie, unahenable,
and inde6easIbie right, to reform, aitc., or
b lisa 1t, 10 such manner As sad be Judged
most condnc We TO tAe public veal"
Hero is a solemn declaration Of the
great prime pie which was engraved on
the hearts of all the enlightened friends
of liberty, long before the glorious era
of the revolution, of the principle
which, in fact, produced the revolution
"ttat tehen goUernmetnf $ f,and made
qUats or cont rGry TO the purpose for ,rhsch
all gore'Dmen $ are instiiu ed, an y ,rty
Of The people hos right 10 reform, alter
or abotish /.
Now it is a notorious fact that ever
since the year 49,, at least, a portion
of the good people OF this common
wealth has entertained and expressed
the opinion, that the case alphabetically
stated in Inc "deciaration OF rights" &C
tualiy exists IN Vrginia-that the govern
ment has been found inadequate or con,
irary tn the purposes for which IT was
instituted. Those who entertain this o
piuion have, for ten years past, conf
IDENTITY believed and insisted, that the,
constituted majority of the com nu-
nity"--and that they had, by the very
terms of the bill of rights. and in conior-
nifty with the great Fundamental tap of
all representative democraoes, a right
to "slter the government" In support
| of this belief and assertion, anterior to
1925, they referred TO the convention
| bill winch passed the house of delegates
in 1916, and was voted for bv the re-
representatives. Of a great majority Of the
people. They insisted that that bill, with
the other previous, cutemporaneous and
! subsequent demon STATIONS of public
pinion, made out at least a primo fncis
| case in favor of the proposition, that the
people wished for change of the con
stitution. They contended that the e.
whence was strong enough, at least, to
impose on the legislature the duty of
providing facilities tor taking the sense
of the people, on this great question. in
peaceaole and orderly manner, That
it was at least clear, and beyond all
dispute, that large ajorty of the PEG
pie wished law 10 be passed for taking
their sense, in such peaceaple aud or
DERBY manner, with a view to tranquil
ize the public mind, and to prevent con
vnlsion, broils and civil war, and with
an Interior view 20 the asse mbllng of a
convention, il it was found that the ma
inritv wiled it.
In 1924 and 1926 these topics were
extensively asltated throughout the
state, and it is believed that the repre-
sentatives from the different counties
went to Richmond, in the latter year.
fully possessed IF the wishes OF the peo-
pie on this interesting subject The re-
personalities Of a large majority of The
pc pts* voted for a Law providing a mode
OF taking the sense of the people, in an
orderly, peaceable and regular way.
The representatives. Of m nority of the
people strangled the Law by legislative
majority. stop here to say, that, if
the members of the ma Jointly in the lie
gislature believed that the minority ia
that body truly represented the wishes
of a majority Of the people, it was the
duty Of each and every member of such
legislative majority, calling himself
republican, to move instantly for re-
consideration of the bill, with view TO
! Ia - Al