Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-01-04
Whole No. 1858.

tie sepAs ct che people upon the SUBJ
iect. The oemhars have it in tLair pow
er to reject We bill, butt is TO be ho.
pad they will pursue different course.
1t is TO DO hon. they viii make ia y
msgnanimoas sui vrender of'fheir power,
that they viii give up that little brief
authority to which sme appear 50 anx-
ious to cleave in defiance to The voice Oh
the people
WHIST objection the sneuiiss ct .
Convention can have to this course mas
always appeared 10 me matter o: sur-
priss. Ii a majority OF the peovie's are
in favour of Convention no one Nm
deny than the right 10 call ons "a .
docirine of passive obediencs aud s1lA
lae,ion.-fhe doctrine that the peopl, 4
are lhelr own worst enemies - That thay'
have no right to choose for themselves,
has long siuca bosn exploded in tiIi 5
country. This language may be suitse
to the old monaFehies Of Europe, but
not 10 the tree principles of our goysrn~
ment--lIere tie people have an Undue
bitahle an W 4Iienable right to choose
for themselves. Here every republican,
must confess that there is mass OF inc
tslligence amongst the great body az the
pcopls uhieh will enable them Ut al
times to apply III peaceful manner sa~
lhtary amendmeuts TO thairaconstitutiou,
II thea, ~ have already said the great
body OF The people are 10 favour Of y
Convection, it Is tha duty OF the LegiSv
lature to afford them the necs ssary
means and facilities. Any species az
legislation founded upoa different
principle would be unjust and opprss-
Sige in the extreme. II would have for
its object the suppression Of public SEN.
iiment. lfwould 60 to deny the corr
reetness Of the piincpls that the sople.
are capable Of self. government. II, on
the contrary, majority OF the people
are opposed to Convention the pas.
sage oftlIis law win afford them an OPP,
portuDity ofexpressing their sentiments,
They will repair to the polls and by one
solemn declsiog put the question at rest
The fact will then be established that,
that pure republican institution, which
WAS transmitted to rs by our forefathere
is not to be polluted by the touch Of re-
form. The conflicting elements OF fac
ton will be hushed, and the people will
once nspre become coDtanted with their
government.
But il has been urged. and too By men
who stand high for talents, that the le-4
eislature have no power to act ia rela.
ton to this subject II the Legislature
were about to alter the CONSTITUTIONS
this would be an insuperable argument
The members OF this House are sent
here to act under tie Constitution
Each member, before he enters this
Hall, soie,naly swears 10 support the
of bis State. Any attempt
To alter this instrument, with
OUT the authority of the people, would
be violation Of his duty as citizep,
aud lis oath as Representative. But
no such step Is about ~ BE- taken. II
the Constitution is about to be amended,
il is admitted By every one that It must
be done by tae people in their sovereign
But cannot the Legislature
pass law, the object Of which is TO aid
the people in expressing their sentiments
inreiatioa 10 this subject This they
eau cestainly do. The passage Of such
a Law would not violate any Of the pros
visions of the constitution, or make
upon il the slightest alteration. After
tas passage of such law. the Consti-
tuition would still continue In existence,
until the people had determined. hy
their own proper authority, that il shorild
bs altered. This, therefore, appears to
BE- tiimsy aud unsubstantial otje ction
10 tue bill.
hr. CoLsTos said, that for his own
part, he could not but be at soma loss
10 know the reasons upon whis h. gentle
msa could found their objections to the
resolution then before the House.
There we're not. Il was true, numerous,
petitions before than, pressing the nea-
sure upon the Legislature; yat certain
y, the strong indications of feeling OF
former occasions, The votes given at tket
polls in large sections ct Che country /.
and the presentations mads Of the;
wishes, BY their representatives on tki-
hoer, were sufficient 30 convince ever
one, that th.re was. at least, q larg
portion Of the people Of the comuor
wealth q favor Of tie call ola convsntion.
We claim to be majority. and
only ask such aid irrul the Isglslatl 4
as will enable Us TO ascertain whsthss
exFk hx. 49,. - - 49,,