Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-04-27
glss @onst5tuttatgaG gothic.
CONVENTION.

CONVENTION.
| at meeting Of the citizens of Ohio County,
vened al thir house, for the purpose OF holding
theIr annual eiecon the assemblage beng numerous
II was resolved TO take into consideration the alarm
ing disregard of the legislature to the known will Of
majority CT tie people, the subject of the call OF
| Convention TO revise the state Constitution, when
nm. co., Esq. being called 10 the Chair and Isaac
Aey.eF' Esq appointed Secretary, the following pre-
ambe aud resolutions, submitted by a. .AILeaa, were
adopted with but dissenting vote.
That the people are The only legitimate ofpo.
i,ca' power, is proposition self evident, which, in
iis enlightened age and nation, needs ustra;
Government consequently is the property of the peo
pc who, by majority, hare ipSeensible right TO
ins!tne' alter or abolish if at peasure substituting
any other fI'E, acceptable 10 themselves.
Inc primary and legitimate objects of government
being the safety, prosperity am: happiness of the
iouni% an honest pursuit OF those objects, constitutes
Tue only ghtUi rcstr!ut an limitation of mans na>
tive freedom
Yet III pc face of these incontroye.tble doctrines
winch &c med tue ground work Of oar revolution; in
ihe ih!d.t OF our sister states whose constitutions re-
cosn,@e and whose practice consecrates these Iinc
peS IN Tins ianI liberty, purchased by the blood and
treasure OF our ancestoIs-yThere Jefferson wrote,
where - as!ngtoa fought, and Lafayette bied to cs-
t9b:S the rights Of Virginia presents the NOR
'y'I and degra- ed spectacle OF an ordinance OF gov
eminent defective the essential ingredients of free
iconsiution uot beng basel equal representa-
ton "i the people, aud excluding from all parcipa-
lion IN the formation OF the laws by which they are
governed large portion OF the responsible citizens
ions enacted by assembly specially delegated
for that purpose, hu; Cnse and invested me. ely M
LEGISLATIVE powers. hsiorc idea OF the Independence
OF tne:c ttaies had been inaturcd--an ordinance
which "as the oiapring Of necessity, designed By
trainers, To he temporary and for particular crisis
never submitted TO the consideration Of the people, uoI
Obtained their Greet sanction, but is indebted lis
Continuance solely to Their experimentation tor5ear
nicG has nevertheless been proiracei more than ba h
century when the e2isency which called into be
iEs, had passca away.
Daring considerable OF this time of tnisr,Ie the
ciim2ns have Petioned for redress ogrieyances bu,
Ike the o:ner application of the colonies TIE moth
or country, he!? petitions have been rejected and the
justice OF their claims set at nought by minority
who, from the Inequality of Representations hold the
power o: the sis III deGaucc of every principle of 90
! ht!caI rectiinde or free goveTemen,.
e ear after Year, has the question of prov idng by
law, for taking the of.!e electors upon the call
OF conF ent!on, been tried in the house Of DELEGATES
AMI rertnacons.y nega;iyed by a small majority OF
tne'aers representing a minority OF tie white popu
:, a:inD.
When such repeated opportunities for redress arr
answered BY many determined refusa.s- IS hen The
expressed will Of 57l,Oo0 is defeated by the regre
scniatives OF 22o,C0O-LcSoiCed, by the Citizens o
VAio county now assembled that such of NAL adj
;n:stiation anu 'p!ctenGed legsa,ion !itiv de
in:n The character oftyianny, have produced state
of things, which. according 10 the principles Of our
lieVoiuion dissoTcs The social compact" to
the people the right OF resortiDg FIRST prime ip!as and
seeking she; remedy, and consequently renders
y the prosecution OF such course, the contrary, a
mere consideration of expedency
Rss0iged, That. although, the Federal Constitution
guarantees TO every state IL the union republican
form Of government, yet Virginia is nader the aoiDin-
ion OF an olgEacy whose asru!e If has not actual
iy mPov and daPopua;ed Tue territory has GER
i tainy retarded lis growth wca!u. and population 4
II alarming degree, and reduced it from the prou,
pre- eininencc Of fret TO fourth state in the conlel-
!: eracy.
Ecsolre,|, That this meeting approve Of lie sni.i
o! their fellow citizens o Rockingham in dcuyilncinc
/ the o!!garciy ,gch nquiousy wil!.hc!ds the nov
!'oin the people; but believe II would be premature a
the present elections 10 choose delegates conven
tion TO revise Tue constitution, the want of tine for
o genara arrangement might egbarIass rather than 81
d Glcie the object in view: Bat tey sren,ousy recon-
d uepd 20 he voters in The Counties favorable TO con
10 rcntcn TO be particular in the choice OF delegates L
s the legislature 10 select Of talents whose SEMI
al rneHts known 10 be iriondlr to tie cali.
e R&Sotre3, That HEY accord with their fcliow citizen
% o! FTcde Ic in their dcier minat!on To- al! aid & ma
u for ne tdStiibe that facilities te afforded By law for
sen5Ga Of full ad free convention of the good rco
pie Of this commonwealth, with q 10 The establish,
nen Of representative democracy on the ruins o
II The olgarcio tyranny which hos prevails
IN Jsc3c!rsd, That toe of Tie electors OF OH;
county be again taken at this election on the PRO
prety OF calling convention 10 revise our stale con
sti:uon.
n, 7csoircd, That 'c foregoing proceedings he pub
l. shed in the wheeling Gazette.
.e Signed
ii WEI. WEBB Chairman.
n, ISAAC LEFFLER, Stc>y.
-~a19-
2. NORFOLK. april 20.