Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-01
From lie LcIci'Jurg, Grcon5,icr, Palladium.
CONVENTION.

CONVENTION
hgrecably 10 an adjournment Of meeting in Feb
uaTy, lArGe and respectable assembly convened al
the Court HOUSE IN Monday The "a. h or MARCH, 1907
Tor The purpose OF taking INTO Considerations some
reaceabe measures of ascer,an!ng the will Of the
pee lie upon the subject ola Convcn'ion.
The Honorable w n. Sinl, called 10 the cha n
and j Is. Bowlin appointed secretary
/ The committee appointed at the last meeting repor
ted the following address,, and fcsoio:lons hch wore
unanimously adopted:
IN submitting TO your consideration few remarks
upon the subject of Convention, our only TO
elicit rut-c convince you Gifts Justice possible
persuade you 10 became advocates of ts pro,ety.-
Such questions Of Tie last npo: the citi-
OF free state and shouii re discussed dspassiou
aely, and F7ilhou. onJ adiSturc scpi,try. IL the
science OF government, admit tie truth, that no
government once established should be changed llr
light and transient causes; bu, hold a. cqnar true
that all government, should he Instituted Tor the ex-
press benefit OF The goyeincd Whereby, life loc.ty and
the possession OF property should be securely g;a.a u
eet 10 each and every individual. IL Tie call Of
Convention it must not be thought, TIA; we sisI, ra-
dica change in government. No we are still 10 c;rr,
Hcpublic-to be free and independent Deonla: vet
we desire such modification will ensure greater POI
htcai equality, and secure our ust rights q. whatever
cha acicr H. may be. Oar present Constitution was
framed Intentionally for The good Of lie whole comm
rity, but n ils practical oEc, alton il is found that II
not equally benefited. Pciit:cai power also by
means OF unequal representation, is uucGray dis
trbuted that D,norik9 ,.av rule uul in ali
republics maturity should rule-our folm Of govern
inen is therefore essentially defective and the correc
tive should be applied. w may be told ila, no form
OF government is perfect; and if Constitution were
altered, it would still be detective in some one popf
True; but by the old saving choose the
least of evs-tae that which least detective Irt!:a
present Constitution he Tie least defective one TIA,
could be framed, l unben on the opposition TO
Prove II. % thu H lOwcyer, thee can be but one
opinion lor we al. certain, tiiat honest man |
Of sense, would even sag il was much les acluu 20
Prove it. Agsln it may be said, have lived under
oar Constitution for half century and enjoy red great
liberty. Again agree; and yet TO saw iliat there
fore we need no change 1T present is a complete non.
scgt,ii,Ar.
The people ocyirg:na have, in a measure lived hap
PLY and conteutedy, atU' irconycnicnces incGra-
ties and expressions Save been experienced This han
piness and cone1tuent however altogether al
ributabe 10 the Constitution. ~ first we we're bounI
together by one common interest by the purest patti
o!ism and by The love ofyirtuc. United by these from
the force Of habit alone bcy would continue with rs
Tor season and render secure. Times are row
much aitered-patrotlsm and virtue arc faiiiTr, and
who can give an assurance that the same rijtuous
course and disposition, Which formerly prevailed will
hereafter mark The conduct OF r1eD in Office No az
surance can be given; should therefore place mr.
selves III situation to meet any emergency and The
sooner Is acco npshed tie s. eater he chance of bet
teriug Co'ti6u 1t Gnay also be said that freuuent
changes are dangerous and that should profit by
the examples Of our sister States. We also rant tlis
without duplicating principles. We do not desire
frequent changes, aud Judging from The past we may
CphCuut tilCJ VIII DOt take place. II Ut
there shord be no change, why we not in our for
ner state Of vassalago' The example of our sister
states IS also an argument favour by we see
That Constitutions may be altered without epdaugny-
ing liberty. But what is Of more Importance, iIey
serve as so many 0eacoDs to of those partcu-
lar rocks points which .i;cy may have sDilt if
experience has proved tue utility Of any principle oil
fundamental law, Which they may have established and
and which have been conducive 10 their prosperity and
happiness rs people Individually and colcctyclv we
certainty have sufficient wisdom profit BY such ex-
pctiouce. On the other hard, if any principle ma,
have been iDfoducedthe tendency Of which has been
10 render them less happy, 10 subtract from the
mount II their prosperity any 10 enianycr
liberty, 1t can easily DC avoided An objection 10 IFS
cXrcdIenc' al present has been urged by saying The
people ID high state Of excitement, which pngenders
stFong and deep rooted prtdices csnDo, be safely en-
trusted witt so mOjneBiUous matter. This is an OBJ
lection Of serious character touching closely the SOW
eTeignty of the people and fear the director often
times means something differing from Che common
import Of the Expression. nigh state Of excitement
does DOT at present actually exist but the excablIiiy
Of the body petite now, cniy awaits tic renewal Of
those stimuli formerly applied by Tie opposition 70 call
= into action. From he rc'r dawn %, orr rsp,JIic