The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-05-29
D0MH59Ics
From The Richmond Enquirer.
WRITTEN CONSTITUTIONS

the State We had no idea, that the Constitu-
ton Of Virginia was preserved in such a rough
form--and II seems strange, that while eur laws
are Inscribed on parchment, the Constitution it.
self should be sLaten on paper only, in the man
Ger ofrough biisA-The reference to the Copy
THE Federal Constitution, as adopted by Vr-
gnia shows the sense in which she took the IA
nous clause so often dscussea-that the words
"proside for the common defence and general
welfare convey no substantive power, but they
are 70 te taken in the same sense, as they were
employed in the limited Articles Of the Con
federation, from which they are literally copied,
We have no doubt, that the copies of the consti-
tuition, adopted by the othe, States, have this
clause written in the same way as that of Virgil
MIA is.
FORTHE ENQUIRER
Having examined the original copy of the
Constitution. of Virginia am enabled to an
lsUer the enquiries of 4 Friend 10 Written Con-
|fions," With regardt TO the alteration sup
p5sed 10 have been made in the thirteenth sec
ton Of that instrument. Brutus is certainly mis-
taken in surprising that the original is enrolled
On Parchment the only written copy now to be
found among the Archives of the General AS
sembly is on pa3eT, not enrolled as other Ord.
nances Of Convention we're, and as all laws Of
ordinary Legislatures have always been, exam.
ined by Committees and signed by the Speak
ers but in the manner rough bills, the same
period, were usually written, with erasures aud
Iinterlinea,lons in almost every page, and some
of these making alterations Of great impoi lance
With regard to the particular word alluded
to, there can be no doub', the appointment of
militia officers may he made by the g" Governor
with the advice OF the Prisy Council, or recon-
mendations from the respective County Courts"
the word now stands plainly or but upon a
close examination you may discover that it was
originally on, and that a part of the last letter
has been scratched out with a knife. This,
| though most important alteration, will excite
no surprize, however when yon find many 9TH
CT instances in the same instrument where both
the knife and pen have been used with much
greater freedom for instance, wherever the
words " Senate" and Senator's now occur,
the words were originally House of Senator'S
/ and members Of The House Of Senator's the orr
ginal words not having been SO entirely obliter-
ated aS TO make them illeeible. In the section
erecting the Council, aud prescribing thei, term
| of office, two entire lines are marked out with
the pen, which. ifretained, would have secured
members elected TO supply The Uacoucies occa-
HOnedby resignation, ancdpdctfy or death in the
Council from the unpleasant operation Of the
| scratch, until they had served three years, and
where elected a short time after the removal of
clause, have ensued their continuance in Office
for nearly six years. Perhaps one other in
stance ofthese changes would not be amiss in
the fourteenth section where the persons who
are disqualified from being elected members OF
either House of Assembly are enumerated a
certain gentleman of the last Legislature will
perhaps, be surpriZed TO hear that he was twice
excluded from that body, by the operation of
one of these interned clauses. The words of
the Constitution now are, These officers shall
have fixed and adequate salaries, and, together
with all others holding lucrative Offices, and all
Ministers OF the Gospel Of erery denomination
be incapable of being elected members OF either
House of Assembly or the Psivy Council;" the
words in Italics are interined and constitute
most admirable provision of that section.
The condition OF the original copy of this in.
struInent u.s. to my mind. d conclusive argnment
in confederation of Mr.. Jeiierson's idea, that the
Constitution, as thea drawn up, was only inten-
ded TO answer temporary purposes, and hence,
che reason il was not fairly enrolled and signed
by the President of the Convention. | have ex.
amned also the original copy of the ratification
of the Constitution of the u. States by the Con.
venton ofVrguia in jane, 1888, which has
these words written in the hand writing of the
President of the Convention at the end Of the
Instrument: " Done in COnUentiOa his t,0eaty-
sirih day Of June, one thousand screen hundred
and eghty-eigh By order Of the Convention,
Edn, Pendtcton President" Aud Gnd the 9Th
section OF the LIST article to be in this form and
in these words, hteratim Il punctuatim, to wit:
" The Congress shall have power
ITO lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts
and Excuses. to pay the Debts and provide for
the common defence and general welfare OF the
U. States but all Duties. Jmposts and Excuses
balI h. hp
This, therefore. is certainly the reading as a.
dopted by Virginia
Convention There is no longer rational
doubt, but that the next Legislature will pass a
bill TO take the sense of the people on calling a
Convention by a considerable majority. This
is certain-but although the bill is called bill
TO take the sense ofthe people, yet there is much
doubt whether this term people, will be con
strued as meaning any thing more than treehotd'
crS To guard against the consequences of this
construction, and to enable every free man TO
have voice in determining what the Govern
ment Of his country shall be, we exhort all male
citizens above 81 years ofage, who have the abli-
ity TO obtain freeholds, and who have them not,
to lose no tnlein getting title to fifty acres of
land unimproved, or 25 acres, with jrdne
house IL feet square on it. This is a freehold,
in the politico, Legislative sense and tits this very
important thing of so acres of land which may
be worth fire, or fire thousand dollars, (for the
uGine makes no difference which in 1928, may
give or take away, the right Of a freeman to give
his voice in the Government Of his country. In
many parts of the State, this nestimable right
may be purchased for Is shiilings-ln most
| parts of the State for $40 or Is. Let all who
can spare these small sums, be provided against
the great day, when the people of Virginia are
to say, ifthey will perpetuate the imperfectlons
of the present Constitution, or, availing them
selves of the light of experience, choose more
eligible form ofGoveanment. Rich. Wing.
INDIAN CRUELTIES.--The accuracy OF
| the narration of the most extraordinary barbara
| ties and cruel torments inflicted by the Indians
of our s,,nsfern xuiller A hoY by the naLnt