Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-07-06
COMMUNICATED.

| AT large and respectable meeting OF the citi-
zens OF Nelson County, on Monday the 25th day
OF June, 1t being the day OF The monthly Court for
SAID County, itwas resolved to take ia'o coaside-
ration the extraordinary and unaccolBtable d.sre-
gard of The last Legislature to the will of the
q SHORTY of The community on the subiec. Of the
cen OF Convention TO amend the Cons tuition Of
! virginia" NFhes Iotn L. Harfis being called 70
The Char, and Captain John Is. Coles appointed
secretary, the following preamble and resuluii ns
submitted BY Captain Henry Rives, aud by him
enforced in and pertinent public address
Were adopted.
This meeting hold these propositions TO be self
evident and iuconuovertibie, that the people are
the only legitimate source Of political power
Thai government is but emanation from their
sovereignty that they, by consequence, ought TO
be, and surely are, capable of managing their own
governmental concerns, and that the same SO
NereiSn pow or, resident in The {" majority of the
community" which originally framed and created
this constitution, has the indubilabe unbelievable
and indeieasibie right TO reform, alter, or abolish II
IN such manner as shall be judged most conducive
TO the public weal-that that government is hest
which is most eifscually secured against the dan
ger OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.; that all government
Il, or ought 10 be, instituted for the common
benefit; finally, that according to every cor
rect theory, and the approved precelepts
furnished In the history of political science,
representation should be spportioned TO DopuIa
|
inseparably united: yet, in the face of these in
eontIoverbie doctrines which do form in theory.
though not m practice, the solid basis of our poli
Cal IstIiui rs; in the midst of our sister States
oil the Unl n whose constitutions recognise and
adopt these fundamental principles; even in this
land OF fair science and Liberty, proudly and so
pre- eminenly distinguished by brilliant conseIla
ton OF political luminarles-'' burning and shining
lights" OF the age and country in which they INV e:
are we' Notwithstanding, with pity and hamIlIa-
| ton, constrained TO behold the melancholy and
mortIlying spectacle of frame OF consti.u,ion,I
poiiIy, negligenly and hastily planned and devils.
ed amid the '' din of arms adopted al 6rst
through necessity, and designed by its patrons 10
be merely temporary, but if The will OF our Iords
and masters, those clothed with little
bnei authority" MILO composed out last legislature
is constantly TO pTeval,) TO behold, we say. this
eons'Lu Iion thus hastily and mperectly SIX etched
TO he now permanently imposed on our ." snct.n,
aud once renowned Domhion'' by the iuaexible
mandate and high behesl Of the powers that he
unless the people, by such acts OF usurg ,tioa aad
" pretended legislation" deeming (as they Justly
may the snrisi compact 10 be dissolved shall ris,
" en- nasse" in the majesty Of their strength and
take INTO their own consideration, without reIest-
ing or awaiting legislative interpretation, the ne
cessity OF amending their form OF government in
the opinion of this Ueeling, obviously defective In
tue most essential attributes of &c constitution
LIST Wherefore, Resolved, That the necessity Of
earnestly enjoiued the people Ia The sacred char
Ter OIL our lights, with vie of seeking AMI adout
ing Their own remedy tor al diseases of the body
Poiiic, now resolves itself mo mere question OF
e@psdiency, more especially since the reyoltins
mode OF legi-stion lately nlfoduc ed OF suppessine
TIE voice Oh the people on one OF the mosi inf or
taht add delicate subjects that has for ages sgtste
the pubic mind course Of legislation, 10 the de
iberdte, calm, AND GlspassOns' Judgment Of this
meeting, pecO'iarly fitted oily 10 tbe meridian OF
tyranny snd de.potism.
Ind Resolved, That il is Tie right Of the peotIs
10 petition their Legislature Tor redress Of all
grievances, aad 10 be heard upon the subject Of those
grievances, that j., TO be sGJfdcd slf4egisiatiye
iseIes that may be necessary for the full and fsif
development OF their sentiments ss 20 the question
whe'hef tie actual operation Of tbo4e grievances
does J1siIiy OF demand change Of their fundamental
l'Nsf i. being emphatieGHy question 81 righ,
aud expectancy, IN which they aiOae a. deeply IN
lerested
/ I'D Resolved, That this meeting has witnessed
twiib emotions Cf regret, IN no slight DEGREE mia
gied also with sentiments OF tie deepest indigas-
uon snd most marked abb rrsnce) The rejection Oh
a bill, % 'he lsrt legislature, for submitting III,
quesiiod Of Convention to the test Of public o.
pinicn, ~ implying wsni ol respect for The PEG
lle, belle! OF tnes " csrabiny Of self GOV.
ernmeni,Y and that IL WAS intended TO destroy IL
smDfyp, mss,ufs~ called Tor, IL not by ma jo-
ny, by Respectable minority, Of the comn,anis.