Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-27

tiey eonsisI tic rejection of proposition sn
removable in it's character, coming as 81 did, from
at Iess, a respectable minority. If not majority
Of the free white inhabitants of the commonwealth,
calculated to excite snd spread di-conen, thu oush
out the land to produce in,rsine feuds to slie-
nate the affection. of the People. and induce them
TO render a less ready obedience to the law.
IL IL a fundamental maxim i, Republican
Government ths, the will OF the majority shall
govern yet under the change oil circumstances,
| which has taken place since the formation of our
constitution see this sound maxim grossly vi
oi,,ed i, the fact, that man in the County of
| Warwick has a. much inference IN the Governs
ment a fifteen in the County of Augusta aud
the late vote in the House Of Delegates, on the
bill above referred TO, proves incon'e-'ab'y the
| fact, tina; the Government o. Virginia - actually
| in the hands OF a minority of the People thus;
the Dal-g tie. who voted in f'vor of that bill re-
pres ed in thai body go, 00o upwards OF the
Tree white inhabitants OF the state while those
who voted against it, represented but 220 900; <
| ye, the bill was rejected.
| The Legislature, in according TO the People
this reasonable request, cannot be considered az
departing from their Legitimate iuncuons.- Other
Legislatures. equal in wisdom and devotion to
| the public good, have left them an example, an
example which would have authorized them TO 20
much a,ther than they asked TO CO. How
wa The convention called, which formed our pre-
was The convention called which framed our pre-
sent Federal Consiitu ion = constitution which
made the most important changes in the rights OF
the States aud People. By Legislative a"ts and
! resolutions! / these instances, the People We're
not even called upon to cay. whether there should
be convention not; but convention was
had, amendments to the constitution proposed in
the iaf,er instance, and he People left TO say,
| whe her they would adop, them not. But
the present Cons'i u,,cn of Virginia WAS never
submitted the People to say whether iley
would 20 approve it.
Ii whatever light tbis subject il viewed, il u
COM .iyed by This meeting, that the dictates OF
Policy second the claims of Justice, demand
ing the Legislature that thee should lie fur
the delay, In according to the friends al reform,
Leg;ss,ve facilities for asrertanirg the will OF
the People, on suffice, which affects 80 essen-
tally their rights fre-men and perinacions
adherence on the part OF the Legislature TO the
refusal OF reasonable request will, il Is fear
ed, produce in Virs state 81 things which e
very wi e, pruisn', and vir,uous man, must de-
plore.
: That there ere defects in our Constitution ha.
been admitted by ell and this meeting without
e,ni - il ece,.ary 10 enter into DEAL OF ats
de eci-, hesitate not, nevertheless ts declare:
l. That the inequality OF representation in he
IA. OF Delegates IL u its.! gross violation OF
our political right, AID operates so iniurionsiy TO
us, = TO demand rerison and am endmeat oil the
Constitution, - a. TO spportIon the members &C
Coz ding to tho free white lopu!s'ion Of ,h- state.
z. That the representation in the House of Dele
gates is too nu'. erous; and As consequence, The
expense thereof unnecessarily great, burdensome
and oppressive upon the People that a redur-
ton of the members would facilitate business,
prodrc- wiser legislation. & lesseu very much the
iexpense- OF Government.
3 Tba, from the change of circumstances
since our Constr ution was Termed. the Executive
Councii, have becom. useless branch OF the
Government and lie der correspondent bene-
iii for the expense they are ~ the People.
L. That the Judiciary system ought TO be fixed
By the constitution on more permanent; ba-is--
To ensure The stability Of courts he in
dependence OF our Judges, - while the SAM
time i; secures the sure an! speedy administration
Of Justice to the people OF every part OF the state.
That these, with perhaps other amendments to
tie Consiitu ioG must, ere long, be rade, If re-
gard be had the rights of the Majority If res
/ pect be paid to the Cardinal principles OF Repu5-
Ijcan policy, If ve would preserve the tranquility
of the state, must be admitted by all, who have
otserv ed The march Of public opinion.
This, we look upon a. a peculiarly appropri-
ate time The sion. We al peace wi II
the world and through the goot!ness ot Provi
denca, et biest with some OF the Palri-
archs of the revolution some of the wise.t and
best OF the last age men who from youth
TO ,id age, have devoted their time and talents 10
the gooi OF their Country. Madison, Marshall
Monroe, and some few Others yet live, with
hears interrupted, with faculties uniinpaired
shedding Iusire around them, ike that of the
yenins Gun Let then not delay, hut before
they depart, give ths,r opportunity TO render
another, gre t end Las service 10 their native
State and posterity, by framing in conjunction
with some of the wise men OF the present age, a
tConstiir;ion worthy of the land which gave
them birth.
Impressed with these niments. and enter
tanning as We do, sincere desire TO preserve the
honor, perretua;e The peace, and promote prospe-
rity OF the state,
RcSofCe6, That we will pcrsevcre in sur efforts
TO obtain Thy Legislative enactments. if can }
full and lair expression of the wishes Of the Pegs
pie on the question al calling Convention.
! Resoiped, That the Senator from this District,
ard the Delegates from this county, in the n-x,
General Assembly, he requested 10 convey these,
| our wishes, 10 the General Assembly, and 20 use
their best EXERT ms, to procure the passage of a
law, their next session, for taking the sense OF
the people upon the question of calling Conysu-
! ton
| On motion, the meeting then adjourned.
"a MES CRAWFORD, Chairn
! TIsoNIAsJ MIcITE, Sec'ry.