Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-02-15

elected, throughout the state, expressly
in reference to their opinions on this
deeply interesting subject They all
went to Richmond, tacitly, or expressly
instructed to vote for or against the bill
for taking the sense of the people on
the convention question. The vote was
taken. and it was found that about
$1,000 citizens were in favor of the bill,
aud about 40, 900 againstit. But these
100000 citizens were represented by
l07 votes, and the 81, o00 by oniy los.
The bill was therefore lost, and the
will Of the majority of the people disre
garded. Then at least, it was The duty
ofthe legislative majority to consider
the bill aud pass it, because they then
knew, beyond all dispute, that there
was majority of $50 thousand citizens
of Virginia in favour of ITS passage But
no one in the lO7 was found sufficiently
true to the PRINCIPLES o the government to
make such potion.
The rejection of that bill was an open
defiance of the known and expressed
will Of the people was a violation of
the principle declared in the bill Of rights
"that mai oritv Of the people has an
indubrtable, unalienable and indefeasi-
bic right to reform. alter or abolish the
government" the ajority said, by their
representatives, I'VE wish the prepa
ratory step to be taken, towards reform
ing ourgaveFnmeni.o The miaoruy, by
Their repfes, natives, said to them, mo
ep shaH be taken towards reforming
tins government We are satisfied with
it in its present shape. We hare the
power, aud we will keep it. We haue lie
We'd taxes on the whole people, without
knowing or caring whether they appro-
we'd Of them or not, and a0s Oiu contnue
10 lery dsc,n."
In l776 you declared that the social
compact was dissolved, and society re-
solvedinto its original elements. by the
assumption by the king and parliament
of Great Britain Of the fowhrto tax you
without your consent. After the lapse
of fifty years the case ofhe recotuaoa has
again occurred The power to tax you
without your consent, long exercised by
the existing government, is now claimed
as a matter + righ,, and your renon-
strances against its exercise are treated,
as they we're in 70, with profound con-
tempt.
Ii this be not tyranny and an usnr-
patton. terms have lost their meaning.
Yes, fellow citizens OF the majority, you
have right TO consider the social COM
pact dissolved, and yourselves released,
by the very principles on which your
government is founded, from allegian @
TO the government dc Jacfo at Rich
mond.
In this new and momentous state of
our affairs, the important question must
be met and decided, whether Toe the ma.
jointly shall proceed, at once, to form
nav government, wholly disreg arding
the established ''ieg innate souernmsni"
at Richmond, or war until the slow but
certain march Of public opinion shall
thin the ranks Of its partisans and sup
porters, and leave it without the SEM
blance of legality.
| am aware that large portion ofthe
ma ority ara so heartily sick Of the mis-
rule of the existing government, az to
be IN favor of the former course. They
insist, and with much reason,
That the government OF the state is 10
the hands of men, as regardless OF the
wishes and wants and interests, as they
are Of the liberties of the people; OF men
who refuse TO redress the most oppres
sive grievances. on the most q msy and
ridiculous pretexts; who refuse, for
example. TO provide by law TOR the
appoin ment of judges in place OF those
disabled by the visitation OF Providence
from dischsrglng their duties, on the
pretence that the constitution of the
state will not permit the enactment of
law so essential to the welfare of large
portions of the community who are,
neverthe less, guilty oftbe miserable in
consistency of refusing to Ike any step
amending that constitution.
That these n are necessarily and
incurably ignr can't of the interests and
of the physical wants and necessities, of
a large portion of tie commonwealth.
That they are wh'lly incapable of con-
ceiving or executing any of those great
and noble plans of improvement, by
which the age is distinguished
That want OF practical good sense
is shown in all their movements.
That he mo rnoStar