Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-01

Dissatisfaction will, the present Constitution. las Lce.
expressed and has been yearly increased until the
friends oi reform have become the por-
ton ol the "o'nnunity. Wchnye prucorded with the
gici"s cau'inn AMI prudence, avoiding every thing
calculated 10 produce curinsiun ar disturb tie rood
order and harmony OF soc'ey, yet have been brand
Ell Us 'c"ouS deua, ~9ues, Designing politicians We
have huubly pcuIODed the Legislature 10 afford us tho
facility OF haow ing tie III the people on the s,.b>
jet, 10y authorizing ii,c sl,e:s Of The several ccun
ties 10 keep poll for that purpose As reasonable as
was oar request we have been disappointed in OK
peca'io's 10y refusal; aad ii not Is thOut buietnas
and teproaches. Sill We submit Ill ncelness chops-
ing rather as orderly citizens, 10 applca
ton than 20 call Ill The passions aid object
Pcaceah'c aud o'dc meetings have been held Tor the
pm pose o1 desisn measures OF concert, and even
these, we have been rldcUed which only goes To GROVE
The justess OF our cause; because r,dculc only
sorted to, when reason fas y hence then has
The fe"iifg that does exist upon this subject? From
what source, but from the ,nrruten, OF the OPP
position nany OF HON have used any thing but lbe
raiiS towards the friends oi reform. An opposition
'nany OF whom exempt lrct tile suspicion uf
Interested motives bot that the epitics of reproach
which they have used, rccoil upon them with fedou
Died force To tnrugn the motives Of those who wish
reform, arising from desire oftIe !oaves and fish
cs, CONES with very ii, grace from those who en-
Joy them.
After this general reasoning on the subject it NAV be
proper TO enn;ncrate some specific Why Con
venon should be called En- passa.t, viii mere ely
state there exist aclnow lodged defects the three
great departments OF government, viz: in the EN-
ecutive. Legislative and judiciary
The present revenue IS ahoUt $40 600 dollars of this
sum the support OF The Legislature absorb about
il%vUO Inc Executive Council addit iona s, 600
dollars. BY amending the Constitution, the number
OF our Delegates could be reduced. say ore n,iYt'
which would give anrn" saving Of more than 81, eco
dollars. This reduction in th Number We may fair
~ inter, would produce proportional decrease the
time OF trausaCtng the business and diminish the ex-
pense accnid 'ngi;: that is there would be another
virs Of mare than 2iQ0o These s,iins together
with !he 5000 dollars which might DC saved BY abo-
fishing The Connect! Ill amount more than 10 600
dollars, that may be annually saved Ia the state But
rec"ihct THIS only respects The support of the Lcgs-
ia;ura oad touncil-by descending 10 particulars j,
nigh &c she%D. tina; great many extrayagant ex
penGucs. could he cuitaiied, and one third Of the
whole revenue annually saved. This great annual
saving would DC OF immense utility in ihe nprov
of state If !!ic people SO wiied it. by reducing
the axes one Third it need moi be collected.
| But the greatest gievance and that which probably
causes !he most discomfort is The unequal
OF pocai power, BY means of unequal representation
Now il axiom rcnubi;canisIp that all rncn in
like circumstances should possess eana poca, r,rL
and !! cfma rights, l.: consequence, equal political
power and cqnal representation.
II Is perfectly natural and correct for all men TO
desire the possession Of any rights OF which they may be
deprived, and is libcrai in the extreme for any TO
withhold them. This unequal Representations NAV
p'oIuce serious evils and grievances because i,,;Yo
rfY Tlfe, eyempliicd in the vote Ipou the
Convention bill, in whcha majority of the white po-
pulaton by 10000, represented BY a minority of
delegates, defeated by a minority of ponnlalon
represented by majority OF delegates The ipequa-
lily yet greater, because tho land holders alone arc
represented in The house of de!egates-thc non free
holders being Cut oil from voice in the government
and consequently taxed without their consent Is il
reasonable or just that those who probably constitute a
majority OF The adult white male population OF the State
should be dc5ar.od the priv ege of voice iii choosing
those, rho are 10 make laws by which ell are 10 be
governed Does 80 acres OF mountain land ada 10 Tx.
Intelligence Gifts possessor, than gool occupa-
tons q: our state, or make him trust WORTHY -
" hat DO facts disclose? This muci, at least :ha there
are IN Virginia hundreds OF voters who indvi!ua Nv
paying tax OF from to 0 cents, are entitled To
the right OF suffrage, while many Others
large ronIed capitals, and slaves and other taxable
property, from which considerable reYanue is raised
are denied The Tilege OF exercising The right
Upon hIs feature of cur Convention paipable inus,
tee is stamped, and TO remedy it, Convention is a:-
Tisaoie; because every person who gives satisfactory
evidence of permanent residence H. and attachment
10 the state being otherwise qua Allied shCud have
voice IN rs government
Although condemn the present great INEQUALITY
o! rcprcScciaou, Dc no; expect il be made per-
tec;iy equa Tor peri clos Cove is not ta II
sbe; yet wish 1t 10 Approximate at least so near
that majority may rule. This be effected by re-
presentations according to white population, hcrcby
tie majority must have the power. Or may be done
"lt'ou destroying county representative, by permit
ling each county 10 send delegate ard also any
county having white population OF or 10000 abov G
that ci The least por0lCus county, TO send addition
al one II If be thought advisable that property shou Id
ne represented let representation be based upon tie
ratio OF white population and taxation. By taking the
county Ct tue least population with its revenue or Gre
OF The smallest revenue with lis population as the
standard and establishing the Of population
ard revenue for AN additional delegate so that the
larger and Weather counties may have more power
than at present Certainly this matter might be so
arranged, 70 throw the power into The hands of the
majority without destroying county representation and
The smaller counties would only lose that portion OF
pc'Ter Which they UDjusty hoj, while the la ger oues
would only receive that which 10 their lust due
Connected with this, there correaiive question
OF much less difficult solution, viz: 'Shall il be sub
miod TO ie sovereign people Themselves say wieti
er or not, they wsh a Convention? Every unpreiu-
diced person will at answer, il SHALT because NOT
one solid objection be urged against it,. But Ia.
inevitable 10 be TO-, our Legislature in their wisdom
have refused 10 pass law, requiring the sense Of
bic discussion and wasting of The Treasury Vhy
iLas - hcc, -ai,,-.L