Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-01

defectiye in the essential ingredients o. Tree
Constitution, not being based on an equal repre-
senta,ion of the people, and excluding HON all
participation in the formation Of the lawsby which
they are governed, a large portion of the res |
ponsbi. citizens an ordinance thus materially |
defective in its provisions, enacted by an assem-
bly, not specially delegated tor that purpose, but
chosen, and invested merely with l'gisiHue
powers, before an idea Of the independence OF
these states had been matured- an ordnance
which was the offspring Of necessity, designed by
its trainers, to be temporary and Tor particular
crisis never submitted 10 the consideration OF
the people, nor obtained their direct sanction, but
is Indebted for its continuance solely 10 their &C
! quiescerce- their pbedr0nce has nevertheless
! been prot,acted more than hall century, when
the exisency which called It into being had passed
away.
J During a considerable portion of this time of
mi-r,le, ,ie citizens have pe,itioned for redress
of grievances, but like the former application OF
the colonies 10 the mother country, their petitions
have been rejected, and the justice OF their claims
set a, nought by minority who, from the Inc
! quality of representation hold the power OF the
| state in defiance Of every principle OF political
Iectltude or tree government.
Year after year, has the question OF providing by
law, for taking the OF the eiec.ors upon the
| call Of a convention, been tried in the House OF
Delegates, snd periinaciousIy negatived by small
! aj1rity Of members representing tbs minority OF
| the white population.
! When such repeated importuai,ies FOR redress
! are answered by many determined rcfusals-
| When the expressed will Of 37l GOO, is defeated
by the representatives of 22O, 900 Resolved, by
the Ci'izens OF Ohio couny now assembled, that
, such acts uf msl-administration and - pretended
! legislation, Ike defining the character OF
tyranny, have produced state OF things, which,
! according to the principles OF our Revolution
! :. dssolves the social compact restores TO the
! DeOulr the IIJut OF to rrlucl ples,
and seeking their remedy, and consequently
rem lefs the prosecution OF such a cour-e, or he
! contrary, mere consideration of expedienry.
! Resolved That, although, the FEDERAL Cons;itu
ton guarantees to every state in the union repub
lican form of government, yet Virginia is under
the dominion of olisarchy, whose misrue, if il
has actually Impoverished and depopula,ed the
territory, has certainly retarde,! It's growth in
wealth and population TO an alarming degree, and
reduced it from the proud pre- -emincnce OF tiysi
10 t1wrth rate state in the confedetacy.
Resolved, That thu meeting approve OF the
pirit OF their fellow citizens of Rock,ng ham III
denouncing the oil g,rc!y which iniquously with.
holds the power from TIE people; but believe ii
would be premature at the present elections 10
chaose delrg 10 convention revise the
constitution, the want OF, time for genera
arrangement, might enbarrass rather than pro
mote the object view But thev s,ernuously
ecommend the votes in the counties favora.
OF delegates 10 the legislature, TO -elect oi
3 talents whose sentiment, are suown be f.ienj :
20 the call
Resolved, That they accord with their fellow
citizens OF Frederick, in their de- Ell mnation to
ask anu demand for the last time, that facilities
be offered by law, Tor assembling Of full and free
convention OF the good people of this coinmon-
wealth, with a view the e.tab>h;n-nt of a rep
resenta,ive democracy the ruins of the obllgar-
! chic tyranny which now prevails.
Resolved, That the sen-e ni the electors OF OHIO
county BE again taken this election, on ihe
PROPHECY OF calling convention to revise our
state Constitution.
WILLIAM WEBB, Chairman.
Isaac LIFgLEK, Secretary.
CHARLEsToT, April AT meeting Of
. number OF tine citizens of Kanawha county, con
vened by pubic notice at the Court-hous-, OF
Wednesday the 4th of April, 1897, for the pur-
pose of raking into consideration &c the expedien
! cy Of calling Conv ention, revise md amend
the Consultation of Virginia." JosEpH L. Fry,
Esq. caleb TO the Chair, and CiIALEs r.
BALDWIN appointed Secretary.
The object ot The IN Getting having been explain
ei by the chair, the following Preamble and re-
solutions proposed and Unanimous a
dopteI:
/ Whereas it is declared in the Bill of Rishs OF
Virginia, that .. OF all she various modes and
bic OF producing the greatest degree of hap
pnesS and safety, an IL most eiFsctuaily secured
against tie danger OF mai admnstT alton; and that
when any government shall be found inadequate
: or contrary 10 these purposes, majority of tie
community hath indubitabe, uns!iensble, ant
indsieasabie right, to reform, ai;er, abolish it
ia such manner shall be judgei most conducive
to the pub ic " eai;' and whereas the only "a is
e factory mode Of ascertanIng, whether govern
nien Is Inadequate or contrary TO the purposes 10
4 which 1t Instituted, Is, by referring the cues
ton directly TO the people for lhe determination
/ Therefore
1 i}esoired. That this meeting has Witnessed v;i,l
n regret, the late rejection, by the House o. Dele
; gates o.! Virginia, OF Bill, allowing tie people
of this Commonwealth, 10 express their opinions
: upon the expectancy OF calling Couv enton L
, amend Stale Constitution; and that, in il
opinion, such rejection act of dsIespect Il
, the people, that it manifested belief that the,
L are incapable OF protecting Their own interests
n aud OF governing themselves; and Iha; il wa4 in
# tended to sI,lle inquiry, and TO destroy in embryo
a measure, called for by The wishes, # not by III
Is necessities, OF large majority OF the good peopl
n Of this comtnonwe,th.
IL ReSoired, That, without expressing any opin
n ion upon the eypediency Of a Convention, mas
T. much as large and highly respectable portion o
e our fellow Citizens have declared themselves dis
- satisfied with the present Constitution, and be
y i.sye. that, by wise and judlcious amendinen
u tbe.eot the rights and liberties of the peopIe vii
be moe eiiecuIlly secured and he great and peI
II nanent interests OF the State essentially pro+noted
it ~ The OpinOn OF this meeting, that iacilite
ought 10 Dc afforded. Ey law for taking the seas
Of Tie people upon this important question, sn,
, =