Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-05-11
GREENRRlER MEETING.

respectable assembly convened al I'M Nourt fIOase
| (of Gre snbrier eouniy) on Mond' me 20'h oi
March. 1927, for the purpose at talI.ng in'o con
sideration. some peaceabe measures OF ascertain
ing the will Of the people upon the subject oil
Conv enon.
The Honorable Wm. Smith was called to the
chair, aud J. Bown appointed secretary
Tie committee appointed a, the last meeting
reported the following address, and resolution.
which were unanimously sdop,ed:
In submitting TO your confederation few
, marks upon the subject Of Convention, our only
aim is to elicit truih-conyict you OF its justice,
! and if possible, persuade you to become sdyo-
J Gates OF It's proprctv Such questions OF the
last importance ,i:s citizens of free state, and
! should be discussed uispassionately. and without
any admixture of sophisry. In 'he SCIENCE Of
government, we admit the truth, tina, no go,
4 ment once established, should be changed fer ligh
and transient causes, but We hold equally rue
! that all government, should be Instituted tor the
express benefit OF the governed; whereby. life
liberty and he possession of property, should he
securely guaranteed 10 each and every individual
by the cali OF Convention it mus not be
, thought, that we wish adIcai change in govern
ment No, we are still to inrm a Republic-,o be
tree and independent people; yet we desire such
modification as will ensure greater political equal
ty and secure our just rights OF " hatever charac
! ter they may be. Our present Constitution
community, but in its PRACTICAL operation, il is
found that all are not eQuSlly benefited. Por-
/ cal power also, by means Of unequal representa-
ton. is so unequaiiy distributed that mi
I loyay may rule. But in all republics majority
should rua form of government is therefore
essentially defective, and the corrective IN 'ud he
! applied We may be tod that no form of 60
vernment is perfect; and ii our Constitution nefe
! altered, il would still be detective in some one
. we h- no oil
choose the leas, OF evils-,ake that which is least
detectiye. II the pre-eni Cor .ti.utio. nc leas,
detective one, that could be framed, 1T is incun-
bent on the opposition to prove it. On Ibis point,
{ however, there can be bu opinion, for we are
; very certain, that no honest man of sense would
even say it was, much less attempt 10 prove il
! Again il may be sail, we have lived under our
| Constitution for half a century and enjoyed
great liberty Again We agree; and yet TO say,
that therefore need change a. present, is
, complete non seguitUr.
The people OF Virginia have, in measure,
! lived happily and conIentedly, although incon-
veniences. inequalities and oppression have been
experienced. This happiness and contentnent are
not, however, altogether Attributable O the Con-
stitution a. hFst we were bound together by
one common interest, by the pures patriotism aud
; by the love ofviriue. Unied by ,hese, from The
force OF habit alone, they world continue with us
! Tor season and render Va secure. Times are now
: much altc1ct patriotism and virtue are falling
/ and VITO can give an assurance that the same viz
tuous course and disposition, which formerly pre-
j vailed, will Hereafter mark the conduct of men in
! office. No assurance can be given; we should
! therefore place ourselves in situation 20 meet any
emergency, and the sooner il is accomplished the
greater the chance Of bererins our CONDITION. II
may also he said, that frequent changes are DAN
gerous and that should profit by The EXAMPLES
| OF our sister states. We also grant this without
duplicating principles. We DO not desire ire
quent changes and Judging iroin the past we NAV
! conclude, they y III take place IF il be
meant that there should be no change, why are we
not in our former stale Of vassalage? The example
I of our sister states - also argument in our
favour; by it we that Constitutions NAV be
altered without endsnserinS liberty. But what is
Of more importance, they rs 90 many beacons
TO warn Of those particular rocks or poiais on
which they may have split Ii experience has proved
The utility Of any principle OF fundamental law
which they have established, and which has bean
conducive to their prosperity and happiness as a
people Individually and collectively. we certainly
have sufficient wisdom to profit by such experi.
cnce. On the other baad, If am principle may
have been infroduced-- the tendency OF which b,.
been, 10 render them less happy, or TO sub,rar,
from The amount OF their prosperity, Or IN any
manner 10 eDbanRer liberty it easily he avoid.
ed. An objection TO its eXpediency at presen, has
been urged, 10y saying The people in high state OF
excitement. which engenders strong and deep
rooted prtjudces, cannot be safely enIrus ed with
go momentous natter. This Is an oil iectio, Of
serious charscter, touching closely The soyeeieny
Of the people. and we fear the obiector often
tines something, differing from the com
mon import OF the expression. a high state of
excitement dOes not at present actually exit: but
The eYcitabllny OF The body polite now, only A.
waits the renewal OF those stimuli formerly an
piled by The opposition, 10 call it into action -
From the very dawn OF our republic, dissati,far.
ion, with the present Constitution has been ex
pressed and has been yearly increased, until the
friends of reform have become The Inote ou,e
rous portion Of the community. We have pto
ceeded with the greatest caution and nru-
dence, avoiding every thing calculated 10 prs
duce confusion, or disturb the good order and
harmony Of socety, yet we have been branded "a
fac!iou' demagoeues. designing politicians We
have hurDbiy peitioned the Legislature to Afford
US the facility OF knowing the will Of the people
on the subject, by authorizing the sherifs OF The
several counties 10 keep poll for that burmese
A s reasonable a. was our request we haze b.s,
disappointed in our expectations. By a refu,al.
aud hii not without bufIeilngs and reprosche.. -
Still we submit in meekness, choosing rather a.
orderly citizens, 10 renew our application than In
call in the passions to aid our object peaessbls
and orderly meetings have been held for the our
pose ofdeyising measures Of concert, and even ir
these, We have been ridicuIsd, which only goes 10
prove the Justices Of our cause because fdicue il
ouly resoued to, when reason fail, Wbeocs
then has arisen the feeling that does exist upon tbt
subject From what source, but from the irorY.
dent course of the opposition? many Of whom
have used any thing bat Iiberality toward, the
friends OF reform. An opposition many Of HON
are not exempt from the suspicion OF interested
motives, but hat the ephets Of reproach ybirb