Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-03-15

nErrlso AT rH1 eAptroL.

the passage Of law To take the serse Of the
people on the sue ect OF Convention, this DAY
convened at the Capitol pursuant to adjourn
uient on Tuesday last The former Chairman
and Secretary not being present, EDwAaD
CoLsTcS. Esq. Of Berkeley, was on motion OF
Mr.. NIiiiaps, called to the Char, and On mo-
ton OF the same gentleman, MIR. THOMPSON,
OF amherst, was appointed secretar, OF tie
Meeting.
Mr. RIvFs. of Campbell, from the Committee
ct Seven appointed by the former Meeting to
take the subject OF that meeting under Their
consideration and report thereupon to this
meeting, reported Preamble and Resolutions,
IN the words folio wing, viz.
The Committee, appointed at Meeting of
the friends Of the Bill submitting the question
of Convention TO 'he Freeholders, have CIV.
en- TO tie subject that calm and sober reflection
which its magnitude aud deep interests SO lust
y merit, and beg leave to Rep0rt: Constitution
Of this State, has tor years, divided the peoplel
OF the Commonwealth, and a bill to take theI
s nse OF he Freehoiders on that question, has
r several successive sessions, nearly equally,
divided the Legislature We CONSTITUTE part,
OF the minority, VINO. at the present session,
supported a similar bill, lost IN the House Of
Delegates BY only tour votes. So eqIal d.
VISION, after the question had been agitated for
years would d itself indicate nearly eusal
divts.cn Ut the people, but when we reflect,
iha, the House OF Delegates il COMPOSED OF an
equal representation from Counties vastly une.
quail IN population and wealth AND that the small
Counties almost universally oppoAed whist The
large counties generally supported the bill il
h comes certain, that majority OF the Free
hold-fS OF the State, speaking through their
Representatives.. approved lis passage. The
extent Of this majority cannot he ascertained
wth precision, but this We sftirm, that the
counties whose Representatives supported, ex.
coed in whte population those which opposed
he bill BY 1900 o souls thus eroes. being a.
bout one fourth Of the white population of the
entire State.
The object ofthat bill and the wishes OF its
tTierds, msy cot be fairly understood. We
seek to explsn them. The bill did not pro.
pose to call a Conve 'uon.- but simply to sub
mi this important qn $ on to he F,eeholders,
for the express on OF tier will ~ their sever.
elgn capacity And as it sought nothing more
than to sscertaln their will; BY requiring the
sherifis to take their votes, we ask, on what
Proands car ats rejection be justified In this
Republic, none viii deny the righI of major.
ty TO "refoFtn, alter ABOLISH the pi espnt and
establish another Constitution nor witt any one
question either the right or capacity II the reo.
J. to judge for themselves on any and all their
political INSTITUTIONS.
All know how deeply this subject interests and
ag stes large portions ofthe peorie. and the
nearly equal d.Tision Of the Legislature. a, d
The proros'tCn OF population represented by
the majority and the mnorit, on he late vote,
shev most clearly, thst this question can never
be settled, except by 8 Vote Of the people.
Can the friends ola Convention, clsimng to be
m .'orl'y in the stare supported BY judgment
lpFs nv nsat ftaAa s4zaIk .,. Al
thai vote shelving more strongly the necess
Of chlnge, be expected at once to desist from
their object We have witnessed the bsnefuI
influence OF the agitation of this question on
the public interests, the waste al time and mol
Hey occasioned by its d sc,ssion and the hitter 4
ness offeeliag eng .ndered here and among thej
people, We d-prec. the continuance snd
increase ot these evils. We kn0uy no gsned.j
6ntits anbm'esion 10 the b~oble Should he n j
JortA decide tor the cali of COnventioa M
ore would deny their right; nor should gnv one
attempt 10 prevent The ex. rcssion OF the will
for. to withhold the means necessary to tn.
beneficial Ard satisf Glory exercise of right
IS to withhold the right itself Should he ma
Jority decide against the cali OF a Convention, it
WI become the dnty Ct ali good citizens cheer
fully to acquiesce.
1t NAV be -xpected Of YOUR COMMITTEE 30
delling and amending the Const tuition is SOUGHT
by tie friends ct sConrertlup. But the pro-
. prey of submitting this question to the deci
s n Of he people, With their right to decide i,
IS one thing snd the policy and wisdom Of a.
, mendme"'s, smother The questions IRE seoa.
rate ard dlstlnc'. and the Committee would 10,
: lose sign of their distinction Nevertheless
, they submit the Views ofoue of the numerou,
and acknowledged Inequalities and DE- tects of
, the present Constitution:
fhe trends q Convention do rot denreci
, ate the merits OF Constitution formed N ,ht.
proudest days fthe Republic, ard under which
they have eGjoyed he blessings of personal Ii.
berry and security 0fproperty, But The, bear
m nnd. that il was formed att time less of
, delbersiion thsn of ac,ion---wten our fathers
were too-much engas I'd in conflicts with 4 for.
! eign government for political iude pc ndeuce, TO
ADJUST Very nicely their political institutions at
nome when the enemy were on the very
esbcld--when II was found easier to a1on,
eK's;iug institutions. although unequal and de
fecuVe, than firm neN ones--nor aye they rn
spprised, that the lapse Of more than h.lfs cen.
fury has produced vast changes in our Cons,,.
tu'ion--and that he present generation have
the experience OF Virginia, and cf her sister
States. 10 enhghten their lsbours in revising and
amending the wo,k ks OF their ''wse and virtu.
ssous, but experienced" fathers. They cEH0wf->
edge themselves unspeakably indebted to those
great men for establishing opinions which rem
der the following political principles mere Ak
IONS "The people are capable of self govern.
fhent' The majority have an urgues ionabIe
rr l.s . g.. IL