Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-25
CoAmHE UMIcA-1oM.
TO nie + OITORS Of fhc -EN,oI5IRE

\ PycSsdSg.-
.'"' contest IS neatly at cnd--I rejoice, first
because trust party spirit, which, (hy the discus
SION OF That all engfossing suhiect has been
wrought TO its highest pitch, will, now be aliayeJ;
'u' seGohty, because IL viii enable the good peo-
lp'e oil rsinia 10 direct their attention TO a sub
Ject nearer home, and one that more i,n
concerns them. need hardly remark, that thu,
SUBJECT Is the proposed Convention TO re no,el the
state Constitution.
II is known to the people of Virginia, tina, some
OF the wisest aud best Patriots of our Land at
very carly period after the formation of og present
tons'itution discovered dcccts in that Instrument
and suggested certain amendments 10 the people.
Amongst this number will be- found the imunor.
tai Jefferson, whose voice (tio his mortal remains
have been signed TO the tobs his fore .iathers)
S echoes ro its native state IS points its citizens
to their true interest Time after time have at
temps been made to have the subject of Reform
directly before tlie Pccpe-Ieg isature after Le-
gisiature have been urged TO adopt some measure
by which Fair expression of popular opinion might
DC had on this important subject, urged, not from
belief that the right Of Reform was in that body
but because, selected as its members arc from all
parts OF the State, il believed, that any plan
suggested by them TO ascertain the will of the
/ people, would he likely TO be acted t.pcn
throughout the Commonwealth, than any other
mode which could be adopted. After some years
| oil useless importantly the Legislature, actuated
either 10y the dict a;es of their own Judgments or
goaded on by (what think more probable y public
Inauguration, at its lastsession, passed act, bv
I
should be LARRY asccrtaned, upon the subject OF
an alteration In our State Constitution.
| me SUBJECT has, accordingly, been fairly pre-
scented 70 the people, and the issue made UP;
loily OF some or 5000 have settled the question
IN favor OF Reform. That majority of the people
composing i Commonwealth like ours, havca righ,
az all times, and ON all occasions, to alter or reform
Incir Government, l hope but few viii deny
but should thero be ay individual among us, so
welded 10 ariStocracy TO deny that the right OF
REFORM appertains 10 the great body OF tine peope
oil virginia, permit TO call their attention 70 the
writings oil an individual, whose gigantic mind,
Stern and Underwriting republican principles, and
able vintcaticn Of the Rights of Man iustiy en-
Atie his assertions to crca, weight ails!c to
homas Prime. AItho' by birth an Eng,ishinan
lie arrivedin this Country about the co,nmcn nee
inent OF The War O! the Rex ouou, fearcssly en-
listed on the side of the oppressed; exposed the
IRON poicyo OF the Mother Country towards her A.
tefican Colonies; inspired, by his writings the
hrne rioan people with the love of liberty; united
by his GnanswerabIc arguments, the ,lisafie cte a.
ihonsst us, ana thereby prepared the minds OF our
ioreiatners 10 enlist under their great chieliain
i Gen; w ashinston,in the glorious achievement OF
our Independence.
Fhine lays II down as axiom, that there nevey
aid there never will, and there never can exist
fafaInent OF any desert pton of men, or any gen
eta'ion OF men, IN any country, possessed OF the
ilsht or tie power OF binding or confronting nos
serily, 10 the end OF Time. Further" every
age ana generation must be as free 60 act for i.sel
ia all cases, rs tie ages nr, generations which
preceded it'--and again. The circumstances of
the World are continually changing, and the orn-
ians Oh men change also; and as Governnen; is log
tie living and not for the dead il is the fiyiur only
that have. any right in it. That which may be
thought right AMI tounI convenient IL, one ave
may be thought wrong, and found inconvcnien,i IA
ahoiheT In such cases, who is TO decide tie liy-
| ing or the dcad;'
| Now, if these opinions are true as relates IN co
verninents generally, they are unbeatable ~ APP
phed 70 me American Government, based as il Is
upon the puresi republican principles
ne people OF the state, cctiiig up 10 these inn
I,ressions, have saiby large majority las :.pucars
from the Goverpor's Procamaticnl that thc Con-
siitu'ion OF Virginia is defective, and tltey cal, T.
| loud for Reform
| But, says writer in The ENQUIRER over The sr-
nature OF Virgnus, alt!io' from the ret,,rps IN q
friends OF Reform out-nunber its enemies We
claim majority; ioT It is but sheer Justice that all
the ifeehoder-, who have not voted at all OF, the
| subject Of Convention should be considered NJ.
opposcdto that measure. Tho alis,rrtity of a
doctrine like this isioo apparent 10 REQUIRE rch,
ti'ion. derry fitgirius opinion, 10 ti,,. contrary
| Notwithstanding, tina, the friends of a Convention
were more Jealous and active at the last Spring
ieicclions, than were its enemies. believe (aud 1
an borne out in this opinion by the votes given At
NAY and June Courts) tina, the relative urouor,ien
was well preserved by both PARTIES that ifaIl
me votes had been taken in the State, the MAORI
" In favor OF Convention would be greatly III
ceased But, admit for moment, that this ouit,
hon Is erroneous, Who is 10 blame, that every free
holder in The State, did not record his vote for ar
( against the measure, in the course of The last
Spring?
| Il was The hounden duty o! every good citizen
VINO thought the attempt At reformation sra,igii,
WIN danger, boldly to record his vote against i.
oht! believe, that most who dd couscien,iousIy
lear injury, did so; and, consequently that a yery
large portion OF those who did not vote OF the sub
llcct, were so uke-warn, as to be willing for Oil,
! erF, whose opinions were more decided, 10 settle
| The Question for them.
| .i3enyins t5e night Of The Legislature 10 ned,llc
WIN ne subject of Convention at NIL yirei,i,,.
MINIS =" mat That body siouh at feast have made
rome provision, whereby whole ans! not a part
| Of the iFecholiiers might I've beard UPON that inn
portant subject" No individual, not even lie ! O.
sisiiurc itself, could have devised a better pltn
icT lirIy ascertaining The sense of the reorIa Than
thc one adopted. 1t was not hurried on then, as
'irgin'us thinks, but tie Convention Poll yas
Kept open for months; during which fine. cver,.
person disposed might, and | have no doubt JiI
yctc-and those wlo did not Go So consider as
having To- teiied all right at complaint
." the representatives. FROM Lower Virginia
this writer SAYS Let representation iy Counties
he INC polar 7ier 10 geycu y0uf course, and view
/ With jealous eye. any a',rrort 10 yyfcst r,n,,
your hands tbst WISE feature Of our (:oveg,,net y,
his advice, besa ~iot TO say, is ~ exceptiona.
be TO tie great bulk OF tie people Of Vrgita. AZ
u must be offensive 20 that portion of the Iegisl,
lure to whom IL IS addressed. Tho incc,,aiifv of
representation, is one Of the pf-rcipa defects in
our state Constitution; and verify believe itrc.
presentation were now regulated accordi,,, ~ rar
ulaton, a majority woud 10, be found on Tho eide
o. NcioIn There being d majority OF Cyupfies
opposed 10 an alteration OF the Constitution. nltho
large IoojUTny Of the JTcch0idcrS arc in favor o!
~ yet THIS majority might pray 20 he cnd Of time
TOT Governmental Reform, and more could Ice had
! IL the Legislature would follow he d,;rc Of Wiz
4 @ini's trust ihat members OF The Lspisla'nre
van act with moro enlightened views--aul sn;Tet