Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-03-06
atariaue.



question Of constitutional reform before
the people os the commonwealth. Van.
pushed, in the house of delegates, in
1895, with a majority of ninety hOUs
and Of the population of the state in
your ranks-vanquished again in 1926
with majority on your side of one hun
dred and fty thousand, you still refrain
ed from violent aud re evolutionary meas
ures, perceiving that the quiet but ire
sislible march of public opinion was ra-
pidly preparing the way for your final
triumph. The victory has been at length
achieved, Notwithstanding the political
" rotten and corrupt composition of the
house of delegates, by bringing to bear
on the great question a majority OF al
most two hundred and forty thousand, in
q total population of scarcely more than
six hundred thousand The representa-
tives oi 402 SCI citizens voted ON the
I4th December, 1877, for the bill soon
corning 4 convention while its oppo-
nents represented l64,l43 only See
table at the end
THIS is doubtless most glorious and
animating victory, Butt may still prove
barren one, unless it is followed up
BIZ continued efforts. Eleven years a
%, during the session Of lSl6-l7, re-
vision of tue constitution seemed almost
within your grasp. A bill for taking
tne sense of ihe people had passed the
house Of delegates; and if you had fol-
lowed up your success by continued
exertion you would long since have
wrested the government from the hands
OF an usurping minority. But in an evil
hour YOU listened to proposals for com
promise, and accepted an equalization
OF representation in the senate, when
you might, bv little perseverance,
have effected thorough reform in eve
ry department of the government
Then, as if all had been gained, you
sunk into profound repose. The rum
Gus practical effects of the imperfect
and unequal represe of the peo-
pie, in the house Of delegates, had not
then developed themselves SO fully as
since, Evils vera felt, but they were
not traced to their causes. You loved
ease and tranquility, and you trusted to
time and chance, the gods whom the
sluggard worships.t to carry you through.
Thus for eight years did you doze over
your violated rights, and hope for bet
ter things. During those eight years the
biightiDg misruIe of the lowIand govern
meni had produced the most fatal eff
fleets on the prosperity of the state. Du-
ring those eight years New York and
Pennsy lvania bad overtakpn and passed
and distanced Virginia in the race oil
greatness. At the end of those eight
years the commonwealth exhibited the
plainest symptoms of premature decay,
while her sister states, with few excep-
tons, were prosperous and happy.
Then, indeed, you awolxe. Then in
deed you opened your eyes TO the great
truth. that nothing but constitutional re-
form and an entire change in the character
and spirn Of the government, could saue
The commonwealth from impending ruin
After three years of persevering exer-
ton, you have succeeded in bringing
the great question of reform before the
people. by the intervention of the exis
ting government, and without encoun-
tering the dangers and turmoil of re-
volutionary movement. Now is the
time to follow up the advantage you
have gained. The day rapidly approach
es when the sense of the people is to be
taken at the polls IF you remit your
efforts, the bright day of liberty which
has just dawned may be fearfuliy ever
cast, and may yet close in the darkness
that is without hope. would not dis.
turb your imaginations with vain fore
bodlngs. But warn you that if, as on
the former occasion, you sink into re-
pose on this great question, ycu may
yet be defeated, and may entail disftan
chisement on your posterity. Yes--de-
feated even by the weak minority Ihave
named.
1.-TWO thirds of the friends of reform
stay away from the polls, because VIC
tory is certain, and four fiihs, or some.
what more, of the supporters Of existing
misrule, stimulated, as they doubtless
will be, by the danger of the crisis, and
by the impending LOGS of power, attend
and give their votes, the question will
be carried against assembling conven-
ton Then will the toll and anxiety OF
years have been thrown away. Our lips