Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-27
FOR THE ENQUIRER.


You have as important duties to perform, during
your present Session, have devolved upon any
preceding Legislature for many years past. In adj
dition TO the usual routine of business which you
transact, you have this Session to act upon the i'm
portant questions OF calling Convention 10 amend
our Constitution, and of Internal improvements
l presume there cannot be dissenting voice now
in your body, to the passage of law organizing a
Convention for the above purpose. No friend to
Republican Government could AFTER what has trans
pred, interposc an objection 10 such a law The
question has been ably canvassed for many W ars
10 to the proPriety OF such a measure. The argu-
guments for and against it, had been completely
exhausted. You, by a law solemnly and delibe-
ratcy enacted at your last Session, had submitted
the question, fully and fairly, to the Freehoiders
oil our State, whether or not they would have a
Convention? and they have, by an overwhelming
majority, decided in favor Of the measure. If the
question had been submitted TO others of our
Citizens, whose voice should have been heard
upon IT, who can calculate the majority by which
1t would have been carried in the Affirmative
But, the opponents Of Convention thought proper
to exclude more than one-half of the free white
male population of the State, from voice in this
important measure. They submitted it to choice
selection termed freeholders, and such was the
garing imperfectons OF the present Constitution,
that even these lords of the land have decided, by
| majority of more than 5000, that they wish
change Who then, will! dare to gansay their
wishes! VIII the members of the Legislature
who are their servants, attempt to resist them
Beware how you advance so dangerous doctrine
as this would be. Beware how you attempt 10 re
sist the popular will lest your decision should lead
to civil revolution. Assuming it then, as
position not to be doubted, that YOU will,
at your present Session, enact a law, organ
izing Convention, some great and difficult
questions grow out OF plan upon which this Con-
venton is TO be organized. OF how many mem
bcIs is the Convention TO be composed? What is
to be the principle Of Representation, Are the
Counties to be all represented by one or two mem
bers, or are we TO be represented by Congressional
or Senatorial Districts? If by the latter mode,
what will be the basis Of that Representations Are
the whole population TO be taken into the estimate,
or are we TO take the principle as established by
the Constitution Of the Us Who are 10 vote for
members to the Convention? Are all the free
white male Citizens IF the Commonwealth TO be
heard, or will this privilege lie restricted TO free
holders' All these are questions to be engured
into by you, and unless you are Influenced by
caiInness and GOODNESS in your deliberations, some
oil these questions may kinde a flame of excite
ment, calculated TO disturb the peace and quiet of
your body-sectional feelings and preiudices must
be discarded-a liberal compromise Of feelings and
Ot local interests, must be made TO promote the
general good, you will never arrive at any safe
conclusions. You will have 10 decide these ques
tons cool and dispassionate Statesmen and not
as Representatives of local and sectional jealouses
Alho' have great confidence in the virtue and
intelligence Of our Citizens and entertain no doubt
that they will select the ablest and wisest men
mongst us, as Delegates 10 this Convention; yet,
the principles which will be fixed upon by YOU in
calling the Convention, will be apt 10 inhu-
euce the members of that Convention in franz
ing new Constitution. Such principles, there
fore, ought 10 be adopted by you, as will
be calculated to remedy The great evils Of
which the people have so long complained
The inequaityof Representation the number
Of Representatives constitute two prominent objec-
tons TO the present system. II becomes you GER
taiDly to correct these evils in the plan which you
adopt OF calling the Convention; for, if this inequa.
ty OF Representation prevails in the Convention
what assurance have we that these evils are 10 be
corrected? There is still remaining amongst ma.
ny distinguished Citizens Of cur state great ven