Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-16

ney enau adopt, tnat ottacn 10 any DINER law
But in Of ordinary legislation there is limit
10 Legislative control, save only the Constitution;
under that, they are supreme within their sphere.
Their range Of action is co-exensive with the linn
its Of the Cons onwealth Their subjects as va
ried the infinitely diversified interests and
| wants Of socety-Their powers those of the whole
community. Within this sphere, no matter sl,at
injustice shall characterize their acts--what alb.
surdity disfigorc them--what impolicy distinguish
them: yet none may question their validity or stay
their resistless force. No matter whether the
law be pronounced with one voice, by the whole
Legislature, or have the sanction only of bare
majority representing the smallest minority possi-
Bile OF the people-siili must it command unlimit-
ed, universal obedience. II is the idto declared
through the constitutional organ, and appeal
lies from it.
Let US apply these general principles, applying
to all Legislation, 10 legislative action ON the case
before US. They are expected 10 prescribe the
qualification of voters and the principles that shall
enter into the organization OF the Convention
hut II Il obvious power TO do this, Is power so
10 constitute that body, as in fact to preclude from
consideration such subjects as the Legislature shall
think PROPER to withdraw from this contemplation,
and to -ordain the course they shall pursue on
such subjects as the Legislature shall he pleased
to submit to their deliberations. For no body can
be expected to act counter to the principles of It's
creation. Thus law passed by the ordinary lie.
gisature may operate to alter or modify; or, VIVA.
Is the same thing, Withdraw from alteration or
mo<ihcation, the most important principles OF the
Legislature would have the right to reform, alter
or abolish, the government OF the country; and
this might equally be done whether all concurred
in the measures they should adopt, or whether a
bare majority only should accord them their sane
ton. But this bare minority constituted as the
Legislature Is, may represent but inconsidera-
BILE minority Of the people. Hence, Il would re-
suit, that minority oil the community might re-
form, alter, or abolish the government, at pleasure
But such conclusion is contrary TO Reason, re-
pudisted by every principle of justice, andsat
with the solemn declaration OF the people Of Vir-
gnia, recorded in our Bill Of Rights.
deny, therefore, to the present General As
sembly, all right whatsoever tolegislate upon the
subject that now engages their attention. Their
true right to move at all in the matter will be
found, apprehend, to result only from the gene
raj known wish Of the community that they shall
act upon IT, The people alone possessing the power to
call Convention TO them too, belongs thee xclsivs
right of determining the principles upon which it
| should be organized They have said Conven-
ton shall be called. The exercise OF their righ,
to form plan for its organization in primitive as
semblies 10 be called for that purpose is attended
with almost insuperable difficulties They, there
fore, ask the General Assembly to suggest such a
| plan.
The principles which should govern that BODY
in discharging- this high and peculiar trust, will
form the subject of another Number
ylRGiNIENsIs.
TO THE EDITORS Of the EMO CIRER
THE CONVENTION SUBJECT.
The free tciife population Of the State the only
Just basis If representation.
In asserting this proposition, am aware that /
differ In opinion with many gentlemen Of the low
er country, for whose characters and understand
ings l have the highest respect. 1 am sure
they are as sincere and as disnterested in their
opinions, as l am confident am in mine; and,
therefore, in venturing some remarks upon this
great subject, am conscious of unkind or IL
liberal feeling towards any portion of this Com
monwea'th. l agree with the Chief Magistrate
OF the State in the sentiment contained in his late
I Message, :" hat upon subject so mo,ncntous as
an entire revision Of the fundamental laws, it is
surely desirable that its examination should be
| conducted with the most dispassiona.e impartial
and deliberate consideration, directed solely TO the
discovery OF truth and to doing justice. Under
the guidance OF such spirit, nothing but GOOD
can be expected from the proposed recurrence TO
fundamental principles; whilst evils of great mag
ntude only can be anticipated, by permitting a-
CRY passions, false pre-rossessions and local pre-
JUDGES TO be interningIed in the enquiry" Let
the question then be discussed and decided by the
light OF reason and argument alone, and Virginia,
In the present great crisis of her affairs, will at
ford other illns,rious testimonials, to those which
already belong to her history, of her superior in
teHIgence and virtue, and Of her lofty PRINCIPLES
Of patriotism. Surely there is nothing in the DO.
tcal progress of the State, from the dawn OF her
freedom 10 the present hour, which ought to divide
her in friendship, or separate her into sectional
animosities. "1he kindred blood which flows in
our veins; the mingled blood which our forefahers
shed in the cause Of sacred rights consecrate
our union and friendship, and excite horror at the
idea OF our ever becoming aliens, rivals, or enc
mics" INDUCING in the reooIections OF the
past, how many the considerations which
ought TO bind the State together by the strong
chords of affection! In the war Of our indepen-
dence, her gallant sons fought side by side in the
glorious struggle for liberty. The fame of her
renowned statesmen, orators and patriots, can ne.
yer cease to be subject Of just pride to every
citizen OF the State. The glorious deeds of her
gallant militia OF the west form of the bright
est pages Of her revolutionary story. In our
struggle for freedom, they placed upon The brow
oil the old Commonwealth some Of the brightest
laurels which she wears. Point Pleasant, Kings
Mountain, Cuiiford, the Cowpens, and Eutaw
Springs, will be remembered and celebrated 81 in
history and in song," long as there is friend of
human liberty, or an adnirer of heroe. and Of
patriots. The patriotism displayed by the western
militia, in flying TO the defence Of their eastern
brethren on the sea-board, during the late contest
with Great Britain, has never been surpassed in
any age or country. II j. imposii ls tor any man
to-. appreciate this dence Of tneir public deyo-
hon, who has no knowledge Of tho heart-rendiDg
ravages o. pestilence and disease, which these
campaigns on the sea-board produced in the upper
country They were undertaken, too by both Of
hccrs and soldiers, with full knowledge of the
ingIovous dangers they were to meet and Of the
dreadful sufferings they were 20 endure. They
were not animated with the hope, the militia in
other parts OF the Union were, when leaving their !
native homes to meet the enemies OF their coun-
try, that they would return crowned with the |
honors OF some brilliant exploit, that would be re- !
corded in history and go down to posierity. They
Knew they were to be stationed in garrisons, or !
in camps In the midst of pestilcnce, and, perhaps,
OF famine, where many Of them were to die and |
be forgotten. Yet no murmurs were heard, aud |
there was not single instance in which an at. |
tempt was made TO resist the orders Of the govern