Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1828-03-29

Such, precisely, is the ground on which the
measure now about to gointo operation, for taking
the sense OF the Frecholders of this Common
wealth, has been opposed ; and it deserves the
candid consideration of every Freeman in the
community The primary question was-ShaUthc
present Constitution be committed to a Convention
TOR amendment? Agreeably to the foregoing OBJ
sefvations, the hist point to be settled, was-,cho
has the right to decide on tbs A point on which
aoudance OF contentious yerbiage has been poured
lorth out, 30 Tar as we are aware, not solitsry
gieam OF steady light, shed. Some have suppos.
ed this right to have landed property for its basis
~ to reside III the Freehoders doctrine we NAV
hereafter oestow some consideration on but will at
present assent TO; that we may at once proceed to
enquire what ought next to have been done Admit.
ting then, the government of this Commonwealth to
belong oil right to the Freelolders what was the
next step, prescribed by reason and candor To
ascertain whether the Frecholders were anouinous
or decided; and if divided, hou divided. Was
TINS measure at once resorted to- and fairly pro-
ihoied; as the plainest principles requ ed should
be unanimously done2 No! Every possible OBJ
stacie that could be collected, was thrown in its
way and that, on tie ground that its opponents
cefe opPoSea toa Convention. In other words be-
cause when the question should be put they
"ouio vote Ill the negative they did every thing
In their power to prevent the questions being put
at ALTO keep even the Freeholders ignorant of
one anothers sentiments. Is this conduct suscep-
tiDie oil any satisfactory explanation Ought it
MOI 10 create in the voters the important cues
tion now before us, suspicion that there is some
ihde'ensoio violation of the plains rules of right
cohauct, lurking in the opposition to a conven-
loh US there maniiestly was. in the opposition
to submitting the question of Convention or no
Convention to the Freeholders?
we think II does afford ground for this suspi-
cioh ana that little dispassonate rehexion only
Unrt
IT,
nat Is meant by Convention 4 Jody in
DeSfea run authority to dcUiSe and PROPOSE a
J0r@' ~ GOncrament far the Communicable. The
question on-~hich all the proceedings in such
BODY, would turn, is-0hot form of Government
ShaA De PROPOSE to our C0nstituents? And let
not the truth be lost sight of that there would be
ro ooiisa.ion whatever on them to invent new
iorin. III they thought, as some would have us
oeiievc they think, that the existing constitution
IS the nc Pt"S ultra of political wisdom; it would
ne thcir duty to recommend the continuance of
mat Inc question whether the Constitution shall
be committed to Cdnventon, and whether it shall
DC oo'oSted IN part, or an mhOic; are essentially
oihereht and the manner in which they are con-
s'an'iy conlounded by the opponents of the latter
measure, is practical admission on their part
that the former would inevitably lead to it-tbat
inc constitution which they hold up as the pat
tern oil all excellence, is incontestibly delec-
1--WE, that to put it into the hands Of Convention
and have it altered, are convertible propositions.
|. What would be the effect of Convention
TouPPosing those who have right to vote on the
continuance or alteration Of the present govern
ment to be unequally divided-the majority must
be IN favor of either the former or the latter alter
naive. LII the majority choose things 10 remain
| as they are, they ought so to remain if. on the
contrary, the majority be in favor of reform re.
form ought to take place. This, it is supposed
no one will deny And. in case of either of these
Premises would not convention lead to its ap-
ProPriate consequence? Ifthe majority be oppo-
sed 10 an alteration of the constitution. will thew
not elect convention who will return it untouch.
cd on their hands! If in favor of reform will mot
'he Dody be composed of men less welded to the
honstrous dciormltles by which that instrument
is disfigured! Ifelected by general ticket, the
entire body would partake of the character Of tho
malority-would consist either of men conclusive
ucteIhincd against touching the constitution ;
OF OF men disposed to deliberate coolly on the
s1pJec'' ana recommend that form, whether the
ola or new one, which to them should seem
pest calculated to attain its objects If elected by
uiS'fic's still the majority in the convention would
represent the majority ofthosc concerned in its
eiection. surely, every ant-reformist must be
sensible that If his party constitute the majority,
'hcy can elect convention composed ofsuch men
aS william b. Giles and Watkins Leiph-the
S'' "fooueaoi INC H3t-f01tgendHR creed, the va
ny men to whose exertons most Of Them owe the
noy horror that now possesses them against form
ne must then be conscious that, admitting this
hoy horror to be ever well founded, as Il re-
CARDS retorm; it cannot extend itself to a con-
oentton, Wlthou tbetraying belief that the ma;o
rity are IN favor of reform and therefore, that a.
grecably to every principle ofrght, reform QUILT
to take place.
among the grounds taken in the discussion
OF me Convention question, by our statu-quo
P"iliicians-whose doctrines, when siftcd to
10 Their substance, constitute n libel, alike nm
our own glorious Revolution, and every reform
,hat ever took place in human society they
nave insisted That the Right of government is
confined to the o'onerS Of tan9. Let us coIlate
his nation with a truth lately recognised and
persmptorIiy asserted by MIR John RanIoIpI.
one OF the oracies ofthe Stata.quo school, in The
debate on D'Aufsrye's ease. {" ProDertu is The
creation o. me lac. WA the lar makes DroD
eer'y' M"t IS property; and ,clat it lectures to
Ce not property, that is not property' A mani
lest fact, which, 10 the course Of the same dis
CUSTOM was adyerled TO by Mr.. p. p Barbour,
ana pronounced incontrovertiblr;' Now
now do these doctrines snuor.9 W. o. Iii