Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-07-16
C0IuUNICATlON-Fo, The v,rgia,an


| Public opinion is the great tribunal to which
men in power feel mostly their responsibility
Hence every observer of the events of his own
| tunes must have seen the influence, which, in
the American national and state governments. it
has exercised, and still exercises, IN the origin
progress and contamination of laws aifr
| the public interest. Indeed. II influences and
| controls manly the acts OF most men, who are
not so lost to "A sense al their reputation as TO
brave both public 0pnon and penal sanctions
| This must necrs arlis be the state of things in
| ali ma ions "here the spver ignty is in the hands
| of the peopie. ard where they feel and know
| how TO appreciate ,hr power which they pos
| scss. II would be paradoSical, indeed that the
| sovereig0tv OF the government should be in the
| people, and tina their public servants should
moi feel the force and influence o. pubic opin.
ion. But all who contemplate The subject, see
that UGH is the case practically IN HE Ameri.
can system, however much men NAV theorze
and they further see, that, in the main, the pub
| lie generally form and maintain correct opin.
| ions upon all political subjects. The public,
| however, need information and nstru ctlon in
order TO come to correct conclusions. They
are always benefited by the investigation OF Pv.
ery subject affecting their interest or their hap
| piness, and should always be kept informed Of
every passing event through that great medium
of information and instruction. tho public
press through that medium should all lea ling
and Important sub jecs, affecting the principles
| or policy of the government, be amply discus
| sed and have no hesitation in saying that
there are no MANY subjects that affect the pm.
cple or policy of free government that can be
too deliberately investigated.
| intend these remarks as Introductory 10
few refle 'tions Upon subject deeply and vi
| tally interesting 10 tn future peace, happiness
tranquility and prosperity Of he people OF Vir-
| oinia "a subject which $ already been much
| discussed but which, hu,nbly believe, IS sus.
cpp,lble Of still further profitable discussion
| m AN the subject of reforming and new mod
elli1e our State Consutnt N. The people
have called Conventions they have elected
| delegates to that body, for the purpose OF n
meudlne the Constitution, to meet on the LIST
day OF October next. Ia d ing this, they have
done well. They have taken an important
stem they have nam ested hat they feel the
force Of the subject AMI hat they are deeply
ser sihle ofthe evils under which they labor
But they have not done enough. They have
not completed theii work they have gathered
public sentiment upon oLe part of the subject
F., ouLV 10 a sufficient extent that IS, that there
| shall be a Convention. But, upon the material
subjects of reform, public sentiment has not
been sufficiently gathered 10 have its legitimate
influence upon the deliberations Of the mem.
bers of the Conventional he people, II rs true,
have selected able, intelligent, patriotic and
honest men 10 perform this work. but surely
| they cannot be supposed % be more able, intel
| ligent, patriotic and honest than the whole
State besides and il therefore cannot be that
the people will sit still, with their arms folded,
and unconcerned. determined TO receive The
result OF their abors without any inriher ex-
animation or nvestig cation OF the sufgect, Inc
united wisdom and intelligence OF the state, Is
superior to that of the Convention, however
able and intelligent II may BE- Why is the
new Constil ution TO be submitted H. me people
again for their ratification, Il The wisdom OF the
members of the Constitution is superior 10 that
Of all the whole State beside lime ana e.
pense Of Submitting their amendments again to
the people would b, uselessy ext ayagant and
vain The particular subjects Of reform, then,
should be maturely examined, discussed and
investigated 10y the people through every acces
sIbIe medinm-they should concentrate public
sentiment upon each slbiect, 50 that II should
secure he proper moral energy and influence
upon those who, as members of the ConVen-
| ton, should feel a supnradded responsibility 10
public opinion because, when they separate,
| they DO not & again among the people for re-
| election aud because Conventions do not meet
at stated periods, but are difficult TO be obtain
ed.
The writer, although he urges further aud
fuller discusso on of this subject, does NOT ln'ehd
or wish To produce intemperale h'scnsSioh' ne
only wishes TO see such discussion as snah oe
a idresseb 10 the understanding such as IS CAT
culaied TO con vince, not to lrritaie snch as IS
founded in reason, not in passion OF se'ilsh
ness.
lam strongly inclined to the opinion '"o'
much deppnds in the formation oil puo"o oP"
ion, and the final success oil the ft.o'," '''
which the Conyentonlsts have coh'en"'u' 0p'"
the organization OF the Convention, Nh"'""
that there is great division OF sentiment up""
two very important subjects OF reform 10 VII
the basis of representation and the extension
of the right of suffrage. 1t is believed 'hat
large majority of the people are in favor OF oas-
ing representation upon Tree white popn'aho"'
and OF extending the light of suffrage In hs
organrzaiion OF the Convention, II me "sun'
parliamentary rule is pursued, the preslaihe o''
6cer of the Convention will have the appoint
ment of the committees If, then, The owen
ton should elect presiding officer, oppose" 10
the above basis of representation, but spou''
be for basng il upon population ana 'aA"'"'
and should he opposed TO extending Tue 's"'
of suffrage. he will have the power OF putting
majority upon each committee favorable 10 ns
own views. Ire consequence will be, 'ha' me-
norts unfaysrable TO the basis Of white popu'a'
tion, AMI against extending the r'gh' o' SUI
frape. will be made, combining all the argn-
mpnts which can be urged in favor OF sucn
views, without, annesing the opposing arsn,
ments. Ineed not allude to the lntioeace
which such Report would have and the ehee.
which would be produced before the opposing
arguments would reach the public. Inc VIII.
Ter may be mistaken but he has his iea,s. y
is very general saying thar Tue h's wv"
parties upon these two subjects are deep ana
much is to be feared from the selhshne's OF
human nature. 10
Ihope, Messrs. Editors, that these te" 'e,
sutory remarks will have the desired en'.'
drawing out yourselves and others, wno of
capable aud feel interested, to the o'scuss'o"
hI.sh