Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-02
va Earnesi .4ppeal TO the Friends Of Reform

ter, who has written much and ably the subject
In Earnest Appeal TO The Friends of Reform,
In THE LkctsLArURE or VIRGINIA. So
ffe people of Virginia have decided that a conven-
ton OF their representatives, shall be assebledtc re-
wise the fundamental law of the commonwealth.
say, emphaticay, the People of Virginia. For
though the question has been submitted in form to
the frcehoders only, and has been decided in form,
ny MINORITY of only five or six thousand, out of n
total number ofuearly folsy thousand that decision is
ani viii be, sustained and enforced by hundred
tlnns,aa citizens, whose opinions arc not the less
haooa because they have not been oppressed at The
polls.
The highly responsible duty ami difficult task. Of
defining the principles which shall regulate the rep
rcscnaon of the people, in the convention to be as
sembled have been tacitly imposed by them, on the
legislative bodies of the existing government, whose
regular powers and duties comprehend matters of
binary Legislation only. The Legislature of Virginia.
for 1899, may therefore be considered quasi con-
, vcton,S entrusted with extraordinary powers upon
the wise and honest exercise of which, will depend the
success OF the effort, in progress to reform our
institutions, without encountering the dangers of
revolutionary movement.
In taeity comforting such high powers on legisa-
urc whose most numerous branch represents so un-
equally, the great interests of the commonwealth the
people have relied much, and it is to be feared too
much, the virtue, intelligence and republican feel
ing of the individual members of that respectable
body. They have rcposed in it confidence which
creates high corresponding obligations They have
entrusted to it. in conjunction with the senate, the
investigation of the elementary principles of govern
iocnt aud the formation of the primary law, which
Will give to the contemplated convention its Impress
form and character. They have conferred on the lc
gisative bodies the power TO whether tho propo-
SOD convention shall equally represent the people of
Virginia, and so be the fountain peace and harmony
and prosperity and liberty, shnll unequay repre-
sent thcn and be the author OF discord tho racr of
disirarchsensnt, and the of civil broiis and
conflislon,-p1sSi5iy OF bloodsiied and dismembcr-
ment.
But let it b. borne in mind. that while the people
IN a spirit OF generous confidence, to escaDc the
OWLS inseparabie from revolutionary movement have
fcPo5et this high and extraordinary rnst in the ofi
nary legislative bodies, they have not imposed uron
themselves oblic' ION TO abide by the event. To
suppose TINT they have conferred these high powers
scihom appeal -without rcservinr to themselves ,h.
right TO say whether they hive been honestly and
wisely exercsed-to suppose that they viii submit to
an abHstce ercrise Of the powcrs-is to msapprehend
ana indervaun the character of the people of Virgin
II Confcmg and easy and unsuspicious till aroused
they will b, found, fthey be put the trial the same
people, wo hnlfa century since, declared war rainst
nation eighty times more numerous and powerful
than the then feeble colony of Virginia and that too
on PTinciptc IF dbstrmct rights speak not in t,
spirit of menace: do bnt infer tho futur, from tbs,
past, and that with feeling of sad and sorrowiul an
ticlpation. Seeing, in long and lreary prr4pcctivc
the evils that are to come upon this generations the
legislature of 90 sha he.ray the high and sacred
trust which the people have reposed in it, should he
false to my country men, if hesitatcd from spur
os dclicacy, while engaged in the discussion of these
momentous topic to them of the dancers which
i believe to impenl
The indications Of determination; by the minority
OF the house ofaclcgacs to exercise power n1ram
pic on right, unfortunately, plain to he nieta-
kcn The form1tUn of a couvcutio1 committed com
posed of n member from each congressional district
wasan oclenofevil, whose flmcnt is arcldy in rap
progress The committee it is said his determined
- recomnenlo the house the equal representation OF
fc actual congressional districts in convention which
ought every principle oright, tobc Composed fth
representatives of equal portions Of tho people Of Vr
'lto
fatal To the best interests of the commonwealth has d.
rccteda eyes towards the minority in the house Of de-
egatcs. On their frmncss and wisdon--on their un-
compromising devotion TO tho principles of free nov,
ernments--the hopes of this generation rest. I'll
they act well their parts, they will receive the loud
and cheering paudts; il III, the deep and uirmurcd
curses, of oppressed and disfranchised Thousands
DRY, too will record their deeds whether honor
able inglorious aud will rank them IN omni gro
among the benefactors of the human race or the de-
scrters from the sacred cause of libertyI owe no
apology, md make none, for using language go |
strong--Whcn odious, but tolerated, abuses, Which
sprung up in times Of ignorance disorder arc about
to receive new and solemn sanction, and become |
law to us and our posterty, it is the right, it is the
duty Of every citizen, TO his best efforts to excite
to high action and noble purpose the .functonares
whom he has delegated to be the guardians of his |
rieh.s.
X IS my purpose, in the following PAGES 10 srbmit
- the consideration OF those functionarcs hurried
sketch of those elementary principles Of government
which ought, as suppose TO be held sacred and invi-
oatcin every apportonment Of political power It ia
my further.purposc to show by n reference TO those
principles, and 20 the actual state Of the common
wealth, that the appJrtionncnt recommended by the
is iagra1ty unjust ruinous in
its practical tendency, and one that ought not 20 BIO
r omitted to, under any circumstances BY tho ueoplc
OF tho lcoaparaycly) non el1yehoding portion of the
comm onwealth.
1--we woul1 learn tho elementary PRINCIPLES Of roy-
eminent, and solve the apparently difficult problorp
wh It Is the true Of appointment Of political
power. shall best attain orr object bv ,orro,,i,,
Inspecting the state and condition of cotnmnnity
bsiore tliat apportionncut il made, and By oarfnT
with IT, the first lessons in political science. is the
Artificial institutions of society, moulded and modified
BY nus or accident or violence that cover and CON
,eal ffOih view those simple elementary truths in
he science Of govomm3nt, which, like the axions Of
science lead Hs, by plain and obvious
;teps 20 the solution ofqnestiOns apparently the most
iitcult. &c Innsi forget thon, for moment tho ell
3ducmf dscourses which we continually hear about
IN =