Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-28
MoNDAY McRNING, ApT.sL p. 800.

At meeting of the feeholiers and aeho!dcs enl
TO an e%entioH Of the right CT suffrage, Thomas ookc +
April 1928, Jno a Trent called the chair and no
Daniel j. appointed secretary. Tie object of tie meeting
having been explained by Francis Il. Dete IT. who moved f
an appointment OF committee report preamble aud res
uiioBs expressive Of the object the necin-tereupon
Abner Nash Merit a. Booker, Francis b. Deame, ir Robert
henderson, no L. Trent, Jno Daniel r. Frederick Hatcher
Tareton WGodso, and Thcmas Booker were appointed the
report 20
BeieTing crisis arrived in tue political history of our
country, when IT becomes the citizen his rights and
lie people declare the great cardinal principles upon which oil
csapacts or fundamental laws shout! he based having for their
oect Tie common benefit, protection and security and heev-
my na' ay Oh 'ose principles have been degaTdcd by tie
law passed by the last General Assembly, entitled,
Organize cOnventio have assembled for the purpose
asserting thosc rights declaring those principles, and for the
further object OF soemny protesting against their violations.
hat all po'eer vested and consequently derived Tie
people, ihat government U.s. oF ought to be instituted for the
Common benefit" 'Ia set of entitled TO
exclusive privileges the great principles upon which free
as''5"S can alone rest they admit OF compromise with
expedoncy bu demand tie protection and support all
Of citizens who not prepared TeOgae tire march Of
cVizauoSnd again rely upon tire exploded hccscs of euda
despotm fer their lbeg That they mast form,
tic political creed for the friends freedom in all ages we are
warranted in asserting, when hud them constituting the
prominent features in the confession OF faith promulgated
% great cnaT OF Virginia liberty for her
them either to the advocates of udal astocrscy other
neS OF merry under circumstances the demand
may be made That the fechoders Of the commonwealth,
forming only portion Of the community have BEEN by the
existing constitution the sole repositories of political power
ana are sought ny the convention law so to be continued
facts that none deny Fiat there in this class Of
CITIZENS over all obs peculiar fitness for its
be admitted that their investre with violation of that
principle which declares all power with people needs
no argument since their superior privileges admitted by all
IN be enjoyed 70 the exclusion of large aud respectable BODY
n citizens ifro majority Of the whole community We had
supposed thai those doctrines of political right upon which the
freehold suffrage has rested for its support had Welded
with many other political bereses having common origin
with them, TO tic advancement in the science government
which conspcuousy distinguishes the present age We were
not in prepared for the avOwa Of such opinions
were advocated in debate the law during the last
session of our Legislature; much less did EXPECT to find those
opinions receiving the saucton of that body By their ncnT
Ion into the provisions ola law, entitled act 10 orgazr
convention to reform the constitution" The power 10 reform
aer or abolish the form of government under which any peop
exercise the attributes Of sovereignty upon principles eoay
we have been taught TO believe belonged the people as an
uuaenahe and ndecabc right, which be exercised
BY any class Of the community We have authority for this
% nion NOT only the bill Of rights, but the declaration of the
Father of his country In his valcdictoTy people of the
u S he says, the basis of political system the right
of the people to make and alter their constitutions of
government would not he than waste of time TO
offer arguments IN maintenance Of principles claiming such au
ory for their purity :heiT value their correctness ,vouj
be presumption indeed, amounting insult asenbjsge
Of Yinsus attempt to sustain, by any reasoning
principles Of civil liberty that claim their author George
Washington his n9me a!one halow an To- .irIs II s
. ccrrtr--ve.