Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-16
THE VIRGHNIAN.
LyNCHBURG. SOv.16, 1929.

reached q crisis por ento1s OF incai cuabe good
or ui rretrievable misohiel.. Let US, therefore,
reason together in ,Pirit of dispassionate Ell.
quiry, with regard 10 the means by which the
one may be obtained aud the other avoided. Let
us approach The consideration OF the great ques-
ton which now dstracis he minds of tho PEG.
pie, with feelings unbiased by sectional and
local aspiration, for aggrandlzement and SUI
premacy at Irginians, anxious alike for the
indi, visibility OF The State and for the adjustment
Of the organic law on principles Of strict equal
,ty aud justice. Let US, who have oba med, NJ.
ter an obstinately contested battle, the privilege
Of re- modelling our State government, con-
slider we'll the consequences Of the course VI.
may adopt, lest, aztec all our exertons, aud la
Dor, and suxieties, we permit our willy enemies
10 make US the instruments oil our own defeat.
Let us be cautious, lest We be unwarily entrap.
ped in the snare which they have so cnnningly
placed in our path--ahd lest in an eagerness TO
protect our property from maginary danger, we
surrender all the rights ofperson which are inf
uitely dearer-which are beyond all ptce--and
which can never be lost sight Of or dsregarded,
until we are ready for the yoke of oppression
That we shall be ready FOR it when we consent
to base our government Oh wealth, is beyond all
dispute.
The question which we arc 10 decide, is,
whether our State Constitution shall be repubi
can or nriStOcrntic in Its character whether
the laws of the Land shall emanate from a ra
jori,y of men or from majority of dollars
whether political power belongs to the comm
nifty al large, or 10 minority OF that commu
nifty, possessing the greatest aggregate Of
wealth And, unnappy for a correct decision
Of this great, this momentous question. those
who espouse the cause ofthe nonied aristocra
cy have il in their power to avail themselves Of
arguments Engagements they may be called
which have, in all ages and countries, been the
most efIectuaI in influencing the human mind.
and which are the most dlti cali counterfeit
Taking advantage Of those passions Of human
nature, which ars alike universal and degrading
upon each, or all of them, sntil they drown the
still small voice" Of reason, and silence even
the loud and imperative demands of jistice it.
self But, we had hoped that in an age like
this, remarkable for the bodness with which
error has been attacked in its strong places, and
for the triumphant vmIIcation and establish.
ment of truth, this free country would have es-
capped the necessity even OF discussing such a
question. We had thought, thai, as the rights
of person were held 10 be more sacred. even in
despotic empires, than the rights of property, il
would have been rega rded as an act of ridlcu.
lous supererogation 10 This country, the govern.
ment of which pro esses TO be an emanation OF
the will, and subject to the exclusive control OF
the people, to assert the propriety of the dssinc
cation. We had thought it impossible hat men
protesting to ba repubcans-to be the friends
of political equality-sbouId boldly attempt to
reverse the order of na'ure and of right, by
placing property before psrsoas-and in settling
the representative principle, 10 contend that the
former is entitled TO a weight powerful enough
to crush the will of the latter. Yet il is even SO.
u may not be amiss to enquire, how II is that
such an anti-republican and mischlevous prInci.
pie has found so many defenders amongst us
Ifthe original friends of the call of Conven-
ton will cast their eyes about them. and ascer-
tain who they are that are SO active in endeavor-
ing to inculcate aud enforce this odious doctrine
among the people-who they are that are zeal.
ously endeavoriug TO win proselytes 10 their
cause, by drawing imaginary pictures OF future
oppression from the West, as the certain conse-
quence Of the triumph of The people over tie
purses Of The penthy.-they will be a, ~ loss to
determ nj rhy it is that excitement on this ques
ou is n0N attempted TO be produced nor need
they any longer he doubtful of the consequent
ces which will ensue, if they permit division
and distraction TO enter into their RANKS The
advocates Of the mixed basis of representation
are, we verify believe, as honest in their inten-
lions and as patriotic in their designs, as any OF
those who contend for the contrary principle.
But, they should recolIeet, that II is not to them
that the friends Of reform look for advice and
counsel--for, we know. that they are still, as
they have at all times been, the uncompromis
ing and jealous enemies ofchange. From the
first agitation Of the subject. until now. their en-
ergies nave been increasingly exerted in favor
of the existing order of things. They contested
the ground, inch by inch, resisting as they re.
treated and even now, it seems, although driy-
en- to the wall, they present an unbroken front
of opposition to the progress of salu'ary amend
meut. They have met us on the very thresh-
hold, and, flushed by the possession Of numbers
in the Convention, to which, if the law under
which they now sit, had been based on equitable
principles, they would not have been entitled
A-h alt "