Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-05-01
CONVENTION.
Lunchburg, 1914 april, l82

incbam, i'll the Convention for reforming the Constr
tuition of tire State.
The undersigned citizens of that district request
pcrmssion present you one OF them to be voted
for ais delegate in that body Your views in reia-
ton to the subject of constitutional reform have been
before the public since you first became candidate
to represut this district in the State Senate, aud, If
any change in your opinion on that subject has since
taken place, no doubt entertained that you WILL
without hesitation, make free und candid disclosure
of the nature and of such change to the people
ofthe district.
The undersigned have been informed that suudry
applications of similar character with the present
have been made to you by individuals, without sue
cess, and that you have declined giving your assent
the ground of your being candidate for reelec-
tion TO u scat i'll the Senate. The Office OF Senator
and that of delegate to the Convention are not re
gardcd by the undersigned Incompatible, and,
while they fully appreciate your views as to the inr
por.ancc of the undertaking, and your difidcnce in
appearing before the public for SO responsible trust.
they hope you will permit neither the one nor the
other to influence your determination farther to de-
cline the request made, and. that if elected, you
wilagree to representative in this Con-
vention. Very respectfully, Sc
tSigned) D. r. EDLEY, and others.
20 Messrs. David r. Ed!ey, and others.
Gentcmen-Your very kind letter of the 18th inst
inviting to suffer myself to be presented to my
fellow citizens of this Senatorial district candi-
date for the Convention which is tn meet at Rich
nIond in October next for the purnose of reforming
the Constitution Of our State has been received and
THIS communication carries with of your confidence
in me- allow me tender yon my most grateful
acknowledgements. beg to he permitted, never
thelcss to express untegned regret that YOU did
not direct your attention to other individual
better qualified than myselffor the great purpose in
the accomplishment OF which you have chosen to
desire my participation. The responsibility Of the
trust Involved in this work ought not to be voluntari-
ly hazarfed, much less sought after by the wsesi Of
heads; and have therefore never either desired
sought to procure seat in the Convention. So far
from it. must DC allowed more explicitly frankly to
declare my sincere and earnest regret that have
been thought of for the appointment. am however
without meaning to make ostentatious parade
about 1t, deeply your debtor in public support, and
it becomes to say that ifa concurrence off sut-
ccnt number OF the rest Of my fellow citizens of the
district should elect to in that body, unfit
as am, and arduous US would bc the service to be
pertormet, could not nor would rot decline obeying
In reply to your enquiry whether my opinions on
tse subject of reform what they formerly were.
al!uding, presume to the exposition Which I gave
OF them when four years ago first became card-
date for the Senate, have to in the a;rii,-
vive had long and earnestly desired, before had
the honor OF seat in the Senate Of Virginia. to see
system touched by the hand OF reform and never
doubted that the people were sufficiently capable of
self'govcrnment to engage in the work safely and
wisely to salutary and beneficial termination of their
labors. then thought, as | think, that the
three grea: departments ofthe government, although
framed and established by the best Of men, were de-
fecye in many Of their features and SUSCEPTIBLE Of
essential and important amendments.
First, the organization of the Legislature have
ever considered the unequal distribution of power
amongst the several counties Of the State so that an
hundred freemen III one part absolutely welded more
power than thousand equally free in another
part as maulfestly wrong Iii principle md obviously
unjust in practice. Nor could any better assent 10
the inustce-oross injustice of excluding from all
political power whatever, fully three hs, nay near
thirds of the whole number Of the frcemen ofthe
commonwealth large portion of whom, perhaps
Iy far the greater could adduce 'suiicent evidence
II at chynpu mr.
to the community "Iured they are 'tpittout
their consent" and bound By la'gs unassente 10 through
their representatives. do not mean the laws alone
which regulate civil society. have witnessed my
selfthe privatons of some of those non-trcehoders
encountered in the behalf of their more favored bre-
tiren that were the owners of the soil.
It is hardly necessary to observe that the remedy
which have uniformly advocated for these defects
the equalization Misrepresentation, s. truly republican
yet prudent enlargement ofthe right of suffrage. AS
20 equalizng representation, looking upon ours as
representative democracy where every man who ex.
ercises political power ought to- be, in the enjoy
ent ofthis function, equal to every other who
ercjses it. never can believe in any other a re-
publican basis than that Of free white population.
presume it is not wished that should enlarge ON
this branch of the SUBJECT, my opinions desired
only and not my for them. AS to the elective
franchise, have limited at the principles upon which
would rely for guide i'll the enlargement Of it
ihe safety of the whole would doubtless require that
should be entitled the benefit of this privilege
but such could furnish evidence of permanent ci-
ensip by reasonable term of residence amongst us.
Short of this could not furnish claim upon the prn-
rples predicatcd. The exclusion Of individuals con-
Ticted of feonious offences, paupers and varranis
aid such Of whom taxes could not be collected the
preceding year, would follow a matter of course.
In the organization Of the Legislature, should
hold cardinal object not only to reduce IFS mum
bars bot to reduce them materially. No argument
that have heard advanced this point has been
sufficient to convince that aggregate Of an hun
d7ed members in both branches ought not to be Tx
maximum number. Nor have been able TO urdeT
sand in relation another feature of the pregent sys
;cm, why both hopscs may not, with equal safety and
advantage, after the fashion Of the federal legislature
originate business.
Respecting the executive department Of the gov
eminent, there are few of us who are not ready L
unite in the belief of its defective character Thr