Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-01-27

than they enjoy under the present ratio;
that II also contributes tn eIualize the
representation. as among the counties
themselves for. while many of the
counties are reduced from , To Dele
gate. Shenandoah. Frederick and Lou
d"un are increased from = 20 2. each
having their proportion OF 18th Of
the whole Representative powers, IN
steal OF the l-!G-th.
Bat we find >,ill more imporf ant at
lraciiuns IN other respects. Even ITS
most determined enemies admit that "
has many very valuable features. The
Legislative Body reduced from 2SS Ia
i6G--that - :. > cut oH.-thc Executive
Council. reduced from 8 Ia sand on
the Supp0sltlun that the reduction al
the members may contribute To reduce
the length oi the sessions al the Iegis-
ia;urc. the saving may amount from
> to iC,OCO dollars per annum. 80
much for the economy OF tho govern
mcn'. But fhc eXteniion of the night
OF suffrage the increased Icspon
sbility nf the Judiciary. are feature,
infinitely mare important and eminent
" distinguish the two Constitutions.
And what would the world have
said-uhat would The politicians 81
England and The people al France, ma
ny at whose eyes have been drawn to
this attractive spot. have said of our
free Institutions: Perhaps. that we
could not get on-that dIscord had de-
i-atcd all our attempts 20 improve our
lnstItuiIons-that reform here was al
together at a stand-that we could hot
be content to take the good We could
get. and trust 10 other DAYS FOR reforms
which may be recommended by future
changes that we were only like
themselves, cieaviug to every thing that
was old. because we were distracted
like them by the struggles Of interests
or of principles. However true such
picture might be. it was Mt least sus-
ccptiblc of being ,ilcly caric1turcd bv
;hc enemies Of Virginia, or the encmc,
Of Liberty. And what, it civil discard
had followed upon the dissolution of
this body [: What would thew then
have said: This consideration. how.
ever. has comparatively very little Ell
feet upon us-but il is the effect. which
a dissolution of the Convention, doing
nothing. would nave at home among
ourselves. that is most calculated To
make deep impression.
These views aud considerations con
tribute to reconcile US to the paper now
before The public. We acquicsce in
the decision Of the Conventiun-the.
only one Of this description which IN
all probability we are ever likely TO see
amongus-and we do IL the more cheer
nIly. because we see the dangers which
attend the keeping open Of this delicate
question We have gone for Virginia
One and Indivisibie; and really there
were moments during the last three
months, when the language Of both
sides the mountain, was sufficient 20
,tartie somewhat the dispassionatc ci.
tIZens 81 the Old Dominion. Tone, of
tins sort were calculated To make rvr
~ man repeat, what was 80 frequently
saId IN the Convention, that If me uues.
ton could not be seiiictl, IL was hiah
time to sinh IT by compromise. This
question 50 aunicIOlv arranged. IL !.
hcI'cVed that no others will arise 10
disturb the harmony at the State; and
II IS To he hoped. that feeling all the good
will oi brethren OF one family. the only
contest viii now he. WHO shall be-,
promote The interests of the whole state:
Who shall best deserve the gratitude
m Virginia:
The Wing contains the annexed remarks:
Thus have the labors Of the Con,en.
ton closed, II not to the satisfaction of
all, yet lar more aUspiciousIy, than al
one .ime there WAS any reason 90 ex-
peot. Their work. II not perfcct-and
Tot our own part we think II extremely .
detective IN some parlio ulars--is doubt .
less vast Improvement on the old con
SututiOn-placing as II does. the 20
,ernmcnt ~ the hands Of majority of
the oItiIcns-pro,i dins for the resron.
',bi'Iiy oi the Judlciary-pruning away
The suPcriuity at the Executive Coun.
oil-and securing an annual saving in
The expenses OF Tie Government, mo.
deratcly computed at $4,000. BE
tween that and the old Constitution.
crifTis P0rIug, few We believe woulJ
hesitate to prefer the new. and Ne an.
uciPate us adoption bv = great and
overwhelming, and IT course. not
merely sectional majority of the pco.
pie. Even those who have thought. o.
Tor Pohc,'- sakc. affected to think. ~.
o.d Constitution 80 good. 30 vefy per.
iee'- vii. according to the sisus Of
toe times, vote for the ucw,-a rlct
"hich p,o,c, dat tie efforts ~ those
who have lshOrcd tobring about Con
'""iIon' were not directed rs ,i.iona
~ speculation, aud that Tie subsfso
h"l beneht conferred by the ehanrc.
argues ihc eNisicnce Of evil aud abuse