Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-07
THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
We were some time ago induced TO be.
lieve, that the people Yves, of the AlleGha-
ny. would vote with unanin,ity against the
new Constitution. We now have reason
10 look for q different result The Wheel
ing Gazette CHE Oldest paper in that -four
ishine town has. we believe. not yet come
out against tho Constitution, and we pre-.
sumo the editor IS not inimicsl TO il. The
Ciarksburs paper has declared 10 favor OF
IL. and the last Morgantown Republican
brought US an address from Charles $
Morgan. Esq. Of Monongslis. member
Of the late Convention, and Senator from
that District, in which he declares his de
Termination to vote for the new Constitu-
ton. and urges such arguments in favor OF
the eIpedieney Of its rattle alton, as must,
we think. have great weight with those
whom he addresses-more particularly a.
ehey come from ono who has always been.
and still is, an ardent friend OF reform.
and one whom the people have so IRE
Iu~ntly honorrd with their CONFIDENCE
As many Of Mr.. Morgsn's views coincide
eo''rsiy with our own, we regret that our
limits do not permit thu public alton OF the
address entire; but We have Mr. Cooke q
1 third and fourth letters on hand. and three
numbers Of Mr. Campbell. hich we fear
cannot be published before the election -
We must. therefore, content ourseIve.
with few extracts
Il an far from bclicvin. that the
new Constitution contains correct prin-
cipies-it follows too much the princi.
Piles Of the old one But If each citizen
would refuse to accept any amend
ment or reformation ia the governmrn Mt
until he could get a complete plan &C
cording to his peculiar taste, contain.
ing all the provisions. and recognizing
nii the principles. which in his iudg
fnrnt ought to be secured and rrcog
nized. ! doubt not that the present and
several generations yet TO come. " ould
labour IN vain to reform great and cry.
ing abuses"
But the time for the mastery of
the iew over the many has we'll nigh
n passed of. IL only remains To ra,ify
g ths new Constitution, and their day
& will be numbered the oligarchy viii
be broken up-and the people will
have the government in their ow n hands
E Since had the pleasure Of serving in
s. the StauDton Convention in 1925,
have seen the work Of reformation "a
p'dly gaming ground in almost every
part ut the state, and believe the peo.
q pie are not now willing TO stop refor.
nation without effec,iny what was re-.
commended bythst body. The lateC Con.
ventinn did not come up to that recon-
'nendstion but il did enough 10 enable
the friends Of reform viii, ease to com
plcte the balance"
The people are called en- 10 ratif,
either the new or the old Constitution
and the voters will decide upon the
creative merits of the t.vo instruments
The old Constitution was never befor,
submitted for express ratification, BIZ
It Is just as competent for the peopl,
now 10 ratiiy 81, as II is TO ratify III,
new one. No man, however, will com
unit himself to the principles Of Oh,
Zone. ar the other, further than bis mer,
preference for the one over those q
she other. In this light ! view tbi
question. and although neither is IN,
Rhspring OF Convention equally an,
fairly representing the people. lper
5iaps the last was most equal nor i
rither ct the Constitutions Just an,
hight, yet as one is certainly better thar
the other. because the provisions ar
very different, and will have very DIFF
ferent tendencies on society, feel ms
self under obligations to ascertain an,
vote Tor the one highest approaching
equality. and which will produce IN
best tendency On society"
"Our friends in the East residin
nigh the Blue Ridge. would not sacri
8 Zee as 60 the Underwater oligarchy, al
though every interest, every passiO
and every pcconisry consideration v
addressed and cvcIy ilnporsunity an
every scheme 81 alarm that wisdo,
could suggest or cunning could devils,
was made upon them without eject
These men, or rather their counliT,
were subject to tide. water domino
before We had an existence. and ha,
painfully suffered under ~ 20 the pr,
cent time. They might have joins
the Underwater people,. which wuul
have served them (,r TIA. orascot A.,
well out ior principle. msgnsniInii
justice and the cause Of real refort
they adhered To -. and became o,
common delSerers from more odio,