Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-09-30
iel subec,ing all its tunctonares to their soyeelgn
ar;fand3syinr its foundations the im!nutaoe PF'n-


nartintH$ purposes Of our colleagues "ouio not nave
S wf1. power tc redress their "Fongs' those w.I,
Swe xrl.s@sent We might have qualified anu thereby
sdcd to those q genencn an opPo''un''y ~
cefonfs with tho letter Of the Constitution, TO eject
Senate and this TOO, they wo"d probably have c"ns
eho,la,lhc are the representatives. CT but S2;iS d
Tie free nhab,ans Of the State, white three 81 tlr u
dersse alone have been chosen by IS 4l9 Tree nha"'
,nnsSSnd received more votes 1T the polls than were
givenx&sbose who claim the right, and were prfPn'.a
To- eSercise it, to NAL eone branch Of the tec
zsfs0dy hss,uted for, and clothed with power 10
and cSo all the operations of The entire
-Sta3& this had been done, the people o. .ns NJ re-
wouldfnot have been absolutely without xnressy
dresSfhe framcrs of our Consulson .s,he mower 20
,ese,sed To- tberts in our Bill Of kshts, t'e p "
- ,9 ~ sinb.b new form Of Government
RutSsM authority by the same instrument, 1900 ,ro
to exist Bhly Whenever the encs o. sss.,arod ann
perverted and public nos Sre Intellectual" Il is mani
S.,,n reroIuopa1y remedy, inherent IN all co,"lu
80 ~ of which one generation OF men cannon ue
priyc those who are 10 Sacceeo 'ue', -, - will
r. v;oent mode of redress, not to be thought OF un'.
,hers ba ye been Intellectually tried Cnwlillng that
Evils and inequalities, oppression and injustice, snonio
bo nlcd like Ossa Olympus, on the people uh' SUI
tnpce would no longer be esteemed virtue we nave
,,krn the responsibility to exer, all the power with
which you had clothed us, TO insure the permanent
peace al the time that we hope to have
The means 10 PePe'uate equal laws aho sIua .S
al deeply identified The means used are ne'e' WIZ
lent no. unconstitutional. , -.
To thrce.ffth of the Eecors! college, Tue Co'su'u
ton has given the power to form the entire Senate Oh
the Stats II 80 bappens that those who desire to per.
pctu.te the rule Of party in Maryland, who is well
ascerained have forfeited public confidence DO not con-
sli!ue the number OF Electors requTeo me sa'ne .os
stuon has secured expressly to seventeen Of our men,
bers power TO deeu the contamination OF THIS purpose
This provision in that instrument was designed 10! Tic
protection Of the minority. IT, them were the repre-
sentatves Of that minority the power to ADOPT me
which ha. been pursued wood not be denied although
its pro,rieay might under such circumstances be qnes
toned. But standing we do IN relation 20 the PeoPe
Of Maryland, will it not be graned by an soefa' unpte
iudiced and enlightened Republicans that our conduct,
under delicate and trying circumstances has Dccn
prudenl-and may we not, without presumption, add,
patriotic?
No political principles are better established, than that
all public functonarcs are bat for the benefit Of
those by whom they have tnen appointed. ana II Is
equally undenabe, that all Repositories Of political pow
er bound to surrender ii to those from whom was
derived whenever cannot be exercised tor tetr bene-
fit. These elementary prnc pies have been SO oi'tn
sanconed-we might say without IrreVeIcncc, sanctl-
ed by the conduct Of public unconares in the country,
that instances need not Ike adduced TO show that we have
acted without numerous presidents to JeStfy us
Senators of the United States, Governors OF Slaes Lee
gisalors Judges and other officers trustees OF the
people, have repeatedly, when made sensible that they
could no longer exercise adVaaageousy the authority
with which they clothed returned tito the great
foundation Of u!legtinatc authority to he ugau deposit
ed in other hands designations surendcrs ot power, IN
instances such we have advered to, have produced
shock, have afforded preeEts for political pancs
On the contrary, they have been hailed by the Eehoca-
CIV of the whole country proo nconteshEe o. ae"!t-
ted sovereignty Of the people, OF th: patriotism OF eig
agents, and Of that Grmness and durability which Is ion-
~ claimed for Republican institutions by all who
would not if opportunity offered be A1isoc-als in prac.
lice, though they are Republicans in profession
Not only have individual public officers surrendered
Authority entrusted 10 tem but whole legislative ooues
have done likewise. In few if any of e State Consul
tutions formed in this country after The revolution was
there authority expressly given to the Legislature to pass
law calling convention to new model and amend theh
And yet, who does not know that Maryland, alone, Oh
the old thirteen States has had The benefit OF
convention to impart life and restore youthful VI
gor to its institutions? These conventions were as,
sembed in pursuance Of law passed By the several
State Legislatures And whence, We ASK did such laws
derive this binding force and obligation: Certainly not
from the words oil the Constitution. But undoubtedly
their validity justice and proprey had It's origin IN the
belief Of the legislators that the time had arrived when
it became their duty surrender the people oil pow
er necessary rcorganse this defective Government
WHY ask should Senators, Governors Judges, and
whole Legislatures be commended for surrender OF
power which they believed could no longer be rlghuily
and benefciay exerted by them, and we be condemned
for refusing afford others the opportunity TO form
most important branch Of Legislature, when we felt
and now feel deep and abiding conviction, that the
will and wishes, the rights and interests OF our coRstl-
tuents would be tramped upon and violated by our con-
sent 10 be present at the unhoy sacrifice We do not
anticipate that such inconsistent judgment will be
rendered by that great and just tribunal to which we
1t does not become US to prescribe The manner IN ~nic
the vast power rendered 10 the people OF haryanc
shall be exercised. We cannot, however. conclude WIZ
out expressing earnest conviction that there ls'i!o
cause for the least apprehension alarm, ePSnale
IT, as to the security of oil personal rgc and civil
privileges 1t will be admitted shat resignation OF all
the members Of State legislature could not endanger
public liberty private property Such an event would
only make necessary n Convention to reconstruct that
department Of the government With what PrcPrlety
then the aarmtS (the panic nakers) contend that
we in the mGst of revolution, bood!cSs yeti
True State Senate has not been organized but the pro-
cess is very simple by which that defect in lnStilu
lions can be remeded IF could be permitted 70 do
So we would most humbly and respectfully recommend
to fellowcZens throughout the State, 10 proceed
forthwith 10 elect on the FIRST Monday OF November
next six delegates from each county and city, to meet
in Convention At Annapolis, the third Monday Of the
same month"; clothed with full powers to extend the au
.iio.ty of all civil and military officers in commits
sior until Convention hereafter to be chusen be
convened to amend the old form entire 60
vernment for the. people Of Maryland
BY such prompt movement on the part Of the peo-
pie, all apprehension would be quieted and the paec
avoided which may possibly be attempted by ndivdu.
ais whose deep personal interest in the form at
Government tenders them incapable Of approaching the
great and inesmabe advantages to be derived from
organization of our SYSTEM and the substitution of whole
Democratic features for its odios arso-
cratic ones. For ourselves indsre the hope
of escape from censure by OF those whose posses
sion Of power may be disturbed expectation OF Office
disappointed by the course which terven and consc-
entious devotion to the public interest," constrained
elect 1t is natural that shoud be Mans pcrcep
ton and acknowledgment Of rights which do not accord
with the tenure by which he enjoys power, general
ly slow and reluctant.
This must always constitute an impeachment even tc
the most necessary reform Of existing institutions
was the greatest obstacle which the present consHtoE
of the United States had encounter, lhe interests
certain class Of to resist all changes which nig
hazard diminuton Of the power, eaolument and con
sequences of the offices ,hes kel under existing esab
lishments" We trust however. that there are but teU
very few indeed who willing to surrender upeT
the holy altar OF dsnerestcd patriotism, power en Of