Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-16


The following are the remarks of Can't
Williams on the bill to take the Sc lse of
the people upon the proDriety of calling
a convention Ito amend the State consti.
tuition. on the 9th inst.
Mr. WILLIAMS regret, Mr.. Speaker that
| this discussion has not been confined to the
| true and only question before the House
That question is not now, what convention
| may or may not do. 1t is not whether an or
| ganic law shall be changed essentially mr.
| properly modified; but tbs simply, whether
! the people, who sent each one ofus here. shall
be permitted, inar official and,legal. fern, to
express their opinions for or against call of
! a Convention. Surely, ST., those Individuals
| in whom you have entrusted all political now.
er should have liberty to express their will II.
! pom the proprlety OF the proposed measure.-
| The bill contemplates Il reference of this mat
ter only to the qualified voters: thereby atFor.
! ding the surest guarantee against abuses
1t seems to me-a most reaso nsbl e, proposition.
and one which cannot be denied, unless Won
are prepared to sanction that old monstrous
and exploded doctrine" 'that the peerie are
! incapable efsef government Are gentlemen
on this floor afraid TO trust this questiQuto the
! people, the sovereigns of this land, and the
| repository Of all power? I am disposed 10 be-
| cites this opposition, and the arguments ad.
vanced are only pretences under which. the
true reasons. are cloaked It is we'll Sir. to en-
| qulre, from whom does the question emanate>
| From the people? Yes, Sir, and from a Con-
vention embodying of at leasta moiety of the
free white citizens of this Commonwealth. as
well as of the qualified voters. Are there
| not others even i'll Eastern Virginia favorable
10 this measure? should Judge so from the
anxiety manifested to prevent them from ex.
pressing their opinions. 1t cannot be obiec-
ted to because of their eXpense-none will
| attend it-then why refuse? Does this refusal
proceed from those principles upon which
our Government is Funded Surely not, Sir.
from the spirit of Democracy.
III know, Mr.,SPe&ker, that those who are or.
posed to this measure will tell us that repre-
sentaton is now fixed upon the proper basis;
that the people have no grievances of which
they can, with any justice, complain We
do not ask YOU, gentlemen, in advance, to
express your opinions .IaBon subjects
which properly belong to the people, anil
upon which they have the right to express
their opinions in their primary assemblies, and
consummate their wishes in legally conssitu~
ted Convention. Give. then. pray YOU, to
thepeopie, to your constituents, an apportuni.
~ TO express their opinions upon this. subject.
iHS! i"F ''ie right 10 'demaHd II, and VIII
demand it, until it shall be acceded to- Re.
ject this bill, and you say to the people, we
are your guardians. and know your interests
better than you. yourselves do. | tell gentle
men, that they cannot escape this question bv
arguing against this<EW that change in our
organic laws the people will not and cannot
be deceived. IT. therefore, it IS to cost moth
ing, and fit is only referring the question to
the people, the. source of, all power, why OBJ
lect Is the present time unfavorable , No,
sir. And tell Eastern gentlemen, that no
time is SO favorable to the protection of their
interests as the present. Postpone this mat
ter. and the excitement win increase with the
length OF time, and that which may now be
erected ny concIliatory spirit will then be
rendered lmpossblevby the exasperated feel
ing which your delay and denial has produced.
Beware, then, of your own ntereats, whilst
you are denying rights to others. Sooner or
later this question: viii be brought to an issue.
and the power now possessed in the East will
be transferred to the West. DO gentlemen
expect thus to smother this natter Let me
teil theln' they are only adding fuel to the
h&meW can. upon this subject. speak calmly
ana frankly; for, Mr. Speaker. it is not inter-
est mean that interest which prompts 10 a
greater acquisition of political power that in
Juices me to support the bill in your hand
90 i"r as representation is concerned, the VAL
'eV 0. virginia will gain nothing The ex-
presslon of their opinion is pl etIicated upon
Prhclpie' and not mere political interests
mere are sllndry amendments, which they, in
common with large majority of the people Of
tins Commonwealth, would gladly see adop-
'ea' refer to biennial Legislature, by.
wn'ch an annual saving of $50, 900 might be
e"ec'ea' and which would, in forty or fifty
Years. pay Off our debt without one cent Of
increased taxation. refer, also. to the pro-
Prlety OF giving TO the Senate right to ORR
sii, All bills except money or appropriation
Jus Assiihliating our Government in that res
Pect 70 the power of Congress. / will not
press ms subject farther. Reject this bill.
.ri year after year You win be called on to
leg1s'ate; spending more money than Cor
Venpoh wall cost-and year after year, adding
@ o ''e excitement already great which, ifnot
Hiayed, will either terminate in q division of
ms good old COMMONWEALTH, OF the transfer,
~ power. at an early aas, from Eastern TO.
Western Virginia