Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-11
TcoxcLvpEp rnoM y,ssr pAor1

tcoScLvpEp FROM FIRST PAGE.1
q subject, the whole Of which, with one sipole
exception, they have absolutely reserved from |
y our action and retained for their own9 Nav.
looking to a far lower ground Of obligation and
duty, 1t may DO emphatically asked, whether
mere are any considerations, OF political expedi-
ENJOY even, which can demand of YOU to oyerrule
and repulse this request? Were i, compe,ent
for the Legislature to act finally upon tho snbect
matters to which this application relates, the case
would De entirely different. But as it is not.
II can do no more than take the initial stem for
the people themselves, to whom the right of de.
Gliding upon them, with the exception alluded To-
exclusively belongs, it would not consist with
u due respect for that body to suppose, that this
step Will be refused, and an inauspcious and i'm
hamed state of public feeling be thereby Needless
ly hazarded. The Constitution having prescri.
bed no mode by which its provisions generally
may be altered or abolished, has yet declared, in
It's Bill OF Rights, that ''majori,y of everv com.
munity hath an ndubitabe, unalienable and in.
deteasible right to reform, alter or abolish" it's
Government, Sin such manner as shall be JUDGED
most conducive to the public veal"
Here then. the whole subject, by express re-
cosn''ion oil the highest authority, is committed
70 The people and made their own. 1t is one.
therefore, which the Legislature cannot ultimate
~ control, and which it should have no desire
10 control, nor even Gclay by an iniudicons
aeniai oil legal facilities, when the public mind
Is as ready to consider it and decide upon il nc il
IS now. For these reasons, and for others which
1 forbear to Introduce, | recommend to the Leuis.
ia'ure the passage OF a law aulhorsing a vote of
the people Of this State to be taken at the NEXT
general election, upon the subject of calling a
convention to revise and amend the Constitution.
ana the passage also OF a provisional, law, reuu.
iatng the organization and other matters Incl
cent 10 SUCH Convention, should it be the will of
majority OF the people to require one.
Wi'hont going at all into the various objects
OF constitutional amendment, for which Con.
vention is wanted, being forbidden to do 81 bv
the necessary limits of this communication. it i
admissible, at least, to express the ardent hone.
'hat the principal one in view, re-arranged and
amended basis oil representation, NAV be so ac.
complished as to obliterate, forever, the potical
divisions which the present Constitution has fix.
cd upon the Stale, and to consolidate our peope
In all quarters, by relationships of interest and
1eeiing as Well as of government, kindlier and
stronger than have ever distinguished them be.
fore. And this, doubt not, can be done. unless
there Is an unwise adherence TO the extreme de.
uranus, anu done too to the benefit and safety OF
All, without the violation on the ono hand of auy
rights OF persons of property, or the surrende,
on the other oil any cherished principle of govern.
ment.
But to this end, the Commonwealth must be
ing divided into separate interests and separate
parts by any Constitution whatever, which can
DC expected to endure. Paciication and union
are the only OASIS upon which a Constitution can
securely and firmly stand. One of the creates,
evils which Virginia has ever encountered in her
Internal government, which has done much 10
impede her progress, to humble her fortunes and
~ cohtroi me early and suspicious promise OF her
dest'ny, has been the want of a felt and absolute
unity amongst her people. She has lonp, in ma.
ny particulars oil government and Legislation,
oeen divided Commonwealth, struggling with
!he Jealousles OF a contending, instead of triumph
ing In the achievements and power of harmoni-
GUS and united family. Let her be so no more /:
ana let 1t not be at this hour, when all her hopes
oenahd mat she should be thoroughly, cordially
ana lndivlslbly one, that some new element of
sdlscord is to be fastened npon her; some new
line OF separation to be struck through her terri
Tory and thus through her peace, and the future
history OF her government be painfully marked
oy the tears OF the patriot and the scorn of the
wise. ~
Since your adjournment, the great national
measure, winch was then pending for the Annex
alton of the Republic of Texas, and the admis-
sion OF it as one Of the States of this Union, has
received the full consent of the people of that Re-
PUBIC, and has otherwise been consummated So
lar as to require only the ratification of our Co.
Vernment to render it final and complete; and
this, being no more than a confirmation of the
terms hrst consented to and then submitted bv
Hseii' IL VIII doubtless receive fully and in good
RAIN. Regarding the measure, therefore, as in
TACT accomplished, and regarding it, moreover. i'm
Its entire range of effect, as a timely and benef-
cent contribution to the strength, security and
general blessings Of our Union, / congratulate
you, and with you our common country, upon it,
NO measure since our Revolutionary day, has
given either such an illustration or such an i'm
petus TO our principles of Government as this
and hone' In any age, nor amongst any people,
mas ever secured for country so rich an acuui-
stlon by means so honorable TO itself, or so void
OF injury and of jusiliabe offence TO Others. The
territory which we have heretofore added 10 our
domain, and from which State after State has
been successfully formed, has been acquired bv
the force and virtue Of money only. But here an
empire larger than France, and as delightful in
us natural endowments as Italy, is giuen 10 us,
ana given upon the single condition, that the
community which bestows it may have the priv
iiege OF blending its destiny with ours, and have
the magnificent dowry it has brought us placed
forever under the government of our principles
and our people On all sides Of us and in all
periods OF the world, we have the spectacle of
nations surrounding themselves with bloody ap-
Pendages oil conquest and crime. But here for
'ne nrst time, is a conquest effected by the power
OF principle and example alone here is the soi-
'ary instance of an organized people, strong in
oil the elements Of government and sef-protec-
ton, and allured to career of national indepen-
dence by as inspiring motives as were ever ad-
dressed to an ardent national ambition, vet freely
giving up their separate existence for the sake of
union with another. BY this extraordinary sur
render OF their country to u.s. the capacity of our
Federative system to bear an amos: indefinite
extension, without impairing the value Of the
whole, or the administration of the particular
parts, will be thoroughly tested, and with new
proofs, as doubt not, of its augmented title 20
our confidence and support. By this act. too.