Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-10-16
CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.
CONVENTION MEETING.

At meeting OF the citizens OF Freder-
ick Co., held at the Court House on Mon
day the 9th inst, VIM. Wood Esq, was
chosen Chairman AID j. c. Boyer APP
pointed Secretary. AS the number Of
persons in attendance was small, mo-
ton was made by Mr.. Singleton to adjourn
over 10 November Court without taking
any action upon the subject that called
them together. This motion was lost, and
thereupon General Carson moved the APP
pointment of committee Of three for the
purpose Of expressing the opinion ofthose
present on the expedieucy OF calling a
Convention to remodel the Organic law OF
the State. That Committee consisting Of
Gen. Carson, Jno. Bruce Esq. aud Capt.
j. Long, reported the following as the
sense Of the meeting. a5 l9Ht
t. Whereas, The results of experience,
since the adoption Of the amended Constr
tuition Of Virginia, have demonstrated its
defective character, and its lnadequacy 20
preserve aud perpeiuate free representa-
| tive form Of Government: as also the la
bili:y of portion of lis provisions 10 be
perverted to the purpose fraud aud fac
ton: ga. s...-..., =.
Therefore, Resozued, That the best in.
terests of society require speedy organ
iza,ion of Convention, upon just and
proper principles, TO alter or amend the
present Organic Law Of this Common
wealth.
Resolred, That in the opinion of this
meeting, every consideration ofjustice and
of sourd Republican principles, demands
that The right of suffrage should be extern
dcd to all white male cl,izens over twen-
ty enc years Of age. who are permanent
residents Of the State and contribute to
sustain the Government, by the payment
of public dues in any form, or by person
al services civil or military-and so guar.
ded as to protect and preserve the purity
and independence Of It's exercise.
RESOLVED, That the representatives of
this County in the two Houses ofthe Gen.
eral Assembly are hereby instructed to
use every proper effort to procure the pas
sage of an act, to provide either, directly
for the assembling Of Convention, or for
submitting to the people Of the Common
wealth. the question Of calling one, to al.
ter or amend the State Constitution geo.
orally, or in reference to certain specific
subjects, of which the right of suffrage
shall be one.
Resolued, That the Editors Of News.
papers in Virginia, without distinction Of
party, are requested 10 publish the pro.
ceedings Of this meeting.
On motion of Mr. Robinson, committees
were appointed for the precincts, for the
purpose of circulating a memorial to the
Legislature praying for the passage of a
law to take the sense of the people, as to
the expediency Of calling Convention.
The committees consist of the following
gentlemen
For WINCHESTER ohm Fletcher, Fl.
F. Baker and Joseph II. Sherrard.
puGHTowN-James Robinson, VIM.
Smith and VIM. Campbell.
SwnlERs'--J. B. Hackney, VIM. Ro-
len end ]. W. Trimble.
SwITzERs--Saml. Coe, d. Collins and
VIM. Bagent.
NEwTowN--Joseph Long, Joseph Pit
man and Major Steel.
MIppLETowN-John Wright, A. S.
Burgess and J. S. Danner.
RusELLs-Jonn Richard, J. A Russell
and VIM. Piier.
On Motion, 1t was:
ReSOloed, That when this meeting shall
adiourn--ii will do so to assemble at the
same pace at ~ o'clock NJ. on the LIST
day of the next term OF the County Court
for this County, at which time the coop
Grafton of all the friends Of Convention
to alter and amend the Constitution of
the Stale OF Va. is earnestly invoked-and
on motion the meeting adjourned to No
vember Court next.
WIN. WOOD, Chm'n.
J G. BOWER, Sec'ry.