Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-12-11
such manner as shall be judged conducive to

such manner as shall be judged conducive to
( the public veal
| Here then, the whole subject, by express re-
cogni,ion Of the highest authority, is committed
| to the people and made their own. 1t is one,
| therefore, which The Legislature cannot ultim-
ately control, and which 1t should have no de-
sire to control, nor oven TO delay BY any lnjudl-
cious denial Of legal facilities, when the public
mind is as ready to consider and decide upon It
| as it is now. For these reasons, and for others
which forbear to introduce, recommend to
the Legislature he passage Of law authors
ing vote of the people Of this State to be tax
zen at the next general election, upon the sub
Iject of calling a Convention 10 revise and am
end the Constitution, and the passageof pro-
visional law. regulating the organization and o
ither matters incident to such Convention, should
it be the will Of the majority Of the people to re-
i quire one.
/ Without going at ali into the various objects
of constitutional amendment. for which Con-
vention is wanted, being forbidden to do so by
the necessary limits Of this communication, il
I is admissible. at least, to express the ardent
hope. that that principal one in view,a !e-arran-
iged and amended basis Of representation, may
be so accomplished as to obliterate, forever, the
political divisions which the present Constitu-
ton has fixed upon the State, and to
! consolidate our people, in all quarters,
by relationships Of interest and feeling
as well as Of government, kinsllier and
stronger than have ever distinguished
| them before. And this, doubt not
can be done, unless there is an unwise
adherence to extreme demands, and
done too to the benefit and safety ofaiI,
without the violation on the one hand
of any rights Of persons or of properly,
or the surrender on the other of any
cherished principle of government.
| But to this end. the Commonwealth
must be treated as whole,a and a whole
incapable of being divided into separ-
ate interests and separate parts by any
Constitution whatever, which can be
{ expected TO endure. Pacihcation and
union are the only basis upon which a
! Constitution can securely and firmly
i stand. One -ofthe greatest evils which
! Virginia has ever encountered in her
internal government, which has done
much TO impede her progress, 10 hum
bic her fortunes and to control the early
and suspicious promise of her destiny,
has been the wan, of felt and absolute
unity amongst her people. She has
long, in many particulars of government
and Legislation, been a divided Com
moaweal'h, struggling with the jealou-
sizes OF contendlng, instead ef trium-
phing in the achievements and power
of a harmonious and united family
Let her be so no more; and let it not
be al this hour, when all her hopes de-
mand that she should be thoroughly,
cordially and indivisibly one, that some
new element of discord is 10 be fasten-
ed upon her; some new line of separa-
ton to be struck through her territory,
and thus through her peace, and the fu-
ture history of her government be pain
fully marked by the tears oflhe patriot
and the scorn of the wise.
Since your adjournment, the great
national measure, which was then pen
ding for the Annexation of the Repub-
! lie of Texas, and the admission of it as
one ofthe States of this Union, has re-
eeiyed the full consent of the people Of
that Republic, and has otherwise been
consumnated SO far as to require only
the ratification Of our government 10
render Ii final and complete; and this,
being no more than a confirmation of
the terms first consented to and then
submitted by itself, it will doubtless re-
ceive fully and in good faith. Regar-
ding the measure, therefore, as in fact
accomplished, and regarding it, more
over, IN It's entire range of effect, as
timely and benefcent contribution to
the strength, security and general bles-
sing of our Union, congratulate you,
and with you our common country,upon
it. No measure since our revotu,iona-
ry day, has given either such an illus.
tration or such an impetus to our prin.
ciples of government as this; and none,
IN any age, nor amongst any people,
| has ever secured for a country SO rich
an acquisition by means so honorable
to itself, or so void OF injury and jus
tifable offence 10 others. The terrific
ry which we have heretofore added to
our domain, and from which State af-
ter State has been successfully formed,
has been acquired by the force and viz
tue of money only. But here an en-
pire larger than France, and as delight
full in its natural endowments as Italy,
is given TO US, and given upon the sim
gle condition, that the community that
bes,ows it may have the privilege oil
blending lis destiny with ours, and
have the magnificent dowry il has bro't
US placed forever under the governments
and our people. On all sides Of us, and
in all periods of the world, we have the
spectacle of nations surrounding Them