Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-04
THE BALL IN MOTION.

| We transfer TO our columns from the Harrison
Republican" she proceedings Of the HARRISON
CousTY RERoRa MEETisG, and commend them 10
the attention Of readers They will be found un-
der the head Of Constitutional Reform, our first
page. The preamble and resolutions submitted to
this meeting, are from the pen OF Judge EDWIN S.
DUScAS, one of the present Judges Of the General
Cour. Of Virginia, and prominent member of the
Convention by which the present Consolation Of
Virginia was framed.
! We desire to Berkeley CouHty moving upon
the subject Of calling Convention as we believe
majority of her people. without distinction of par
ty, are 10 favor of altering and amending cur pres
ent State Constitution. If we are correct in this
opinion, it is high time that the people were mo-
wing in the matter, and some measures were adop-
ted for calling meeting of the people of the Coun-
/ ty for expression OF their views. Who will he
the first 10 act in the movement We throw open
our columns TO courteous discussion upon the sub
iect, and we invite the opponents, as well as the
! friends OF Convention, to give their views and
1 opinions to the public. We wish tho arguments
on both sides TO be laid before our readers, and
we know thereare those in this County who are OPP
posed, end those who are friendly to Convention,
emiuea'ly qualified to discuss the whole suhjec,
in all Gifts delicate and multiplied bearings, with
ability and satisfaction 20 the public mind. This
subjsct ia agitating the whole State, and is
destined to become one of the most deep and abb
sorbing questions that has been submitted to the
confederation of the people of Virginia for many
yesrs past and hence the necessity of all having
Intelligent understanding of the important issue
which is to be submitted to their decision. That
this suhject is destined TO exercise a mest ag.a-
ting effect upon the public mind, can be clearly
seen in twofacts which are now apparent to every
one--hr.t we see almost the entire Eastern section
of the State marching in solid column against a
Convention in any shape or form, and preparing
Themselves, assiduously to crush the whole move-
!nent upon the Threshold by voting it down in the
Legislatare upon the question Of submitting the is
sue OF ConveHttea or 40 Cenvention to the people
I Second while we see almost all of the Coun
ties in the Valley and Western Virginia united in
favor of the call Of Convention, still there
ny Of them very widely apart and much distracted
upon many of the details of Organization. and the
needed and desired subjects of Reform. 1t strikes
US then as of the utmost Importance, that the peo-
pie should understand we'll what they going
do. before the day OF action arrives, for it is no
slight and everyday matter TO 90 to work and des-
troy the organsc-lae of the land without having
intelligent view of its evils aud burthens, and
1 ;,,;n. adg of vytat "a paa1aG in IL.
place. The diifcultes which we suggest above,
strike our huGble judgment as important and wor
thy the consideration Of the people of Berkeley
County, and therefore invite them 20 its calm
and deliberate discussion.
Our own position is we'll known to the people of
Rerkeey-we have more than once dsfned iiH the
columns of The Gazette" and have never hesita
ted TO give it in conversation when occasion
or circumstances called for an expression of II.
We are the decided friends of Convention. and
shall devote our humble abilities srdently and sim
cerely in doing all that to arouse the public
mind to The nefieenoy and uusuitsbleness of the
present Constitution of Virginia to development
OF her prosperity and the government of Repub-
caR people la remarks we shall always
guard ourselves agains, running into radicaism,
or resentipg to the tricks of demsgogvsm to car
~ point or to invest our subject with interest to
the needless and headlong wko clamor for Reform
at any and ell hazards. We are no radicals-our
political education has not been formed in the
school Of dsmasoguisM. sIId as we increase in
Years, we hope our wisdom and foresigh hit increa-
- u a L.,
ready to devote our humble abilities and to exert
every power which God has given TO the spread
of sound Republican docsrines, but not TO the dis
.emnaton ofradicaiism and ag' Neutrality-suspicious.
cursed pests and destroyers of Republican freedom
in every soil in which they strike their perniceus
roots.
We give hearty assent TO most Of the doc
trine, set forth by Judge Duncan in his eloquent
preamble and resolutions, and we therefore adopt
them as our own sentiments, except so far as we
shall now take exception to them. Let US see
What his positions are:-
LIST. That it is expedient that there should be
as,emhled, as soon as practicable, Convention to
reform the Constitution OF the State, so as to sp.
portion representation in both branches of the Leg
stature equally, according the free white popu-
latiSa OF the State"
10 this position oheerfully give our assent,
as SQUAD Republican doctrine, and the only basis
upon which representation in free Government
should bs placed.
2nd. That the eth section OF the third article Of
the Virginia Constitution ought TO be abrosated-
] for these re- sups:-
BY the constitution Of the Federal
Government, winch is paramount to the
present cosiduion of Virginia, II is pro-
v'ded ''taat representatives in Congress
shall be apportoned among the several
Siales according to their respective mum.
5ers, which shall be determined by adding
to the whole number of free persons in
GLIDING those bound to service for a term
Of years, and excluding Indians not taxed,
three fif:hs OF all other persons. The
effect of this provision is 10 give repre-.
sentation in Congress from each slave.
! holding State for three fiihs Of its slaves;
this concession to the slave holding States
> was designed, as we learn as a compromise
tor other equivalents surrendered by the