Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-25


right AID adapted to the condition and
circumstance Of the people, after an ex.
lpersence OF fifty years, was found so un.
suited. Objectionable and grievous, as to
demand and require great and important
alterations. These were affected through
a convention ofthe peoples appointed dele
gaies--thas convention formed and pro-
posed new and amended constitution,
which was adopted, not so much because
i: was the best, as because, under the cir
lcamstances, !, was the best that could be
had; and seemed, TO the majority, better
than The one against which It had com.
plained.
Under this new and amended constliu-
ton, we, people of Hampshire county
here assembled, feel that there are grew
anceswhich ought TO be, and can only be re.
lieved either by forming new, or by sig
nal alterations Of tbs present constitution ;
and while we believe that il would be
impracticable to carry out every change
IN detail, which the people IN the different
sections Of our State might deem advisa-
Bile, because OF the conflict which always
exists in such details; still we believe that
the great and permanent evils OF the ex-
listing constitution, may and ough. TO be
relieved against and that the proper mode
of obtaining thai relief, is through conven-
ton Of the peoples delegates, Tor that pur.
pose elected.
We have witnessed, in sorrow, this,
"ihe mother of States" instead of advan-
cling in national aggrandizement, power,
and prosperity, lamentabIy retrogrsding
in all three; and from the first rank in this
sisterhood Of States, sinking down below,
greatly below, that station 10 which her
natural, local, and territorial advantages
would Justly entitle her--we have seen,
year after year for long period of time,
her industry, strength, and energy Slapped,
her very hie's blood flowing off, the
bone, and sinew OF her power, and great.
ness departing in the vast numbers OF her
yeomanry, who have gone, and are still 60
ing TO seek new abode, ard better home
in the western States of this great conied.
eracy-We have seen many, very many,
OF those who have remained behind, ex.
pending their time their labor, their talents,
and their energy with but little profit,
when compared with the rewards, which
await such labor, talent, and energy in
other lands. We have heard The COM
| plants of these, and we feel that they are
just. complaints against the present con-
sttuton, which, from every quarter, all
over the State, are now rising up IN a uni
ted voice of the peope--a voice which,
sooner or later, must be obeyed-a de-
mandlng in another change, a remedy
for the grievances which Cypress them.
We believe that we and our fellow. cit
liens of Western Virginia especially, have
not, under the present constitution, that
] full weight in our legislative halls, to
which the numbers of our people would
Justly entitle us, and that we are aggrie.
we'd by the arbitrary mode Of representa-.
ton provided in that instruments mode
without principle, because arbitrary and
without Justice, because destitute Of prin.
ciples. We believe that the present laws,
Iregul ating the most sacred right OF free-
men-the right of suffiage-operate une-
qualy on US and on our fellow citizens
are Inconsistent with each other, and at
variance with principle which we hold
to be sound, Ii. e.) "That they who bear
! the burdens, and are amenable to the laws
of the government, are IN very right en-.
titled to a participation in the making of
the laws which impose these burdens. and
to which they are amenable;" provided,
however, they "have sufficient evidence
of permanent interest with an attachment
to the communicated evidence which
we believe does not reside solely in the
number Of acres, or the amount or kind
of property the citizen may have, or in
the fact, that he is, or is not. the head OF
the family We believe firmly in the
rule which would, under the above prin-
ciple, give to each citizen, the poor as
well as the rich, but one vote for one Of
fee. We believe that changes in The Ex-
ecutive, Judicial, and Legislative depart
ments of State, would be conducive 20 the
benefit and general welfare of our people !;
and while we believe these things, we
think that this is not the time, or the place,
to agitaie and discuss the alterations, in
detail, which to us would seem advisable,
suffice il, that the government, under the
present constitution, in the opinion of this
meeting, has been found, in the language
of the Bill OF Rights, "lnadequate, by pro.
duclng the greatest degree of happiness
and safety" and Of efectually securing
It's subjects against the danger Of NAL ad.
ministration," and hence that the majority
of the people ought to exercise its "indu.
bitable, unalienable and indeieasible right,
TO reform, alter or abolish it in such man.
ner as shall be judged most conducive to
the public veal" In view Of these sem
,iments, be it therefore resolved by the
people of Hampshire County, here now
assembled
FIRST. That convention should be call
ed at as early period as may be practi-
cable, for a revision of the present constl.
tuition of the State, with power TO propose
/ new, or amendments to the present,
constitution, for the adoption or rejection
Of the people.
Secondly. That to obtain this end we
will earnestly and zeaously cooperate