Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-09-26
G Y La.iUIs 81 iic i:AqrH"'
- cor,emher | lin, it.iJ.


Ina Communication fof your paper :9hic "te"s
since, sailed, thai i'll my intercourse WIN w
people. had found very genera ieeiihs III "a
vor OF the call Of Convention tor ainehclnS ou'
State Constitution. Since lie dale OF laat episie,
lhcTe has been much discussion OF Tie question
in The newspapers circulating among Us, when
has led 10 \ more tull Geveloptment Of public
opinion on lie subject. It's 70" qnie OBVIOUS
thai The friends OF Convention cannot boast ol
a very near approach Ia unanimity, IN favor OF
their measure, IN the upper counties oi inis us
irict-yet, il is certain, iink that they consli-
tuie decided majority OF The people ihercoi:-
No public meetings have been he'd, however,
nor has there been any expression o! popular SEN
tment in an official shape.
Our convenlionists are mol unmlnului Oh 'he
many well-iounded objections 10 an attempt I'M
der ordinary circumstances 10 aler lnnuaineh-
taly The forms oflhe Government nhder "nicn
we live. They would mol consent 10 Inc eau OF
Convention al The present lime, except upon
very strong conviction of i!e meas Hh9f a eHah2e
IN ar Constitution. An experience OF hi;eeh
years has convinced them OF inc exisehce % ue-
feels IN thai instrument which Loudly ran iof 'nc
correcting hand OF reform. IL j., surely no '''ole
Than justice 10 stale that "ieckle>s eXpeIlmen
t1i'i ihSh lHHU.GuIlS, d"" ''"~'. nv
are wholly inapplicab. 10 them.
would respectfully suggest, tina! some news
paper correspondents. Ea.l OF The Ridge, have
erred IN treating The proposition Tor Sta'e reform
as exclusively 'IIiSern ..e0snrc." Thai The peo-
pie oil Western Virginia are almost unanimously
IN favor oi The call Of Convention IS uonp.iess
true; bnt are they not iuy sustained ID lhiS ny
large portion Of the population Eas, OF The Ridge!
have Just stated my belief that The ,'keicTmers
constitute majority in his and o'her counties
OF, the Filth Congressional Dislrict-and ne anne,
| have nc doubt may lie said OF several impor-
liant scct'ons Of The Eastern division 81 the State
Indeed. Judging from the indications now before
rs, is il rot Just as kely that The cohven''onIss
are IN majority as minority on MS site OF
the mountains? In The Northern Neck, on The
South Side, in the iide-waer reeion-in word,
in all paris OF Eastern Virginia The voices Tor
'change! "change!' ale neiihe "iew nor lar
between" The error, then, OF treating The call
Tor Convention as 'nohins bit a HcNeta
scheme" must te apparent 10 al; md those WHO
expect 10 make capital in The Eas by unworthy
appeals 10 prejudce> and Jeaolsies against
the West, will probably be d-appoln:ei-
Eastern men, BY birth, education and residence,
take decided ground in favor ., CoEven-
ton; and Why should they no. Do thci,
thereby, give evidence OF their willingness
10 aharGcn the rights and interests Of tle:
own division OF he Stale s. il is con-
tended but without The slightest juse oT reason,
- far as can understand. The kas'rrn Con-
venlioai>is contend that a tie risl ol Suffrage
now stands, numerous ami reSpce allie portion
of unr icllowci.izers are unIu>ly derived! Of he
privilege al voting. Do ihty pr,gc false 10
themselves in advocating the call Z a Conven-
iun, 10 do Justice 10 TIE rights q: ALI Tic lock
uTon the right Of v,ling in diicien coun'i'', al
tie same election, according 10 our IeSeni Con-
siiiulun nc shocking 10 all lcr Republican sei-
,ihi!ies." Are they recreant 10 themselves III
iavoring Convention 10 ~. stop t,al>, IN cr-
/, Grf that The fer may moi control he fGHB III our
] Stale Elections They, (or doubles most OF
/ ihem believe that important charge are Gceded
I in cur Judiciary. Are they guilty oil - ahandon-
mcn 0!iheir rights. ninsstins u1ona on:cniion
for introducing some sanitary reforms MO this De-
partmenl Of the Government? They, Cir certainly
a large portion CT lhem,) think ;ha Virginia
should eject her GoTernor by the rcope, after lie
manner Of all her sister States, Souti Caioiina
excepted Arc they Justly cEarseabe i Ii de-
i sc!inn OF their rights, Tor sustaining aConven-
';,n 10 give 10 the Sov-reigns' The elecrn OF the
Chief Magistrate Of lie S'a'c} Many re>lions
might he added with equal licplery: hu lei these
4 suffice. To II" mind. il i clear that The reform.
crs on this side Of lie Ridge are net onoyious
Ia the reproach nI having abandoned &c rights
al ''lrf own their native land" Try have
! oniy conendet and sill contend. ;or suclchanoes
! ana alterations in our State Con>li!utiu rs they
believe, from fifteen wears experience, i,
sontial 10 The iuure prosperity and Gor ci The
! Commonwcalth-the rioie Commonwealth
| But, say the advocates 81 The present tnnS,;ln-
| lion, il we hold Contention. he White hasi, OF
representation will be adoPet, and Tie Srejie
i will dep.l, from Jutah"-ur. in o!her wrde, Tie
power Of our Stat. Government will pas from
he Fast 10 he Wcs,. These Gill, il isccrain,
cannot come upon :ceni ~ cur own oi.seal.
The organi2aiio: e: the Convection "; IL il
The h9;,is al The Fest which Lnw has > najoriiy
OF = in l!:e Legislature Ii i hoped al ouf
WcSiein friend, will not iaS>, upon I'll. white
basis Is ii sac pa a"d: Ia. Il !e: Gc il mol
probable they will Il in their oijcci, Cyl il the
Convention should le organized as fnDiqas lhev
cord reasonably ask? In He Convection OF
lS29 there were at first, il my memoir serves
ne g Tor lie white has> and l. AGAINST OF
( the 10 four believe were from Inc 4 Her arle ,
I iron the Campbell and J from The PHI. iyania
district. Without, pretending 10 any accva:c IN
/ formation Oh The subject. think il NAV BE- safely
se!down lhai each OF these districts is now ;sainst
+ The white basis. Many have been indeed 10
change their views upon this question, in onsc-
quence Of our peculiar position in regard } sla-
/ very believing that The abandonment / The
principle Of slave representation in our State
\ might furnish The fanatics in Congress with. pre-
text for urging their proposition 10 tisregai sla
/ very in The National apporionmcnt From this
cause, il is guile likely The white basis may
/ los, ground in most paris Of the State hut cunt
ing The districts above namc,' IS The only ores
csGhsed since 1899, il will be seen that line ihcr
/ side nt The question must have majority lis
/ favor OF III, il the districts BE arranged pre- sely
as they then were. So il would seem, from ap-
| pareni!y reliable data, ha! Inc fears Of some Of
our Eastern friends are less likely to be red zcd
than might, at first blush, he imagined. III any
rate, the friends Of reform in this division Of he
State. with the lights now before them think
The threatened danger TO Eastern ascendai9v,
wholly insufficient 10 deter them from going Lilo
| Convention 10 secure important changes in he
Constitution, which they believe will benclicaly
affect The entire Commonwealth.
! Your able correspondent, 9An Eastern ReFn5-
lican," presents some facts, figures and arsi
mens, which, it is believed, fully refule The obje.-
tons most relied upon against Convention. lie
has suggested some "guards Tor our future secu-
rity," which, il Incorporated into new Constu-
ton, might render US safe, even in The event q
the adoption Of The white basis. But my sheet j,
full, which hope you will take as satisfactory
apology for the abrupt conclusion OF this hastily
| written communication
Very respectfully, yours,
a DEMOCRAT or THE MOUNTAINS
/ 3F VERMONT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS return!
from every county in the State show That - De
mocrais lis Wings, and 10 Abolitionists have
4 In ,hn nj RprTE c