Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-16
REFORM NEE TING.

Pursuant to notice, the Voters Of BERKELEY
the Constitution of the State, assembled al the
Court House on Monday last, the 18th inst,
and were called TO order by Col. r. P. HUN-
TER. who nominated the following gentlemen
as Officers Of the Meeting, which nomination
was UNANIMOUSLY confirmed;
LEWIS j. WILLIS, President,
Thomas 5. PAGE,
JAMEs II. ROBINSON. y D.,
ALFRED Ross,
JOHN p. kE4RFooT, I c..
Amos WILLIAMSON,
The organization being completed, CAAs,
JAS. FAuLKSER, ESQ, rose and explained the
object Of the meeting, and proceeded to ad-
dress the People, for the space Of an hour, in
an able and eloquent exposition Of the prnci-
Piles and views sought 10 be accomplished by
the friends Of Reform in an alteration or amend
ment of the Constitution of the State. AT the
conclusion Of his address, he moved the APP
pointment of Committee of l3 by the Chair,
to report preamble and resolutions expressive
of the sense of the meeting, whereupon the
following Committee were appointed:
Chas. J. Faulkner, Israel Robinson, VIM.
L. Boak, H. J. Sebert, SamL Reese, Alex.
Robinson, f. P. Hunter, Jas. E, Stewart, f.
G.. Alburtis, Jas. Criswrll, John Blair Hoge,
Andw McCleary Israel II. Ianney;
Who retired and after mature deliberation,
through their Chairman, submitted the follow
ing preamble and resolutions to the cousidera-
ton of the Meeting, which being read-were
ON motion unanimously adopted.
The citizens and voters Of the county
of Berkeley friendly TO a change in the
Organic Law Of this State, believing that
the existing Constitution has been found
inadequate to the great object of promot-
ing the peace, happiness and prosperity of
the People Of this State, and that ii is not
based upon principles in accordance with
our cherished ideas OF sound Republi-
can system of government, have assem-
bled for the purpose of adopting such
measures as may have the effect Of rect-
| fying the evils under which the good pco-
pie Of this Commonwealth now labor
/ l. Rcsohed, That il is the very essence
Of republican government, that the ma
1 iorily should rule, and the implied will OF
that majority constitutes the only legiti-
mate ground on which obedience can be
claimed TO the laws.
2. ReSolred, That the People OF BERKE-
LEY do not recognise this essential iea-
tuye of republicanlsm in the existing go
vernment o. Virginia; and, therefore,
however expedient il may be 10 preserve
the tranquility of the Commonwealth, by
present obedience 10 Is laws, we will ne
yer cease our exertions 10 place the 60
vernment on a basis better calculated to
secure the love, veneration and obedience
Of the People. by making il true repre-
sentative of their wishes, feelings and in
ierests.
I 3. Resoiced That they reproba,e the con-
duct of majority Of the late Legislature
of this State, in rejecting bill for taking
+ the sense of the voters on the subject Of
! a Convention Notwithstanding lis being
supported by the representatives Of ma
joriiy of the free white population Of the
State-and they hereby instruct their del
ega,es in The next General Assembly to
demand such legislative facilities as will
secure a fair expression of the will OF the
People on tina, question, firmly convinced
that by this alone can the present agita-
ton OF The public mind be allayed and the
i tranquility of the Commonwealth ensured.
1 4. Resoiged, That OF all the modes and
forms Of government the Republican is
that which is capable of producing the
greatest degree Of happiness and safety,
and is most efeci6ally secured against the
dangers of maladministration that as by
the very nature of such government the
People are the only true source of poliIi-
cal power and the majority of the COM
muniiy has the indubitable right to pre-
scribe its policy and CONTROL is legisla-
ton, it necessarily follows from these prln-
ciples, that in the arrangement of the dis
tricts Tor representation, aud IN the APP
portionmeat Of political power in the
State, regard should be had exclusively to
the free white population Of the Common
wealth.
5. Resolred, That whilst we recognise
the claim of property 10 full and adequate
protection in every well regulated socie-
ty, we cannot recognise the principle that
comedies to the owners of property, in
particular section Of the State, the whole
political power Of the State as the only
means of such protection such an assertion
OF Tgnl we REGARD DIS S''SHd "pou iSPuo"-
can institutions and grouudless libel up
on the virtue and honesty of the People !;
, bu. we are willing in delerence TO the SEN
sitive jealousy of our Eastern Brethren,
and TO guard against the occurrence OF
those possible decisions TO which the most
vir,uous Republics may not be exempt, TO
WELD our assent to each and all of the
r,naren,aas v,h;ch we're So lthpraliV ten
+ dered in the Convention Of 1880. to
2 guard against the unequal pressure Of tax
7 alton upon any portion of the State, OF
= = the partial or was,eiul appropriation of the
/ public money when collected into the
public Treasury