Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-01
STATE REFORM

wa 'aie0
parties.
STATE REFORM.
In republishins this morning from The Wheel
ing Argus an interesting sketch OF The objects Of
the different parties in The West who are in Ia
vor Of a Convention, we cannot forbeal 10 give
our cordial appreciation 10 the liberal and sound
views advanced BY The people Of Marshall coun-
Is a, their meeting last May; which views were
re-echoed by The meeting al Triadelphia in Ohio
county, whose proceedings we published on Sa-
turday. Coming from the West, these opinions
are entitled 10 much weight. While these re-
formers are anxious for a removal of the inany
evils Of our present Constitution, they are will
ling 10 surrender the "white basis" question,
which, If il be pressed, must defeat am State
Convention, and endanser The harmony AMI in
tegrily OF Virginia. The Marshall and Ohio
reformers come forward with IA propositim, 10
harmonic conflicting interests and opinions
They propose The Federal basisot representation
as a common ground on which The East and West
oughttu meet in union and harmony, and frame
a constitution more in accordance with the test
interests oil all portions Of the Stale. II will be
remembered that, last Winter, the Eastern mem
bers were willing 10 unite with the Yves, in a Con-
vention-but a majority Of The Western members
made the "while basis" a sine qua nm for The Or
ganization of a Convention. This The East
could mol surrender, and the matter was dropped.
We know not whether The opinions OF The West
have since that line materially changed but |
is evident that a respectable number OF The West
ern reiormers have surrendered the extreme
claim of The "white basis" with 4 view 10 have
The Constitution remodelled upon correct princi-
pies. There are many points upon which The
East and West can act with union in reforming
the Constitution. Is il not sufficient 10 refer 10 a
single instance, the odious system Of double vo-
ting, whose mischieyous operation the Eas, has
as warmly reprobated as their brethren Of the
Wesil II is unnecessary 10 specify The various
reforms upon which every section Of The State
Nigh, reasonably unite. We hope 10 see the libe-
raj spiri, oithe Ohio county resolutions spreading
over the West. II is destined to exert a genial
influence in harmonizing The feelings of every
Virsinian; and when the people shall be ready
for a Convention, a modification Of The organic
law may be effected, without the disruption OF
the GOOD old State, which many have predicted
The Wheeling Argus, the organ OF The REFORM
ets, to whom VT have alluded, expresses itself as
follows:
1.-THE Reforms proposed by the Marshall
County "Declaraliun," balance the sectional in
lerests, obli!erate The Observation-Disclosures, and
secure individual rights, and extend the area of
constitutional freedom. Ii takes away from any
section the power TO oppreSs-it limits The ener
gies Of evil, and secures TO every man The full
share of his political rights. 1t prevents the ty-
ranny of a local majority from depressing a
local minority-lhe public purse is secured better
than by lock and key, and the responsibility OF
every officer, and of every department 10 the
people is fixed and certain. The opposite evils,
which endanger the perpstuily Of Republics, are
ayoided-consnlidalion is prevented, and anarchy
is arrested. Virginia may, by This course, be
placed in a condition Tor improvement, for de-
v~eloping her popular energies, Tor continuing her
Influences in The affairs Of The General Govern
meni, for preserving the balance OF the States,
and The continuing welfare and safety OF The peo-
pie and The Union"
From he Wheeling August
STATE REFORM PARTIES.
As far as we can learn, there are The following
parties for State Reform in the West:
The first, are those who insist that reform
shall be yielded TO them upon The terms which
they peremptorily demand. There are men who
rush headlong upon conclusions, and from their
conclusion 10 action. They have not well weigh
ed their own power, and The rights and anthori-
ty ollhose with whom they must inevitably come
in conflict, il such course be persisted in. Some
Of these men are enthusiastically devoted 10 ulli.
mate principles. They would swell The army Of
Governor Dorr, and afford another example OF
the necessity Of The constitutional interference ol
The National Force. As some OF these men are
good Democrats, we advise them not 10 persist in
this course, as James X. Polk has a long arm
and a strong arm, which reaches even TO Mexico,
and can strike down rebellion or suppress insur-
~reclions, halched by designing intriguers anddisap-
pointed a~spirants in the little law shops OF Wheel
ing and other Towns. Oflhis class a few have other
motives than The common veal or The ilnal sell
Element oil the important matters embraced IN The
proposed reforms oil The Stale.
There is a second class-The DiyiSionists.-
So far as we learn The stale of The parties, these
come from The Wing Party, and from those towns
and points in the West that would be likely 10 be
the new Capitol of The mar STATE, which, like Eve,
in some hour Of lelharsy and sleep is 10 be taken
from the side ofold Virginia. Under the disguise OF
this portion of State re(ofmers are also embraced
all those who cry reform, for The purpose o fcon-
cealing their true intention OF defeating reform.
They are men who are well acquainted with pub
lie sentiment in the East, and know that neither
reform nor Dorrism can prevail, as long as The
East and West are kept at a direct and antagonislic
issue, and that so long they will reap The benefit
of the abuses of The present system. These are
the men whose folly and selhshness govern many
counties Of The State, upon the same principle that
the child of an A'henian Tyrant governed the
world; 'my child governs his mother, MS mother
governs me, | govern Athens, Athens governs
Greece and Greece governs The world" VINO VIII
paraphrase this, and apply il 10 that clique, al
ways eyilly-advised, and i'll direc'ed by The pas.
sions and The seIfshness Of men who compose il,
and which governs Wheeling, which governs
Ohio county, which sells up 10 govern The North
West. This section Of The Divisionisls know
that division never can be obiaincdi they know
that The Congress of The United States would ne
yer become accessories 10 the matricidal act
they know that reform never can be obtained
while the opposing parties ale kept in this hostile
altitude towards each other - and that, thus long,
their day of petty ambition and county-court ~
ranny will be prolonged. These are the men, de-
signing, artful and impudent, who coolly propose
,olhe people, like Satan in the garden OF Eden, The
apple of discord, treason, crime and dishonorable
defeat. They know they canno, succeed, and
thai BY defeating reform, they keep in a state Of
disiranchisement a large body OF The Democratic
party, while they fraudulenily. quality. their own
men rs voters for presidential elections; they
know that 50 long as The present abuses exist,
they can msdiatize unfortunate and suhlugaleh
MARSHALL. and create their instruments Tor their
own purposes; they know lha, with these ready
instruments Of a corrupt ambition they can,
wber circumstances combine TO favor Them, by
The dealh or elevation Of a Judge, make those ef
forts for their personal aggrandizement, which,