Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-29

and indeleasls'c right 10 reform, alter or
abolish" its Government, Fin such man
ner as shall be judged most conducive TO
The public veal"
Here then, the whole subject, by ex-
pres recognition Of The highrs, authority.
is committed 10 the people and made their
own. II is one, therefore, which The Leg
isa,ure cannot ultimately control, and
which it should have no desire 10 contrel,
nor even TO delay by any injudicions dem
ial Of legal facilities, when the public
mind is as ready 10 consider il and decide
upon il as il i, now. For these reasons,
and for others which forbear TO introduce
| recommend 10 the Legislature the pas
sage ola law authorship vote Of the
people OF this State TO be taken at the
next general election upon the subject Of
calling Convention 10 revise and amend
tie Constitution. and the passage also Of
provisional law, regulating the organza-
ton and other matters incident TO such
Convention, should il be theisill off ma
Iority of the people to require one.
Without going at all into the various
objects of Constitutional amendment for
which Convention is wanted, being for
hidden TO do so by the necessary limits OF
this communication, il is admissible at
least, 10 express the ardent hope, that the
principal one in view, re-arranged and
amended basis olreprese ntallon, may be so
accomplished as TO obliierate, forever, the
political divisions which the present Con-
stituiion has fixed upon the State, and TO
cor yolidaie our people, in all quarters, by
relationships of interest and feeling as well,
as of government. kndlier and stronger
than have ever distinguished them before.
And this, doubt no! can be done, unless
there is an unwise adhereDce to extreme
demands, and done too TO the benefit and
safety of all, without the violation on the
one hand Of any rights of persons or Of
property. or the surrender on the other of
any cherished principle of government
But to this end, the Commonwealth
must be treated as a whole, and whole
incapable of being divided into separate
Interests and separate paris by any Con-
stiiuton whatever, which can be expected
to endure. Pacifcation and union are
the only basis upon which Constitution
can securely and firmly stand. One Of
the greatest eylls which Virginia has ever
encountered in her internal government.
which has done much to impede her pro-
gress, to humble her fortunes and 10 con-
troll the early and auspicious promise of
her destiny, has been the want Of a felt
and absolute unity, amongst her people,
She has long, in many particalars OF gov
eminent and legislation, been a divided
Commonwealth, struggling with the jeal-
ousies of a contending, instead of triumph
ing in the achievements and power Of a
harmonious and united family. Let her
be so no more and let it not be at this
hour, when all her hopes demand that
she should be thoroughly, cordially and
indivisibly one, that some new element Of
discord is TO be fastened upon her: some
new line desperation TO be struck through
her territory, and thus through her peace,
and the future history Of her government
be painfully marked by the tears of the
patriot and the scorn OF the wise.