Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-11
IN he Editors Of Tic Enguir.
F CONVENTION.

Me.srs. Editors Il proposed, some time ago, a
nos,ponement Of the Reform Convention, with a
suggestion that i; should NEE, in The city of Rich
mond, on the 18th day of December. am happy
10 see the proposition has been received in The
West with the same liberal spirit from which il
emanated, and | should have had no necessity to
ask another place in your columns, but Tor the
views Of your correspondent "Wesf," in the
Daily Enquirer Of Saturday, the Isl August
He thinks my proposition "falal 10 the cause of
Reform" and had he proved ii 10 be SO, I assure
him. in all candor and frankness, he would have
received my ~sincerest thanks Tor the kind exercise
ot his wisdom; for | long 10 see the miserable
6o,ch. uork OF our existing Constitution, with all
,he abuses and corrup,ions it has thrown around
the high prerogative Of suffrage, superseded
by a new form Of government, based upon
sound republican principles, and imbued
with The most elevated spirit OF justice and
of liberty. | want such a Constitution, as
will ensure economy in the administration Of the
Governmenl-industry and fidelity in all our pub
lie Northumberland and light taxatiun-a
speedy and cheap dispensalion Of public justice
a strict and sacred preservation OF the rights OF
persons and property-the periodical election OF
The Governor and Justices Of the Peace BY the
peopIe-a Limitation Of the terms Of our Judges
an extension oil The Righlof Suffrage, but 10 be
confined to the people Of each town and county in
the State entitled 10 separate represeHlation-
biennial sessions OF the Legislature, The elections
10 be held Just in advance thereot-a wise system
for The extension and diffusion of popular educa-
tion-and some safe and %etfcctual mode, if prac-
! licable, to enforce the right Of instructions upon
| The representatives OF the people in The Legisla-
ture. These are substantially the reforms, and
this the plan OF government for which | con-
- - ~.-r,,a& thnrn rplr d ahan, sLo, - Il
though | hail from the East, yet ! am, in heart
and mind, a Reformer-a JefFersonian Reformer,
and that if my proposition TO hold the Convention
in the CITY OF Richmond be "jalal" 10 the cause
of Reform, il sprang from my ignorance allose-
Their, and not from any wish 10 commit so great
an injury TO so good 4 cause. ButIeally, think,
still. / am right. "Wesl' need NOT allow his
mind 10 be terrified al the overwhelming "delega-
ton" which may pour into the Convention from
"Richmond and Petersburg" or from The whole
OF Eastern Virginia, Tor | assure him, in all
good faith, the Convention cause is no, 50 popular
here as he supposes. The real difficulty will be
and i, is because Eastern Virginia is so general
", nay, almost universally, crossed 10 a Conven-
ton, that | think the friends Of Reform ought 10
meet in Richmond. Again, ! say, mo salSlary
influence can be eXerled" by a meeting OF West
ern delegates al Stanton; because there, and in
| all Western Virginia, the people are noe known
10 be united in favor Of a Convention 10 amend
the Constitution. Here, in Eastern Virginia then,
in the Capitol ofthe State, The Reformeis olall sec
lions, and from every county,, should convene, by
delegates, 10 settle their differences, and recon-
mend n liberal and wise scheme of future Co
vcrnment, such as will secure The rights, and ad-
vance the happiness OF the people Of the whole
State. Then, We may expect to make converts,
and 10 win advocates 10 onr cause-then, we may
indulge in the fond anticipation that The day
The Sabbath-of our rest is near al hand-when
we NAV be permitted, with a wise, a Just and
truly Republican Constitution in our hands, 10
"sit under our otrn r,nes and fg bes," 10 enjoy
the rich fruits of our tolls and our viclory-lhen,
TOO, when We shall have consigned the present
bungling and ricketty Constitution, with all its
defects and abuses, 10 'tAt tombs Of the Capules,"
and amazed ourselves, TO our hearts content, with
the wonder, that il should SO long have been per-
milted 10 ride the body polite as a cruel night
mare, We may well look back upon the meet
ing Of this Reform Convention in Richmond
as an occasion worthy Of an annual celebration.
But truth and candor forbid me from deceiving
our generous and patriotic brethren, The reform
ers OF the West. Ii is in vain to expect The rich
and ineslimable blessings here predicted, from a
Convention either in Slaunton or in Richmond,
if, as "West" inmates, there he no spirit of COM
promise upon the question of representation be-
yond the mountains. This contest upon that
question has been waged now for thirty years,
and public sentiment, both ip the Eas, and the
Wss,, remains wholly unchanged; and, ! venture