Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-10-29
TO THE REFORMERS OF BERKE-
LEY.

/ by a Committee appointed al the late STAUs-
TON CONVENTION, urging you to call meetings
and organize your County, with view 10
united and harmonious action upon the great
subject Of Constitutional Reform. We accom-
panied that letter with some editorial remarks,
asking the attention of the Reformers of Berke-
ley to it, and urging the call Of meeting at
November Court for the appointment Of Dele
gates to the Staunton Convention, which is TO
meet on the Cd day of December next, but no
responding voice has come back TO us-no
meeting has yet been called, notwithstanding
only one week remains before the sitting OF
the Court--the last and only public occasion
upon which the people Of the County are like
ly to be assembled. previous to the meeting of
the Convention. We had determined to say
nothing more upon the subject, feeling perfect
ly satisfied that we had faithfully discharged
our duty, and exerted our humble abilities TO
their utmost to awaken and keep alive the spir-
it OF Reform in this County. In the hands of
the people we determined to rest the subject,
and if they chose TO act in the matter well, if
/
not, we We're content. But it is made our du-
ty this week TO lay before the people Of the
County, an "ADDREss TO THE People OF
VIRGINIA." prepared by Committee appoint
ed for that purpose, by the STAuNroN Con
vENTioN Of the l7th of August last. Wecom
mend this Address to the perusal of the Reior-
mers OF Berkeley, and invite their action upon
| it. Win they aot2 viii the men of Berke-
Reform now ialter in their duty? VIII they
| forget that they were the men who in April
last originated the Stauuton Convention .
Win they forget that it was mainly attribute
bic to their neglect of duty, that the August
Convention failed, and the Reform party Of
| Virginia were subjected to the taunts and ieers
OF the enemies OF popular rights in their own
county and throughout the State? VIII they
remember the Resolves put forth by them in
such strong terms at the April meeting-their
| HUNDRED Delegates-and their Committee to
issue an address TO the people Of every County
in the State urging upon them the great and
deep importance of the August Convention
Did that Committee discharge its duty? No,
Did the Hundred Delegates go to Stauuton I?
No. not man Of them was there. They who
had invited others to the work were among
the missing themselves. They acted indeed
.the part of''Lame Captains" and commenced
a retreat before the battle began"
The enemies Of Reform here have always
commended that the State did not want Reform,
and the people We're not ripe for agitation
Such Arguments were once scornfully rejected
by Reformers, but now indeed some Of US, we
fear, have learnt the same convenient song
Were we in earnest-were we contending
against grossly unjust and unequal govern
ment--were we hones ia our denunciations
OF our present organic law-were we moved
by generous and patriotic impulses, when we
assembled in Mas Meetings in November,
1915, and April, 1916, and urged the people to
its overthrow If so, "what change has
come over the spirit of our dreams 2" What
cause existed then, that does not exist now
What defect has been cured-whst enormity
stricken out2 None-none whatever. Eve
ny cause impelling US To action exists sull, and
the true, honest and disinterssted Reformer,
who is 'for the cause for Tie sake Of tie cause"
will cling to it, and, guided by the gles1ous
and thrilling motto Of Eight on--.fgh eeer,"
will contend for his cause as long as the evil
remains unremedied. How then shall we act
and atone "ior those things which we ought
to have DONE" and "have left uAdone ?"-
Respond to the call Of our Staunton friends
with our friends from other sections Of the
State, aud form some general, harmonious,
and united course of action throughout the
State This StauntOn Convention should by
no means be permitted 10 prove failure. A
! failure this time, and hundreds of sincere and
ardent Reformers will retire frsm the contest
in disgust at the delay, procrastlnation and vas
cillation constantly practlced upon them
Drive these men from us and the whole cause
is gone-ihe Anti Reiormers will take the cit
adel without firing a gun. Ii is Strange
passing strange" 10 us that tho Reformers suf-
| fer themselves 10 be so gulled and hoodwisk-
ed by their enemies. They are constantly
reading US lectures, and giving us advice,
which many Of us are in the habit of taking
instead of rejecting We must take our own
counsels, and act after our own dictates and
plans. 1t is 'foo soon," many say. Who
teaches that doctrine ?-the enemies of Re
form. We counsel you, Reformers, to reject
all such arguments-it is the rock against
which you have too often run and wrecked
yourselves. 1t is not "too soon''-in this as
in other matters, there is no time Ike The pre-
sent What need you care about the excite
ment in the public mind about the Mexican
War, &c.-has that any thing to do with the
redemption and regeneration ofyourState from
the expressions olan unjust, unequal and Anti
Republicaniorm Of Goyernmentl--the open
ing ofyour roads ?--the education Of your peo-
pie and tse Development of pour nnE0-r.l ans