Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-12-15
THE sTAUNToN CONVENTION

On The subject Of calling State Convention
10 reform the present Constitution OF Virginia
assembled in Sraunlon on Wednesday las. Fifty
or sixty delegates were in attendance, represent
| ing l6 or 20 counties. We have not seen The OIL
| fetal proceediogs-bul The Rockingham Register
says that P Hunter Esq, OF Berkeley, was
| President; DR.. John G. Brown and +. McMul-
len, Esq, were Vice Presidents; and Hugh w.
Shelley, Esq and some other member acted as
Secretaries.
The Republican furnishes the following pre-
amble and resolutions adopted by the Convention,
which adjourned finally en- Thursday:
The members VI this Convention, assembled
for the purpose OF considering and determining
.-l.. ona.ee /, n,ay Lc iuvot eAteuien,, unlri
Isling circumstances for The advocates Of Reform
in our Stale Constitution 10 pursue, in order TO
ensure The call OF a Convention, in which the PEG.
pie of all portions OF the Commonwealth shall be
fairly and equally represented-have, after due
deiberation, adopted The following resolutions,
expressive Of their opinions, upon The important
subjects therein referred to- which they beg leave
10 submit 10 The candid consideration OF their TEL
low citizens throughout he Stale Of Virginia
l. Resolred, Tha, the Whie People OF this
Commonwealth are the 0aty parties 10 The social
compact, 10 which The Governments under which
we live owes its origin in which "al power is
vested, and from whom all power is consequent
~ derived" and that they, and they alone con-
slilute The Community" for whose benefit our
form Of Government was Instituted, and ma
jorily Of whom have, in The language Of The Bill
of Rights IAN indubable, unalienabe and inde-
feasible right, 10 reform, alter, or abolish OheiI
for I'm Of Governmeni,) in such manner as shall be
Judged most conducive 10 The public veal
9 Reso.red, That whenever the people deem il
proper, from m0ttres n eonrentcnce, TO transact
their business either in organizing government,
or administering il afterwards, every potion Il
them ought to be fairly and equally represented
in lie body 10 whose hands such agency IS COM
United.
g. ReDred, That the white population is lie
only basis Of Representation in the General As
sembly, which ever ought 10 be recognized BY The
people OF Virginia.
A. Resolred, Thai whilst we hold every ciyiii
zed community 10 be bound BY the mosl sacred
obligations 10 protect its citizens in The iul and
uninterrupted enjoyment OF their property, We
cannot acknowledge mere nn!ounded apprehen-
sion that change in the Constitution may rem
der The possession OF property less secure, fur
nishes any apology, much less justification, 10
those who endeavor 10 hold power, accidentally or
unlus,ly acquired. in opposition 10 the wishes,
their elow-citizens, and Of the principles Of JUS
ice.
5. Resolred Tha, the allegation that property
would be less secure by a re-apporlionmenl Of the
representation in The General Assembly upon the
basis of white population, is utterly unfounded in
fact and grossly unjust TO The majority of the PEG.
pie OF this Commonwealth.
6. Resoired, Tha, the existing Constitution of
this State, is in many respects imperfect and de-
ieclive, unequal and unjust in lis operations, and
Inconsistent with the great fundamental princi-
pies of free government, as SCI iorlh IN our Bill OF
Rights.
7. R,0lred That notwithstanding majority OF
The repress natives OF the people in The General
Assembly have repeatedly refused either 10 call
! Convent n, organized on fair OF sound Rcpubli-
can principles, or 10 submit the question OF calling
one 10 The people themselves, we still feel too
much confidence in the in'estly, patriotism and
good sense Of that PORTION OF our fellow clllzens
who have more than their Just proportion OF re-
presentation in The General Assembly, 10 be-
ieve lha, they will persist in the vain effort 10 re-
lain il, when The inequality Of that representation
shall become (as il SOON wil) loo pa'pable 10 es-
ca pc their own observation.
s. Resolred, That whilst We regard The speedy
| call OF a properly organized Convention, 10
amend The Constitution Of the Stale, as no, only
necessary but inevitable, we deem il exfeden',
| under existing circumstances, that The call ut
! Convention 10 aller or amend The Constitution
should be postponed until The result Of the next
census shall be known.
p. S. The latter resolution was so amended as
10 leave i, 10 The friends Of Convention, in the
Legislature, whether or not further action should
be had on he subject before Tie census.