Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-03-05

quate, or fails to efectuate the original
design Of lis trainers? Surely the PEG
pie, whose Government il is--in them
collectively, as we are informed by the
second article ofthe Bill of Rights, ali
power resides, and is in these words:
"That all power is vested in, and corr
sequenty derived from, the people;
that magistrates are their trustees and
servants, and at all times amenabIe to
them. /" 1.-THE people have the right
to decide this question for themselves,
will any one contend that less than a
majority Of them can rghtlully cxer-
else this power, in exclusion Of The re-
maindel' fla less number than a ma
jority have the right, what proportion
can exercise it, and what proportion is
to. be excluded 1t is believed that
this question will be difficult to answer
satisfactorily. BY he first article OF
the Bill of Rights we are informed,
THAT all men are by nature equally
free and independent" II this be
true, where is the foundation for the
anomaly, that one man, in a Govern
ment protesting these principles, has
the right TO control two of his fellow
citizens in deciding whether the or
ganic law does or does not produce
the greatest degree of happiness and
safety; or whether it does or does not
require amendment?
l may safely assume, that there is
no principle in Nature that would au-
thorise ibis departure from all our nat
ural notions ofjustice; and | may, with
equal confidence, affirm, that there is
no conventional obligation binding up
on the citizens of of,his Commonwealth
to submit to any such anti-Repub!ican
doctrine. But, ifthere were any such
rule recognised in the compact, it
would be absolutel y null and void, by
reason Of its incompatibllity with the
first article of the Bill of Rights-be-
ing one of ;he "idherent rights" of
which the people, on entering into a
state of society, cannot divest their
poseri,y.
The biil, to which l offer an amend
ment. proposes to submit to the per-
sons now entitled to the right of suf-
frage, the question, in the first place,
whether they are in favor of the call of
Convention to amend the Constitu-
ton of the State; and, so far, the object
is perfectly compatible with the Bill of
Rights, and entirely consistent with all
our notions Of governmental policy.
1t further provides, that if it shall be
ascertained that a majority of the peo-
pie entitled to the night o: suffrage,
who shall give an expression of opin-
ion on that subject, desire Conven-
ton, then, the same qualified voters
are to assemble and elect the delegates
TO the Convention, In the same numbers
and from the same places as the pres.
ent House Of Delegates are now cleo
ted; to whom is to be confided the i'm
portant question whether The ConStilu-
ton, in rs practical operation, fails to
produce the greatest degree of happi.
ness and safety, and, therefore, demands
amendment; and, if so, what amend
ment shall be made. To such body
as this, elected as above stated, 1t is
proposed to conide all the political
rights of an acknowledged free and III
dependent people. So far as this bill
proposes to sabmi; the question to the
qualified voters ofthe Commonwealth,
whether they ere in favor Of The cali Of
IA Convention to amend the Cons1iln-
ZION of The State, ii meets my unquali-
fed Appreciation; 50 far it is legitimate
and proper, and so far only.
Would il rot be an absurdiiy 10 say,
tina, majority of the community, have
"A right to decide, whether there is
necessity for a change in the Cons;i'u
ton, without having light IL
decide, whether there is necessity tor
a change in the Constitution. wiihon'
having the right, also TO determine,
by their representatives, what change
should be made' This bill, il carried
into law, would certainly convict the
community of that absurdity. Is i,
reasonable, that majority Of the com
munity, should conce,Ie that righ'' Is
there any thing so peculiar, either in
the conflicting territorial limits of The
State. or the unequal distribution of an
unfortunate species of property, with
which she is possessed, to authorize Sc
great sacrifice of principles |
Fiji is true ihat majority Of the !
community have the right to reform, al
ter or abolish the Constitution, it is |
very clear, that the adoption of this !
bill will deprive the majority of that
right. There cannot be any thing, IN
any Republican form Of Government,