Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-26
FOR THE srArNroN SPECTATOR.
REFORM CONVENTION ADDRESS

NO. v.
MR. EpirOR,-We have coon H., 49,. ..,
formers" place their claims to the WIKI, oI n; ne
representation IN the Legislature ,Y,on ,b h.oss
platform OF the natural, unalienable and ;ndoSss;
bic equality OF man--that equality which I'll .rd
nature has awarded. If they are ruht in ,hoso a"e
stlons, if the natural equality of man does follow
indefeasible right, it would seem to be
10 look farther for complete justification of ,ny
claim which majority might assert.
Our "Keformers," however, are not satisfied IN
rest their claims to their favore basis of represen
'ation In convention upon this foundation. They
claim the White Basis in any Convention that may
be called as constitutional right They inform us
that ''whilo the Constitution has fixed one bass of
representation for the Legislature, it has as plainly
iixcd another (the White Basis) for any Conyen.
ton" " i ''o Ooisu'u-
,, io o.o VI us who remember the proceedings Of
the last Convention have been un,ler tho ;reDro,
sion that our Constitution contained M nrn,,;. -
us own amendment. We have thought that sstbc
marriage contract contained no agreement FIR al
vorce " 1t therefore surprised to learn that the
,heiormers" had discovered such provision. and
mat II Is 50 plain as not to be mistaken
Ihey even go 50 far as to affirm that this provi.
sion which they have discovered furnishes the onlv
mode IN which the Constitution can be chanped.
anu that 10 attempt any other, is ssn the shirt Of
Corrism to fly in the face of that sacred charterO
NOW 'DorrisIn" is favorite of mine and tho
coihht'ee could make no suggestion better calcula
ted to make me attend closely to their nan f,r con
stitutonal amendment. ! ACCORDINGLY tnrnaa e..
one constitution with a view TO examine the n,oy
sion which they seem to consider SO plain. and IN
ascertain the proper mode Of proceeding upon so inn
pOrtant subject ~ ~
was somewhat surprised to learn that the Bill
oil Rights is TO be regarded to all intents and wrro
ses as part of our Constitution, but as INV obpc,
IS ratner 10 ascertain the opinions of our "RefSrm-
ers' than to give my own, | will not ston IN dc
cusS the propriety of this assumption.
me thlrd section of the Bill of Rights contains
~la' 'he ADDRESS afTms to be, the only provision
for amending the Constitution It asserts th,,
when any government shall be found inadem,,c
Vi contrary To the purposes for which it was formed
majority OF the community hath an indubi,able
uhaiienable and lndeieasible right to reform alter
OF abolish 1t In such manner shall be Judged most
conducive to the public weal''
mere then, we have what our 'Refomers' con-
sloer inc only provision for change in our Consti
tuuon--the only mode of avoiding s'Dorrism." Il
must then contain all that is essential tn be obcorv
ed In the call of Convention
Inc ilrst requisite, then, is that the existing M
.elhiieht must have been found inadequate or con-
tIary to the true purposes of government JInon
this point our "Retomers'' can have no diff;cnI,,
considering as they do, that the true object of 90
Vernment Is to preserve the natural equality ofman
Ihe next requisite is that there shall be major
Hy OF The community, by which our "Reformers''
seem TO understand a majority of the people, Here
some confusion might arise growing ont of tho doc
tIine OF natural and unalienable equality, and I
should think 1t would be difficult to exclude from
inc enumeration any to whom .'God and ma
lure mad awarded equality" 1t could be done in
no other way than by constituting ''majorty of the
community" to mean that majority, which, accord
ing to the organic law, rules the community. and
wOuld pnfc,,, d.
he alteration must be made Sin such manner as
snail be Judged most conducive to the public veal"
!! D whom does this right of Judgment belong To
the Legislature? The Legislature may be under
!he control OF minority, and certainly it cannot be
intended that the majority may alter the Constiu.
'on In such manner as the minority shall Judge most
conducive to the public veal
ne true construction Of this clause, then seems
10 DC That whenever majority of the people shall
consider the Constitution Inadequate to the purpo-
ses Tor which they think government ought to be
formed, they have the right to alter or abolish il in
such manner as they shall deem best Are the
committee prepared to assert as their deliberate o.
Phoh, That there Is any such right other than the
right of revolution? They have appealed to the
Constitution as containing provision for its own
amendment.-Th provision requires no action on
me part OF the Legislature unless the majority shall
choose to invoke that action. Do the committee
consider the consent of the Legislature matter Of
necessity, or of mere convenience
They seem, it is true, to intend appealing to the
Legislature in the first place, but they do not in
form us whether they consider its consent indspen-
sibe.
In my last number considered the foundation
upon which the ''Reformers' place their claims to
the White Basis, and, | think, succeeded in show
ing their pretensons to be not only remarkable but
startling. What, then, must be thought of them
when considered in connection with the doctrine
just stated2 Thus
All men are by nature equal.-This natural e.
quality is unaienable; all men are, therefore, of
right, now equal, and being so equal, majority Of
them have the right in any community to reform,
alter, or abolish the form Of government, according
to their sovereign will and pleasure.
L think have not misrepresented the doctrines Of
the address. | am sure have had TO desire to do
so. 1t certainly gives me no pleasure to believe
that such doctrines are held by any party in our
community. If | am right in the construction
which have given the address, your readers can
be at loss understand the first point of differ
ence between the ''Reformers' and the other
friends of the White Basis-They differ as to the
grounds upon which they rest their claims to their
favorite basis
Following your classification of the points of DIFF
ference, we find that they also differ as to the ex-
tent to which they are willing to go in the pursuit
of the White Basis. | must refer the considera-
ton Ut this point to another number and | assure
your readers 1t shall be my last.
VIRGINIA.
II n a