Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-09-01

without The aid ot these men, would be powerless
indeed; they know that from the head 10 The tall
end Of their party, throughput The whole system
oil courts, banks, county Offices, &c, &c there is
a settled system Ut dependence which links them
in a conspiracy against any popular reforms
which will break up their combinations they
know thai so long IS the iron despotism Of the
present abuses exists, SO long and no longer does
their power cohere, and that al the touch Of po-
pular freedom The sceplre of their long abused
dominion crumbles 10 the dust they know that
with the first breath Of the right Of suffrage, their
fr~aud-cemented fabric dissolves ike the ice-palace
OF the Northern tyranl before The genial breath
Of Spring.
There is a third class of Reformers-men, who
know that all lha, can be obtained at this time.
and who are full ofconfdent hope, that the liberal
measures which would now be adopted, would
amply compensate for the Expense and exerlion OF
The contest. There will be a great gain 10 popu-
lar rights. Every man will have the right OF
suffrage. There will be no invidious distinctions
on the days OF election, occasloned by wealth and
poverty-all will be equal at The polls-all will
have The right Of selecting their own officers
liie-estates in office will be done away %wilh-po-
pnlar elections, instead of oligarchical d~iclalion,
will create upright and disinterested officers OF
every gra1e-the public Treasury will be pro-
NItIAl oiu lHS MHOlG sCh ~ liOilIl~ IlIu dliI III
the political equality oil all men, except negroes,
will be introduced into The Constitution OF Vir-
ginia. This class Of reformers are DESTROYS OF
success, for the immediate benefits which will
flow from a new Constitution. They ieel that
with a ireer suffrage, with control over their
Slais's Altornies, their County Courts, their
Sheriffs, thai with the freedom OF the medlatized
counties, a new life would be infused into the
Commonwealth, which would surely and rapidly
improve the present condition OF lhings-oyer-
turn The petty tyrannies, which s~everally exist in
the respective counties Of the Slate, but which
unitedly form one vast system OF political net
work, by which the galvanism of Whiggery is
sen, through every fibre Of the Commonwealth
There is a remaining class oil men DESTROYS Tor
The renovation Of Virginia. These are men who
stand upon the Constitution Of The United States
who would defend il with strong arms and
stronger hearts. They believe that the great du-
" Of he American patriot is its defence and pre-
servation-ihal when this is destroyed there will
not be strength in the separate States 10 maintain
their Individual e1istcnces-that the larger Sec
tons or States will conquer and subdue The
smaller, or that they will occupy independent
and hostile relations. 10 each. These men would
guard against all exlrcmes-lhey would oppose
the abolitioniSm, as we'll as lae consolidation Of
Massachusetts and Vermont, and all the ianaii-
cisms OF The North. They see in these Two ex.
trelnes, (abolilionism and consolidation but oac
design; destroy The political power of The South,
and the National Bank, Distribution, Assume
ton, Internal Improvements and the Restrictive
Tariff will career triumphanlly over The ruins Of
the Constitution.
This class are opposed 10 The introduction Of
any principle into The policy Of Virginia, which
looks like s%uccumbins 10 these inlucnces-which
invites attacks upon The Constitution OF the Uni
led States, and which would lesson and degrade
The power aud influence oil Virginia with her sis
lers Of the South and upon The floor OF Congress.
This class OF Relormers in The Westsee that, BY
The adoption OF the third section OF the first article
Of the Constitution Of the United States into a
Constitution oil Virginia, We will &c, rid OF The
present arbitrary and sectional apporIionmsnt OF
representatives, and that there will be a new, sa-
lulary principle introduced. which, in The rapid
progress OF a lew years, will give 10 The growing
West more perhaps than an eqnipondcrance in
the affairs OF the State. They believe that this
gradual and steady progress towards a desirable
end, preserving the dignity and national influence
oi Notwithstanding by a he allhy and sound
public opinion the integrity Of every clause and
every compromise Of Tie Constitution of the U.
States, is more sale, just, honorable and patriotic
than 10 rush al once upon extremes that mus
end in rebellion, Instruction or division, or into
that settled hostility Of sections forever unfavora'
bic 10 the harmony OF the Stale, inimical 10 al
future reformations, and destructive Of The true
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