Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-10-29

declares that call power is vested I'm and c0nse
quenty derived from the people :" and that when
ever government is found inadequate, or contrary to
the purposes of promoting the common benefit 10
munity, ga majority d community hath an in
dubitabe, unalenable and indefeasibe right to re-
form, alter, abolish it. in such manner us shall
be judged most conducive TO the public weal." No
other mode is recognized by the Constitution for
changing the government. but by the action of the
majority of the community. And while the Con-
stituton has fixed one basis representation for tho
Legislature, it has plainly fixed anakiler (the
white basis) for any Convention that may be called
to alter the Constitution, form of government.
We are then asked not only to surrender the qua
ranee OF our equal rights provided by the sacred
Constitution but to aid and abe Eastern friends
IN ,ramplng il under foot, and setting il at naught
with what face could we then come before them to
assert any right? Would we say to them ''the
Constitution gave shield of protection, but we
nave surrendered it, and choose rather to crave your
mercy and charity rs slaves, than to demand our
rights as freemen. Do in mercy and charity ac-
cord TO your humble servants this that boom"
would they not spun us Ought we not to DO
spurned Would they not say. base slaves! we
heed not your complaints we fear not your resent
Weht; we VIII not only keep the rights you have
surrendered, but usurp all others you have left"
Ienceforih who will regard the Glowing of the
western herdsY' If you have not the courage
to defend your Constitutional privileges frum inva-
sion, you deserve neither respect or charity
But suppose the West adhere one man to the
white basis, and refuse a convention on any other
terms suppose as one man they appeal TO the
Constitution, what will prevent the friends Of Re-
form IN Eastern Virginia from sanciioning their
claim? The present Constitution is odiots to them
in many particulars They call for Reform almost
as loudly as we do. We Of the West say to them,
1--WE are your friends; we, too, in favor of Re
form, and all we ask at your hands is, that if the
Constitution Is amended, its amendment may be eff
fcctcd by those who are appointed for that work by
the Constitution itself; viz by majority of the
people. If you will amend in obedience to the Con-
suton then we by your side but if in the
spirit of "Dorrism" you fly in the face of that sa-
cred charter, we cannot cOuntenance you. Does
any one believe such an appeal would be unheeded
IN Eastern Virginia? The interest well as the
of the friends of Reform there; would
compel them TO hear it. Without a union of East
ern and Western Reformers, no Convention can be
had. We of the West desire Conventions and
only ask; that in the call of one our unalienable
and indcieasble rights may be respected. Who
will dare say that Eastern Virginia is so lost to all
sense OF right anu JUSTICE as to reject just de-
lnands There may be some there too deeply i'm
bued with The spirit of aristocracy to remember the
principles of the Revolntion--to remember liberty
and the equal rights Of the people but they are
not the friends Of Reform--,hey are not the great
mass of the people. And if TO the 3eoplc of that
part of our Commonwealth, it shall ever be told
that their representatives refused to unite in Con-
vention with Western Virginia; because the latter
would not go into Convention ON the terms of sur
rendering the Constitution, rely it, such repre-
sentatlvcs would be rebuked in voice of thunder
at the polls, by their own constituency.
TIiOS j. NICHE,
ID. w. PATERSON,
WM KINNEY.
STAuNToN, Oct 10, 1916.