Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-10-08

sci OF resolutions constituting complete surreh-
der to the wishes of the enemies OF reform, whose
only hope and platform was deiay-pos'poise'
ment-a denial that the people were ANXIOUS Tor
reform Now do not refer TO the action OF this
Convention for the purpose OF censnIlhg those
who composed it, because know there were
members of it who are amongst the most oecia-
ed advocates OF reiom liz the State, and doubt
less they acted from the best convictions OF duty
to the future success and prosperity OF the cause:
But think they were mistaken, aGd as lar as
conversed v ith the masses OF the Ie'ornefs at
the time, they were sorey disrleased Win inc
action of the Convention, and 40 dapiFeniHg has
been the effect of that action, that IS now Dill
toult matter to arouse many who were ai"ehl
ra.o,uers then, 10 any consideration ara de'foii
upon the subject. The masses Of the people OF
both and Of all parties are hnatst ard hen they
take hold Of a great subject like this, III which
all are mutually interested III a coni'noh cause;
thew Ike to carry il forward ard are roady TO
make mutual concessions jor general good
considered the action Of that Convention sun
ming blow ard has it not proved TO be SO ihe
plea OF justification Put III was the occupation Oh
| the public mind about the war with Mexico.
this was the great rod which was 10 swallow up
all the desire of the people of Virginia fer free
eovrrnment--all The reforms nece ssary Tor the e.
quality of rights-the administration Of power
upon just principles an,ong the people-the de-
| velopment of her vast resources OF every descrlp-
ton and characteristic redemption, the regene-
ration and disenthralment ot Virginia from the
vicious system of organic law, which row 'crits,
cabbine, and confines, her hest energies ard Is
annually driving much OF HE flower ct her pop
ulation from her midst. The war With Mexico
! Observation-Disclosures and unparalleled victory
crowned the Efforts Of our gallant armies wher
ever thew encountered the toe-yet peace pre-
vailed at hone-commerce flowed on in its won't
| ed channefs-tie manufacturer pied his shuttle
and loom as rsral-the aercGliulist so*ed his
lands and gathered his abundant harvests-the
National and State Governments all reviewed
quietly and steadily upon their own axis; as tho
nc war Was geinS on, bat yet 80 ogatdfang! was
the question OF the war in Virginia that her peo-
| pie were not iii a fit and proper condition Of
mind 10 eontemp plate the great question of re-
form of the abuses Of their own Constitution, al
least SC argued The 0ntlret olmfrs and they found
! too many leioriners willing enough 10 ackiopl-
edge "the soft Impeachment" Charmed with
their success they now cry for postronement
| till ''the Nlnot Proyiso' be seitled-the public
mind is too much excited upon this absorbing
question. Virginia last winter lad down her
ai{tniair,a upon that subject, through the action
OF her legislature-that action has been sane
toned by the great mass OF the people, from the
sea TO the Ohio, and from the Potomac 10 the
Tennessee line, farther than that we need rot
trouble ourselves till we shall he called TO act
when Virginia viii be ready. AS it was wrong
in 1886 to Yield our action to the Mexican war,
so would j, be now to relax our exertions upon
any such consideration ss the agitation OF ques-
ton which must necessarily ard primarily be-
come subject loI the contenp lation and action
OF those into " hose hands We have entrusted our
ustioaal affairs. II we wait fos reform III our
State Constitution till such TINE shall find
thu cauaEon Of natioral politics boiled down to
gniescent state, we shall never get a retorm--
we NAV as well at once chang our harp upon
the willows" AS soon as we are done with The
ssWilnot Proviso 'i--vhich We all hope will be
speedily and satisfactorily settled-v may have
something else-perhars the annexation of Can
about the s:hIusq,iito kingdom" No-let us act
ard act l!y-';doays are dangerous
what eve can do to-day, should not be postpo-
ned till to-uorfow."
suppose that the action of our friends in the
Staunton Convention OF 1886 was determined
more from a desire to await the result OF the
census of 1850, than from any other considera-
tion: indeed, several ct them have so informed
me that such were their motives III suggesting
and agreeing 10 delay: surprising that the earse
Of reform would be Benefited thereby. Ent la.
US look at the matter and see how the cause
stands effected by such consideration, and then
we can Judge better what it is cur duty 10 do
No law for the taking OF the next census has yet
been passed by Congres s-the Cabinet are at this
time ca ling for information tom the country ne
,essary TO an intelligent communication with
! Congress upon the suhiect-but OF course II will
become M tier OF early consideration. How-
ever perhaps month OF more viii eiapse before
a bill will be prepared, natursd, and passed
| through beth Houses Orr Legislature coEvenes
on tn san.e day with Congress, and we may
reasonably calculate from The i,nmense amount
Of busines IS Transacted by the three last regular
SESSIONS ard the late extra session OF our Lessla-
tuve, that the session OF next winter VIII be com
para.ivel, leisure session and enc OF short du-
1ration. The session CT 1870 will probably
be closed before Congress fairly gets % work
The census must be taken in 1850, ard OF course
cannot be returned TO Congress Till the session
of 1S5O-'51 and then the immense statistical
information which il contains viii have to tie ex-
anincd ard the dccumeIit printed, and the
Spring of the year 1851 viii be here before we
know it's contents, at time perhaps when cur
LEGISLATURE ould be getting really again to adj
iouru then we must come into the session OF
/ l95l-'52 0! the Legislature. before we begin TO
discuss the question OF Convention, upon the
information contained III that document i'll rela-
ton 10 our white and Save population, &c,
land then perhaps bill would be passed merely
10 ascertain The sense OF the people upon the pro-
prety ofcaliing Convention which would have
10 be done at the Spring election OF 1859, and
then ii they answered atinnatiyely a bill would
be passed almost certainly upon the arrangement
Of the present House of Delegates at the session
!, of 1859 53-the election for members OF the
Convention to take place in the summer Of 1853
Hand the Convention TO assemble i'll the Fall OF
the same year Either Eill must be passed III
this way OF in all probability not at all those
W ho demand Convention upon either OF the
fexrernes ofthe white basis OF the mixed basis
will most surely be disappointed. Now if this
state of things is likely TO occur, and for the
many reasons which have before given 10 you;
Who can question at least lis strong probability.
What proprety or policy is there i'll delay =
W hat possible advantage can be gained by it :?
None that | can see-on the contrary much is to
lbe lost. But if concluding that bill must be
passed Oh the arrangement OF the House OF l'sie-
oates. why no, take it at once if tAe Legislature