Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-08-20
From the Spirit Of Jefferson.
Constitutional Reform.

Y
grave aud important subject, it matters not how
humble may be the abilities Of the advocate for
the task one main and leading object should ever
be present to his mind-to search for truth--to
address himself to the reason and not to the pas
sions Of men-slch shall be my aim. am ar
IDENTITY devoted to the cause of :Constitutlond5
Reform IN Tweinadp from a thorough and honest
conviction Of nay mind OF Its absolute necessity
to the best interests, propriety and future great
ness of Vlrginia-and because deem orr pre-
sent organic lao inconsistent with the proper
structure OF sound Republican, Representative
form of Government. In this opinion, solernnly
believe am sustained by an Overwhelming ma
iorty Of the people Of the State aud Which will
be demonstrated at the polls whenever the Legis-
lature passes a law providing for an expression
and record of that opinion.
The Virginia Convention of f829-'30, who
framed the present Constitution of Virginia, was
one of the most able and ilustrious assemblages
of statesmen ever collected together in this any
other country there was Madison, Monroe,
Marshall, Randolph, Doddridge, Barbour Camp
bell Giles Cook, Peasants, Gordon, Leigh Stan
ard, johnson, Summers, and host OF others,
men ofwhom any nation NIGHT nave been PROUD,
and upon whom the mother Of the Gracchi might
have risen up ia the pride aud exal.ation of her
heart and exclaime,(-'they are my jearels''-ven-
cradle men who had been called by the voice OF
the country TO fill the highest station on earth
the presidency Of the United States-the illus
trous Chief Justice of the United States-vener-
able in years-profound in iearning-devoted Ill
patrotsm-pure and virtuons in ife--Governors,
Ex-Governors, and men known throughout the
country and the world as among the liustrous
in our National Councils, but whom Virginia
knows never silone more epllnently great Than IN
the debates OF that remarkable Convention
These giants met-there mind grappled with
mind in the loftiest contemplation of intellectual
axe of Richard -tilere cleaned in bright eful-
gence the keen and polished 'seitnitar OF saadln.'
In approaching the work OF such illustrious men,
one feels inspired with feeling OF awe it seems
like treading on llalowed ground; it wears some
thing Ike The appearance OF laying proianed
hands upon the holy temple. The most of these
great men have seen s'the end feart'a," and have
gone to ehat bourne from whence no traveller
returns''--buta few short months ago the accom-
plished and classical Leigh was called away to
Join those who had zone before him, and almost
before the tear OF sorrow ha, been wiped away;
and the voice of eoquence had dropped the eulo-
gy of his virtues, aud recounted the bloodless
fields Of his intellectual renown--the All-wise
dsposer of events as if in the exercise of one OF
his most beautiful attributes of power, where he
dsplys events ttas meet and proper,@ again fills
the wings ofthe same southern breeze with the
wall of mourning, and sends us the sad and
mournful intelligence, thai the yIrtuons Chapman
Johnson is no fnore--he Though an Eastern man
who efappled more strongly than any other MAI
with Mr.. Leigh, III the ;,rotGaCted debates OF thai
Convention. & came SO near carrying in trianrf
the cause OF the West against the lsng establish
ed prejudiees, and the numerical majority OF oul
Eastern brethren in that body. Cherished be his
memory ia the breast of every NirgiDian-but
especially let Yirginians west of the Blue Ridge
embaIm him in their .fheart of hearts," Soon,
very soon, must the few remaining associates OF
that body follow on--the meridian sun of their
DAYS has eliminated, and is travelling steadily
on the declining course. Beyond the confines
of time may the sun OF glory again rise upon
them--whose brightness the cloud of time shall
never eclipse, and whose setting the cycles OF
eternity shall never witness.
But great as this body OF statesmen were, we
must not forget that they were nearly equally
divided in sentiment, and that the frame OF 60
vernment which they gave Us, was the result OF
COMPROMISED compromise which was taken
but which acas not satisfactory to those VINO voted
for it, and protested against almost unanimously
by the West. 1t was predicted then that before
the lapse of 20 years another Convention would
be demanded by the people. The prediction is
time for a redress Of grievances-the Legislature
we trust next winter will answer tkeir prayer
and provide for the call of a Convention. No
being satisfied with our government, Is 1t no
our right and our duty to abolish it, and provide
one in its place better suited to our wants anc
our position in the family OF Republican States
| Then we should not fear to lay our hands upon
the pillars of the temple and pull it down. re
marked in my last communicative taat the for
milable difficulty in the last-Convention was the
question Of the Basis cf Representation, but tha'
! | do not think it would be go formidable IN the
next, because of the changed condition OF thing:
in the State, and the greater and more intimate
identity and union of interests existing i'll all O.
the improving districts and sections OF the solo
Commonwealth and that such a compromise
would be made as would do full s. ample justice
/ to all parts of the State, and tie more think oil
the subject the more / am satisfied that those OF
us especially who maintain the arhite bds1s to be
the ONLY true and Republican basis, will have
but little 10 complain Of findeed, we DO not get
all that we desire To avoid making too large
and unwiel1y General Assembly will be one
of the especial cares OF the Convention, but there
will be an increse OF representation no one pre-
tends to doubt, and that nearly if not quite all OF
that increase will he assigned TO the country
West ofthe Blue Ridge, as il seems 10 be every
mere TILL IKE w ttl 10 ioff
under grossly unustand inadequate representa-
ton This inefsase, while it may and will be a
compromise of the numbers Of representatives. IN
a general apportionment Of the State, will yet be
formed and arranged on the basis OF a Pf'ncafse2
and that priDciple will be the uhte basis. |
take it as a ':fred fac" that every coonty. west
of the Blue Ridge still maintains It's position in
favor Of the principle Of the rrhite basis--and that
Louioun and some other counties east OF the
RIDGE StM stand with us-verv certain it is that
the cities OF Richmond Norfolk and Alexandra
with their large and controlling white population,
are fully with us-indeed it would be impossible
for any one to be elected Representative to the
Convention from either OF those alge cities who
was not in favor of this great Republican princi-
pie should entertain no tearsat all, that in
an election by the people large majority OF
aphSte bosls representatives would be returned TO
the Convention. believe such to be the Tone
temper and sentiment of the State, and hence my
confdn nce OF an easy, just, and agreeable settle
meut OF the Veye1 nuesfion before fhp convention