Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-08-06
From the Spirit of jefferson.
constitutional Reform.

JAMES w. DELLER-Slr. 1 nave read WIFI
much satisfaction the controversy between the
Spirit and the Free Press upon the action OF
the County Court of jefferson, at its June term,
an the enlargement of their "Worshipful body. .
With the justice or injustice of that special act OF
our Court shall not pretend to inerfere-the
.tt,c's are before the people and they will draw
their own conclusions. Permit me, however, to
make passing remark here, and that is that
the Court is not so much to be blamed, for the
preparation OF the gross injustice of which you
complain, as the existence of the obnoxious and
anti-repub.can system which tolerates the prac-
tice of such abuses upon the rights of the People
and just and fair distribution Of power among
them. The evil is Inherent in the systenl-there
is but one panaced Tor lt-a Contention to take
lnto hand and alter and amend the existing patch
work government under which we live. TO this
point let every true friend OF Republican Gov
eminent turn his attention and lend his energies
The day of delivcrance is at hand the Legisa-
ture canot--wil not dare, much longer, to dis
regard the voice and wishes OF the people. That
a convention will be called, and that before long,
no one pretends to doubt if the Legislature next
winter do not act, at the next Spring election the
people will act for themselves the direct issue
OF Reform or No Reform will be made at the
polls it will be the issue in the canvass in every
county in the Commonwealth, & there can be no
doubt of the return of large majority OF Reform
ers, to the Legislature, who will obey and carry
out the wishes of the People That we have q
little battle to fight the most casual reader can
eoubt-the1l frvnds, lie, MS arouse to our work
let US organize our forces-let grid our
arnor, and prepare to act well our part in the
.deverance of Old Virginia from the miserable
aud oligarchical power, by which she is now
held in bondage. That the intelligent and en-.
lightened county Of Jefferson is in favor Ola con-
vention / have not the shadow ola doubt-that
1 H.. l1I, h.
will look wise and solemn, and shrug up their
shoulders and deal out a great deal of cant about
conservatism, and chaunt the old, stale, worn out,
and threadbare song ssit Is easy to pull domn,
hard to build up"--we must expect, but it will
have no effect. We live in a progressive age-
an age of enlightened progress radiant with The
beams of knowledge, the arts and sciences and
the elevation of man in the scale OF free and e.
quail rights Guided by the bright example of
this glorious confederacy-roused up by the I'M
exampled prosperity, the peace, happiness, free
dom, and equality Of rights, everywhere perva-
ding the masses of this great nation-the people
of the Old World, the toiling millions are rising
up, and with strong arms and stout hearts are O.
verthrowing the thrones OF ages and vindicatng
the inestimable right to govern themselves. Can
we then, Virginians, look back upon our pioneer
and revolutionary history, and remain content
with our condition-lhe only State in the mighty
Union, where the people do not rule, where such
privileges and self-creating orders as the County
Courts are permitted to exist 2 hope mott
trust nos The people everywhere-in the
North and the South, in the East and West of
Virginia-are rousng up to the overthrow of our
present institutions Upon all of the great and
leading reforms necessary Tor Vlrginas best IN
terests, Refornlers are everywhere united the
basis of representation question was the great
bone of contention in the last Convention, it
will not be so formidable in the next-the neces
sity of Just and enlightened compromise upon
that subject seems everywhere 10 be conceded,
and indeed the interests of the several sections
OF the State have SO materially changed in the
last eighteen months that the basis question has
lost much of that formidable Importance which
j: assumed in the last Convention. The local ln-
terests of the different sections are now more u
nited-the Improvements now penetrating the
State have produced this union of interest and
feeling. One need but take up the ayes and
noes upon any question OF State Importance IN
THE Legislature and analyze it, to observe how
the vote of the State stands affected, and how
the sectional divisions OF the State, at one time so
formidable and controlling have mouldered a.
way 1t is not so desirable to have a large and
unwieldy General Assembly. and I have no
doubt at all that Convention would make a just
and fair representation to all parts of the State,
and that is all that is desired all that is necessa
ry. Virginians at this day, more truly than at
any other period since the foundation of the
Commonwealth, can exclain ''are are all Vi
ganiaas.o The vote last winter, upon the W.T.
mot Proyiso, by the Legislature will act like
magic upon Our Eastern brethren-lt is all addl-
tonal proof to them that their brethren OF the
West will prove true and steadfast to them in
every emergency.
promised you more than a year ago, to lend
to your columns my feeble efforts in the discus
sion of the great question OF Constitutional he
fornu shall endeavor to fulfill that promise
and shall feel gratified if can awaken your
readers to the consideration OF its importance,
land enlist the aid Of some more powerful pen
than my own, to the enlightenment and torrna-
ton of correct public opinion in relation to 1t.
In my humble Judgment there is no question at
sthis time so deeply and absorbingly interesting
10 the People of Virginia reformation OF their
present organic law it has been too long delay
ed now. 1t is a great misfortune that Conven-
ton had not been called and a new Government
set in operation before the revisal of the "Civil
Code" Of the State that great and important
work, which is to cost the Treasury so large an
amount of money! and which must now become
de(aced with a treatise upon our governmental
rights all of which the Convention will surely
sweep away.
profess to know something of the opinions
and views of the Reformers Of Virginia, having
interested myself considerably, you well know,
in the great subject, and put myselfto some trou-
BILE to gather public sentiment, | announce to
YOU with confidence welland correctly founded,
that all overwhelming majority Of the people of
Virginia are favorable to the call ola Convention.
There is remarkable coincidence of opinion
among Reformers in Virginia, upon the reforms
necessary and desirable. All will unite in OPP
position TO the County Court systenIn favor
of an extension OF the right Of age--the cleo
ton Of the Governor, &C., &C., by the people
The signs are every way favorable; we are gain,
TO find them. The SRichmod Times" one of
the most ably conducted journals in Virginia, and
which in 1S45 resisted the cause of Reform with
great force and ability, has now come over An
article in that paper some ten days ago declares
for Reform, and will 60 nearly as tar as we could