Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-05-21

united voting for the Convention "nc tha' d
was not made party question tie polls April last that
should not be made selection of delegates IN Au
ust NEXT We DO not feel assured that the reforms dehnaeu
by m, Democrats in the State Constitution will meet win
the approba,ion Of the Wing party. 1t is true that 'e
Wing press has advocated series of reform measures ou'
we have been 81 much accustomed 10 deceit and 1ouoe
dealing that we shall never hereafter trust The pledges vi
Wing Editors and politicians very lar. we Certain
y should be very unwilling to break down parry n"es
ard surrender ourselves into the hands oil an c"e''
that has so often pracccd Punc faith after victory
The Wing party is at this time SO closely iae"t'.'
broken pledges violated promises, mendaclous ads'a
ton, tina, we must be pardoned for our suspicious
w mus, he permitted TO say that the Wings aege tha'
they favor precisely the same reform when We nav
Gated m can see no reason why they have so much dread
Of n democratic minority in The Convention II 'hes sl-
l wish rho prncples Of democracy, set forth in the
preamble of the prcscn, Constitution honestly ana ii""
carried on, in the new Constitution should matter not TO
bem Yher the good work is done BY Wings or Democrats
I'm, there oe most mpor,an; questions connected with
the p-onoscd alterations OF the Constitution respecting
which The Two parties have agreed We refer par'c-
Iarv n chartered corporations for banking and other Pr-
poses 10 the concentration OF executive Judicial and s-
lave movers in the hands of irresponsible massmcy
- rho ,oyre and duties Of the Executive and the cleo
ton If larger number Of officers by the people than are at
present elected by them. IT. well may be expected the
Wbir, think proper during the Convention, (" draw party
lines mon the questions referred il will be Of the very
first importance the Democrats should have the most
thorough and complete organization.
Although the Democratic members of the extra Session OF
1870 on,y desired that the laws of the State should be
revised without mngng with them party questions yet IL
s well known that the leaders of the Wing party upon the
Inspection Laws and other questions rallied their forces IN
unbroken ranks against the Democrats and pushed party IS
sues upon them The stormy debates al the Fauquer Springs
during The month Of August brought about by the action
Of the Whie paryathough the very engaged in band
ing together Wing members OF the Legislature, were the
loudest in their hypocr,ical denuncia,ons of party We
believe that the people of this State greatly prefer that the
new Constitution should be framed BY deeply mbued
with the liberal democratic spirit of the aye. BY this we do
not mean that progressive demoraizng socialist anaticsm
of which Greeley the prominent representative but
er constantly increasing confidence in the wisdom
capacity and honesty Of the people
From the organization Of the Constitution of the United
States the present tme the leaders OF the Democratic
party have been struggling elevate the masses and to
1--WE the people all powers 10 which, under form oil gov
eminent like ours, they have an unquesonabe nshi In
this work they have been heretofore bitterly opposed by me
party which, although Boosting Of The wealth, talent and
rsocracy of the land has shewn but little real regard for
the aboring masses of our country.
With the word Conservatism upon their lips, the leaders
o Federal party have been, since the time Of Alex Ham
on striving rghlen the people from the maintenance
and defence Of their legitimate rights Every movement for
reform has been denounced dangerous adcaism and
the Wings have cung abuses and unjust constitutional
restrictions simply because they dixie mackereD had
nTb oi, h.,
nored Closing their eyes the advances which have been
made in the science of Government, blind 10 the intelligence
and capacity oil the people they have regarded every depa
ture from the well paths Of British and Colonial egs
a,ion dangerous in the extreme. Like the Bourhons
thew have learnt nothing from misfortune and gno
rant the and interests Of the people they were
in 1900 They are making SLOW head way in sort Of Chi
nese Junk hundred years behind the present generation
in their IDEAS Of constitutional rights and And
as Fisher Ames the elder Adams and other ustrous Fedc
rass had confidence in the people, and were for binding
them by outrageous constitutional restrictions their po
cal children have since been transmitting perpetuatng and
preserving their groundess and ridiculous apprehenson
a the annoyance of all sensible men.
The Constitutional reforms demanded By The people must
BE- worked out by the Democratic party. The Federais
might form good constitution for State made up eSclu-
,ively of wealthy men, but they know little about the
people, are folouncig iehofdHt VI wants. anu
have interests in with them to be able even
if they desired it, 10 frame wise constitution
Let therefore, the Democrats Of Virginia without regard
local questions without reference county representation
the convention select their abes wscsl best men, and
elect them that body Let them IN district conventions
fairly organized choose able 10 form constitution
which will all the blessings OF constitutional
Democracy Let them be inundated by the hypocrii
denunca,cns Of party with which they will be assailed
or by The deceitu promises of the Wings Experience has
taught ia fully as the haessnes oi their abuse and
the faithessness of their promises.