Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-08
REFORM CONVENTION.

II is provided BY the act for taking the sense OF
the people on this question, that on or before the 81
dav Of June, the executive shall ascertain the result
from the statement of the polls-that within days
thereafter, proclamation be made iI the result Just-
fes M for an election of delegates to take place on
the 4,h Thursday Of August and that the delegates
elected meet in Convention in the city Of Richmond
ON the % Monday of October next, for the purpose
Of fyaminc new Constitution for the Sate-such
Constitution TO be reported to the next General As
semblv, which body shall provide for submitting i!
to the people, and if approved, proceed to organize
the government under the same.
The Convention will consist of 1875 members, and
this election district formed by the counties ofRock-
bridge, Highland and Augusta, is entitled to five del
egates The separate claim of each of the coun-
ties, as shown by simple calculation, stands thus
Augusta % delegates Rockbridge l.6 delegates !;
frtguIauu ucUga'o, "a r'VvnV'Ius High
land p delegates These CLAIMS together with suit
able ticket, we presume, will be adjusted by Dis
trict Convention such suggested by the last Vim
dicator and correspondent i'll paper of to-day,
provided such Convention can be formed upon G.
quilable principles.
We agree with the Vindicator upon the great I'M
portance, and we may add, the deep solemny of the
crisis we are approaching, We agree with that pa
per- that "no time serving sycophant or ranting DEM
agogue should be permitted to take part in the de-
liberations Of that body" (he ConrcaiOn to which
shall be committed the trust Of re-modelling the
Constitution. We fully concur in the idea, that the
W: bo oil
in the Convention. We freely grant the absurdity
of appointing persons to such duty as are opposed
TO the Just obligations which the duty imposes
We cannot, however, comprehend the suggestion, of
restricting choice Of delegates to those "who are
in favor Of adopting all the reforms which haze been
suggested" The cmphases are our own, but legiti-
mized by the structure and general sweep of the SER
tence quoted. What, we would inquire, are all =
BY whom suggested Whose platform are candi-
dates to stand upon3 Has any, in fact been laid
down? ave pause for reply"
There is one sentiment advanced by the Yindica-
tor from which we totally dissent, and which is at
war with its own previously expressed views. 1t is
the doctrine of pledges by candidates for the Con-
yeniion, founded upon reform Instructions by the
people. The point OF inconsistency to which we
alude, lies in this, that while the indicator is most
jealous for collecting and concentrating the highest
lvisdom in the Convention, it leaves nothing for that
wisdom to act upon, the members being bound hand
and foot by instructions, upon all questions Of re-
form. Now it strikes US that in such case, it is
quite immateria who receives the high honor Of
seat in that body, provided he has the necessary
qualification of "passive obedieuco"-dere "all the
honor lies" One thing we are surprised our CO.
temporary has not thought Of viz the danger of
some of those slime serving sycophauts rantiug
demagogues," whom he so much breads, getting in
under bis plan, Could they be kept out? Would
any others come up to the scratch? Such an assem-
bly, would most respectfully submit itself to a Dig
Immortality The subject will be further discussed
next week.