Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-22
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
TowNlEy. SHIELDS & co, Proprietor
LYNCfYBuRG. JULY a2, 1850.
STATE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT REMARKS.

it 10 be prudent 10 save from the power oil change
those governments which are operating benefi-
ciay, spreading peace and prosperity, by just
and due distribution Of power among the ruled
and rulers. To build up system of govern
ment, quick and energetic in its operations, is not
the work of single moment, or the offspring of
weak intellect The congregated experience
of mankind, as collected in that combination
known as legislative knowledge, is entitled 10 full
weight and careful examination at the hands of
such as seek 10 form those principles offundamen-
tai law, upon which men base their Constitutions
And the man, who acts without view 10 this
ends mere mad nnovator, ignorant Of the very
first principles of cautious and wise deiberaon
There is Constitution, which has been so
awkwardly constructed as to contain no good fea-
lures And probably no republican system has
been instituted and existed for any considerable
space Of time which is not prcdominated in good
principles. There is nothing which men detect
sooner, than the evils arising from bad govern
men nothing which they more sensibly feel
hence very bad system of government will not
long be endured by those who have the power TO
"aler, abolish or amend" But when the good
predomnates men will endure the bad that they
may enjoy the good; yet it is wise for the people,
wherever known evils are existing, to SO alter and
amend the system as 10 abolish those provisions,
which are pernicious. There is even danger in
the discharge of this task, unless it be trammelled
with caution. The questions of national policy
are intricate, and require close investigation
Prudence, reason and self-nterest, suggest 10
men the proprlety of pausing and rejecting with
much care before they blot out even those pro-
visions, which they think unwise. Men are sub
jet TO the power OF deception, and il may be that
the provisions, which they regard evil are only
imaglnarily SO. Or, it NAV be- that evils which
are attributed, upon first view to the organic
law, will upon closer reflection, be found to ex.
ist IN the administration of that law-many good
laws are made evil by inefficient administration.
For these reasons, while the people should not
suffer evils, they should proceed cautiously in
the making ofthoSe changes, which expedencv
seems 10 endorse in their organic laws.
THIS is a principle upon which the people of
Virginia should proceed, in the reformation OF
their organic law. The Constitution is not so
radically defective as some men represent. That
great instrument contains many good features,
which are worthy of being perpeuaed. And in
the correction of those detects which this insru-
ment may contain, ii is neither needful nor wise
that the whole system be abolished. The true
principle is, Danish the evil protect the good 1t
is but poor evidence ofwisdom or discretion, to
annhllae system entirely, because it contains
few evils; rather is it wise to purge and 10 cut
down the evils than annihate the whole.
But we are told that our Constitution is anti :
quaed Now, we are not aware that antiouated
good Is less beneficial because Anticipated. In
deed, the fact that system has remained long
! enough in an ace of Innovation to become anti
quated, is proof of its superiority. This idea of
antlquaed, however, has been brought up as an
argument to sustain the prevalent spirit for pro-
grcss and improvement. We are not opposed to
progress and improvement, but we are opposed
TO that lattudinouS construction which makes all
/
ment. Men seem to misunderstood the applica-
ton OF the terms progress and improvement, I'm
provement is not BASED npon change; it is true,
that It uses change as a medium. But the char
acter Of that change is entitled to a serious con-
slderaon. 1t is the change, wrought by develop
mcnt, and not that mad change. with which nno-
vators invade principles, True progress.consists
4 IN that growth and expansion of original prnci-
pies, which we designate development, and is al.
together opposed to that spirit which, through the
influence of luctuation, effects opposite results.
by continued change of agencies-.this spirit is
unsteadlncSs and not progress. Again. The spirit
OF progress is commendahle,ye yet il ought to be i'm
bued with reason When men deem it eXpedi-
ent to resort TO escape, they may run, but they
should not attempt TO soar Running they may
escape the dreaded evil; attempting to escape.
through the agency of the wing they will ex-
haust themselves and remain stationary, so as TO
! lal ready NCum 10 tner Toe lHe ambition to
progress is liable to be run into extremes in fact
into The extremity of an extreme; ambition of this
sort can be converted into madness
We, therefore, ask the people of Virginia to
think and reflect upon the measures before them.
And the men, who are to be delegated 10 carry
out the principles, should, by all means, engage
the careful consideration OF the public mind
The members of the Convention should be men
OF intelligence, information and sound conserva-
/ tve views With respect to the two first quail
tications, there can be no doubt and about the
proprley of selecting those having these quail
fcahons no man will raise question. Some.
however, may doubt the propIiety of FL
ling the Convention with conservative men,
Intending to resume the investigation of the
Convention question, we content ourselves
at present, with a brief response Radlcalism
will ruin the State The Constitution of Vir
glnla wants reforming, not destroying: and
that mad zeal of radicalism of which we see too
much, will not stop at reforming, while conserva
tive men will reform the Constitution, and not
rashlv annihllac all offs provisions.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
The chief ruler of the nation HAVING SIM I, 10