Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-07-25
REFORM-ANTI.REFoRN

All paiues agree IN the opinion, that the r..
Stinilon oil Virginia Is defective and defec,i,.a
degree needing REFORM The only ones,,s 10
dliierenee Is OF the amount of reformation re.',
ed. Some advocate the tearing down ofi ~
whole fabric, and the substitution of one al,o..,n e
er disslmllar in character. To such wc arc M
posed The defects Of the Constitution onal,
be corrected, and VIXEN this is done the W.
ought TO stop. This is genuine reformo,;o" oIk
else is the mad spirit of humiliation. IT,, all
distinction between the candidates for Tho - 'ue
Ven'on, lies in the degree to which thev WI,
carry the change. And the proper terms " u';n
winch 10 distinguish them, is not Reforn, WIN
Ani-Retorm. We are all Reformers some ,"d
are ruled by reason, others by the too ready al 10
ton of popular delusion ''''I
There is distinction between ref,,r
inhalation, which wise men will make. and ,,i an
prudent men will adopt 1t is wisdom 70 ",, n'
the distinction for it is folly to DESTROY tbe max" "
with the intention of reforming the system s !,
prudent TO adopt The distinction in our conrva -,
action, because no system can be adonted vi, vi
me incorporation OF some evil therein. The Con.
stltuton of the United States is conceded on n
statesmen of all countries, TO be u,;so ~ -
deed, the most beneficial instrument Of 10 IN
ac'er, yet we can find IN ii defects W;so a,'l
beneficial as II is, 1t has needed amendment, :.
has received amendment. Human ingon,;,,'
cannot devise perfect system. Men of ditI.r
ent minds must consult upon the adon,;on .,
Constitution and, of course, will incornor,,o -;
1t their diversified views, hence. it is imnoyg;lJe
TO present any one system, which will please all
men, or which will answer, in all OF It's provision
TO any one man idea OF perfection. To fall back
TO the National Constitution. DIR. Franklin. who
was man OF extraordinary judgment, indeed who
was man whose greatness laid in his <uner;.,,
IuUrIpCut rpl no, 4 =,
IN some of lis provisions, vet REGARDING !, nc3
whole, II commanded ms vote
The influence OF Dr.. Frankn's corlxe of co,.
duct, IN tins instance, should be adopted by ,be
people OF Virginia, III their choice of delcraies 10
represent them IN the approaching State Conyen.
ton. The questions OF reform are various en-,
bracing a variety Of character, consequently If il
exceedingly rare that we find individuals wbnso
opinions are in exact unison. 1t then becomes
US TO select, as those upon whom we intend +,
cast our votes, men entertaining those sound min
cipleS, which are moderated by prudence and
sustained by common sense, and the dictates Of
sober reason.
These men are those who advocate reform
and reform merely. Between the evils of cy.
treme innovation and ultra adherence TO existing
bad systems, the difference is scarcely percent
bic. And why should we do more than reform
That portion, which has operated well is known
to be wise, and surely it is not expcdicnt to an.
initiate wise provisions. 1t is the height OF folly
TO run INTO an extreme, and yet the radical lSo
called is full OF extremes. There is stoppn.
point, and when we go beyond that we convert
good principle into an actual evil Who donbt,
the beneficial effects of the christian church, vet
covert the church. into an association of fnat-
les and superstltous shippers carry the prin
cpcs OF religion thus far, and you make even
tins Divine agent source of evil The true pol-
ICY Is the middle position, neither too antiouaed
nor too much tinctured with the mad innoyatnc
spirit OF the nineteenth century. Men of pru.
dence and wisdom, who see the defects of tho
Constitution and will correct them; men of pru-
dence and wisdom, who see the good features Of
the Constitution and will preserve them, are true
reiormers, and to these we should commit tho
task