Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-06-07

rsc,ys IN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM.

| ,l,n hall
n. w Adjourned the eodeon in the morning at h''
past nine. -..,
For lie Enquirer.
ESSAYS ON CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM
IsraorrcTony.he leading and most important uueso =,
h;h n,esents itself the mind, when the subject oi
,; ,he present Constitution l. examined relates 10 inc
ha, ,neHod by which the desired reforms may be hccohp
ed without injury any Of The interests 81 casses :"
.n a,J br,ak down unjust constitutional restricoiiS
w,hon, cxciting bitter party feelings or deep-rooeo
,, He should deal with the great controlling princp'c
mnon which States and governments have been on ~
and moi with local interests ana popular PreJ"n. Ia
should carefully weigh and examine the merits " ~, o
Constitution and S in Judgment upon Us ia''s WIN
,luncss nf the crmincd Judge. The legislator WHO '
v frames laws the regulation IF State mas II i ltu
- I'D important duties PERFORM but his influence i"
d r Jar less than that Of the Constitutional rci9re
bc State has very apply been called us
,,hich # h,ahtu and natural in it, action dlnsrs hap
% ron,entnl,n nj and prosperity through the whole Socia
and poIitcal system but which, II diseased "ec'' '
,r,,ifc source OF nnumera5le Affections.
Whilst rejecting intelligent r:tn should entertain con-
s,,n fears of mad and senselcss Innovation wh'cl Is oc
h ,,nrt of disappointed and unprnrpled politicians, thry
shonld always regard with esteem the honest cioef VIM
h,ynu by careful study detected the causes o oPp
and nnuar discomfort in CONSTITUTIONS SEEKS ny pou az"
indenenden means remove them. 10 chhln oo"h W,
,nue orderly and intelligent people 10 Constitution o'a
IL ~ variance with the spirit Of the age To- cIe - M ~
dcuous constitutional fctions ri The common law, ana t
restrictions Of colonial times when they nave been ioiu
IMPRESSIVE and degrading 10 people, may justly D. feeFueu
- the yev worst species Of tyranny In TINS STATE Tor
years past men, utterly ignorant Of the wants oil t people,
,c,naplc of appeciang the advantages Of constitutional
lrccdon blind the glorious results OIL our INSTRUCTIONS
have kept alive old Federal fears oi the people nrce, ne
more popular and modern Of "Conservailsn MS
miscaled conservatism has been sort III "eSht Hca ~
The arms of Il sturdy swimmer, not quite heavy enough 70
sink him. but making his progress slow ana painful E'irv
e,rt Al reform every blow the ugly excrescenees by
which our constitution is dcuncd has been denounced 10y
those who have sclshy desired To keep the people from
their legitimate rights conservative spirit II cannot b.
denied is invaluable in community injected with frthci
radcaism aarlEiansm and comuni sr-or where the peo-
pie have manifested desire 10 break Down me erect
ed for the protection of property But IN Virginia Inc PEG
pie fat from wishing claim too much have borne Tor years
The weight of constitutional restrictions imposed upon them
by the conservative influence oi TIE Trainers VI ue '"s'
tuition Of 1880
Conservatism in this State unfortunately for the people
has been COMPOUNDED with foolish childish regard nr the
constitutional restrictions o colonial times Although II
be denied that the people have suffered uch rom h'
very Objectionable constitutions o 1891 sun there are many
who regard the best that was ever framed because y
was the work 4 large number al eminent men, They
have desired 10 suier III patience because =? COM
planning they would call question the wisdom Of Monroe
Giles Marshall Barbour Madison and Leigh The history
of the world fully demonstrates the fact that nations have
suffered infinitely By adhcrns 10 forms Of government
having their origin brbuc than they have ever
done from violent revolutionary movements IN
conservatism which gives more dignity ana fespec'
10 the laws and customs o our ancestors than to the wants
of the people is al this moment Keeping many millions oi
than Egyptian bondage Why are the Ihl-
nese for hundred generations, transcripts and
fac sntS OF each other though the dead grand father
had back in the grand child and 50 round ana round
s, this disregard OF The present ana worsip"i tho g.
toms and laws o the past parayzng the cnerge. Of the
people and compelling millions OF ncr 10 gro" like cuchi-
bers in glass walls.
In that cmncnty conservative country the laws and
toms ARE ineAib and the spirit d! the people is 50 i'm
potent that their minds grow il IN hollow hrazc,
enyclo3, whose walls removable NOS penciTabe and
hence all growth must conform Ia the structure IN whcaey
have been placed the very genius al ultra conservatism
y their cucnton laws and penalties the minds Of the peo-
pie made u grow into certain soc political and 'c'-
gious forms Just certainly and the principle Of
conservatism the feet OF their beauties are nnde ~ small
ncas,ic SHOES gov hcowsc, after the fashion %. the
from the good oicn times oi coniucins Hence It Is
that when respect for the customs OF oar ancestors and dis
regard o The sEi III the TOD TAR man created 70 adj
vance and n:sc intended by his God. through knowledge
10 forth clothed with intellectual power Is driven back al
every door Of cgrcs is dakcncd At window where
light should and blasted by The curse o bondage II
We attempt 10 follow 10 lis legitimate end the conservatism
which with REFORM wi lind that il has every where
terminated in The most cruel despotisrn.
In monarrhca governments al Efforts At rro'l are put
down with The bayone in Republics the people are r@lten
I'd away from their rights by the perpetual orcboilngs ol
| tmid, selfish men, who call themselves c"nservasts.
Thc foregoing observations will not be considered lhapDro-
pria when remembered that in this State ConSiau-
o without reference 10 lis merits regarded with singh
lar vencraon and respect Whether good ar bad the eyes
OF the ultra Chinese Mandarin School Of Con-efynsts,
Constitution is thing holy sacred and great IL b.
touched BY the people Although like the second nonafch
the frogs by Jupiter in the shape OF sors II turns
out aicon and is utterly III variance with The gc-
MUS Of The people It'll, il must bc respected ~ something ..
divine origin Although ike sort o o Juggernaut, u
brushes its worshppers they continue 10 adore with
increase OF ZEAL pporonaie 10 the extent Of their SUI
erings
To the rejecting man, nothing is offensive than
respect and homage whether rendered II unworthy men or
| unwisc constitutions 4 who dlsgraces an Office,
should be kicked OF withon, the slightest regard TO te
dignity of the place. This would be drawing nice, but
Just Distinction between respect tor the place. ana contempt
Tor the paccman Whilst the people should be impressed WIN
the respect due and good constitution they should
be encouraged in their assaults upon one which Expresses
and denies 10 them their rights. bad constitution should
be subjected to the good old fashioned punishment oi the -
nlu
it, other way express his adherence o the aoo-
nation The very definition OF Constitution seems 10 fur
nish argument in favor.
The qtfce Of rren Constitution Is odefegde IN rdrfoHs
puiic fnctionaries such IF the orers Of government as The
people do not intend 70 exercise aemselre~-to classify es
porerS according 10 Er and 10 commit them 10 sep
agents. proride fer The choice Of thos agents oy ts
people; ascertain limit and define the risnt q the authority
thus disgdted and 10 rserre 10 the people ter sorer@hy
h,s expressly commdiedt 10 tie care Qf tier rep
reScn!dtireS. Constitution unless II provides Tor inc
things just enumerated, should be pulled down without
moments hesitation. Rcgaiinaa Constitution a a written
instrument intended 10 secure 10 the people the advantages
o democratic form Of government they should never hes
tate IL remodel it 10 suit th.ir wishes and views pro-
vldcd they are IN unison with The right 81 persons ana pro-
perry recognized by society and natural law Is not ms
the fair import OF Constitution, viewed as an Instrument
5v which the people delegate powers OF government and
if So why should class Of timd politicians attempt by ex
citing the fears ri the people 10 maze Constitution a.
most irfevOcaElt!
vests il o! all authority except 10 insure the protection 81
rights and consequently the happiness Of those who consent
Ia IL As this should be- the with Constitutional
Government emanang from the people society cannot bind
itself 10 form oi government which III any respect does
violence the cherished principles of political freedom pro-
nugncd bv fathers the revolution. The moment
constitution is found work and it's asccraine
that il be rcmeded by constitution that moment
II becomes revocablc immoral and mschievous. An Or
binary cannot be upheld which subseves immoral
purposes and constitution should fall for the very same
This appears be the American doctrine respec
ting the constitution Ut government and has been sieal
~ persisted in from the declaration of independence 10 the
time That declaration bavc asserts the suprena
IS of the popular will and that whenever any government
nils its proper design is the right Of the people
Ia abolish II and constitute another. Whenever the people
therefore, after patiently bearing the weight OF an unjust
constitutions determine down and build up better
one attempt dssuadc them from their work Is 10 insult
their intelligence and good sense.
The opponent Of popular reform, when reform becomes i'm
pcravey necessary be regarded who lmpudent-
w opposes his selfish wishes the demands and wants
society. Far from deserving the honorable title Of conser
vatis he richly merits the appropriate one oi asocat
In this State, by majority Of twenty-five thousand the
people have risen and demanded Constitution, and
they should have it, and have they will since the consent
which gave all its vitality the present Constitution has
been withdrawn and has fallen for OF support Men
get frightened this falling down Of Constitution and
that is revolution Admit that it swhat then II is
boodless revolution rendered necessary by the wants and
suferlns of all the people; and since, in their necessity,
they have demanded it, let them have il in Gods
The H,oae need revolutions, bloody we'll bloodcss