The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-17
Virginia Politcs-rhe New Contribution
Tne Old DominIen Awake.


The spirit Of the age Is eminer,ly liberal, pro
gressive, anS uilitarisn. Revelation is the ordar
Of the day. over tbs face Of the habitsble earth,
the peryading sentiments and the prevailing pria-
ciples are, change, Improvement, advancement,
progress, revolution When burke declared that
''the oge Of chyalry Is gone" he proclaimed the
day Of practical things. Il upon us-we in the
midst Of an sll-pervading revolution. The preiB-
stesn-comuerce-sot Enthusiastically have effect
ed, ard are eGecting, tIiunphs over hoary despo.-
isms ard baIbaEiss, before viii ID the victories q
Napoleon divide into mere scenes Of human
slaughter The Republicans Of Europe, in AIMS,
have failed, and may fa1l--the tyrant Of Naples
nay gloat over the victims who Gil his dangeons-
the desrot Of Austria, who bis throne and his
empire TO tie Cossaoks, may, in servile imitation
of the sturdy Nicholas set up an absolute stem
TEN porRry reaction In France may reinstate the
Bourtors or the empire-b1t the modern idea that
the rights Of kings are asurpstons Of the rights Of
men advances and Is dfTuscd with tae physical i'm
yrovemen,s Of the day. Ner can We doubt lie alIi-
mate universal adoption.
In o5r own country, though setting 81. FAR in tho
van Of tie nations, tic progress Of LIBERAL prin-
eIies, within the last ten yeas. has been unprtce
dentcd, but 80 silently anl saoothly accomplished
a alaost 10 escape observation. The transition.
distinct The change from the chrysalis to the bat.
terfy, andas beautiful, trauspiTing Immediately b.
fore eyes, has scarcely challenged our Alteration.
For example -abd L is a moss Tsnarka5c aud In
terestiDg exsmpls-of the old Commonwealth Of
Virginia, proud other kingly Traditions aud almost
idiculously vain Of the hereditary reminis senses o.
her '.frss families r-ha1yhty srd sc1rnfgl Of
Yankee inuovations--as jealous q su5.crranosn
doctrines as of the theories Of Hamil.oa-inporsus
conservative, and dis.-ustful Of ckanEe--deei sst
against even Edicous ooncs ssons, freq suspicion Of
encouraging the mock pkilanthrOpistsof tie North
in their dc ably hostility TO her sosial systen-the
old Commonwealth Of Vrg mia, overcoming these
and all other impcSiments, has, in change Of her
constitution, effected revelation ia her govern.
men. scarcely less than the change from King
George the Third to oar ndepe adent ,onfsderation
brief statement Of some Of the most prominent
features Of the existing State constitution, az com
pared HHh the provisions II the new fundamental |
law, which Is to be voted upon by the people on |
fhs fourth Thursday Of the coming October, will
amply sustain this assumption.
Under the present consultation Of Virgins. Inc
elective franchise Is confined 10 free.holders not
boilers, ard heads OF families paying tax upon n
kiavc, horse, watch, or clock and to sach other
free white male citizens as may hold reversion,ry
interest in real estate. A landholder, owning land
IN several counties has the right to vote in each Of
said counties for members Of the Legislature, bu.
is only cn:Icd to one vote in the district fcr repro
sensitive 70 Congress. The Governor eal S.4:s J