Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-04
The Convention.

We donot know whether or not, we ought |
to congratulate the public, upon the hap
pening Of this event. 1t is true the body |
was an expensive one, but it is question
admitting of grave doubt, whether the State
might not better afford to pay the cxpen-
SEES of this body, for some years to come,
than to incur the possible ills, which may
result from It's action. A review of the rise
progress and termination OF this reform
movement, would afford matter for grave
reflection to the philosopher and Statesman.
The revolutions which have taken place in
the history Of nations heretofore, have been
generally produced by some adequate
cause. and controlled by minds Of supc-
rior order. But here is revolution, well
nigh sthoroughas any whicha government
can undergo; revolution, which leaves
scarcely anyof the great land marks, which
have hitherto served as beacon lights, to
the lovers Of law and order in this good
Old Commonwealth, the idea of which was
conceived, God knows where, undertaken,
for causes which were suddenly found to
exist, and carried through by men of the
most moderate mental calibrc. For we
do not presume, that those men of any
clam to the name Of Statesmen, who have
succumbed to this movement, rather than
iaToured IT. have so little respect for the
public intelligence, US to hope to induce
| any considerable number Of sensible mon
to belicye,that some of the plans which have
received their votes have met with their ap-
probation
Prior to the call of this Convention, The
pubic mind IN the State of Virginia was
IN profound state Of tranquility. No
man was aggrieved in his person or his
property, or imagined himself to be. 1t is
true that here, and there, some individual,
who conceived himself peculiarly fitted for
the administration of justice, may have
been Disappointed in his aspirations for
seat upon the county court bench; and
doubtless there We're not a few, who look
ed with conslderablcenvy upon those who
had been SO fortunate as to occupy The few
Offices in this Commonwealth, to which any
profit is attached. But the great body Of
thepeople lived quietly and contentedly, un.
der the constitution, which had been be-
qaeathed to them by their fathers, and
which had SO wen protected themselves
a county court squabbe may have sug-
gested to some asprant for tile public ia
vor, who had no peculiar merit of his own,
the idea Of change. He found eager fol
lowers, in those who had been disappoint-
cd, and those who looked with wishluI eyes
upon the few small flesh pots Of which they
had not been allowed to taste A cry Of
ref6rAa was raised. Many Of those, upon
whose ears thiscry fell harshly, were more
prudent than patriotic, and waited to see
how the current set; many, eager for an
opportunity, for display, Joined in the cry,
caring very little how the public Jared, il
its breath but filed their sails. Willy politi-
cians Of both parties fearing that some adj
vantage might be gained BY their oppo
neuts were determined not to be outdone,
and Immediately there was a struggle as
to who should go the frthcst Thus it
was that storm was raised. Many, very
many Of those who deplored the move
ment, We're afflicted with weak nerves ana
stood aloof, and buta few were found suf-
licieutly bold to throw themselves against
thccurrent. Its needless 70 say, that they
Were hoPelessly oyerthrown, and they
owed their overthrow as much to the
umidlty Of their friends, rs 10 Tie strength
Of their opponents. For it is IA fact, that
cannot Be denied, that The vote which sane
toned the call Of the convention, WAS less
thau moioty Of The legal voters of wv
state, as was the vote by which the Dele
gates to the Convention We're elected.
There is one Thing about tins matter
which cannot DC controverted. lis this
that prior to the commencement ofthe can.
vass, there is not one word about any oltho
rcj6lnas which are now SAID to be SO impor
tant, in any speech, letter, Or document,
made or written by any member Of the
Convention, Who before that tim, enjoyed
any reputation, beyond the limits Of his
own county. This is strange III those
gentlemen (und there are nota few Of thernl
III the Convention, WHO now appear u
consider the proposed reforms so much
needed by the people ami required BY
public sentiment, who have been hereto
fore known 70 the State, are really sincere,
how is it that they have remained hitherto
50 profoundly silent! We imagine That
the true reason Is to be found in the fact.
that their eyes We're not opened to the real
condition ofthe public grievances, until the
seductive prospect Of a seat in the Conveu-
tion,and neutrality-suspicious., blazed
before their darkenod orJs.
We can readily conceive the feeling with
which those gentlemen first met each other
in the Capitol at Richmond last Fall
i was 2 scene for the pencil Of Hogarth
or The penof Thackeray or Dickens. Cen
tlemcn Of mind enough to understand the
nature Of our institutions, ana WHO lad
read the history Of the country, could not
look each otherin the face, with l.nowl-
edge Of the part which each had played
without laughing, if indeed the feeling Of
shame was not toe great. to permit Of
even a smile. There is another circum-
stance too, which although apparently