The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-29
virsanis Reform couvent,eu.


a~d his Course The Past, The Present, and the
Future of Prgiwia-1hs SL0vuy Compromise,
&c.-Poltltcs-7h Heather.
do not believe there is town in the Union, of
equal population and dimensions that can rival this
the metropolis Of the sold Dominion" in the
gaiety and animation which envens / at the pre-
sent moment The State Legislature and the Con-
vehtion to revise the constitution of the State
both in session. and they have drawn together here
an unwonted concourse OF learned statesmen, beau
tful women, and interested and curious spectators
and outsiders" generally; the effect Of which has
been to give an unusual animation to the social
and the business circles of this hospitable and
thriving CITY.
On the 9th instant, pursuant to the adjournment
of the Alb Of November, the Constitutional Con-
vention again assembled Thus far, owing 10 the
fact that none Of the committees to whom the va
rious subjects of constitutional reform were re-
fered have reported, but little has been done in the
actual discharge Of the duties for which the con-
vention was convened. The first two weeks of the
session was consumed in deciding upon place
tor the permanent session of the body-the cap-
tol being in possession Of the Legislature-and
IN determining upon plan for the publication
and distribution of its debates and proceedings
full reports Of which are being made BY the Off
corps of assistants The Universalist Church. spa
cious edifice, conveniently located was after the
rejection of the courteous profer of Accommodations
in Norfolk, Alexandra, and Petersburgh, selected
venton, and has been most comfortably fltted up
for the purpose. The debates and proceedings, it
is decided, are to be published at the expense Of
the State, in supplemental sheet to be furnished
regularly TO the subscribers of the six political
Journals of Richmond, and in an octave form for
binding and preservation. BY this means, full
report OF the proceedings and debates of the body
will be regularly distributed among majority OF
the voters Of the State, while the publication in
book form will secure it place ia the public and
private libraries for future reference, This pre-
lminary business being disposed Of the Conven-
ton, on Monday last, adjourned over until to-day
with view OF giving the committees ample time
to perfect their labors and prepare their reports
Some OF them are expected to report on Monday
next; and by the close OF the week, the Conven-
ton will doubtless be fully engaged in the prose-
cution Of its srduous and perplexing labors.
The Convention Is composed of l35 members,
and although not an aordlnarily able body, is
still far above mediocriy in point OF talent. There
are quite number-Perhaps majority-of young
men among the members, most of whom upon this
occasion enter for the trst time the arena of the
politician and the statesman. There are also in
the course, q number OF veterans in public life,
men not unknown to fame,-such tor instance
the President, John Y Mason, late Secretary of
the Navy, Henry A. Wise, the eccentric and the
cratic, John M Bolts, of " head him or die menu
DRY &C., &c, just enough to leaven il favorably
with their experience and knowledge Of parlia mem
tsry proceedings There is good deal of what is
styled speaking talent in the Convention, but
Judging from the indications thus far, il is possessed
by few OF the members to such degree as to pro-
mise much display of brilliant oraiory during the
session The peculiar system of electioneering
characteristic OF Virginia, IN common TO
all the southern and southwestern States,
which forces the candidate for popular favor
"upon the stump during the canvass, is,
however, certain guarantee that every member is
competent 10 the expression OF his views and opia-
ions with uency, at least If not with elegance and
precison. This fact and the well known obstinacy
and perseverance which Is almost characteristic
of the Virginia, renders il certain
in nj he nv nnlt
that are TO be discussed and decided that the ses.
sion Of the Convention will be a protracted one.
Mr. Henry A. Wise is likely to attract no little
attention, not only in Virginia but in other States,
from the course which he seems to have deter
mined 10 pursue. The regeneration and reinvgora-
ton OF the old commonwealth, and her awakening
from the lethargy in which for years she has
slumbered, is his constant theme-his darling OBJ
ject-to promote and secure which, he seems pre-
pared, II necessary, 10 uproot the very foundations
Of the present form Of State government. He is a
thorough refoimsI and ultra radical, aud may
be regarded as the leader-the very lad and front
OF Young Virginia" or the party of progress
and improvement. He is the strenuous ad.
vocate for the prosecution of comprehea
sive sytem Of internal improvements, OF thorough
and general scheme of public education, and OF
complete and entire reconstruction of the j1cici.
airy, elected IN one OF the largest slave holding
counties in the State. He is the ardent advocate
also, of the 4" White Basis. as il is called, or of
the apportionment Of representation according TO
white population. With his restless, untiring en-.
ergy-his persevering ndustry--and his flery elo
quence, Mr.. Wise may be regarded as the ajax OF
the reform party in the convention The proceed
ings of the body have not been of character thus
far TO Indicate the standard bearer of the
i've party; but there can be no doubt that M
Wise will find among the many that cling TO the
past, and Its traditions and recollectioIs, foeman
worthy of his steel. Laua- alter.
There is much in the present condition OF VIZ
GINA that IL little understood appreciated al the
North; and indeed which the people Of Virginia
themselves only beginning 10 understand and ap-
preciate. cit is an i'll wind that blows nobody any
good" and the abolition agitation, with ell the
evils il has produced, and the caamities II still
threatens 10 produce, has had, at least, this bene
fcial effect BY forcing upon the consideration Of
the Southern people the question Of what should |
be done to resist the progress, and defend them |
selves from the Entertainments Of northern fdna.
tiCism, IL has revealed TO them the naked1ess OF
their land, and lead them to the ascertainment Of
the real causes, and the deyising OF remedies tor
that deficiency and hardness in the Development \
Of all the elements 81 State and national great /
ness, which, II must be confessed, has been IN too
great degree their characteristic. Hence the gene
raj " arousinp" so TO term II. which Is pow going
on among the Southern people, and which is mann /
tested IN the recent appropriation OF sl2o,OOO, by
the Legislature OF South Carolina, for the establish
ment OF line OF steamships from Charleston TO
Liverpool direct, IN the daily establishment /
of manufactures in Georgia, and in a hundred
other instances. No State has suffered more from \
the policy Of the past, or is more thoroughly /
aroused TO the necessity for It's abandonment, Than
Virgiaia With soil as fertile, and climate as |
GENIAL as the most favored land upon which the
sun shines, with her mountains teeming with /
mineral wealth, literally forcing itself from lie |
prison in the bowels OF the earth, 10 the surface,
with motive power sufficient TO propel the ma. |
chinery OF a world, leaplng from her hills aud /
gushing through her ravines, and with an extent OF
nver Ind bay navigation capscious enough to hoat |
the products Of Chris'endom, Virginia has re- /
manned almost stationary 10 the march of this /
Union To power and greatness. Starting IN the |
outset OF this Triumphant progress in the very VA,
che has seen her sisters, ter less endowed by ma
ture, outsrip her in the march, until now her post
ton almost In the very rear guard OF the column
Her people have, al last began to realize this state
Of things, and are now shaking of the chains and |
shackles with which pride and prejudice have so
long encountered them. Let but ne spini which \
10 now awakened, animate them for a few years, /
and the Old Dominion viii have resumed again /
her once proud position in the American Union. l
So mote IL be.
puhlc linz in Virginia has gubstf cd into n