Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1851-12-03
Tho New Constitution.

Sccordng,to the vote on the New
Constitution, which we published some
days since, with the exception of sixteen
counties, which still remain to be heard
from, but only two of which give a heavy
vote.) the majority thus far in favor Of
the new Constitution is 81, 629, in vote
of 67 ,495. But what surprises us more
than the heavy vote for the Constitution,
IAN event which we had confidently a ~,
ticipated,) is the smallness of the Via ia
vote, In the Presidential electioIT ;r,,;,,;,
ID, the number of votes cast G ~
was 90, 194; yet, under tbomsonJ ~
Ml,l0n "ull,l's VI" rs many votes are cast
Nolo upon residential election under the
a. y, u Tl;oapst;Grtion. The new voters in all
no ar of the State, as well as the old, seem
to have cared very little about exercising
the privilege Of freemen, 1t was premed-
itated by those who were opposed to per-
hitting tho new voters under the present
| Constitution have any voice in its ac
ceptance or rejection, that they would as
a matter of colrse prove themselves very
willing to place over in their own hands.
The result, however, has entirely disap-
pointed these expectations.
We confess thu we do not like the in
difference so oftennanifested by our peo-
pic in regard to IL exercise of the right
of suffrage, and int upon occasions of
the highest impcancc. The subject
which the people OF irginia have just de-
cided was the most ,1mentous ever sub
, mittcd to their conservation, 1t was the
organic law of their ,vcrnment-it was
1.-THE Constitution of State, upon the
, adoption or rejection which might rest
the future progress, -elfarc, security,
F.. honor, and the direC interests of the
: State and it's people /; al yet not half the
= freemen of Virginia to the trouble to
: vote upon it one way ore other
c Whilst we are greatly cased with the
? adoption of those Reform for which we
), have SO long labored, wcnust say that
:, the Indifference manifest upon so inn
:. portant an occasion to the hit of voting,
r is not an suspicious sign. The price of
d liberty is eternal vigilance nd activity.
h The extension of popular owcr under
the now Constitution viii be furious and
n dangerous, if the people dot exercise
n that mower. 1t is now their mt to elect,
q not only Executive, but jude officers;
n but the possession of new pow involves
a new labor, and they must be lparcd to
/ perform it, or their interests II suffer
from the election of executive d judi
V cial officers by cliqucs and factlo, who,
, having peculiar reasons for actlv, will
: elect unworthy and incompeten,ficcrs
d through the neglect of the masscto go
~ to the polls. We have never alehen-
10 ded danger from the extension of pular
t. power in Virginia on account of a mt of
& patriotism or intelligence among thpeo-
$ pie. We have advocated the ext ion
r of that power. But the chief peril ch
was apprchcndcd is, that the peoplerill
If stay at home on election days, and lie
If it to an industrious and perhaps ans
he less minority to elect its own men, agat
in the will and to the dctrimcnt Of the g
L, munity.
Against this danger it behooves II
re- Press to warn the people. They nm!
lt as Il matter both of duty and interest, e
to crcsc the right of suffrage uniformly a
l. universally, or their rights and proper
and their very Liberties will be insccul