Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-01-31


A Conventon Of the People Of the State. such
~ will be held in rebrusry. will be An Assem-.
blagc clothed and invested With august and Al.
m"ss unlimited power. Its authority will be
higher than the Legislasnrc-higher than Cover
nors and Councils. IL can make and unmake
Constitutions and Laws and in these perilous
and Degenerate days can overthrow your pres
ent form Of government. and substitute for IL an
oigArchy or Dcspotism nj will Above your
present Constitution, &c will have power TO
change the sssis Of Representation restrict the
night OF suffrage; change the mode and limit oi
niauon and. IN word. give TO the People
whatever form Of Government may .eem ~ IL
o~st--aiiow 10 you, ~ nov, . Governor elected
by the people, or else rcl,svc YOU of all such
rosbse IN future. and CONFER IN YOU . perpetual
Ruler by some other cor q Governor to be
selected IN some other mode than the present.
IL may bc SAID that all thu. IL idle. That hav-
ing the power and privilege Of selecting your
Delegates, you can only chop-c suitable persons
In represent you-that Il u ridiculous 90 fear n
ny such wanton stretch OF power In any Con-
sention which could be assembled in the State
OF Virginia Men Of Jefferson County be not
decei'edl have drawn no picture Of the i'm.
agination. have given no stretch OF power Ia
the ConVention soon To be held. All power in
this State, exists and abides in the People. A
Convention IN supposed 10 BE-. and in fact is an
Asssmblage Of the People. Ny object is to
draw your attention to the unlimited aud un.
bounded power s'yith which you invest your
Representatives Nh such Convention n we will
have. No one can gainsny what have thus far
asserted No one can deny that Convention
OF the People Of the State is above the Law and
above the Constitution, and can Get aside Gov.
ernors, Legislators and Law, in th. future
How important, then. TO consider what YOU are
about to do! Shall your C.avention be unre-
siruined IN Its acts, or will you, like men guard
ing and watchiul OF your rights. retain IN your
hand, the power 10 restrain prccipitatc and in
sons'derate action VIII you. like willing
slaves, submit TO the dictates OF an unscrupu-
ious and domincering Faction. or will you like
men. Ike Frermen hurl back upon them. with
such scorn As II deserves. the very idea of An
outrage upon your rights. All rests with YOUR
selves. our votes will decide.
Ii Is known TO YOU that an Ordinance has
been passed in the Legislature OF Virginia au-
thorising Convention of the People in Febru-
airy. IL is provided by the Legislature. that
when the election is held. a vd,e shall n, the
same time be taken the question shall he
nHdI action 81 The CosreniioH be submitted 10 a
rotc IF The People far ratification or rejection !?
propose to address few words TO you on the
subject.
DO you intend at this period of political ex-
citemcnt and OF public danger--when constitu-
tons are Jverthrown and revolutions are inau.
cncs as men could well exhibit when entering
upon Froiic or n Spree will YOU, | say, per.
mt any body Of men even elected by yourselves
TO go 10 Richmond with power 10 change your
present form OF Goyernment-with authority TO
tax you ut will-to change the basis of repre-
sentauon-to restrict your power To yote-to
disiranchise You mt pleasure and to break down
the Constitution and Government formed by the
Fathers of the Republic yet reserve To
yourselves no right To restrict their acts, or TO
restrain their power for evil! Are any of you.
fellow citizens, for the sake OF gratifying party
malignity, willing, Mt the bidding OF designing
men TO give up the very ground work OF your
lberty-thc very foundation stone Of your free
dom, and OF the right of sclfgovernmentl As
ior me--gtre me liberty, or gre me death :" =
Fellow Citizens-neyer before have YOU had
question more momentous presented for your
consideration never again will YOU have one to
consider more important to the preservation of
your liberties. You are told that IL is useless
10 keep an eye 90 the final action OF the Con,en-
tcn-that II N worse than uselcss-that u will
take time-that the .ith of March is too near
DO you consider yourselves FreeneH. and do
Editors of Newspapers, and dnrious selfish. tie
s,gHiag Demagogues thus t.mper with your
rights and cast contempt upon your common
sense as human beingsr j call upon you, men
OF Jefferson County. without distinction of par.
~, 10 arouse yourselves To the serious consider.
alton of the qu-stion-shall the final action Of
the Convention be submitted to n vote of the
People for ratification rejection! II is a
question fraught with incalculabe Importance
to you, and Of boundless moment 10 generation.
yet TO follow Us. BE not cajoled IL is no mere
question of time. Relinqulsh your power. ard
II Is the first downward step OF degeneracy and
the hrst link OF that chain which is to feiter snd
manacle You subjects of despotic rule. will
have been forged. While your riQ is respect.
Ell and exercised. and while freedom remains
all Is not lost. Arouse yourselves and say to
your Representatives in the Convention, in a
manner not to be misunderstood. ire are The
Guardians Of our oen Liberties Look 10 your
acts. and report them 10 as. Our desfinies are
IA our orn hands, not IA yours. Take one mis-
guided step no'r. and neither you nor your de
scendants can ever retracc it. Yours
A TAN PAYER