Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-08-01
Spirit of 9sfftrsnn.
OharlestOwu. West virg'a., August l,
ZEE CONVENTION QUESTION.
Election Dqy, 4tA 94ursdey e4M Aseu.t.

the Hon. G. j. FAULKNER aud unanimously
adopted, at the recent Mass Meeting in Berke-
ley county. They cover the whole ground
as to the Convention question, aud we hope
will be cAretully examined by every reader of
our paper:
ResOIOed, I. That IT is EXPEDIENT
to hold Convention, at an early day, TO reform
aud remOdle the present Constitution of this
State.
ResOlOeR, II. That the experience Of the
last nine years, during which time this Con-
s'ItutIon has been in operation, has very sat-
istactOrially shown that it has been poWerless
TO protect those fundamental privileges, which
OF right belong to the citizens of every Free
Government. In illustration of the truth of
this proposition, We refer to the following facts:
lst. That within that period, more than ten
thousand OF tho native born citizens of this
State, have in period Of profound peace,
without trial or conviction for any offence, by
er post fdciO ordinances, been deprived of the
right OF suffrage, aud reduced to tho condi-
tiOn of aliens upon their native soil. 1t is
true this obnoxious provision has been recent.
Iy abrOgated by decisive expression of che
Popular voice, but the relief thus afforded is
attributable exclusively to the altered aud i'm
proved temper of the Public mind, not 20 any
Inherent virtue in the Constitution and that
such measure of veneence shonld for four
long years have OVer-shadOwed the liberties
OF this State, shows, that We are without that
Protecting Power, in our organic law, which
il Is the great purpose Of written COustitu.
ton to guarantee to every citizen Of a Free
Government.
ID In tdrther illustration of said proposi
tion, We refer to the imposition of rcIr0sDec.
tire political test cath, aud through its instru,
mentality, to the deprivation OF many native
born citizens OF the right to follow the occu-
patton aud business to which they had been
reared; to the denial to them of the right to
sue Tor the redress Of civil wrongs in the
Courts OF Justice TO the denial of tho right
OF appeal from arbitrary aud illegal iudg>
menIs and DEGREES in tho inferior Courts to
their disqualification as Jurors in all cases
civil or criminal and to their disability TO
hold any office of profit, trust or emolument
IN this State. 1t cannot be said that these
were mere acts of Legislative usurpa,ion.-
The Supreme Judicial tribunal of this State
has declared, that this whole series of Ciisa-
bling aud disqnalifying acts were passed by
the Legislature under powers conferred on it
by the present Constitution of this State
I'D. degrading the TcirOSpcciiCe political
test oath an instrument Of oppression. dan.
pie, aud capable in any period Of excitement
Ot being used for the worst purposes Of Fac
ton; subtle aud cunning invention of our
recent disoFdered times, undreamcd Of amidst
all the civil aud political revolutions and fiery
conflicts nf party which have marked the his.
tories Of England and France, we should con.
slider any constitution as subject to deep re,
Proach, that did not, with the experience Of
the last seven years before Us, forever pro-
hibit resort TO such an cxpedient, by any
Legislative body for any purpose Whatever.
RcsOtrcGI, III. The OMISSION in our
Constitution Of IN article forbidding the Leg
lslature to pass any special EIV for any case
Tor which provision might be made By a Jen
eTGt "'o; aud requiring that body TO pass
general |GtcS for all cases where a general law
can be made applicable, has converted our Leg.
Isiature into favOrite tribunal for the adiu.
dIcatlon of private interests unnecessarily
protraciing the sessions Of that body caus.
Ing neglect OF tho true objects for which
Legislative bodies are created interfering
with private rights aud disturbing the peace
OF entire communities by i'll considered, par
tIzan, and &c PIrte special euactments.
ReSOiCcf, Nv. With an article Incorporated
into our Constitution limiting the Legislature
to ITS appropriate functions. biennial sessions
OF short duration. would be adequate to all
the purposes Of general Legislation, saving for
more important State purposes, tho money up
necessarily expended by annual elections and
annual sessions.
ResOtcc'i, V. The experience of our State
Governments in this country has shown that
one OF the most valuable safeguards against
hasty and i'll considered, not to add partial
and corrupt legislation, is the obligation im-
posed BY those Constitutions (but Omitted in
~
signature to every Bill before it becomes A
law. The undivided responsibility of the Ex-
ecutlve Is an Important corrective Of that di.
vided responsibility which each member of
large assembly shares in common with his
numerous associates. 1t simply refers obiec,
tIonaI legislation back to the body for recon-
sldeFatlOn, with the public eye intentIy direct,
ed TO the conflict which has thus arisen be.
tween the Legislative aud Executive depart-
ments Of the government.
ResOtrea, VI. The frank, open aud manly
system of rirG rOce voting which has been
characteristic Of our people from the earliest
settlement Of Virginia, and which has ever
been regarded as one of our most cherished
institutions, should be restored; and the
secret ballot under which SO many frauds NAV
and have been committed and concealed.
should be abolished.
Res0kre6, VII The subdivision of opr
counties into townships rendered IMPERATIVE
by the present Constitution, is unsuitable to
the average size and general arrangement of
our Counties. tits an institution exotic growth,
nast'ly incorporated into a system with which
II Is not eongenial, aud to which the people
have not become reconciled by nine years ex-
perIence of its results. It needlessIy multi,
plies Offices, and increases the burdens of tax.
alton. In some counties it is barely tolerated;
in others it is . grieVOus burden. We have
no doubt the wisdom of the Convention can
readily suggest snma other sHsten nr Cnr,ntr