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Letter to Editor
February 29, 1828
Winchester Virginia Republican
Winchester, Virginia
What is this article about?
Editorial introduction and letter to friends of constitutional reform in Virginia, celebrating the 1827 legislative victory for a convention bill and urging high voter turnout in April elections to counter opposition and ensure reform, warning of past complacency's risks. Includes garbled table of Dec. 14, 1827 vote by representatives and counties.
Merged-components note: Merged editorial/letter with fragmented vote tables into single letter_to_editor component on constitutional reform
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We beg the reader to lay aside national politics for a moment, and give the annexed communication his undivided attention. Important as is the choice of president, let us first attend to the no less important question of convention. Let every friend of reform, if possible, get to the polls at the April elections, and meet, and more than meet, the opposition of the hostile counties. Where the people are in favor, let them be satisfied that their candidates are also. We speak to Western Virginia, and caution her to guard against treachery. Delegates have misrepresented their constituents, and they may again.
FOR THE REPUBLICAN
To the friends of constitutional reform in Virginia.
Victory has crowned, at last, your long continued efforts to bring the great question of constitutional reform before the people of the commonwealth. Vanquished, in the house of delegates, in 1825, with a majority of ninety thousand of the population of the state in your ranks—vanquished again in 1826 with a majority on your side of one hundred and fifty thousand, you still refrained from violent and revolutionary measures, perceiving that the quiet but irresistible march of public opinion was rapidly preparing the way for your final triumph.
The victory has been at length achieved, notwithstanding the politically rotten and corrupt composition of the house of delegates, by bringing to bear on the great question a majority of almost two hundred and forty thousand, in a total population of scarcely more than six hundred thousand. The representatives of 402,567 citizens voted on the 14th December, 1827, for the bill "concerning a convention," while its opponents represented 164,143 only.—[See table at the end.]
This is doubtless a most glorious and animating victory. But it may still prove a barren one, unless it is followed up by continued efforts. Eleven years ago, during the session of 1816-17, a revision of the constitution seemed almost within your grasp. A bill for taking the sense of the people had passed the house of delegates; and if you had followed up your success by continued exertion you would long since have wrested the government from the hands of an usurping minority. But in an evil hour you listened to proposals for a compromise, and accepted an equalization of representation in the senate, when you might, by a little perseverance, have effected a thorough reform in every department of the government.
Then, as if all had been gained, you sunk into profound repose. The ruinous practical effects of the imperfect and unequal representation of the people, in the house of delegates, had not then developed themselves so fully as since. Evils were felt, but they were not traced to their causes. You loved ease and tranquility, and you trusted to time and chance, the gods whom the sluggard worships, to carry you through. Thus for eight years did you doze over your violated rights, and hope for better things. During those eight years the blighting misrule of the lowland government had produced the most fatal effects on the prosperity of the state. During those eight years New-York and Pennsylvania had overtaken and passed and distanced Virginia in the race of greatness. At the end of those eight years the commonwealth exhibited the plainest symptoms of premature decay, while her sister states, with few exceptions, were prosperous and happy.
Then, indeed, you awoke. Then indeed you opened your eyes to the great truth, that nothing but constitutional reform, and an entire change in the character and spirit of the government, could save the commonwealth from impending ruin. After three years of persevering exertion, you have succeeded in bringing the great question of reform before the people, by the intervention of the existing government, and without encountering the dangers and turmoil of a revolutionary movement. Now is the time for renewed exertion, now is the time to follow up the advantage you have gained. The day rapidly approaches when the sense of the people is to be taken at the polls. If you remit your efforts, the bright day of liberty which has just dawned may be fearfully overcast, and may yet close in the darkness that is without hope. I would not disturb your imaginations with vain forebodings. But I warn you that if, as on the former occasion, you sink into repose on this great question, you may yet be defeated, and may entail disfranchisement on your posterity. Yes—defeated even by the weak minority I have named.
If two thirds of the friends of reform stay away from the polls, because victory is certain, and four fifths, or somewhat more, of the supporters of existing misrule, stimulated, as they doubtless will be, by the danger of the crisis, and by the impending loss of power, attend and give their votes, the question will be carried against assembling a convention. Then will the toil and anxiety of years have been thrown away. Our lips will be sealed, and this question will pass by before a new effort will be made. Meanwhile the more ardent and zealous of the friends of reform will emigrate in crowds. Ubi libertas, ibi patria. They will carry with them much of the mind, much of the energy, and much of the wealth, which still remain to our chained and exhausted commonwealth. Thus will its downward progress to ruin be incalculably accelerated, and Virginia, loved and honored Virginia, first in the glorious race of liberty in a by-gone age, the mother of so many heroes and statesmen, will become a hissing and a reproach among the nations.
Fellow-citizens, let not this thing be. Come forth in the majesty of your strength. Be indeed and in truth the sovereign people. This is no ordinary occasion. It is not often that the people of any country are called on to exercise the high prerogative of revising their fundamental law, in the character whose provisions are laid the deep foundations of the weal or wo of future generations. Hold not back from the exercise of this high prerogative. And when a new day of prosperity shall have arisen on our much loved country, when an enlightened and paternal government, founded on equal representation, and looking with an equal eye on every part of our territory, shall have diffused, by its wisdom and energy, new life and vigor into every vein and artery of the political body, you may proudly say to your children, "and I too aided in effecting the convention which has raised from the dust the fallen fortunes of Virginia"
ONE OF THE PEOPLE
Votes on the final passage of the convention bill.
December 14th, 1827. Opposite to each man's name is the name of the county which he represents, and one half of the white population according to the census of 1820.
2124
2122
The reader is referred to the first page for an able speech on the convention question, by our representative in the senate, Col. Smith.
FOR THE REPUBLICAN
To the friends of constitutional reform in Virginia.
Victory has crowned, at last, your long continued efforts to bring the great question of constitutional reform before the people of the commonwealth. Vanquished, in the house of delegates, in 1825, with a majority of ninety thousand of the population of the state in your ranks—vanquished again in 1826 with a majority on your side of one hundred and fifty thousand, you still refrained from violent and revolutionary measures, perceiving that the quiet but irresistible march of public opinion was rapidly preparing the way for your final triumph.
The victory has been at length achieved, notwithstanding the politically rotten and corrupt composition of the house of delegates, by bringing to bear on the great question a majority of almost two hundred and forty thousand, in a total population of scarcely more than six hundred thousand. The representatives of 402,567 citizens voted on the 14th December, 1827, for the bill "concerning a convention," while its opponents represented 164,143 only.—[See table at the end.]
This is doubtless a most glorious and animating victory. But it may still prove a barren one, unless it is followed up by continued efforts. Eleven years ago, during the session of 1816-17, a revision of the constitution seemed almost within your grasp. A bill for taking the sense of the people had passed the house of delegates; and if you had followed up your success by continued exertion you would long since have wrested the government from the hands of an usurping minority. But in an evil hour you listened to proposals for a compromise, and accepted an equalization of representation in the senate, when you might, by a little perseverance, have effected a thorough reform in every department of the government.
Then, as if all had been gained, you sunk into profound repose. The ruinous practical effects of the imperfect and unequal representation of the people, in the house of delegates, had not then developed themselves so fully as since. Evils were felt, but they were not traced to their causes. You loved ease and tranquility, and you trusted to time and chance, the gods whom the sluggard worships, to carry you through. Thus for eight years did you doze over your violated rights, and hope for better things. During those eight years the blighting misrule of the lowland government had produced the most fatal effects on the prosperity of the state. During those eight years New-York and Pennsylvania had overtaken and passed and distanced Virginia in the race of greatness. At the end of those eight years the commonwealth exhibited the plainest symptoms of premature decay, while her sister states, with few exceptions, were prosperous and happy.
Then, indeed, you awoke. Then indeed you opened your eyes to the great truth, that nothing but constitutional reform, and an entire change in the character and spirit of the government, could save the commonwealth from impending ruin. After three years of persevering exertion, you have succeeded in bringing the great question of reform before the people, by the intervention of the existing government, and without encountering the dangers and turmoil of a revolutionary movement. Now is the time for renewed exertion, now is the time to follow up the advantage you have gained. The day rapidly approaches when the sense of the people is to be taken at the polls. If you remit your efforts, the bright day of liberty which has just dawned may be fearfully overcast, and may yet close in the darkness that is without hope. I would not disturb your imaginations with vain forebodings. But I warn you that if, as on the former occasion, you sink into repose on this great question, you may yet be defeated, and may entail disfranchisement on your posterity. Yes—defeated even by the weak minority I have named.
If two thirds of the friends of reform stay away from the polls, because victory is certain, and four fifths, or somewhat more, of the supporters of existing misrule, stimulated, as they doubtless will be, by the danger of the crisis, and by the impending loss of power, attend and give their votes, the question will be carried against assembling a convention. Then will the toil and anxiety of years have been thrown away. Our lips will be sealed, and this question will pass by before a new effort will be made. Meanwhile the more ardent and zealous of the friends of reform will emigrate in crowds. Ubi libertas, ibi patria. They will carry with them much of the mind, much of the energy, and much of the wealth, which still remain to our chained and exhausted commonwealth. Thus will its downward progress to ruin be incalculably accelerated, and Virginia, loved and honored Virginia, first in the glorious race of liberty in a by-gone age, the mother of so many heroes and statesmen, will become a hissing and a reproach among the nations.
Fellow-citizens, let not this thing be. Come forth in the majesty of your strength. Be indeed and in truth the sovereign people. This is no ordinary occasion. It is not often that the people of any country are called on to exercise the high prerogative of revising their fundamental law, in the character whose provisions are laid the deep foundations of the weal or wo of future generations. Hold not back from the exercise of this high prerogative. And when a new day of prosperity shall have arisen on our much loved country, when an enlightened and paternal government, founded on equal representation, and looking with an equal eye on every part of our territory, shall have diffused, by its wisdom and energy, new life and vigor into every vein and artery of the political body, you may proudly say to your children, "and I too aided in effecting the convention which has raised from the dust the fallen fortunes of Virginia"
ONE OF THE PEOPLE
Votes on the final passage of the convention bill.
December 14th, 1827. Opposite to each man's name is the name of the county which he represents, and one half of the white population according to the census of 1820.
2124
2122
The reader is referred to the first page for an able speech on the convention question, by our representative in the senate, Col. Smith.
| creat. | James | Matthews | 1908 |
| ensus | Diggs | do. | 1808 |
| 1704 | Goode | Mecklenburg | 5855 |
| 1704 | Locket | do. | 5355 |
| 1962 | Segar | Middlesex | 876 |
| 1982 | Booth | do. | 876 |
| 2944 | Craig | Montgomery | 3723 |
| n3723 | Crochet | do. | 3723 |
| 875 | Murdaugh | Nansemond | 2287 |
| 3771 | Hunter | do. | 2287 |
| 3771 | Macon | New Kent | 1263 |
| 1983 | Saunders | do. | 1268 |
| 2825 | StephensonNicholas | 902 | |
| 2829 | Kelly | do. | 902 |
| 1038 | Bayley | Northampton | 2684 |
| 1749 | Bayse | Northumbd | 2067 |
| 1749 | Betts | do. | 2067 |
| 2004 | Anderson | Nottoway | 1493 |
| 2004 | Crump | Powhatan | 1246 |
| 1983 | Farrar | Pr. Edward | 2315 |
| 2585 | Dupuy | do. | 2313 |
| 2585 | Hubard | Pr'cess Anne | 2406 |
| 1028 | Woodhouse | do. | 2406 |
| 4375 | Temple | Pr. George | 1539 |
| 4379 | Rives | do. | 1559 |
| 2650 | Barnes | Richmond | 1374 |
| 12452 | Carter | do. | 1374 |
| 2452 | Broadax | Southampton | 2063 |
| 778 | Denegre | do. | 8033 |
| 778 | Cook | Stafford | 2394 |
| 2730 | Moncure | do. | 2394 |
| 2730 | Crump | Surry | 1321 |
| 1714 | Ruffen | do. | 1321 |
| 1174 | Dillard | Sussex | 2077 |
| 1721 | Eppes | do. | 2077 |
| 1724 | Brown | Warwick | 310 |
| 1194 | Presson | do. | 310 |
| 1194 | Newton | Westmore'd | 1515 |
| ed | Flungerford | do. | 1515 |
| nsus | Shield | York | 794 |
| 1936 | Griffin | do. | 794 |
| 1936 | Moody | Williamsburg | 534 |
| Persinger (Allegbany, Davis) since last ce Booker Amelia Nash do. Sittingon Bath McClintick do. Mallory Brunswick Pattoeson Buckingham Christian Elam Chesterfield Clarke do. Crump Cumberland Wynn Diuwiddie Boisseau do. Wray Elizabeth city Noel Essex Pitts do. Page Gloucester Baytop do. Watkins Goochland Blair Grayson all Spencer do. Attkinson Halifax Chalmers do. Harvie Henrico Holiman Isle of Wight Chapman do. Cole James city Richardson do. Pollard King & Queen Upshaw do. Baber King George Mason Pollard Kg. William Gregory Meredith Lancaster Chinn do. Stollings {Logan, create Dingess { since last ce Street Lunenburg Smith do. Newman Mason McCullough do. |
| AYES. | |||
| 4693 | Johnston | Louisa | 2983 |
| 4695 | Kimbrougb | do. | 2983 |
| 4344 | Finks | Madison | 1900 |
| 4344 | Banks (speaker) | do. | 1900 |
| 2306 | Watts | Monongalia | 5284 |
| 6481 | Billingsly | do. | 5284 |
| 6481 | Caperton | Monroe | 5024 |
| 5476 | Vass | do. | 3024 |
| 5476 | Sherrard | Morgan | 1183 |
| 4542 | Orrick | do. | 1185 |
| 4572 | Rives | Nelson | 12197 |
| 5246 | Massie | do. | 2197 |
| 5246 | Warden | Nortolk | 4321 |
| 5095 | Thompson | do. | 4321 |
| 5095 | Simpkins | Northampton | 2684 |
| 2944 | Fitzughh | Ohio | 4360 |
| 2194 | Parrott | do. | 4360 |
| 2194 | Davis | Orange | 2626 |
| 4223 | Woolfolk | do. | 2626 |
| 4223 | Tatum | Patrick | 1888 |
| 8243 | Crits | do. | 1888 |
| 2502 | Dice | Pendicton | 2222 |
| 5569 | Jones | do. | 2222 |
| 5569 | Witcher | Pittsylvania | 6315 |
| 3112 | Walton | do. | 6313 |
| 3112 | Gilliland | Pocahontas, creat. | 1671 |
| 5714 | Burner | since last census | 1671 |
| 1667 | Zion | do. | 1671 |
| 1687 | Tyler | Pr. William | 2380 |
| 4113 | Macrea | do. | 2380 |
| 4113 | Daniels | Randolph | 1563 |
| 8278 | White | Rockbridge | 4519 |
| 2087 | Moore | do. | 4519 |
| 2087 | Lewis | Rockingham | 6323 |
| 1988 | McMahon | do. | 6323 |
| 3081 | Alexander | Russell | 2494 |
| 5081 | Gray | do. | 2194 |
| 4753 | McConnell | Scott | 1986 |
| 4753 | Dickinson | do. | 1986 |
| 3065 | Carson | Shenandoah | 8354 |
| 5065 | Rare | do. | 8354 |
| 2303 | Minor | Spottsylvania | 2969 |
| 2303 | Hamilton | do. | 2969 |
| 5150 | George | Tazewell | 1717 |
| 5150 | Deskins | do. | 1717 |
| 1690 | Inghram | Tyler | 1101 |
| 1660 | Wells | do. | 1101 |
| 4358 | Cummings | Washington | 5196 |
| 4358 | Thompson | do. | 5196 |
| 2648 | Tavener | Wood | 2249 |
| 2648 | Spencer | do. | 2249 |
| 1692 | Saunders | Wythe | 4055 |
| 1692 | Stanger | do. | 4055 |
| 2061 | May | Petersburg | 2823 |
| 2061 | Rutherford | Richmond | 6445 |
| 8072 | Ship (sick) | Frederick | 8278 |
| 8072 |
| Drummond Accomack | do. |
| Fletcher | albemarle |
| Gordon | do. |
| Cocke | Amberst |
| Waller | Augusta |
| Tapp | do. |
| Clarke | Bedford |
| Irvine | do. |
| Leftwich | Berkeley |
| Hunter | do. |
| Colston | Botetourt |
| Miller | do. |
| Anderson | Brooke |
| Herdman | do. |
| M·Millan | do. |
| Ghelson | Brunswick |
| Thornburg | Cabell |
| Everett | do. |
| Rives | Campbell |
| Hunter | do. |
| Sutton | Caroline |
| Gaines | Charlotte |
| Hill | Culpeper |
| Turner | do. |
| Chichester | Fairfax |
| Sangster | do. |
| Kelly | Fauquier |
| Marshall | do. |
| Payne | Fluanna |
| Stillman | do. |
| Hall | Franklin |
| Holland | do. |
| Barton | Frederick |
| Snidew | Giles |
| King | do. |
| Bryce | Goochland |
| M·Chung | Greenbrian |
| Alderson | do. |
| Gibson | Hampshire |
| Carskadden | do. |
| White | Havover |
| Goodall | do. |
| Williams | Hardy |
| Neff | do. |
| Williams | Harrison |
| Brown | do. |
| Gravely | Henry |
| Dyer | do. |
| Willis | Jefferson |
| Morgan | do. |
| M·Farland | Kehawa |
| Smith | do. |
| Fulkerson | Lee |
| Brittain | do. |
| Bland | Lewis |
| M·Whorter | do. |
| Rogers | Loudoun |
| Walker | do. |
| Population represent |
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Constitutional Rights
Politics
What keywords are associated?
Constitutional Reform
Virginia Convention
April Elections
Equal Representation
Public Opinion
Western Virginia
Population Majority
What entities or persons were involved?
One Of The People
To The Friends Of Constitutional Reform In Virginia
Letter to Editor Details
Author
One Of The People
Recipient
To The Friends Of Constitutional Reform In Virginia
Main Argument
the recent victory in passing the convention bill in december 1827 must be followed by strong voter turnout in the april elections to approve the convention and achieve constitutional reform, as complacency could allow the minority opposition to prevail and doom virginia to further decline.
Notable Details
References Past Defeats In 1825 And 1826 Despite Population Majorities
Mentions 1816 17 Compromise On Senate Representation
Warns Of Emigration If Reform Fails: 'Ubi Libertas, Ibi Patria'
Cites Virginia's Decline Compared To New York And Pennsylvania