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then refers to the change in the representation of the
counties made by said convention law, and alleges said
change of representation to be in violation of the existing
Constitution.
It further alleges that the said pretended law, (the con-
vention act, ) as amended, prescribes and pretends to regu-
late, as by law, a time and manner of holding a dual elec-
tion, at which a vote is to be taken on the call of a con-
vention, and also for delegates to said convention, is in-
consistent with the 54th section of article 3d of the Con-
stitution, prescribing the power of the General Assembly
to pass laws in relation to time and manner, &c., of hold-
ing elections in this State.
It further charges that the aforesaid pretended law and
amendments, under color of which the sheriff and the po-
lice commissioners have undertaken to act as aforesaid, is
in utter subversion of the Constitution and laws of this
State. That is to say, that the same were passed and en-
acted by divers wicked and disloyal men, <&c., who by
cloaking their evil and illegal designs under the forms and
ensigns of law, sought to sow dissension among the good
people of this State; to alienate their hearts from the con-
stitution by law established, and to break down and sub-
vert the same, and to incite disloyal persons, and especial-
ly the Sheriff and Police Commissioners aforesaid, to revo-
lutionary, unlawful and treasonable acts against the Con-
stitution and laws of this State. Further, that the people
of this State are exposed to great damage from the under-
takings of said Sheriff and Commissioners, under said pre-
tended laws. That your orators by said undertakings will
be manifestly prejudiced in their rights, franchises and
just influence ^& citizens in the conduct of public affairs,
for as much as they cannot, as at present advised, procure
any person or persons to act as delegates to such conven-
tion without violating their oaths of allegiance herein-
after mentioned, and without exposing themselves to the
risk of criminal prosecution for seditious conduct.
And further, that said law, &c., concludes and assumes
to bind all citizens who do not participate in the said elec-
tion by the acts of those who do.
And further, that said sheriff and said police commis-
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