Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-08-06
From the Richmond Compiler.
sTAUNTON CONVENTION.

on this subject, we are indebted to TIT
politeness of one of the Delegates t
the Convention from this city, for TIT
following further PARTICULARS
The committee of one member from
each delegation, who were directed "te
enquire and report what measures II
their opinion, were proper and expe'
dent for the meeting to adopt for the
attainment of the object for which i,
was assembled" were engaged or
Tuesday, and until late on Wednesday
evening in performing the duty assign
ed them-among other things Propos'
ed before the committee, was Resolu'
ton offered by Mr.. Scott OF Fauquler
that an address to the people should be
prepared and circulated, setting forth
various causes of complaint, and
grounds on which Convention ought
lobe called-among the most prom,
nent of these were, the inequality OF
representation in the House Of Dele
gates-the restricted right OF suffrage
the defective organization Of the exc
cutive department-the omission to
provide for future northumberland
the failure to mark more clearly the
spheres in which the Legislative and
Executive departments were toperform
their various functions. This resolu-
ton with the other papers referred to
the committee, were referred to sub
committee, consisting Of Messrs. Scott
of Fauquier, Mercer, Dodridge, Ran
dolph, Cook, Mennis, and Pollard. On
Wednesday morning, this smaller com
mittee reported the resolutions already
published, except the concluding sem
tence of the 4th resolution; and which
commences 'and for the attainment,Sc.'
This concluding sentence as reported
by the smaller committee, adopted the
idea of Mr.. Scott of Fauquier, for an
address TO the people. So soon as the
report to the larger committee was
made, Mr.. Scott of Richmond, propos-
ed, as an amendment, the sentence as it
stands, and which commences 'and that
a memorial TO the Legislature, &c.'-
This motion was advocated at length
by the mover, Messrs. Mennis and Hun
ter, and opposed by Messrs Cook, Mer-
Ger, Randolph and Scott of Fauquier;
and prevailed by a majority Of seven
or eight votes. This discussion gave
rise to some animated remarks, on the
duties to be performed by the Conven-
ton. While the opponents ofthe a.
mendment contended, that they were
not prevented from addressing any fair
and pertinent remarks and arguments
to the people, for Convention, and to
state facts and enlighten the public
mind, they disclaimed all intention to
inAame the passions of the people, or
to lead them 10 acts of violence. The
advocates of the amendment contended
that it was unwise and inexpedient 10
send forth to the people an enumcra-
ton of their grievances, and to urge
them to such measures for their redress
as must ensue. That it was not strict
" within the limits of the authority
with which the meeting was invested.
That to produce effect, an appeal must
not only be made to the judgment but
to the passions, and that it would be
undigni6ed and improper in the Con-
vention to\pursue this course: But a.
bove all, it was urged that it was mex
pedient to take this step, for no address
which could be framed, would contain
arguments that would suit the tastes
and views of the friends of Conven-
ton in the different parts of the state,
and would therefore be inefficient, sc.
The Committee then reported the
resolutions as amended.
On Thursday they were taken up in
the committee of the whole. Colonel
I. r. Joynes of Accomac, proposed an
amendment to the first member of the
first resolution, and which relates to
the inequality of representation; so as
to guarantee to each County according
to their territorial limits, one repre-
sentative at least. This amendment
produced very animated discussion,
IN which Messrs. T. R. Joynes, Bailey,
Mercer, Cook, Mennis, Gibson, Hun
ter, and others participated. 1t was
rejected in the committee Of the whole
by considerable majority. Some
slight amendments were made, and all
the resolutions reported to the meeting
on Thursday evening. The report was
laid on the table, and then about 4 o.
clock, the meeting adjourned until 9
o'clock the next morning.
Friday the goth, the resolutions were
taken up, and Mr.. Joynes renewed his
motion, upon which Mr.. Scott of Rich
mond city, offered substitute for the
resolution in relation to the reduction
of the number of the House of Dele
gates and of the apportionment Of re-
presentation; which substitute, simply
declares, "That the existing inequality
of represention in the House of Dele
gates, is of itself sufficient grievance,
to Justify the call of Convention. -