Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-02-24

right of suffrage would be extended too far
But. sail he. let the question remain undlspo-
sed OF; let the moderate men be compelled TO
unite with the wild and the visionary; with
! those who are for the subversion OF all our es-
tabiishcd principles, and no man can answer
for the evil which viii be produced. For these
reasons, he thought the present the most Ia
vorShle opportunity for calling = convention -
He presumed no one would say that the cons''-
tuition was so perfect as, at no time, TO require
smcudment-if not. this vas the best tine.
lie knew not what the gentleman tMr WI
| called imss inarv evils. iii was right that one
portion of the state should possess more poi'ti-
cal power than another. then the eviis con-,
planned Of were, indeed, imaginary. bu' co1ia
any man say that the interest OF the cast anu OF
| the west were the same on locai or potuleAi
| subjects; or that the interest of the middle seuh.
try was the same W either ct the o'herst ~
not. Il would follow that the representation was
unjust.
Mr Dromgoole, not rising 10 debate the CUES
| ton. suggested that the ryder was directly m
conflict with a prominent feature IN the bii, anu
| inquired II it could be received.
The Speaker (Mr Banks sad ,aa, 'h1 q'es'
| ton before the House was, should the DIN nc
postponed. But as to the ryder ths, was mercy
| a question of cBnsisieacy. and It WAS 'or me
House 20 decide.
The mo,ien to postpone was then reeetfd.
l0i TO 90. -
The question recurring on the second reading
| Of the ryder, it was opposed by
Mr. Colston. on the ground that II 1t was A.
| donted I, was obvious the bill would be lost.
Mr prompoole said, If disposed to defeat the
| bill by improper means, he should vote tor the
,yder Nv The bin the sheriff is required to
| ,ske the votes OF none but freeholders, and to
take an oath afterwards that the polls contains
| none other. BY the ryder he IS to take the
votes OF non freehoders. These confictng
| provisions would produce great embarrassment
with the sheriffs; aud he ought the House
ought, Tor consistency's sake, 10 reject the ry-
| der.
.Mr Randolph was well aware Of the contra
d;c,io, in The rydcr 10 the 18th line Of the LIST
section Of the bill, but be wished TO try the
rrincinle. If the Justice OF which was felt by
= majority Of the House. the Senate would cor
rec, The Inconsistency, should that body concur.
lie had urenared an amendment to the bill OF
the sam. n,rport which was written on the
MARGIN IL the printed bill in his hand, but was
dissuaaed from offering it, lest the engrossment
shbuld he prevented He had no hope Of the
RYDER being carried, but nevertheless declined
Withdrawing il as il expressed his- most
deliberate sentiments. which he regretted not
having persisted in his first endeayor to engraft
on the BILL
He again commented on the importance of
allowing the non-freeholders to vote. Gentle
men opposed TO a convention feared that the
new constitution would be worse than the pre-
sent one, and in the same bresth.acknowledged
that . majority of the people called for a con-
vention Was not this a proof that the FEM
stood at present on too good ground, and were
fearful of loosing it; that they were opposed to
equality Of rights, and wished TO retain power
in their own hsnds'
Mr. Powell Of Loudoun, spoke in opposition
to the ryder, the principle Of which, he said,
had been rejected in committee of the whole;
and if now engrafted on the bin. it would
make ii entirely nugatory. Il would be a tslo
de sc.
Mr. Thompson Of Fairfax. also opposed the
ryder, both as the friend of q convention and
Of the extension of the right Of suffrage. He
objected to it because il wss q long as the bilL
because it was in conflict with its provisions;
and, lastly, because it was calculated to make
more enemies than friends TO the bin
and was wrong in principle. 1t proposed an ex-
tension Of the right OF suffrage in an improper
manner, and at . time when the question could
not be properly agftaied
The question being taken on the ryder. il
was rejected without a division. And on the
passage OF the bill, MIR Colston called for the
ayes and noes. The bill passed, los to 80.
SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES.
The report of the Committee Of Schools and
Colleges on the subject OF a general system OF
education, but dwelling more particularly on
Colleges and Academies, WIS taken up. 1t
concludes with two resolutions declaring il ex-
pelient 10 afford aid to Hsmpden Sydney and
Washington Colleges. out of the arrears OF in
terest due from the United States, when re-
ceiyed.
These resolutions produced considerable de-
bate. They were opposed by Air Garland. and
defended by Messrs Watkins OF r. L. and Pat
teson.
Mr. Page moved TO amend them so as 10 ex-
tend aid to all the Incorporated Colleges and
Academies in the state. This motion was sup
ported by Messrs Page, Wallace and Morris Of
G. and opposed BY Messrs Harvie OF II Colsaon,
and Watkins. Mr. Campbell was opposed both
10 the resolutions and amendments, ON he
groond THAI il would be time enough to appro-
pirate the money when it was recegved
MIR Colsion at length offered a substitute to
! the amendment and resolutions granting q spe-
cifc sum TO certain Colleges and Academies
now established, and others TO be established
in certain parts Of the state.
MIR Morton moved the indefinite postpone
ment OF the report and proposed amendments
and the House accordingly poslponedthem.