Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-03-29
g.agS 4AAEpP&o
MARrINsBURG, M.pcH %. 1877.

A large and respectable meeting of
10 citizens OF Jefferson county was held
the Court House OF said county, on
he 18Th Of Starch, 1877, when Col.
steoaGE W. HUMPHREYS was called to
Inc Chair aud JONI ). GALLAHER al
oonted Secretary. The object of the
meeting was briefly stated by the Chair
,nan, and enlarged upon by ANDREW
k sNNzDY. Esq. who submitted the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions, which,
atter free interchange of sentiment,
8were unanimously adopted:
The citizens OF the county of Jefer-
son, assembled in county meeting for
she purpose of considering, as wei the
present condition of the government of
fhe state, IS The necessity of a Conven--
zion for Inc amendment or alteration of
n its existing constitution, adopt the fol-
lowing propositions as briet exposition
4 Of the pubic sentiment on these iIopor-
4 tant subjects.
Ist They consider that the govern
merit OF this state was intended al IT'S for
nation to be and remain q Representa-
4 .tge Democracy,
). That by an error in It's original
constitution, and BY the gradual pro-
gress of that error, the essential ami VIZ
tai principles ofsuch form uf govern
ment have been so far overlooked or
perverted, as to exhibit Ut this day the
extraordinary fact, that mere than
S70,o0e free citizens of the upper and
midland country (being a taajouty OF
the whole free population oi the state
are actually governed and controlled by
the representatives of 220,006 OF their
brethren.
5. That such government is the gov
eminent OF a minority so small, as to
be glazing aud perniGious departure
from the spirit of cur institutions, and
constitutes an asNrpatjoG.
A. That by this usurpation the citizens
o. tias county, composing part OF that
majority, have, with the deepest indig-
nation, seen anu felt their best interests
and their dearest rights wantonly ne glec-
ted and despised, and have found them
selves excluded from that free and equal
participation in the benefits of the gov
ernment, to which they know them
selves to be entitled.
S. The people Ct Jefferson have long
been and are now most thoroughly CON
WINGED of the imperjous necessity of a
convention for the purpose of healing
this unsoundness IN the state. by the a.
amendment or alteration of the present
constitution.
6. Notwithstanding that'th represen
tatives of TIE lowIand minority iconsti-
tutng, from the very operation of this
unsoundness, majority in the House
OF Delegates have contemptuUusly re-
Jected s"i overruIed their frequent Pc
titlons Tor the call of such convention
still, they are disposed 10 repeat The op-
PHcation IN mitdasss oad IN peace.
7. They have, hitherto, u becom-
ing temper of obedience TO the laws. and
regard for the public tranquility, sub
foi'ted to tins onwarrantable oppression
with patient resignation: how tar and
how long they viii continue to submit,
they dare not anticipate and canaot say
On motion Of Andrew Hunter ESQ
1t was Resolved, That the thanks 81
this meeting be gwen TO the Chairman
and Secretary, for the able and dignified
manner in which they have conducted
the proceedings.
On motion OF Mr., John Humphreys, i,
was Resolved, That the proceedings 81
tins meeting be sigaed by the Chairman
and Secretary, and published in the pa
pers OF the county; and that editors
throughout the state be respectfully re-.
quested to copy the same.
GEO. ". HUMPHREYS. Chairman