Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-01
re" the Richmond Nag, December ls.
CONVENTION BILL.

! Curiosity Conducted US yerterdsx
morning to witness the deliberations =,
the Convention committee. aud W.
found that enlightened Committee ne.,
iy ready TO report a bill.
Ihe bill agreed to by the C3mmi,tee
and which NJ doubt will bri.fls he re
ported 70 the House, IS substantially.
thatfour members OF Convention. ,asil
Dc chosen from each Congressional
Disrict-that the election shall taka
place along with the election Of MN
bers of the General Assembly, in April
next--shal tseeholders only, shall vote
Tor members of the Convention tina,
the Convention shall meet during tho
approaching summer at the Capitol in
tins Cav and be entitled to the sane
compensation per diem aud tor mile age.
as members of the General Assembly
We hope it will not be thought inde
corous, If at this, we submit a few re-
nsrks upon this important subject, for
the information of our readers.
II the Convention is chosen uoon the
plan proposed by the bill, these extra
ordinary results will be exhibited In
the Conventional body of men called
tor the express object of amending
the Constitution-a majority will ne.
cessasily be found opposed to all q.
meGdment.
the principal object of calling a
Convention. the consideration which
prevailed with the greater number 70
support the cali, undoubtedly was the
wish OF correcting the vast inequality
of representation in the House of Dele.
gates. We believe itmay be assumed
that without the operation Of this con
- de- alton the people would not at this
line at least, have gone into the mea
sure. Bat what Will be the effect of the
oil providing for choosing the Conyen
ton upon the basis of federal numbers
or the representation Of three ffths of
the slaves? Why. petpetHating in the
Convention. tue very inequality OF rep
r septation, naw.compiaiued Of in the
Cons itution of the House Of Dele gates.
The excess of slaves being held ia that
division of the state broken On into
smait counties, must give them ia the
Convention the sam orvery nesrly the
same, psepopderance thers, hat cour.
~ representation now gives tDem ia the
House of Delegates
What is TO be hoped from a Conveu~
ton SO constituted Most certainly, not
the correction of that grievance une
quail representation ia the House OF
Delegates which was the influential
cause 10 calling Il. For all these DUR
poses vi reformation, it peIhans would
not be very material upon what plan
tie Convention was organized sien
fro.a all CHARTERS Of the State, are e.
qually agreed and equally interested, in
reforming the Executive aud Judiciary
Departments But is Convention
werth having, that does not exfort FROM
the hands OF the minority of the State,
the power they have so long unlustly
held, and transfer il where Il of right
belongs to the possession ofthe MAORI
ty' This question has TO be answered
by way competent to meet it--bv the
Representatives of the people them
sslves minority in the House of Dele
gates But we shall not be surprised If
the Convention bill is passed by its enc.
mics. snd rejected BY its friends.
We shall to morrow, ask the atten-
ton OF the reader 10 some things that
passed in the Committee = our limits at
present not permiting ii.