Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-11-19

4 Il WV F''Ncs W ufc rsaStS--Ne are toll
1las though we may be trusted, vet oar CHI
eres may not be so---that they are to bocam
treebooted, and win commit l,.,,slati,, r,,,;.s
and It is against this that these gentlemen r.
quirc an immunity in the representative prin
cip'e. lie examined the census. and shove,
how rapidly the population had increased !,
1ae west, and that IN so wears il might All
vance beyond thtf of the Eastern peoale-
and now We are required to form Const,t.
uofl' which shall bind en- posterity. and sub
Ject them to minority IN tl.e East
Mr.. u. touched upon a variety Of othe,
points. IN an animated and rapid manner.
lie stated, that this Convention had been
called upon a very unequal basis: thar N was
apporiioned on the census Of 1910; and had
II been regulated by that of 1870, there would
have been NO doubt about the decision of fhs
question, lie concluded with addressing n
iew words TO has brethren OF the East. show
ing them how much the slave popdistion was
probably destined to increase ia The West
lie recapitulated the events which were &C
CURING IN the State of Ohio--that all the
people OF colour would be driven from that
state, by her lately enforcing law TO that ef,
iect, and also from Indiana and Illinois; that
tic doors of Canada viii be shat against them.
and that an Quite, would thus be furnished to
the Eastern slaves into West Virginia the
security of that species Of property would IL.
increased there, in consequence Of their beng
denied refuge in the Western States.
After MIR DUi,ifidge had closed his re-
marks, the Chair propounded The question
when Mr.. Leigh OF Chesterfield, moved that
the Committee rise: which was agreed to-
and then, on motion ofMr. johnson, the Con
venhoa adjourned.
Thursday, Oct 90
The Convention al II oelock--and was
opened with prayer by the Rev Mr. Parks of
the Methodist Church
As soon as the standing order was read nv
the Clerk. Mr.. Doddfidge moved that the
Convention proceed to execute the order Of
the day--whch was accordingly agreed TO,
and the President called MIR. Stanard of Spott-
sylvania, to the Chair.
The Chair stated the question before The
Commttee-when Mr. p. z. Barbour rose 10
address them.--He began with remarking.
that as the gentleman from Chesterfield MIR.
Leigh would have been on that morning en-
titled to the floor, according TO parliament,,-
ry usage, he thought il proper to stale to the
Committee, that he was about 10 occupy their
time with that gentlcman's consent, that lac
was afraid, indeed that he shoad offer a very
poor equivalent for the rich repast, which
that gentleman would have spread before the
Committee, hut his consolation was, that il
would not be ultimately lost, although IL
might be delayed. As for himself, lac could
only undertake 10 lay before the Committee,
in brief manner, the views which he enter
tanned, and vindicate the course which he in
tended TO pursue. He would promise to &C
cupy as small porticn of their time, as was
to do justice to himself lie would
pursue this rule at all times; but more espe-
cialy on the present occasion was he dispos-
ed to do it, because the gentleman from
from much Of the labour, which would other
wise have devolved upon him. lie should
indeed he perfectly satisfied, if he could only |
enforce some of the strong points which that |
gentleman had presented in so strong man
nef.
Mr.. B. declared, that he had never gone
INTO discussion with such feelings Of solem- /,
nifty as on the present occasion. He had at |
all previous times been acting under Con- |
stitution which was already IN existence, and |
which was calculated 10 correct any errors
INTO which he might have fallen: But on the
present occasion they had assembled to form
a Constitution itself, and any errors in which |
he might fall might be without an adequate !
corrective. We had met together to form a
government for the good OF our common |
Besides he could not but |
feel an unusual Difference for the body, Of |
which he had the honor Of being member
selected as they were from the whole body of
the people, and graced by men who had be-
come SO much distinguished in the councils of
their country, and among them, men who
had fifty years ago assisted in laying the |
foundations ofthe very government, which we |
were now called upon to amend.
The most important department Of the go
vernment, said Mr.. Barbour. was the Legs
lative-in which the win Of the people Is di-
rectly represented, and which administers so
large portion of the powers of Society. II
became the Convention, therefore, to lay well
the foundations of this Department. He then
stated the question and said it would be his
part to show that the proposition OF the gen
teman from Culpepper Mr.. Greenl ought to
be adopted. He would first examine the ar
gunents of gentlemen on the other side IN ia
vor of their proposition They contend that
the win of the majority as announced IN the
Bill Of Rights ought to prevail. Mr.. B con
tended, that these abstract principles ought
to be modified by circumstances. time End
place. Ii we were to give practical effect to
all the principles in the Bill of Rights, with
out limitation and restriction, one OF its dec
larations would amount to universal emanci-
patton II would lberate nearly moaety OF
our population, and might bring upon Us the
same scenes as had overwhelmed the island
of San Domil go, under similar declaration
from the National Assembly of France.
But suppose all men to be by nature free
and equal. what sort of connection has such
principle with civil society? 1t IS not
known, that men when they ent-r into sccsc-
Of