Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-04-16
NtrD,saoaaD Sa1D6N,
To rnt ErIroRs or rue VINO.


Genslcncn-The enclosed letter from Tho. Il.
Joyncs, Esq was written in answer one received
by him, from one of the Delegates appointed by the
people of Accomack county to meet and confer with
delegates from the other counties in that district, OH
the subject of nominations for the Convent pn.-
Dir. Joynes having boon nominated as u Candidate,
and his opinions having been msrcprcscnted, Is due
to MIN and the public, before whom he lis q Candidate
that his sentiments should be known distinctly
a SUBSCRIBER.
Letter from Tho. u. Joynes Of 1ccJnlacf 10 .Ntio,
Ohrer Logan.
DRUMMoND lows, February 23th, 1920.
Dear Sir:-Your iette. oi the 18th inst, was duly
received and should have immediately replied fully
the subjects referred to IN your letter; but my en-
gagcmep,s at that time, did not permit me to do So.
Ioo ask If | viii consent to become a candidate for
the convention If should be nominated by the dele
gates appointed to meet at Bell Haven, on the 18th of
March and you say that you have consulted Mr. Hen
dorson and MIR. Broadwoter, two of the deeraes and
,nIIY ether friends OF reform, all of whom are anxious
20 iavc the III conventions and you ask my opinion on
several nnPor ant subjects, connected with the duties
which viii devolvc upon the convention. am much
Indebted to you and the other gentlemen for the
friendly sentiments which prompted you and them to
wish me to be member of tine convention, and [
viii reply with candour 70 your letter as if it had
been addressed TO by all the delegates appointed
20 meet ut Bell Haven ami nave to request that Won
will submit the letter TO the whole of them when as
semolea II order that my opinions may be known to
all.
When there first a prospect few years AGO.
that convention would soon be held TO revise the
constitution of Virginia, determined to offer myself
as candidate tor the convention, upon tho suppos
t!nn that the election would he made from countless
bat since my appointment clerk othe county court
determined not to offer myself as a candidate, be-
cause knew that many persons would object 10 me
on account of my being clerk In addition to this
reason since the law prescribing the mode OF lcc,ing
members to the convention, requires The elections 10
be made from senatorial districts and delegates have
been appointed to meet at Bell Haven, to nominate
candidates, 1t appears to that it would show IL
want of delicacy for any man to offer himself as n
candidate. and should not do so even if were not
clerk Although for these reasons, will not offer
myself candidate, yet if the delegates think prop
er to nominate me to their fellow citizens, as can
didate, viii consent to If elected; and will
render my best serviccsto the public this impor
TINT occasion l am truly diideut of my Quaica-
tons for this Important rust--yet consider it the
duty Of every citizen TO render his services TO the
public when called upon by his fellow citizens, md
the great Importance OF the duties which will devove
upon the convention, torbds lay Withholding my ser
vices, if my fellow citizens require them.
As to my opinions upon various subjects connected
with the convention, they are such as have formed
upon mature dcliberation; and know they are hon
cstly ENTERTAINERS and if am mistaken in nv opin-
ions it ia no more than often falls the lot OF poor
falliole All Of you who know me, know that I
am not III the habit OF engaging much III political dis
cussons, and procalming my opinions To the world,
and obrudng them upon others, but am orthecss
as firmly attached to my opinions as he VINO pursucs
different On the present occasion. should
not have given my opinions 10 the Bell Haven dele
gates, either collectively individually, unless had
been asked for them for determined TO do no
act which should appear like soliciting n nomination
from the delegates but viii leave it entirely their
free and unbiased Judgments, without soliciting or
declining n nomination. Athosgh | am not IN TIN,
habit of IN aking noise about my political opinions
yet never hesitate To give them WHOM asked for them
by any persons in public private, and the pres
ent OCCASION it is particularly proper that the opin
of every individual who is thOun of as candid.
for the convention. should be known to the dele
gates before they recommend him to their fellow citi-
zens for election.
II is impossible to anticipate the varors propositions
which will probably be presented to the convention
and which the votes Of the members would be re-
qurod, and all that be required or expected
Of candidate is, to give his general vieni
and opinions the different sub iects most like
~ to come before the convention, and it must be
left TO his discretion to vote FOR the best plan that
presented cOnformably TO these opinions, UNLESS
he is SPECIALLY INSTRUCTED ON A
PARTICULAR SUBJECT, AND THEN IT IS
THE DUTY or TIE REPRESENTATIVE
TO OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF HIS
CONSTITUENTS.
One of the first political opinions over formed by
me, wa that tho constitution of Virginia was deeC-
tive and required amendment, and have never chan
red that opinion. The first petition believe ever
presented tn the Legislature from Acconack fer tho
call of a Convention to revise the constitution of Viz
gnla, twenty years ago, was written by INC. know
that persons have said that returned from tho
Stanton Convention in 1896, oppossd 10 Contention.
Ehis is a stake, and the votes given by and ali
my colleagues in that Convention, the last day VIC
were there viii show that nj! voted for the edop-
ton ola Resolution declaring that the dcfccs Of the
Constitution ought to be remcdcd by Convention.
But at Stanton, discovered that the pr6cipni Oh
ect Of some ofthe leaders Of the Convention was 10
change the mode of Representation in the House Of
Delegates for the purpose Of promoting their own
views for the Internal Improvement Of the Western
part Of the sate in such manner would have depri-
we'd the small counties Of separate delegate in the
Legislature which might be organized by the propo-
Sod Convention and cndeavoured to defeat that
object by proposing nm amendment to the resolution
calculated 10 secure to each County however
small, one Delegate, and to the larger Counties
more than one according to population. In this prop
oston was Joined by all the Delegates 10 that Con
vention from Accomock, and Col Bayly Joined with
me in the discussion before the Convention. MY
proposition failed fer reasons unnecessary be here
repeated, and returned home from Stanton oyro-
sei 10 any mode NJ RcDresertotion N Convention