Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-02-24

have had IS. and the East instead Of %
ought 10 have had 81. This was IN eiiect
giving them Is of a majority, or one iii'n
Iofthe whole Convention IN advance oil US
Who will then say with this fact before
him that the citizens OF this Common
wealth met in full and free Convention by
their representatives. when the representa-.
tiyes due TO s., SIS white persons west Oh
the Blue Ridge, we're given 70 another sec
tion Of tbe State in Our view Of the matter;
or in the only remaining view which cen
he taken Off, we're not represented at an
Yes either Messrs. Leigh, Randolph, Up
sher. and their colleagues represented o.
| SIS rersons living in Western Virginia or
thew we're not represented. And, | thmk'
upon either hypothesis, with all possible
regard to truth we may say, they were not
represented at all. .
To shear the West of its justPorilCn OF
mower and to prevent the friends otreiorm
from an equal representation IN the Con
veDtion. seems to have been the magAanI-
nous wish, aim aud enterprise OF the mas
tor shirts Of the East, even while making
the preliminary arrangements for the meet
,ro of Convention. They saw the race
was TO he run, for the freeholders had de-
creej il: but those in power were deiermIn-
ID not TO run a race of one hundred yards
unless they had twenty yards Of start.
They secured this odds to themselves by
law. .n
GREAT advantage was sought and secured
nv I,w-It came forward under me spe-
cious pretext of great magnanimlty-Four
men were TO be chosen for each Senatorial
( District. This gave the same chance TO
the East and West of concentrating their
votes upon the most prominent men, but
vet il operated more, much more, 70 the
( interest of tie East than TO the West; and
/ il was. doubt not, anticipated that 1t would.
But this only in passing to what we have IN
view It was ordained that the voters
sbould not be confined in selecting repre-
sentariyes from the districts IN which they
lived: but in order TO bring the best talents
in the Commonwealth into Convention, a
maOnaDimous license was granted by law
70 elect representatives any where IN the
Commonwealth. This gave to the East
I Nessrs Leigh, Giles, and Stanard, and
1.-The one balfof Mr.. Johnson; and thus were
located IN tine City of Richmond six mem
Ebers of the Convention, who having ac-
cess TO all the public documents, heads OF
-departments, and Libraries, had as much
advantage over their opponents as an ar
nv in possession of the public arsenals,
and munitions of war, would have over an
Invading army who had TO carry every
thing in their knapsacks, and forage as
they marched.
] 1t is difficult to say how much advan-
tage this was to the Anti Conyenhonlsts;
Tint if we're to give an opinion of my own,
I would not value it much, if any thing,
fbelow the advantage they had in deprivlng
!us Of a representation for 92,879 persons.
4 There are ct present in Virginia, more
than $4,000 tax payers into the public
ftreasury-of these not the halfa are accom-
ted citizens Of the Commonwealth. They
bear the burthens of government, form a
very considerable part ofthe State, help to
make its roads, fight its battles, contribute
to the expenses Of government, and many
Of ID 10 serve as jurors when called on;
who had nothing to say in the calling of
this Convention; had no representation in
IL ,ttrbt ph no rtd
or the cornstalks with which they perform
\ their military exercise.
Need now enquire whether the amend
ed Constitution has eDdnatsd from the cit
izsas, or from the inhabitants of this Com
m nwcalthl-lt has emanated from a ma
iori'v OF oelther Of them, taken separately,
nor iog ther.
! Of the So members Of Convention, So
voted f)r it, leaving Al against IT, Ex
charging the vote which Mr.. Stanard gave
against the Constitution, for that WI Oh
! Mr. Cook gave for it, then the entire
! West Of the Blue Ridge, representing 3l9-
SIG white persons, voted against If; add
to these three founhs of the Loudon and
Fairfax district, amounting at least to ID.
1910. and the half of the Campbell and
Bedford district. amounting to l4,T6,
voting against it, makes the whole number
Of white persons represented by those who
voted against the amended Constitution
I3lS,lO7. These subtracted from 6S3, 26I
the present white population Of Virginia,
leaves a majority Of 1858 white persons
voting through their representatives against
that very Constitution coming recommen-
ded by a majority ofl4 votes in COnven.
ton. From these facts and documents we
Lnrasnrna NJ 10 10 1870. MI -. d..