Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-14
NO. 4.
F's-' re JFiaoseste- Republican,.
NR. cooKF's THIRD lrrrrp

THIS letter IS published on, ~ eour.@-,h,
fourth (be.ngs reply 10 ur Dotl,Iridge', CIR.
eulsrl having been pubiisL' j Erst
~ fhs paopie cf Frederick and L6srssn.
FELLOW -CtTIzESs: told ,yu n my
iirst letter. that ! had been urgently
anu repeatedly called on. by some az
those Who had done me he hunor a,
approve OF my course m the convention.
10 explain tn my constituents wby il
was that ! aloIe. out OF all the ,hirty-
SIX members from the west. voted ia
favor Of the amended constitution sub
mlttsd TO the people o. Virginia. I
SAID 10 you. m my second oommunica-
ton, that my reason for z-aiously sun
porting. and finally voting for, the
amended constitutions. might be .uln.
med up 10 q lev words. Finding
that the true principle II representation
could not be obtained. voted Tor. and
supported the plan Of appropriation
now submitted 20 YOU, because iho't
II the nsGresf approximation 20 the
white basis uhirh could possibly be
obtained. and 50 near al APPROXIMATION
~ To be equivalent o. "a. Tor the pre.
sent, m practical respis." NV second
letter WAS principally devoted ,o The
support OF the second 81 these two pro-
positions. How far succeedei ga
making out M case, ~ Is Tor vou TO de-
eide purposely aG,,aiurd from the
consideration of the fr.t proposition,
to W.T., that the plan Of representation
contained ,n the new constitution was
the neartSf approximation 10 the white
basis which could possibly be obtained.
partly because the topic wa not agree-
able 10 me. and partly because il treat
eel az all, u vas important enough 10
deserve separate consideration.
HE topic was disagreeable To- ma Tor
this ample reason. and no other.
could not discuss II without impu-
ting TO my respected colleagues, aud
other old aud valuable friends. Who
differed With me in opinion OH the sub
Jeot, an error OF Judgment. could
not show thai nay opinion was correct
without showing that theirs vas incor-
rect. They thought that the ,cesiern
plan, | thought ,ha, Gen. Gordna's.
was the nearest approximation e. our
common standard oi practical and the
oretical perfection. The inquiry,
moreover, lost its interest with IL. in,-
portance, when the western plan Vas
defeated and Gen. Gordon's prevailed.
10 prosecute the inquiry, under such
circumstances. seemed Ike stirring uu
the hall extlrguished embers OF party
spirit. and wantonl, oourt,nc a cnniro-
versy with the valued friend. whom I
have alluded TO, with no other practi
cal object than The cgot,stioal ono Of
showing that had taken a correct
view OF the relative merits OF the two
plans OF representation.
Actuated by these views. and ear.
nestiy DESTROYS To bury IN oblivion all
the unpleasant feelings which differ
ence at opinion had engendeted be-
tween M aud my personal friends,
determined to leave a part of the pro-
mise of my first letter Sunperformed,
even at the risk Of bei0g thought TO
shrink from the investigation of the re-
lssive merits Of the two plans, aud 10
address YOU no mere.
have been driven from this pur.
pose by the incessant attacks made
on me IN certain journals mot e. nv
own district. but published IN Loudoun
and the upper part Of the valley.) in
which have been denou0ce ed, merely
because | thought proper, or the ono
great question which divided me from
the western delegation. 10 see with nv
own eyes and not with those Of the
party. 10 hear With my own ears and
not with those 81 the party. 20 follow
tho lights Of my own reason and .tbo
mentions OF my OWn conscience, anil
not the reason aud the conscience of
others, as a deserter. or an spos,ate
and traitor. However contemplate
the source from Shich these denuncia.
tons have proceeded. | do Dot feel NV.
self satisfied IN di,regardiDe them. I.
would DC stretch II pride and lofti-
ness To Which ! am rot equal 60 treat
tcm with silent contempt. And shds
| avoid, a. far az p"ssibls. the cOnia
minatiVu Ut collision with the author,
81 these fool imputaiious, I viii defer
80 much to public opinion az 10 show.
not the ialseb0od OF these charges.
fDr not citizen IT Virginia. 1 aatteg
myself - ally enough 70 believe them
OF TO think that their suthors believe
ihsm--hut to show, that ~ abandon
Jog me poyfg on ibe one great aues'rcn
ailrded 20, | went over 10 tie ys1Die,
and that the plan Of represents lisn
which | voted iof on ibe 18th 81 Dec,
and afterwards zesloesly supported,
sas better 10 principle, and better in
pgactseal results, than that ahlch MAS
supported by the western delegation a.
"a party. hrs - wbat believe. aud
y hat feel myself compelled 10 prove,