Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-07
VIRGINIA COW ENTsON.
SATURDAY, Dec. 10.


SUBJECT under the consideration Of the House. that
even at that late hour of the day. when tho patience
and the physical strength OF his auditors had been
wofs out by protracted and agitating session. he
was Induced to throw hiuiself OH the indulgence of
that honorable body. And if, continued Mr.. CT in
the remarks which propose to make, shall subject
myself to the charge of egotlsm, rely with conf
dence the kindaess Of the House, and shall expect
tbefr forgiveness not only because it is my first Of
fence, but because it will be seen that the peculiar
POSITION III which stand, renders egotisn ndispen-
saoe-abs'iutely essential to the exposition of my
views.
Without further preamble then, say, that from
the year 18lG, and might safely say from mulch
earlcr period, 1 have been firm and Jealous, and
ani accused OF having been, uncompromsing
ftend of REFORM l of three persons, all at
this time present, and members Of this honorable
body-i allude to the two gentlemen from Berkeley,
(Gen. Boyd and Mr. Pcndleton) who, in the month
OF February 1916. gave the first decided impulse to
the cause OF constitutional reform among the people
OF Western Virginia. At the period Just mentioned,
WE caused circular letter to be addressed gentle
pf.n In various parts of the Commonwealth, who
cosequence of the invitation contained in it. assem-
tied to the number of twenty or thirty in the
month OF May following, the town OF Winchester
~ That convention, the grievances of middle and
western Virginia. and the Most efficient means of
tang redress, tire topics discussed und consi-
dered 1t resulted in appeal to the friends
Of reform, Throughout the Commonwealth, urging
them to assemble in their respective counties OH the
9TH OF July following, for the purpose of cecting
delegates TO Convention TO be held at Stanton, i'll
the month of August following.
The uvowed purpose of assembling that general
Convention of the friends of reforn, was to devise
Inhans for efecting full and free Convention Of the
prope of Virginia. for the reform of her institutions
Convention which should enforce, by new
amended Constitution, The equal rights Of all tie
ferpie Of Pf:5ina; Convention which should give
practical effect to the great political principles
Hounced in the declarutiou of the rights of the peo
pie OF Virginia. which do pertain TO them and their
pGscrt to the principles, hat "un po,ccr vested
IN, and consequently derived FROM the people," aud
that ga nllorly OF the people have indubtable
uraiienable and indefeasble right to control the
AFFAIRS Of the Commonwealth Principles wholly
disregarued In the actual Constitution of Virginia.
:. Convention Of the friends of reform held at
Staunton IN consequence of this appeal. Fhc result
IS known; and Will not weary vol by pursnrr fur
thor the history Of that popular movement which at
length resulted in the assembling of this Convention
But VIII say, aud say it proudly, that, from the
time of that first movement to the day on which
ADDRESS you, have been firm, undertaking., a
zhalous, aye Sir, ardent friend of the rights NJ the
people. qhe promotion, the enforcement, of those
rights, by Constitutional REFORM has since been
dpd still Is, object and dear to NM heart
Notwithstanding the vious principle of Representa-
ton under which this body was eleetcd-noiwith-
standla!5 sllat provision of its organic lazy which
gives to fifteen thousand citizens the line of
thousand Who dwell in Grams Allegheny district
Gid not despair of the RepubHc"-i did not abandon
the hope, to which had chung long, that Con
sttutoa would be formed, by which the equal repre-
legislative hbdies, would be carried into full effect
40 that hope cung till my reason told me to des-
par OF it's accomplishment After protracted, IN
phstfRate and may ALMOST Say, fierce contest in
tbs Assembly Of several weeks durutoa it yus but
too apparent that victory had deserted the banner OF
the trends Of rcform-that they had not numerical
slt1lsth IN ths Assembly to cnrry into fill effect
the principles of their political creedsla the effort
70 obtain an eqnal representation Of the people OF
Virginia ID the GoUeruaelt of Virginia, must be a.
tdndoned as hnpe4rss
sf;U L.d Z
the old Constitution had been defended, it IL true
with zeal, ability, and gaautry, that must ex-
tHrt praise even from enemy. Our ranks had
been th4nned and many of our attacks had been
peled Bat we were neither routed nor dIsmayed.
qhns much at least, we had attained. 1t was given
~ all bands, that the actual distribution of poIiti-
cp4 Power through the territory aud among the pep
pie Of Virginia, under the existing Constitutions wu,
GOO grossly unequal to be longer endured and that
movY equitable plan of distribution was iidispensaby
nscessary Ye dfsfrnnchlsed class of the non-fiee-
hqfderstao, bad found favor in the eyes of maorty
q thr5 AssHnby; and it was ascertained that Con-
sttltlon would receive its assert, by which four ad-
ttIonaI classes TO w.t. email freeholders reversiopers
and renaIndEmen, lssecs for years and housekeep-
ets paying taxes, should be admitted to participa-
ton IN the sovereignty Of the country. It had also
ueen ascgrtaf1ed to be the Of majority of this
opby, that our unweldy House Of Delegates should
W reduced IN number, and tho expenses Of the Gpy-
crlInent dlprnished. Other useful aud economical
Istprms, 1t was known, would receive its sanction.-
1t was ascettained, short, that though the equal
representation of the people could not be carried
gEcat approximation towardsi it was attainable
Under these circumstances, the alternative was
Desented to the friends Of reform. on tho one hand
Of abandoning the contest, ond dissovfng this AS.
seInbly, without forming any CONSTITUTION or on the
other Of endeavoring to effect something like fair
tbnProsDse- on the great and vexed question of the
bnSs of representation.
I contemplated, was my duty, with steady eve,
TIE alternative thus presented. l on the one
hand the continuance, fer an indcfne period Of that
gross Inequality Of represent alton which has k,Dt Viz
gfuto for thirteen years in state of turmoil ind
chntuson:-I saw thu hopes Of my DISTINGUISHED fell
low citizens blasted ard their passions aroused and
excited. knew that laFge majority of the people
Of Virginia considered themselves nlquitotsy held III
astate of political bondage. I knew that thrents
irad been uttered, within The last eighteen months;
not loud and brawDg Inenaces, but threats which
by the in Which they were uttered manifest
cd cool, storm, deep and determined purpose