Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-12-01
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Whoever will take the trouble to exam
ne into the history Of the times; ascertain
the causes which led to complaints against
The old Constitution; by whom the COM
plants were made, the mode and manner
by which the late Convention was organI-
zed, and how the new Constitution vas
adopted: will, when he has finished his re-
searches, inyoluntarily exclalm, Is this re-
alityi or, is it vision, which will soon
pass away When he ascert0lns that all
IS true, and now forms 4 part OF our hlsio-
ry. be wlll naturally wonder how It could
happen, that a minority of the people OF
ih5 aa,ieut commonwealth could succeed
araiast a well ascertained majority, in I'M
posing upon that majority, q form OF gov
eminent, ,raueht with injustice and VIOLA
tao The very arigms Of a republic. My
purpose is, 10 exhibit to the people, who
i.hs5rt that part ofthe State lying west of
the Allegheny mountains, the unjust iea-
cures OF lie new Constitution; 10 shew how
these uoias, principles have been fastened
upoH han cad that now, nothing but
d,y=isn OF lha State can give them relief.
The people OF the VALLEY too, VIII, IN The
end. find themselves deeply involved IN
these qreauous; but since the new Con
suuUoU has been forced upon the west,
by their oid. Il will be difficult 10 convince
them of error.
lido not write wth documents before me
and therefore I shall not pretend 20 aeon
racy, other 10 relation TO time, population
or wealth; but l shall take care 10 keep
myself within proper limits, leaving .he
errors which may c0mmIt, IN euhe Inc
one or the other, TO operate against mc;
and those who differ from me may make
the most Of them.
The first enquiry, then, which presents
itseift0 the mind ls, ,ct0 began to scan
,he old Constitution wi;h II view 10 It's re-
formation, aud wtcg Did tms beginning
happen? Every one, familiar with the
history of his country, viii remember the
Coueuuoa held at Stanton about the
I wear 1916, aa5 remembering this he Will
/ also remember that this Convention was
|the offspring of complaints made by the
rco3Ie west Of the Blue Ridge Of noun
taius. against the ola Constitution. l re-
erel that ann not 90 possession Of a copy
|ofGe journal OF ,he proceedings OF the
Snuat0n Convention, so that / might be
enabled 20 present al the grounds Of COM
plg.at, which were ta urged against the
/ old Constitution, oud i,gret 1t the more
because I shall have occasion before | am
done With lhIs subject, to shew thlt the
people of the Valley then so loudly COM
planned of oppression, and stated the eau
ses of chat oppression; yet 17itb0W beng
az az reiercf bg the Re,o Constitution,
/ they have become so far satisfied, as to
vote foe that Constitution, and thereby
|have gwen lt life and action; the plain
consequence Of which will DO, 90 deprive
. tle people of the West, of all hope Of fu-
ure relief by another Convention; and
. he who proposes Il wiil be looked upon rs
little short Of a madman. Amongst the
catalogue of complaints urged b the
Stanton Convention, the two most prom
IacDt were, perhaps, a want Of just bd-
sis of represoution, and The too limta5
principle regulating the right of suffrage,
and perhaps, these are the only compl1-'s
urged by lhe reformers OF the old govern
usnt which il may be necessary tor ue
TO notice.
TO 90 no further back thsu, than the
Staullon Convention, IL Is clear that near
lv the whole psople west o. the Bue
Ridge of mountains. united IN q common
effort, TO reform the old government, and
that they were lhe first TO begin the work
.ofrrrn1U1n.-Ia's proposition Wi b.
Sustained by ;he Journal Of the Sauu,oo
Convention, bywhich it will appear, that
nearly aI' tae counties on the west side OF
.le muulaJns, were represented, wh'is
s... ev 7f tue eastern counties sent del
egate- t1tlat body. The SDuntol Con
rpa.to1. o. Is t,rc, did uo,ha-; but thou
proceedings awakened the p ople, inhahit
ing Zoe eastern 3..f of the State, and they
became alarmed ut the prospect Of losing
soc power which they had so long Weld
ed. Renee t,e extraordinary bin which
passed the Legislature in 1916, arranging
anew, the Senatorial Districts. and which
rl.1ted the strange anamoly, of t,r0 sen
representing the same district IN
more than one instance. b. Dh!s law,
t1e weight aud influence of the West was
increased DO the Senate from four TO n.ne
Senators; lad This was supposed at the
time 90 be sufficiently satisfactory 10 tbo
western people 70 quiet all Their com2laints.
ttccro".y extended TO them some relief
but not Of sufficient extent to oalet com
plants; Tor notwithstanding the passage
. oi t.ls law, tae people ON G.e west side Of
the Blue Ridge did not cease their efforts
. 20 rciorm ihe Government by the call of 3
/ Convention. Year alery ear, efforts were
made a the House of Dsiegutes TO or5an-