Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-12

wing fair and just representation in it, proceed to
notice the course pursued by the Anti Convention
party after the meeting of the Convention.
10 do this subject full justice would require re-
view of the whole proceedings of the Convention
while in session; but for this have not time, is
IT necessary to my purpose. Those who have read
the speeches and proceedings Of the C"ivcntion ure
already In possession of all necessary information
upon the subject; but these essays are designed
for those who have not had this advantage, shall
with all plainness state the mere outlines OF that
course
Soon as the Convention went into Committee of
the Whole and began to examine and deliberate upon
the reports of the Select Committees which, they.
after two weeks debating, had reported on the Bill
of Rights, the Legislative, Executive and judicial
Departments of government, the great question, or
as it very justly called: the ail absorbing Iues
ton was brought up in the form of Resolution in
the words following, to witt
"Resolved, that, in the apporionment of represent
tation III the House of Delegates regard should be
had to the white population exclusively" Judge
Green by way of amendment had the resolution to
read-'sthat in the apportioument of representation
IN the House of Delegates regard should be had to
taxation and population combined" Then the dis
cussion commenced.
The first stroke of the policy and the Logic of the
Anti Reformists was to unsettle every principle in
the science of government, taught sanctioned re-
commended or enforced, by any Republic upon earth;
one Judge asserting that there was no established
principles IN government, and another Judge decla-
ring that self interest was the only principle which
govern men either III their individual or social ca
pacity.
Thus the cable was cut and the shin driven from
her mocrings and out the ocean we went Durno
three weeks we tossed to and fro over the vast
eXpansc, over the abyss profound. The unfathoma-
Ole ocean is not more mscrutabe than the scheme of
government projected upon no principle. In the
midst of this war ofeemcnts the work of Theories
in the midst of these "diScordia seaua yerun MOI,
bene junctaruni,- Coagesta1ue e0de."* saw in tho
midst OF TINS coniic OF principles, thing most
apparent, that the principle of Judge Green was very
popular among tic Anti Refurmists; for the interest
q tie East rGs e principle IF tie government which
they wlshd to impose upon the Commonwealth.
This two Legged government one thigh of brass the
other of flesh, with It's one foot the sea and the
other on the land foot upon men and the other
upon money, composed Of taxation and population
reminded me OF the poetic monster described by
| Virgil Monsirum horrendum inmens inforinc cui
lumen ademptum.'f But it was euorized as the
image which fell down from Jupiter
7 Blu, as it was apprchended that, Notwithstanding
The rcformists had been crippled and manned by law
as aforesaid, there was majority in favor of the
resolution as reported by the Legislative Committee
something must be done ot Of oors to cffcc: coun-
ter revolution. In the house nothing could be done
The logic Of the East and their rhetoric too thoup
! OF very fine polish, wholly unavailing. To
change the representatives of any district was ne
cessary to change the people. This was the Grand
and to us, the fatal device To prejudice those dis
ricts East of the Ridge who republican in their
views and feelings, against the claims of their repub
can brethren in the West, was the only means which
could promise success. To DO this with effect it was
necessary to alarm them. Hence it came to pass
that the western people were represented as beipo
governed by the most sordid motives in urrnr their
plea for reform. Under the mask of Republican dec
trnes they were like harpies coming to plumber the
public treasury, Claiming poti al rights for no other
purpose than 10 seize the purse of the Common
wealth. and to carry the capital and the treasury pon
their shoulders the Blue Ridge and then to tax
the slaves IN the East eXorbitantly TO raise funds
tor improving the western country. Glounains were
to be levelled valcs exalted, aqueducts and Appiap
ways, canals and railroads were to be made from,
village to village, and from house to house over the
western country Some representations quite as
hyperboIcai as these, made for effect upon hose
districts, which had many slaves, and were uotwitb
standing republican, and with in calling for q Con
vention. Runners mounted on swift horses secured
those districts which bordered on The mountains
which from their proximity to the West, and from
the purity OF their atmosphere, were inspired with
regard for equal rights than their brethren who
lived on the sands and inhaled the ogs of the Allan
&c. Petitions, rcmonstrances and eXDostulations
iuilammatory speeches and addresses were ,vinr like
kites over the hills, and the panic struck farmers
l alarmed Tor their negroes and their estates were
invoked and provoked to sign instructions to their
representatives 10 go TO the East, and to aid
them against the Barbarian and Vandal tribes of the
West who were coming the mountains to plun
der them of their wealth, and to snatch the sceDtre
| from old Virginia.
Thus excited and aroused indignant husbandnen in tho
utmost CONSERVATION signed instructions by the foot and
=, 49, y ny we perch enJonls their repre-
clamors of the Pasantry Of the West" Thus was counter
uaeiy erected when neither the logic the
rhetoric OF all the pieades could house Those
who plead the English politics, and The English government
without any hereditary king, might have plead to doo's da
without making convert, had for this apneaI ~
the pockets of the slave holders for after the most eo
qent and accomplished of the East the most en-
ishened and energetic eforners that graced our ranks g.
instructed out Of his seat rather than moral treason
against his own conscience msepesent his constituents
after five weeks debating Select Committees and
three IN Committee of the Whole after the resignation of Cen
eral Taylor OF Norfolk when the on the Teso
ton of the Select Committee the amendment of JUDGE Green
to the contrary notwithstanding, the Wto in the House
OF Delegates was carried by of forty forty seven
must justice to all, mere remark, that alarms prof
ccd out OF doors i'll some districts perhaps inclea
by one OF the speeches OF President Monroe than the
Gates for taxation and population combined This venerable
ean VINO worepn ms body the scars Of the battles the
Revolution who had Filed the highest office on earth who had
Tor eghi years sat IN chair more august and honorable than
he throne on winch te C@sa sat, the venerahle and
the patriotic of tie patriarcts of the band
100 one OF the most republican districts the Commonwealth
Gaving an nnense niHence through the State impaired in
deed in body and Consequently in mind also was somc.
excited Wy lle yolememCe and warmth hose who