Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-06
VTRGTNIA COW ENTION.-
Dec. 10.


subject under the consideration of the House, that
even at that late hour of the day, when the patience
aud the physical strength of his auditors had been
WON out by protracted and agitatnC session, he
induced to throw himself on the indulgence OF
thst honorable body And If. continued Mr. Z. IN
the remarks which propose to make. shall subject
myself to the charge Of egotism rely with conn
d"nce the kindness of the House, and shall eSPect
their forgiveness not only because it is m! first Of
fence, but because II will be that the peculiar
position in which | stand renders egoiSln lndspcn-
sable absolutely essential to the exposition OF my
views.
Without furhef preamble, then, 1 say, that from
tho year 1876 and might safely say from much
earlier period, have been firm and jealous, and
am accused of having been, an uncompromising
friend of reform. L am one of three persons all at
this time present, and members of this honorable
body allnde to the two gentlemen from Berkeley,
(Gen. Boyd and Mr.. Pcndleton) who in the month
of February 1916. gave the first decided impulse 10
the Of constitutional reform among the people
OF Western Virginia. At the period Just mentioned
caused circular letter to be addressed TO gentle
men in various parts of the Commonwealth, whu in
consequence OF the invitation contained in it, assem-
bled, to the number of some twenty thirty, in the
month of May following, III the town OF Winchester.
At that convention, the grievances of middle and
western Virginia, and thu most efficient means of OBJ
tanning redress the topics discussed and conSi
dered. 1t resulted in earnest appeal to the friends
Of reform, Throughout the Commonwealth, urging
them to assemble in their respective counties the
4th of July following, for the purpose of clecting
delegates TO Convention, TO be held at Saunton, in
tho month of August following.
The avowcd purpose of assembling that general
Convention of the friends of REFORM was to devise
means for efectlng full and free Convention of the
people of Virginia for the reform Of her institutions;
Convention which should enforce, BY new or
amended Constitution, The equal rights Of all The
people 9f Tirginia; Convention which should give
practical effect TO the great political principles an
nounced in the "dcclaraon of the rights of the peo-
pie of Virginia which do pertain to them and their
posterity to the principles, that a porer is vested
IN, and consequently derived from, the people, and
that "a majorityof the people have an indubtablc
unahcnable aud indeteasible right" to control the
affairs OF the Commonwealth; Principles wholly
di,regarded in the actual Constitution of Virginia
Convention of the friends of reform was held at
Staunton in consequence of this appeal. The result.
is known; and will not weary you by pursuing fur
Their the history of that popular movement which at
length resulted IN the assembling of this Convention
But | tcittsay, and say it prouiIy thut from the
time OF that fist movement to the day OH which |
address you, have been n firm, an underwriting n
Jealous, ave- Sir, an ardent friend of The rights If The
people. The promotion, the enforcement of those
rights, by Constitutional reform, has ever since been
and still Is, an object and dear TO NM heart
Notwithstanding the vitlous principle of representa-
ton under which this body was elected with
standing that provision of it's organic lazy which
gives 10 fifteen thousand ctlzeus near to tn. line OF
North Caroina, The same representation with sixty
thousand who dwell in Trans Allegheny district
did not despair of the Repub ic"-i did not abandon
the hope, to which had chung SO long, that u Con
sitution would be formed, by which the equal renre
sentaton of The people Of Pirginia in both of the
Legislative bodies, would be carried into full effect
TO that hope chung till my reason told me to dc,-
pair OF It's accomplishment. After protracted, an
obstinate and may almost saw q fierce confess, IN
TINS Assembly OF several weeks duration it was but
too apparent that victory had deserted the banner
the trends OF reform-that they had not numerical
strength In this Assembly to carry into faU effect
the principles OF their political creedthat the efor,
cnnfat,o e IL
virginia IN the Government Of Virginia must be n
bandoned as hopeless
But still much had been gained. The rampar,s Of
the Ola Constitution had been defended, it is true
WIN zeal, an ability, and gailantry, that must eX
tort praise even from an enemy. Our ranks hn,
been thlnned. and many of our attacks had been re
peled But we were neither routed nor dlsmayed
Thus much at least, we had attained. 1t was rive
uB on all hands, that the actual distribution of pot
edi power through the territory. and among the peC
pie OF Virginia. under the existing Constitution wa
TOO grossly unequal to be longer endured, and that
move equitable plan of distribu indispensable
necessary The DISTINGUISHED class of the non-free
holders too had found favor in the ewes of maiorit
OF this Assembly; AID it was ascertained th,t Co
stituton would receive its assent, by which four az
dlonal classes TO wit, small reeholders reyersioner
ana remaindermen, lessees for years and housekccr
ers paying taxes, should be admitted to partcipa
tion IN the sovereignty of the country. II had ais
been ascertained to be the sense of majority of hi
BODY, that our unwiedy House of Delegates Shout
W '"uu|eu H NUMBER, ana the expenses OF the Gov
ernment diminished. Other useful and economic,
reforms, was known, would receive its sanction -
1t was ascertained, in short. that though the eau,
representation of the people could not be carried,
great approximation towards it was attainable
Under these circumstances, the alternative wa
presented to the friends of reform on the one HAND
OF abandoning the contest, and dissolying this A,
senbly, without forming any Constitution Or on II,
other, OF endeavoring TO effect something like fai
compromise on the great and vexed question Of IN
basis Of representation.
contemplated, as was my duty. with steady eve
the 9lteTnauve thus presented ! saw on the on
hand the continuance, for indefinite period oftba
gross inequality represent ion which has kent Vr
gina, Tor thirteen years, in state Of turmoil am
Sonuslon;-l saw be hopes Of my disfrancLised fel
Iow.cltZens blasted, and heir passions aroused am
escncd. knew that a large majority of the peopI
Oh virginia considered themselves unanimously held
state OF political bondage. knew that threat
had been uttered within the last eirhteen tnontJ,e
not loud and brawlIng menaces, bu. threats. ,yhcl
pythe manner IN which they were uttered manifest
cd cool, stern, deep and determined pprn,se-
threats that II the freeboldcrs did nor oL,o;,
justice III The Convention then anticiDatcd ,Loy
would no longer submit 90 the laws and the constit,i,
Yea authorities; ha, they would refuse To labonr ON