Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-16

Tue TWO houses OF the general assembly, tor which ne
commended sooner than the Convention should dis
perse, without coming to any agreement on the sub
Ject, he would vote for that basis in the houses
whlcflwe, (the MINORITY sought to establish My in
terence from this declaration of Mr. Marslals which
have not literally perhaps, but substantially quoted
was that by perscverng in our vote against the basis
which did prevail, would be enabled ultimately to
carry purpose.
was the number of free white population in the house
OF delegates and federal numbers the senate, with
provision for such periodical re-apporonments, as
the changes oPpopulaton might require.
| AS Mr. Madison was known to concur in the reso-
luton OF Mr. Marshall, well many other gentle
men, who had not publicly avowed any opinion on the
subject, the minority believed oud, in relation
this much agitatcd question, become the majority
provided the amended constitution were rel ected:
which, however, contrary to my expectation, and to
that of many other gentlemen received ehe sanction
OF the convention.
The expectation ofits rejection was derived from
the knowledge ofthe fact, that large minority of the
friends ofreform were determined vote against it;
and the beliefthat part at least, of those members
who had been opposed to any convention, whatever
would also vote against it, several of them had
openly declared it to be their intention.
Such was the purport eff the conversations / have
had with several of my constituents, to whom l have
expressed my determination to vote for the c0nsfau-
non, submitted by the late convention the people;
and in stating the motives which acuated my conduct
IN the convention my intention has been mani
lest Its consistency, with the vote which design to
give
need not again repeat that never heard Mr.. Mar
shall speak with disrespect of any member of the
convention; and far from my having, at any time i'm
fpugned the motives of those intimate friends, with
whom, having SO fong strenuousy labored to procure
reform of our political system, deenedit msfor-
tune to differ In opinion, as my votes have shewn.
have On all occasions, wherein have heard their mo
tvcs assailed by others, felt it my duty to vindIcate
them
have written this letter in the earnest hope that
1t will leave me Mt liberty to devote my whole at
n - fItft tphIn l,o,a to
fulfil.
The convention has passed away and with it, L hope
all the angry feelings which its discussions awakeDeG
the amended constitution is with the people who az
ter all that has been said and written concerning it
with so much ability by others, prepared, without
any aid that could afford, pronounce fna iudg
ment its merits
To that judgment, as one of the people, need not
say, shall cheerllly submit, though in the earnest
hope, that fthe constitution be ratified time will here.
after supply its defects; and if rejected the kind pro-
violence which has hitherto watched over our beloved
country, will continue to guard her peace from every
danger. am, gentlemen, respectfully,
Ir. obt Serv't. G.. F. MERCER
Nashnstonian do hereby certify following
ton occuud about the first OF month"; between Col Mer
Ger and cheerfuy with request
our part as our statement has been dened and addition
our veracy impugned, in communication published
last 1enius oil Liberty under the signature of MI Henderson
JOHN THOMAS
Monroe asked COL Mercer how he liked the new constit,
tcn-Co Mercer sai such an one as he liked but
thought one; and the people he thought
had adopt replied that he himself would not
for that ne would take Mr. Henderson his first pro-
observed thai he ,eliesed that II lie aSsl had
held they would have gotten what they wanted-Col
.,Ierer also saia that he had CONVERSATION Nth Judge
Marshall ,oho said that if tbs cest had held out they oud
hare got ahat they asked torNo was mentioned by
either Of the parties except as above related"
At the instance of Mr. Monroe insert the last preceding
article, whch would remark that both he and Mr.
Thomas appear abour under very impression
These gentlemen infer of any
tia1 difference between the statement of the Washing
copied into paper of las; week. and the which
they made to its EDITORS copy of which appears above
which also published elsewhere in this sheet, Mr.
GERS instance. They consider Mr. Henderson as having i'm.
pusned their veracty by calling i'll question the correctness
The "ashngonan statement and yet they give
themselves very different from that contained in Washing
Onan This seems to us very anch like reasoning upon
premises sosewhat after the following manner, vz-The
statement of the Washngtoian not s,atemen-AIr
veIacityinc confirmation of the of which
speakMr Mercer denies the truth of the in the
do yet Mr. Mercer lin his letter of the 10Th inst in
another column admits the statement IF sSrS .Nonroc and
Thomas he Substantially corect."-I true, when Mr.
NJ to the editors of the lyashnstonian the 25th
February he then thought he had been misappreiended by
tanned that the misrepresentation, of which he complains was
chargeabe upon the editors, and not The Teporterc.
Ltien. Of Liberty
! The Westinghouse n, replies to Col Mercer as
follows:
Editors remarks
This letter of Col MERGERS be viewed in light
than denial Of certain information divulsed in paragraph
published by the 18Th of last month"; embracing
stance of the above certificate From this letter would also
appear that Col Mercer had paragraph we pub
hed, (editoria-ths is not me the paragraph
transmitted by him. and received requesting
the publication of this without alteration The
paragraph alluded 10 did mention the of Mesrs
Cooke and Henderson, Notwithstanding MIR Henderson has
taken all himself and his friend The simple amount nd
substance of it that Col Mercer had stated Judge
Marshall informed him that if the We had been frm she
| would have got what she was coDending for.
regard standing for integrity induced take
that Col Mercer did state this fact and the evil
dence above of dsntered gentlemen, high
for respectaby and yeraciiy any man, believe will be
satisfactory.
addition this, the reader be orciby
equivocaon exhibited in this lettert touches every other
question but the this fact alone,
is conclusive that the fact stated the paragraph
nicaied by Mr. NJ Ia the last Winchester Republican appears
an editorial statement denying that any such conversation
referred in the paragraph took paceTh rather
much the point contEadcts that part of the above letter
which admits conversation in relation this matter mr..
Henderson IN pnchesfer tar days previous to the pub.