Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-20
@OMI9IDNHa
From tho Constitutional WHICH,
MIR. DODDRIDGE'S REPLY TO MR. COOKIES
FOURTH LETTER.

WARRINGTON, April 5ih, 1880.
Mr. Peasants 81 have TO ask of you the favor TO
insert the following brief notice of the reply of Mr.
Cooke TO my circular 10 my constituents, the subject
OF the New Constitution, proposed by the late Con
venton TO the People of Virginia for adoption and of
some OF The proceedings Of that body. MY friend.
here, the exception Of one think notice from
Inc is due TO that reply for obviou. that it
is unnecessary 10 mention them.
My purpose is TO no'ice such parts of Mr.. Cooke
statements and arguments, and such parts only, he
has not sufficiently answered and reluicd himself. Ia
doing this will abstain from Offending moral sense
oil the community, by following example which that
moral sense must condemn.
Mr. Cooke was right in surprising that parted with
nun on terms ct per'onal amy. | am not conscious
that suffered an unkindy feeling of personal nature,
to have place in my bosom. considered him as hav
Ing been the means of inhcting inolerable evil on
my country-ot having deser cd neres and aban
doned our principles alter calling for assistance in
what ne con'idered common cauIe. Whether his
fears were alarmed, or his judgment changed by that
eastern eoquence, and those eastern arguments of
which he speaks, did not undertake 10 decide. His
measures were alike rinous to the west, from what
ever cause they proceeded. declare, with the utmost
sincerity, that although lost all confidence in the iidg
ment and stability of Mr.. Cooke "a statesman | can
not affect to have ceased to respect him as man.
That it was my desire 10 part friendly terms with
Mr. Cooke, lie well Knows il he will but remember
what passed between us IL my room the night he told
OF hi- final determination 10 vote for Gorlons
If ours failed. 1t was his-Mr. Cooke was endeavor.
ing TO into the belief that Cord ,ns woud be
more beneficial, even TO my county than own plan,
observed 10 him that the delegates from that countr
were unanimous anG "a we knew interests be ter
than he possibly could any attempt 10 convince me
must be useless and as in discussing this gues-
ton we could effect nothing but mutual irritation which
neither could desire, proposed TO all conversa
ton the subject, which he agreed and to the best
OF my recollection, we never changed another word in
relation 10 it,
When first de ernned on addre ssing nv con,titu.
ents intended 10 conine myself TO a comparison be.
tween the present constitution and the one proposed
ana TO shew that by adopting the latter, they would
yield their principles and possibly part with their al.
lies did not intend particular review Of tho con-
duct OF any member, and had not Mr.. Cookies vind-
ca ION TO his countrymen fillen under my obserr son
such w,.'d have been my course. | adrn, that Mr.
Cookies situa,CN il understand il rightly was calcu.
laed lead him in'o ndiscreons, perhaps extremes
{or can well conjecture, Tt the situation of dele
gate, who feels that he his 'tituensa vindica
lion Of Lis conduct is not very tranquii;zng one.
When perceived iha in order to his vindica alton at
hone, Mr. Cooke had felt necessary to attempt se
paration in feeling add views between us and our
friends East Of the Ale hany, and to disparage the
uves OF Our conduct in going into convention with TN
and while in that Convention. my feelings towards him
underwent change; and have TO request OF you that
in the paper IN which this shall appear, the
tract from MIR. Cookies Letter No H. which is append.
ed to my Circular may also appear.
have said when speaking Of our uue oval represen.
a,on in the Convention. that withranding the in
justice done in giving but SO members ihore were
many, and among them who believed the friends OF
reform would out-number their sdversaties in the Con-
vention. This hope was generally entertained in the
West and az far as know, the expectation was gene.
rail- that should The great principles Of Reform be dsn-
E.
tire in body, and frame and offer 10 the people, the
representatives. OF majority Of them, Constitution
formed on our own principles and this determine alton
appeared 10 be almost universal among the western
members, until the session had progressed several
weeks sg perfectly confident that il Tiers had ari.
10 division among ourselves, an the western mem
bers had retired " with dignity and camness," 10 use
expression Of member whom | shall have oeca-
sion to name tho East would soon have Yielded TO Ne
thst which 10 the last, every member OF the CoDven
residing Wes Of the Ridge, except one commended for
i. g. the white basis in the House OF Delegates with
rule for future apporonmonts according 10 the basis Of
free white nuglbers."
Has Mr.. Cooke d'nied the facts here stated have
said shat several dye before the 10 In Of December
my astoDishmen discovered from the conversation
OF Mr. Cooke, that IL the plan OF compro Mise
should not be adopted, he and Mr.. Henderson of Lou
doun would vote for Gordon. Neither Of these gen
teinen concealed this fact from Judge Upshur ard
MIR. Neae, member from Richmond county, boarded at
the came house with Mr.. Cooke; Mr. Hendersnn aud
myself, and to my knowledge Judge Upshur and be-
Iege Me-. N'a'e knew the ultimate determ ma IN Of
Cooke and Henderson well az I did. After the
whole West had agreed 10 the plan Of compromise
Which have before mentioned, aud which bad been
drst suggested by Governor P,sasAns, Nh Cooke on
behalf OF all Of W, AMI Of The friends of form gene
rally, submitted IL in convention After having taken
this stand, you may judge Of surprise and dismsy
on e'fnirg dat they had determined II that stouI be
lost uppor Gofdou's plan; md dat cur sdrerate.
we're not lett IN infer IL probability ot III r d'np 20
from thei~ k0rwn preference o. " ~ our mcetug bu'
were in ~tiulorfned o flit Ieefin zion; en- ih, he
might sh'pe their coupe arcOflingY After this We
could have 81 ell founded hope Of success We
knew hat fone q eis'ern lfisnds preferred Cor
cons psn 10 our4, While Trey woud prefer en- to sep.
a'aihg wi h9ui doing aDy hing"