Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-07-14
SPEECH OF THE
HON, P. DoDDRTDGE,

HON %u DO0VSsAD SSil'
Dslieered at tie Public Dinner girsn him
oysFe Masonic Hall, in Wheeling, on
the 3dinst
Ma. President,
According to the established Gus
tom on such occasions, l owe to the com
nanv here assembled, an expression of the
feelings of gratitude which the kind sentl-
mepts avowed in the last toast cannot fan
to inspire. The appreciation OF my consu-
ments. in the Convention and IN Congress,
I had expected TO experience, because
,yas determined, by the best and most con-
slant exertion of my feeble talents 10 merit
IT, Had / not succeeded IN obtaining that
,nnrobation. it would have been owing to-
weakness in me, to inattentIon, or TO some |
,,iro worse because no man IN Virginia
had better opportunities of knowing both
tb, interests and the wishes OF his constr /
ments. From the beginning II was my
oDinion, that no gentleman ought 10 accept :
, soot in the late Convention, unless he !
l[new and felt that his own views on all
a,o.t;ons or constitutional reform, were IN (
bo,nonv with those of his constituents
and If was my hope, that no gentleman
gievs I'm that assembly, would be round al
war with the wishes of those VINO sent MINI
ana had This been the case from the be
rino,nr 70 the end, It may be safely al
frmcd that a rule for per odical oPPorllon-
menls of representation would nave oCc"-
med q conspicuous place IN the IL" Con-
sntut,on. and that most OF our regrets on
,bis snb,act would nave had no existence.
Nv aoDrehens .ons, that the adoption OF
tbo now Constitution would deprive us Oh
our allies in farther struggle for or r'gaIS
were we'll llaowa to YOU These 'edfS' !
now confess. have been greatly aiIayed'
Since the vote Oh the question oil dopIion'
and pending that yot., I have lee" la
voured with many communications ,'o,H
INV friends. and from strangers DoIh /"
the Valley and east OF Il, all breathing sell
tooents of attachment 90 us auC TO OF"
cause. and expressing au unaItea0l7 ce-
termination TO adhere 20 us ga OFT Iu'u'o
struggle, and TO contend with US To the last
Indeed. wherever the real lucuds Ji reform
were invoked to give an affirmative Vo'c'
that invocation was supported by me areu-
meot. that The friends o, reform, rUaihIh9
united. would acquire additional SFeuS,'
under the new Constitution. A-u shoa.d
we remain united, 1t must DC admitted That
this orgnuent was well founded. Had the
Constitution been rejected, we were sure
.of y nerfect union, and Of complete sue
cess As it is, we may strongly hope for
both. Should VIC eventually fail, m our
efforts to place ourselves on a footing OF
poltical equality with our eastern country
men. I have no hesitation IN pronouncIng
the state of vassalage to which we Will be
reduced. too insupportable to be borne
On this subjectmyomnons are we'll known.
They have never been concealed.
During the next session of our Assem-
blv, II is intended topropose aust aPpor-
uonment of representation among the
white population, and TO Pcrscyore IN this
attemnt until we succeed, or until we Shall
become satisfied that success there Is I'M
possible. Ny tear is, that we will soon
have reason TO become satisfied that sue
cess will only be attalnabIe by popular
eff1rt Had not the hand of Death snatChed
him from us. WILLIAM ii. FITzHUGH, o..
Fairfax. intended to submit the first propo-
sition in the House OF Delegates, IN behalf
of equal representation on the white basis.
For this purpose he was eminently quail
fed. The talents and eloquencc Of Mr.
Fitzhugh, added 10 his known candour,
and his devotion to free principles, had
pointed him out as the most proper person
to commence the effort; while his residence
in the East. and the circumstance that,
though a large land aud slave holder he
had steadily opposed the representation OF
every species OF prcpery-of lands or oil
slayes-gaye him decided superiority
over almost every other person attached
to reform The death Of this gentleman,
in the midst of ms days, is not only loss
irreparable to his family and friends, but
one greatly to be deplored by the friends
OF tree principles throughout the state.
NV services in Congress have occupied
so short a period of time, that J cannot
hope to communicate to my friends ~ the
district, any information which may not
have reached them through other channels;
nor even to exchange many sentiments not
already felt by most of you. One thing I
know to a certainty. 1t IS this that the
attention of my constituents throughout the
district must have been intensely turned,
since the commencement of the late SEES
sion Of Congress, to the Tariff, aud to IN
ternal Improvement To my constituents, s
and to all Western and Middle Virginia, |
these measures involve interests of the
most riiaI innnrtnncn- The DOnularliY Of