Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-02-03

10 the People of Frederick and JeDsr-

me, a few months since. the honorable DIS
JUNCTION Of representing you. in part. in .
con, enilon for the mendInent Of our state
constitution. Having performed. TO the
hest of my ability, II. duty which you i'm
posed on n-. and having had the singular
fortune (perhsps ! should say misfortunrl
To d,hcr. not from NV respectable col
leagues only, bot with the whole western
Delegations on the most interesting and
importsut question which we were called
on To decide. - deem u proper Co render
ron m explicit account oG my conduct, aud
Of the motives, reasons and circumstances
hy which my course was regulated and
controlled. am the more induced to pur-
sue this course. because. having z-slously
supported. IN the convention. the amcndcd
constitution now submitted 20 you. from
a deep conviction that wns cnincnil,
calculated tn promote and ensure ae hap
pines and the prosperity oil tic whole PEG
pie OF virgiuis, i feel il 10 be sort OF post
hameus duty OF the station lately filled
10 do every thing in my power IN recon-
wend Il to your favorable consideration
Other motives for this address are not
wanting: and I may even say, with truth.
that Il Is scarcely a voluntary act For
since my return from the convention have
W
some Of those Who have done rue the ho-
nor TO approve Of my course there, TO ex.
plain 60 my constituents Why il was tha, I.
alone, OF all the thirty six members from
the west. voted in favor Of the amended
constitution which has been submitted TO
the people of Virginia.
II viii be perceived, at = glance, that
the task assigned me is one OF great deli
cacy. For, II succeed in showing the
correctness OF my own view Of the One
great question which divided me from the
western delegation. I must, however reluc-
hntly. convict some OF my nearest and
dearest friends OF an error Of judgment IN
regard to that one great question. To the
purity Of their motives il were superilunus
10 me 10 bear testimony. The gentlcmea
alluded TO arc too strong in the good opin
ION Of their fellow citizens tn need the tri-
butte Of nay praise. May ne permitted
10 add, that ! estimate their ms:naEisniiv
and their good feeling too highl, to apprc
hend that they will take amiss any thing
that ] shall say, in .,rdicating my own
course and conduct? I trust that they
kaow roe too well TO entertain. Cor n single
moment, the idea that IL is any part Of my
purpose tn asssil them, or 10 acquire popu
tarity at their expense Having. myself.
mo views Of political advancement. bot en-
trrtaining, on the contrary. fixed and
rooted aversion 10 public life. aud firm
conviction that happiness i not to he
found. by me Al least, IN the thorny path
OF ambition, ] seek not IN acquire that sort
Of popularity which might secure TO me
sHffrag~s which ! do not want ] seek
D~riy 10 shew that. in the course which !
pursued in the convention, ! was guided
l.. a a
terests Of INV constituents. and Of the whole
people Of Virginia; and that the raiiiica
lion. by the people. Of The amended con
sti,ufion which has been submitted 10 them,
will eminently promote and advance the
prosperity of INC state.
To me this proposition seems 10 be so
clearly inferrabie from the nature and
character Of its provisions, that I should
consider u waste Of tine and labor To
attempt to prove 10. we're l not convinced
by many circumstances that the provisions
themselves are misunderstood and misre
presented One Of the circumstances 10
which ailude IS OF so striking a charac-
ter ~ TO deserve brief aud pa ssin n otto c
The editor OF the Ieesb burg Washingto.
MAN. IN his paper OF the cd of January
commenting on The proceedings OF the con
centIon in regard 90 Gen. Gordon's resolu
ton. which contained the plan for appor.
honing representation SINCE made par,
Of she ancraod constitution, unskes the
follOwir. statement
We have already sppriscd our reader r.
or The final settle mcnt of the all absorbing
question basis of representation in con
ye.tIop. on Saturday the 10Th nit on the
bass Of ,rhiis population aud fsierai n,.n,.
bets; m plain ,rords negro representation.
---"In publishing this decision ~ our last
sheet we merely stated the fact. the pro
ceedings IN full not having then arrived
but, having since seen and sramined them.
we find that three or four OF tho western
delegation deserted their ranks. and aided
81 forcing upon the western portion OF the
state, wbo are cOntending for Just and G
quail rights. this obnoxious. unequal, and
aristoeratic state Of tbings-and reader
viii you believe IL. among This number a.
one from Loudoun,' &c 49," .Nfcro ycDye
yeat6ton has prerdiifi. and Mr. Richard
III Hendcrson voted m support Of il l." sc
-" The interest originating from this ques
ton is such a. TO induce Us 10 publish the
remarks of several members on g.. passage
and the ayes and noes, in the preceding
page, whIch will cnIighfen The reader on
tbis Singular state NJ things--the deseriion
from the west Of several of the delegates
who were viewed as Incorporating
The ayes and noes are then given. slew.
iSg that Mr. Henderson voted for . tie re-.
solution Of Mr. Gordon" which - not set
forth al length. but which the editor. after
m examination ola whole week. under
stsris and states 20 be " the basis n isiiif,
population and federal RNS'LsTS - need
scarcely add tina, the whole statement -
founded or a total misconception ~ the
facts which th- EDITOR undertakes a. state
that 1en sioFdons plan. adopted ~