Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-12-01
tired 6v eur bin of rights, was all that {

Vl0e llleT power WIN TIC hou-ii CCiOiuNlS ) I
and thus might be effected, Indirectly, that
which had been defeated in a direct form. !
Those who were in favor of reform, plain
ly saw this prospect, and they who were in
favor of a Convention voted against this
bill. whilst those who were against Con-
ventlon voted for IL. Let this singular
fact be borne in mind, and, in the sequel,
the people in the Western part of the state,
will be better able to decide upon what
they have gained or lost by the Amended
Constitution.
The lrcelolder5, however, Contrary TO
:he hopes and expectations of those anti
rcformers who voted for the bill, to take
the sense of the people, voted for Con-
yenuon, by large majority; aud thus a.
gain were the opponents OF the measure
driven to new grounds-tor all the old
ones had been swept from under them by
the strong current of public sentiment.
The power which man possesses has nev-
er been pasted with voluntarily, i mean
in relation to government and 1t Is weak
ness to suppose that the Eastern arisiocra-
cv of Virginia will do what man has never
done before them. Reason and argument
are equally uuayailiug, w1cu they are I'D
dressed to tno-e wh1 nave power ~ their
hands, and more especially, when The o3-
iect is TO induce them to part with dPor-
ton Of that power. Driven by popular
sentiment INTO TIE measure, the EISefl
representatives ia the General Assembly
we're compel d to vote tor some law. to
F organize Convention; and here ag IN Ii
will be found that their struggle for power
aeccr fauitercR Ia Shipping bill upon
tho subject, It will at once be seen that
the first aud main question which was TO
/ be discussed, was the basis upon which a
/ representative IN the Convention should be
formed. The members from the West
put Themselves upon the bill of rights,
and maintained that as all power was dcrl-
we'd from the PEOPLE, ard not from the
/ frcciyldcrs; and that, as all governments,
. Cbc8 fond Inadequate to the purposes
. for which they were established, might be
as an i,uiuJitdj'e, interchangeable, URai'eHa-
/ bic, aud imlefe2si5ls right; reformed, alter
cd or abolished, in such manner, 6Y ma
j0ritY Of the community, as shall be Judg-
ed most conducive to the public veal, = so
the basis Of representation IN Convention
ought TO be the tree white population Of
the State; thereby giving TO each portion
/ of the commonwealth ITS Que e'Gnt IN
( Convention; aad that the right of suffrage
IN voting for members of Convention,
ought TO be exercised oy all persons EN-
braced by the Iangua9e used by 'Ae Oil Oh
rights. with some le" necessary ana pro-
! per exceptions Iroposl.i2hs so feaSo11-
o'e' sustained ana lofuueo as mey were
| oy our OH OIL rights co''I sc'ce'y % CT
P9o'eo 10 meet villa "pp''il2i; ye' lhcy
were oppose ana success uii' ioo' 0E tue
hfm anu 'hileA.uic 'onlc'y "iith marked
the course oi the opposite party t1oy
mad declared ho'r purpose. taken their
/ ground, and resolved NOT 10 yield They
Iad numbers on their side, and these can
never DO resisted with success 4et L
"oud seem "iul1uii II im. g'nt' al W da
"ot already know what we" could De
presented "'h,a "1d any chance OF sue
cess aga'ae. me powerful arguments em-
ni'yad' by those who took shelter under
/ Ue s'roa- branches OF the bul OF rights.
idc olst.rl delegation admitted that, The
2lS's l'wrd by their opponents a7iH some
f.. 9mcadmcHtS' would do, but at the same
tae coutehded that in counting the poPu-
huon the SlaceS must be taken into the
estimate; "a principle, than which nothing
can be more antl-rcPuOhcan, or against
every consideration OF Justice towards the
western people. Nor did those who held
Inc power stop here: one victory prepared
iacr apPetites tor another, and 10 propo
I s t,op, how,var unjust ,eemed too bold lol
|tucm 10 assume. Accordingly, after hav-