Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-03-31

u 1t our meeting. but were, in fact, in.
formed OF this determination, 90 that
they might shape their own course nc
cordingiy. After this we could have
NO yell founded hopes of success.
We knew that some Of our Eastern
friends preferred Gordon's plan to ours,
while they would prefer ours 10 sepa.
rating without doing any thing. There
yet remained one hope which wss,
once more to press, as an amendment
OF Gordon's plan Of present, our own
rule OF future, apportioment. Accord
ingly. on the 18th Of December, the
question was propounded on Upshur's
resolution n amended by Gordon's,
and which, a. amended, was really
Gordon's plan. i will here refer YOU
TO the i2Oth page Of the Journal, a. l
~,sh to be particular in my narrative
Ut this and some Of the following and
consequent transactions. The resolu.
ton OF Upshur, a. amended by Gordon,
is As follows:
Resolved. That the representation in the
senate and House Of Delegases Of Virgin.
shall be spportioned ~ follows There sh.l
be thirteen Senators West Of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. and nineteen East of those Noun.
tains
There shall be in the House of Delegate.
one hundred and tventy-seven members, of
whom tv ens -nine shall be elected from the
dis,ric, wesi Of the Allegheny MOUNTAINS.
iweni, four from the Valley between the AL
l-ghsny aud Blue Ridge, and forty from the
Blue Ridge tn the Head Of tide-w water. and
thirty four thence below"
When the question was about 70 be
put On this proposition, 1 waited to see
II MIR. Cooke would rise to move the
plan ct future spportionment which we
had agreed on, and which he had him.
self presented TO the Convention. Per
eeiying he would not, proposed il my
sell. IL is in these words:
Alter the next census To be taken under
the Laws OF the United States, and every ten
years thereafter, there shall be Q new appor.
ment ct re representation, and new assessment
of land taxes Esch spportionmen, shall be
made in the following Kramer, and on the
following basis. TO wit: the number Of free
white inhabitants in the House Of Delegates.
and The federal basis in the Senate"
When this amendment to Gordon's
plan vas proposed, a scene Of a most
unparalleled character was presented
in the Convention. will briefly, but
faithfully describe il and for the eide.
lity ut my description, l appeal to eve
ry member and bystan,ler.
Mr.. Leigh. one Of our most active,
candid, and able opponents, rose in his
place and informed the whole Conven-
ton that he had that morning received
Information from gentleman in whose
veracity and means Of knowledge he
placed the most implicit reliance, that
if this amendment (the one offered by
nie) should be rejected, the TGiiev re.
reraiiy. and probably some of The Mem.
6ers Nest Of the .9Hfg hany. would vote
for Gordon's plan. This gave to every
friend and foe residing East Of the
Ridge, certain information that if he
preferred to have no rule Of future ap-
portionment, he would hazard nothing
by deserving US and jnining the East
IN supporting Gordon's plan. The
statement of Mr.. Leigh produced uni
versal asionishment; perceiving which,
he renewed his assurance, that he reli-
ed implicitly on the information he had
received. and added. that he believed
II ,cas given TO him for the government
Of has otOn conduct. Mr.. Powell, and
Mr.. Mason Of Frederick. the col.
leagues Of MFR. Cooke, penetrated with
establishment ct Mr.. Leigh's state
ment, declared to the Convention their
disbelief that any man from the West
could possibly vote for Mr.. Gordon's
scheme; and the latter expressed his
opinion that whoever had made this
communication to Mr.. Leigh must
have mistaken the true import of some
members conversation. Mr.. Neale
then stated to the House that he had
given Mr. Leigh the information ia
question. do you inquire who autho-
riZed MIR. Neale TO make this state
ment9 Or. ia ether words, from whom
he learned the truth Of what he thus
communicated? IL il were not other.
wise known. what followed itnmediate.
" after would furnish the aRs~er.-
The vote was taken on my amendment,
and lost by an equal division Of 40 on
each side. This vote can be seen in
pages i26 Of the Journsl. BY exsmia.
ing the ayes and noes, il will appear
that the cain assurance that ali me
poiiey would desert us, only operated
10 take from US one Of our friends East
OF the Ridge. This constsncy and bo-
norable dealing Of Our friends East Of
the Allegheny ought to b. remembered,
and should inspire us with confidence
N their support ia that future trial
which cannot long be averted. Let
any one take the tables Of 1920, and
calculate the overwhelming majority
OF ireemen represented by the 48 Who
voted with Us. and Fepfess, Il he can,
hts wonder that one Of 0ur member
should immediately surrender himself