Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-07

w is author. III was defeated bv Il
vote OF 66 To so. What agency had,
om 81 the house, in marshailins an on
position to this dangerous plan | shall
presently shew. when I expose 10 pub
'ic scorn and contempt the atrocious
ca'nmnies OF the writer Of the circular
respecting the transactions Of the 10Th
OF December. But more or this anon
On the 2ist Of December Mr.. Stuart
tonc OF the 49) proposed, that in future
appor,ionments, representation should
be distributed according Ia the mum.
Der Of qualified VOTERS I voted for
the motion, and with the western par.
".
On the same day my friend Mr.. Mer.
Ger moved so To amend the report Of
the committee Ut the whole. us to con-
Ter the election of the governor on hs
people. voted for the motion, and
with the western party.
On the oath Of December a motion
was made To confer the election of she.
rIH on the people. voted for the mo.
ton.
On the Goth Of December nv friend
Mr.. Neale. of Richmond county, flor
j plead guilty To the fact of having en-
teriained, AMI of still entertaining. a
sincere friendship for that gentleman,
though he has the misfortune tn live on
tide -water,) proposed. that in future
apporuonments, representation should
be distributed, in the house of dele
gates, according to the number Of re.
sident freehold voters. After an ella
N IF al
mehts in the public offices going TO
shew the actual number of resident
freehold voters east and west Of the
ridge. Mr.. Henderson and myself, who
divided the labor Of the examination
between US, asccrtained To our entire
satisfaction. that the proposed rule Of
future apportionmrnt was precisely
equivalent 10 the white basis. Mr..
Neaie tbnught differently so did ma
ny western members. who perhaps had
not examined the subject so closely a.
Mr. Ii. and myself. signi6ed. in
the house, my hope that the proposition
would succeed. Bu, Mr.. Neale find
ing little support from either the east
or the west, Withdrew his resolution.
An opportunity. and the only one Of.
fered during the whole session, Of oh.
tanning a good principle or future ap-
p"rtionmept, al least in the house Of
delegates, was, on that occasion, lost
Nv the western party. through distrust
and jealousy of the quarter from which
the motion came. Had The west been
united in its favor, there were eastern
votes enough, and barely enough.to car.
~ 1t through. Ipresnme that the wri-
ter OF the circular will permit me 10
register this among my othodox votes.
as had the honor, in regard 10 MIR.
Neale's proposition, TO concur with
himself IN opinion.
need scarcely tell you that the
eastern party uniformly and systcma-
ucaiiy opposed every attempt that was
made TO cngraf' on the new con,titu.
ton rule Of future apportionment of
representation. But thew shrunk from
taking the unpopular ground of oppos
ing the principle of future apportion-
ment per scr in other words. of
maintaining that there ought To be no
rule whatever of future apportionmppi.
Yet. on the 2Stll Of December, when.
u you arc TO believe the writer Of the
circular. | bad been fighting for nine
days under the eastern standard. I so
lar deserted my new cOlors. a. TO en-.
deavor To subject the eastern party 10
the odium OF saying that they IS ere re-
solved TO have no rule Of future annor
uOnmcnt. The resolution offered was
20 the following words
g Resoiue6. That IL IL expedient that some
rule or principle should be adopted Tor tho
future apporiionment Misrepresentation among
tie people and throughout the commonwealth
Of Virgins f"
The eastern members manifested. as
! foresaw they would. q strong rcpug.
nance TO this test motion. They went
so Tar as 10 endcayor. on the huOr, 10
persuade me TO withdraw IL. But
perempiorily refused I; and they were
compelled ~ order To elude a formal
rejection Of IL. 20 resort 20 The cxpcli
cnt II LAYING II on tie table.
On the eth Of January a motion was
made by Gen. Gordon to amend the
report of thc select committee appoint.
ed 20 draught a constitution. 80 ~ 10
take the election Of The governor from
the people. aud confer Il on The aene.
raj assembly. ! voted against ibc mo.
ton. aud viii The western PARTY.
% the Sth &c January Nc. Garnet
moved to excladc house Keepers pay
ing taxes from the enjoyment Of the
right 81 snlfrsge. voted against tie
motion. and with tic western party.
On the same day Nc. Claytor moved
to extend the enjoyment VI the right
81 suffrage still further. voted for
the motion, and with the western par
~.