Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-02
The writer of the circular has
amended constitution.

amended constitution. The writer of the circular has
"attentivey perused, as he says, my second letter
perceive that he has. For he has cray appended to
his circular all that part Of it, which, with the assistance
OF his invdious CLOSES is calculated produce on my
fellow citizens Of the Allegheny the false impress
sion, that cherish feeling of hostility against them.
But he has shrunk from the argument, contained in that
letter, nfavor Of the amended constitution, and assumed
throughout his circular, that the "western PLAN was
dccisivey preferable. He has, moreover, shrunk from
meeting the argument against the accuracy OF the au
ditors estimate, and has assumed that estimate as the
basis of his commentary the constitution, with
much confidence as if its accuracy had never been
questioned. And this too, though he knows that its
curacy repeatedly denied and for good reasons
signed, on the floor Of the convention, and that not
single attempt made TO sustain it, except an imbc-
ellie made by himself on the 10Th December. whe-
Their am warranted i'm calling that argument imbece
you Judge, when tell you, that il assumed that the
auditors data correct (ahough that officer
pressy stated in his report that they incorrect and
not to be relied and having thus established the pre-
misses he drew the inference that the conclusions
suits ruef But return to the subject in
medatey under consideration.
Ii Is my purpose to shew the absolute and utter
Jalsity Of the charge, that, the 10Th Of December
deserted TO the standard OF OPPONENTS, in other
words identified myself riM the Eastern Party
And rejoice from my heart rejoice, that this wanoD,
base, and Infamous calumny, which knew was basely
circulated through all Western Virginia has acquired
local habitation and name" 1t affords me OPP
porunity to rsfute conclusively and in doing
attach TO M author the infamy, which belongs 10 de-
tscsd libellsr. assert then, aud refer TO the Jour-
nal Of the Convention, for proof Of what aege that
throughout the whole session. befo, and aud after
the 18Th of December, did, all occasions, toh
the Western Party, friends Of REFORM and against
the Eastern Party when any question involving
popular rights. The vote in favor of Gen. Gordon's
plan may be considered by exception t, the
universal truth Of this proposition o not consider il
except in The point of my having, on that
voted with the Eastern Party. have, elsewhere, as
signed my at large for belle wing, that voted
on that occasion, every other in favor of popular
rights. Be that as it may, there can be no dispute
about the character OF the votes which will pro-
coed to state, comprehending all the important ques-
tons which in the Convention, Involving the
rights oil the people from the 10 OF Dec. 10 the clcse
OF the session.
On the 10Th December, and before voted for Gen.
Gordon's plan, Mr.. Leigh proposed plan of his own,
alloing TO the West 56 votes, aud TO The East 49, in
the House Of Delegates and giving, to bare MAORI
~ oil the Legislature, the power 10 increase the
Der TO l69 with nothing resrs them, if dispos-
ed from allong the whole additional 81 to the coun-
ties in the East. plan fatal to Western rights
and Western interests couli not have been lived.
And this plan proposed. and sustained with his
cu,tomed ability, by gentleman who generally
red with him the entire Eastern vote. In that hour
Of petii to Western rights and Western interests, q
writer Of the circular remained silent in his seat II
was left TO him, who is now accused by that very wri-
ter OF having then already engaged in secret and
reacherous negotiations aci0i the Easter, Party, 10
assert and defend the rights OF the West menaced
they were by this obnoxious proposition. II left
him to answer the argument Of the able mover, and
shew how utterly odious such plan would be TO the
western peopehow utterly undescrvnr il was of the
name OF compromise plan, given 10 by its author. Ii
was defeated by vote OF sc 10 30.-What agency
had, ont Of the House, in matshaling opposi,ioa
this dangerous plan, shall presently shew, when
expose TO public and Contempt, the atrcciou.
iumnies OF the writer Of the circular, respecting the
Transactions Of the 10Th Of DecemberBut Of this
aOon.
On III 2lst OF Dec, Mr. Stuart Zone of the 49) pro
po'rd. that in future spportionments, representation
should be distributed according to the number Of quail
bed voters" / voted for the motion, and with the
Western Party.
On the same day, my friend, Mr.. Mercer, moved so
10 amend the report OF the Committee of Ike Whole
10 confer the election OF the governor on the peopEe
voted for the motion, and with the Western Party
On the 2lth oil Dec. mt ion made 10 confer the
election OF Sheriff on the people voted for the mo
ton.
On the Goth Of Dec, my friend, Mr. Ncale of Rich
moDd county, or plead guilty to the TACT of having
entertained and of still entertaining, sincere friendship
for that gentleman though he has the misfortune live
on iide-water) proposed. that in future apportion.
nts representation should he distributed in the house
OF according TO the number of resident fee
hold voters Alter an elaborate examination Of all the
documents in the public Offices going shew the acua,
number OF resident freehold voters east and Of the
ridge. Mr. Henderson and myself, who divide ed the labor
OF the examination between us. ascerained to our entire
satisfaction that the proposed rule OF future
was precisely equivalent TO the white basis Mr. Neal
thought differently: 30 did many western members who
perhaps had not examined The subject so closely Mr.
H. and myself. signihei, in the house. hope that
the proposition would succeed But Mr.. Neale ind.
ing little support from either the east the west with
drew his resolution. An opportunity and the only on
1 offered during the whole session. OF obtaining good
principle Of future appoonment, al least in the house
OF delegates, that occasion lost by The western
party, through distrus aud jealousy OF the quarter from
which the motion came. Had the west been united
in its iayor there eastern votes enough and barely
enough TO carry through presuns that the write
oil the circular will permit 10 register this among my
orthodox vobs, a. had The honor, in regard 10 Mr..
Nesles proposition TO with himself in opinion
need scarcely tell you that the eastern party uni
iormy and systematically opposed every attempt that
was made TO engrsft the constitution rule OF
app0fflOnment
'hrunk from taking the unpopular ground Of opposing
the principle OF future appointment per in other
words, oil maintaining that there ought TO he no rule
whatever Of future apportionmsnt. Yet the 2Sth oil
December, when If you are TO believe the writer o
the circular, had been fighting for nine days under
the eastern standard, 20 FAR deserted my new coors
as TO endesvor 'uhjcct the party the odum
OF saying tina, they resolved have rule Of lI-
tTo spporiionment The resolution offered was in
these words
"Resolred, Thatt 10 tina, some rule or rrin.
epls should be adopted for the future spporionmsn oil
representation among the people and throughout the
commonwealth of Virginia.
The eastern members manifested, as foressw That
they would strong rep1gnsoce to his test.moion.-
They went 80 FAR as to endeavor the nsor per.
suade TO Withdraw II. But pereinporily refused:
and they were compelled 10 order elude formal
ecIion of il, to resort 10 the expodient Of laying il
the table.
On the 9TH Of January. motion was made by Gen.
Godon TO amend the report Of the select committee ap-
pointed TO dfaught constitution, 20 take the cleo
ton Of the governor irem the people, and ner il
the general assembly. voted against The motion, and
with the western party.
On The Sth Of January, Mr.. Garnet moved 10 exclude
house KEEPERS paving taxes from the enjoyment of the