Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-01-07
CONVENTION.
epAY, Disc. 40.
MIR. COOKIES SPEECH-Conclu,

"
the evening of the 2&th. At that meeting the gcn-
,leman from Albcnarlc attended, and explained his
scheme of representation. But still deci-
dcl preference at tins time manifested for the
scheme originally proposed by the gentleman from
G6ochia.d, ~ wit, the Unite bt,sis it is called in
the House OF Delegates and Federal numbers i'll the
Senate. So decided preference, that when the
opinions of all the gentlemen aSccrtained Se!'ia
tim ii was found that the scheme of the gentleman
from Albemarle had advocates except himself,
my friend from IIoudoun and myself. That gen
tleman and myself still retained, and distinctly er-
pressed, decided preference for the scheme of
the gentleman from Albemarc: but we frankly sta
ted TO political friends that, the great Object
in view was q harmonious cooperation OF all the
frien'!s of reform III plan of compromise III or
dor that it might on that account, attract more
respectful consideration when offered to our fellow
ctizcns i'll the Convention from the East and the
South, and as we had no inSuperGbie objection to
tn" plan in which they had thus united, we would.
i'll d.fcrcnce to heir opinions and to promote the
great cdnSe of Constitutional REFORM waive OPT
MON, and concur with them in supporting their ia
voutito plan to the extent Of voting for It. and giving
TIA fair trial in the Convention. The gentleman
trum Albemarle did join in this proIise--r prom
ls' which we had afterwards cause to regret. For
by THIS gratuitois promise made IN the spirit OF
cunclntior and with TIC sole purpose Of promoting
the great obiec. had 50 much at heart, alone
pledged, considered ourselves, in the first
instance n least, to vote against the scheme pre-
ierrci, and in favour OF that which we thought the
worst of The two, while il dis uct!y under
Stood that the other members were not pledged to
udherC 10 the Opinions ticu eTter AIMED ana expires
sed 1t Is proper, Sir. that should here remark,
that tie meetings i'll question held with cpcn
doors, and that there spectators present at
81 both of then,. I will add, ;hat The gcnIeuan
from Albe!narle, who had failed in his attempt To
make his plan accepta BILE to the meeting, under
IN OF pledge, express implied, to conceal the
fac, that the gentleman from loudonn and myself
preferred his plan to that proposed by TIL geuta
ifpm Goochland have not the smallest
dpnb, That he mentioned the fact, as he had right
TO do, to all with whom he conversed thu subject
Mad III fact, Sir, opinion, from the publicity Of
the meetings, and the circumstance nave Just men
toned. notorious i'll this BODY, from the very
time of those meetings, in the last week in Novenl-
her Us If had been published i'll the newspapers of
Richmond This fact state without the hazard Of
contradiction. And state il, Sir, with reference to
nust extraordinary and most groundless opinion,
which some of the gentlemen of party have VEN
tdrn express that their strenuous efforts to carry
their tvourite plan of representation had been frus
trated by ndiscretion III letting it be understood
by the gentlemen of the opposite party that sIlouul
meant to vote for that plan, and give it fair tr-
al We would eventually vote for that Of the rrutc-
man from Aibnruarle, ifthc western plan should be
defeated. Sir the idea that had it in our uosoer
To conceal cur opinion after it had been opcal,
expressed before the adoption OF the acesfera pia,
as partv-neasure, is utterly ridiculous, aud ;he I'M
putatinn thrown on is gratuitous aud uuf',unird
Moreover, Sir, will take leave say, th1, howev
or wise and profound the scheme of Attracting to q
great political measure the support OF its enemies
who the majority, by the obstinate adherence to
it Of its friends, who he ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS JUS
tihabe it may to veteran politicians holl out
false aud d,u5ve impression, conflict like this
which Is not 0conhct IF principle, but question OF
preference between tco pLals both of them at Wal
with true principles, that they adhere to theil
Own iavOIrite scheme, Co the point Of breaking
UP the Convention rendering 1t wholly abortive-
however lustlhabie II my to them to sport
With the patriotic fears OF their opponents and turn
their very virtues aainst them Il, for ono, have not
eean accustomed to sIch projects and practices, have
had part III them, and ,1iH have uona. will not
consont practice against my countryman and fell
low citizens, If they political opponents, the
tricks and devices Of hostile diplomacy And will
add, before | dismiss this unpleasant subject that
the gentleman from Loudoun and myself could not
even if we had been inclined, from the cIrcums an
CPS OF the have nded u the prosecution of such
schemes and devices
Bet TO return 20 the promise given by that gentle
man and mysef to vote for the compromise basis
proposed by the member from GoochIand and adop-
ted by the western members. On the 3Oth of No
vcnber offered the plan in question to the co,sid-
grafton OF the Convention. plan adiopted by
Tie cestern n,nbers IN The spirit OF compromise aad
en- tAehope atns ii ssoufa be acceptable 10 The East
Il had not that good fortune. NY friend from LOU
aoun and myself considered It's fate sealed on the
5tli of December, by tlDo cokes First by
vD.a OF so 10 IS adapting the plan fihe gentleman
from Albemar!e provdi~r present nDp1riionme7t
Of es1ntation; the cesern plan the7p iyne on the
able md }aiiy understood Second and rrore deci-
sigeiy, if possible, by of 50 to As 7-cject;ng
resolution offered by tho gentleman from Brooke
(3Er Boddridga) by which il was provided that rep
rcsentaton should hereafter be apportioned on Tie
gpesera pla, to wit: in the House Of Delegates on
the basis of white population, and in the Senate Oh
the basis of Fcdera! nuTnbcrs This would seam to
have been decisive enough. And by voting Us we
did, With the minority, on both of these occasons.
the gentleman from Loudoun and myself had fully
peJformcd, and had right to consider ourselves re-
leased from promise 10 give the western plan
which we dsapVrovcd, fair trial in this ,dy
Moreover after those votes it Ceased to be a Plan
Of conf ron,Le, ard plan Of compromise alone
had we promised it our support. Bat oscrated q,
by the solicitations of our political friends who were
heartily embarked in 1t party -nlens sure and
who did not consider the votes have Iust mn. ibncd
as decisive we Reluctantly consented give it ano
Their trial, expressly announcing determination
TO abandon it and vote for what VIC cousdcrcd tie,
preferable plan Of the gentleman from AIbemarle
when the former should be again rejected
In compliance with that promise we again voted
yesterday, against the plan of the gentleman from,
Alhcmarle. when it perfectly well understood