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

nj Mcssrs- Henderson and Cooke, their
own votes were enough 90 turn the
scale and blast our hopes. The CUES.
ZION then recurring on Gordon's plan.
both these gentlemen came out in AMI !.
mated speeches in support Of il, and
IN vindication Of their own course. In
the speech Of Mr.. Cooke he disclosed
all that had passed at our meetings.
IL would be difficult TO say whether
these speeches produced most 10Y 4.
monE our opponents, or Of grief and
dismsy among our friends. The bat.
tie was lost. We were divided and
defeated. Gordon's plan was adopted
by vote Of IS to al. On this vote
Mr.. Cooke divided from the Vest
See Is7th page Of the Journal.
TWAS our misfortune that in most
of the Eastern districts In which we
found friends. there were considerable
minoritles opposed TO ". There were
IN The Convention opposed 10 10 the
heads of the Richmond bar, two Ex-
Presidents, and the Chief Justice of
the United States. the Governor Of the
State with the District Attorney. two
Judges Of the Court Of Appeals. and
one Judge Of the General Court. These
were all at home. The votes Of the
two late Presidents and Of the Chief
Justice, on important questions, were
specially noted in those Journals which
contained the speeches Of members
These Journals and the speeches op-
posed to us were pac ked and distribot-
ed in districts where the people we're
divided, Ca produce effects injurious TO
our cause.
Perhaps il might be truly said, that
Mr.. Cooke wrote and exerted himself
more than any other man in favor Of
Convention He published a pamph
let which was circulated mt Richmond
during the Session of 1928, signed
An incorporating friend of re-
FORM" His principles corresponded
with the assumed name. He went SO
far rs to point out feasible mode by
which majority of the people could
introduce a government OF their own
adoption without the aid Of the Gene
raj Assembly, in which / perfectly a.
greed with him. He had then no hor-
rible forebodiDgs Of civil war. These
never tormented him until the 18th Of
December last, when he loudly urged
them AZ reason for supporting Cor
dOn's proposition. Who has forgotten
the pointed address Of this gentleman
to the West. when be hailed and in
voked US as brothers and allies to Join
our friends in the Valley and East for
the redress OF those grievances under
which We alike suffered ? His appeals
were then made to every thing in the
trans Allegheny country, animate and
inanimate they were heard resound.
ing from the valleys TO the tops Of our
Mountains, until they sunk in the
mournful melody Of our groves. ~
Our adsersaries considered his writings
infiammatory; but they were charmed
with his voice on the 18th of Decem.
Der.
The remaining history Of the Con-
vention is short. With our divisions
on the fatal 10Th Of December. ended
the possibility Of an unanimous seces-
sion, and consentaneous action Of the
friends of reform; and knowing this,
our adversaries became more bold, and
completed the work Of the Convention
in manner 10 sui; their own views
They reconsidered the vote Tor electing
the Governor by the people. On this
occasion four Of our friends separated
from us, and the election of Governor
was given TO the General Assembly
The 4th clause Of the Sd article of the
Constitution wss proposed by Mr..
Cooke. On this occasion, he again
voted against the whole West. BY
this provision il 10 made the duty Of
the General Assembly. once 10 every
ten years, TO re-appoEtion represents
ton. But in doing this they are never
to disturb the distribution Of power es-
tabIished by GOsdon's plan. This re-
apporiiOnment 10 30 be done within
each district and division in the same
manner a. IL each district or division
were, Gor this purpose. a separate pro-
VINCE will not say Commonwealth.
Thus the new Constitution proposes
60 give Us 81 members in the House
Of Delegates. By Mr.. Cookies rule II
re sppOg tiOument our number u never
70 be increased. not even IL our pOpulA-
ton should out-humbsr eli the rest Of
the State.
Mr.. Madison proposed the 5th clause
Of the same article which Immediately
follows that Of Mr.. Cooke, and may be
justly termed its twin brother. BY ihis
article, the General Assembly have
power, once IN every ten years after
lS41s 20 re appoftion representation.
30 that the House Of Delegates shall
never consist Of more than $50, nor the
senate 81 more than 90 members. Bot
this power can emily be exercised by
fico. Thirds ~ the members Of each
house. Ar. Chapman NOV ed 90 sfrike