Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-01-27

much has Decn accomplished. IL mere
has not been done. Il was bcc ause some
or the Interests. which were affected.
were supposed To be in opposition-in-
.erests which we're themselves affected
by differences of population and at 10.
cal situation. - Ii should he known.
SAID one ot the most distinguished Of
its members a few DAVIS ago. IL ever,
thing has not been done, which n.i.hi
have been expected; II abstract prin-
ciplcs have not been entirely carried
nut into practice. that II arose from our
having two species OF population in our
State. and from tie .folnurcd popula.
ton not being equally dilu,cd through
out the Commonwealth. Our citizens
IA both the sections have becg so anx-
iously sticking for what thc1 con,id
cred to Ice their rights. that wlk4i might
be abstractly night elsewhere, of What
is 80 considered bv other people. has
been necessarily modified IN n,actiCc.
TIN, - the true secret of all our diilcr-
cnces. and al our inability o. adhere
exactly ia such principles a. We all adj
unit To be abstract, correct"
We Know not what Kind of favor
this amended Constitution may meet
with from the good people Of Virginia.
But NC have a very short view to pre-
sent upon this subject, which has tan
quIli,ed our own mind. aud reConciled
uS To It's adoption. We have been fur
years past the iiicrd. oi a Conventions
We wished especially 10 equalize the
representation. ard 10 adopt uniform
rule for periodical superintendent.
a well n re- assessment 81 the lands -
We preferred the White Basis. When
this Convention assembled, We were
IN hopes IT would be adoptctl-but it
was not long after the struggle had
commenced ia the Convention. before
the embarrassmeuls. which were pro-
duccd by our local interests. pressed
themselves upon the notice of every
observer ; and the necessity Of n liberal
spirit oi Cancellation, and of some com
promise. MAS clearly manifested For
several weeks past, the struggle has
been as I" The species Of compromise
winch should be effected. The reader
IS satiatcd with the Bases Of Rcprcsen.
'a'ion; and we will not go again into
the wearisomc discussion. At length
a proposition was struck out by MIR.
Gordon. discarding every established
oas's' and all future -apportionmcnt
and upon that compromise, the Con
stltution has been erected. Its scarce
" necessary for US to repeat. that this
long-labourcd instrument does not cor
respond. IN every respect, TO our wish
cs-that we should have preferred n
Constitution. that looked 10 different
oasis oil representation ; and 10 n fu-
ture apportlonment. different from MIR.
Ma'iison's-but it is equally due TO
truth To declare. that when we saw the
ieuds which were arising. the dark
clouds which hovered in the distant
horizon, the different interests that
were At work. the different principles
which were supported, the difficulties
under which this subieot labourcd. and
I l!r dangers which threatened the State.
We might have pursued the course Of
Cooke and Henderson, of Cabell and
Stuart and Jhompst we
might have struggled on. "lil the bat
tie was won," wc should have finally
voted Tor the Cuts tuition. We ac
quicsce in/t,c decision which has been
pronounotd-and We would ohcerrully
and respectfully recommend 10 bc
People! 10 sanction this last act of their
Representatives.. and seal by their
votes. the peace aud tranquility Of the
Stafc.
w bile W do not consider this Con
StIlutIun the best that could be- cnncci,
eel, " - much better than The present,
aud - the best which is likely TO be
got. Few men. who have not been
here. upon the theatre OF action. Wit
Messing all thc scenes which have been
acted, the heats, and the struggles,
and the declarations that have been
thrown out, can adequately Judge OF
The difficulties which enyironcd this
complicated subject. And suppose
the Convention had brokcn up IN con
fusion. re m)scfG-supposc tie Yves
tern members bad returned To- the bo
som OF their constituents. with the in
telligcncc that nothing could be gained.
nothing could he done, what might
have becn--what would probably have
been the result: Our Western brc
thern might have kindlcd into n flame
meetings would have been held. and
resolutions adopied--lppeal, made 10
the Legislature for new Convention.
And would not the East. SICK os Con.
Nentions. Disguised with it. abortion.
and startled at the excitement II had
produced, have declined The cali. Had
the western people then called a Con.
Vcniion, would tbc Ea.i have gone 81,
TO It. And might not tie West have
gone proposed new Constitution
aud Who can trace out the consequcu
oes: CO.. who viii trace them out. iu