Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-09
From the Winchester Republican
MIR. COOKIES THIRD LETTER TO HIS
CONSTITUENTS

CONSTITUENTS.
GTbis letter is published out of course-he fourth
> (beng reply to Mr. Doddridges circular) having
been published last week, for the reason then given
To the People of Frederick and Jefferson Counties
Fellow Citizens: told you, in my first letter, tina,
l had been urgently and repeatedly called Oh by some
of those who had done the honor approve of nv
course in the Convention, explain to my constitu
ents why il that Alone of all the thirty si x
members from the Wes.. voted in favor of the amend
ed constitution submitted to the people of Virginia
said to yeu, In my second communication, that my
reasons for zealously supporting and finally yotinp
for the amended constitution might be summed up in
a few words. sFinding that the true principle of
representation could not be obtained voted for and
supported the plan of representation submitted
to you, because l thought it the nearest appror;pa-
ton to the white bass which could possibly be OBJ
tanned, and near approximation as to be equiva
lent to it, for the present. practical resuite My
second letter was principally devoted to the support
OF the second OF these two propositions. How far
succeeded IN making out my case II is for you TO de
eide. purposeiy abstaned from the consideration
OF the first proposition, to- wit, that the plain of
presentation contained in the constitution was
the nearest approximation to the white basis which
could possibly be obtained, partly because the topic
was not agreeable to me, and partly BECAUSE ftreaed
at all 1T was important enough to deserve separate
consideration.
The topic was disagreeablc to me for this simple
reason, and no other. could not discuss it without
lmputng to my respected collca que, and other old
and valuable friends, who differed with me 10 opinion
|
show that my opinion was correct, without showing
that theirs was incorrect They thought that the
'oesiern plan, thought that Gen. Gordons, the
nearest approximation TO our common standard of
practical and theoretical perlection The inquiry,
moreover, lost its interest with its Importance when
the western plan defeated and Gen Gordon's
prevailed. To prosecute the inquiry, under such
circumstances, seemed like stirring up again the halt
extinguished embers of party spirit, and wantonly
counting controversy with the valued friends whom
have alluded 10, with no other practical object than
the egotiscal one of showing that | had taken a
correct view of the relative merits of the two plans
of representation.
| Actuated by these views and earnestly DESTROYS to
| bury in oblivion all the unpleasant feelings which
difference of opinion had engendered between and
my personal friends. determined to leave part of
the promise of my first letter unperformed, even
the risk of being thought to shrink from the nvcsti
cation of the relative merits of the two plans and to
f address you more.
have been driven from this purpose by the inces-
SAINT attacks made on me in certain journals (not OF
my own district, but published i Loudoun and the
upper part of the valey,) in which have been de-
nounced, merely because thought proper, the
one great question which divided me from the west
ern delegation, to with my eyes and not with
those OF the party, to hear with my own and mol
with those OF the party, to follow the light Of
reason and the montlons of my conscience,
not the reason and the conscience OF Others as dc
serter, aposate and traitor However con
temptible the source from which these denuncation
have proceeded do not feel myself justified IN dis
regarding them 1t wonld be stretch of pride AM
holiness to which not equal, to treat them will
silent contempt. And while avoid, as far as posi-
BILE, the contamination of collision with the author
or these inspirations, 1 will defer SO much
public opinion to show-not the falsehood of these
charges for not citizen of Virginia fater myself
is silly enough to believe thcE1 to think that then
authors believe them-but to show, that in abandon
ing the party the great question alluded to-
went over to The people, and that the plan of repre-
sentation which voted for on the 9th OF December
and afterwards zealously supported was better il
cInlp md holt cttrHl han tj,at
which was supported by the western delegation as
party. This what believe, add what feel niysel
compelled to prove, if can. repeat that, in the
execution of this purpose, shall studiousIy avoi,
giving to my friends, who differ with me in opinion
any Just ground of complaint.
will assume, at the very threshold of this uquiry
. what presume will not be denied by any man o
scose and information, to wit, that the white bas:
having been abandoned, urattanable by the whole
western party, within six weeks after the commences
men of the session, the question lay between the two
plans of compromise called "Gen Gordon's pan, auC
the western pian. The latter, lis imports
was supported throughout by the western delegation
as party-the former, after the 9th of December
!, by myself, because, l said before, thought il
better in principle and in practical results than The
western plan.
/ thought it better in principle than the western
plan, because 1t abandoned principle. It's true the
DRY is fairly stated in the following quotation from IN,
remarks in the convention the 10th of Decem
= ber "He" Gen. Gordon, recommended an abb
trary apportioEment of representation, in which NJ
express reference should be had either to the prnci
pie of the equal representation of the white people
to the principle of the representation Of fedora
numbers to the principle oftlIc compound ratio
d white population and taxation, or to any other O
the debateabe and long debated propositions wbic
, had disturbed the harmony Of the body; appor
tIonment in which the sole object should be, e1ui
table compromise, so far any compromise can b.
t equitable, of the conflicting pretentions of the cas-
t aud the west, with tac sdUing of the principles
which those pretensions were founded, and post
ponement of their discussion, till some future period
more suspicious to their harmonious adjustment"
, The western plan, on the contr, -, though it pro
ceeds on the white basis IN the house of delegates
expressly recognises in the apportionment of repre-
sentaon in the senate, the justly obnoxious prnci
s pie of the virtual representation OF all The free
groes and three-6fths of the slaves. And though
am not disngenuous enough to follow the example
of some oflhose who have animadverted on my owl
y conduct, and say, that if the western party ha,
81 carried their favore plan, negro representation
y would have been fastened and our posterit,
foreUcr-yet really did approhcnd that if this vi