Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-03-25
From the Winchester vrginisn.
MR.. COOKIES LETTER, No. I.

MR.. COOKIES LETTER, No. l.
TO the Peop,. cf Frederick and JEFFERSON eosns
hes. pr Eisgnia.
FELLOW IrIzESs-Ko conferred on me
a few months since, the honorable distinction
of representing you, in part. IN convention
for the amendment of on; State Constitution
i Having performed, to the best of my ability,
4 the duty which y on imposed on me, and has
ing had the singular fortune (perhaps | should
say mslortune) to diiIer, not with my res
peotahle colleagues only, but with the whole
western delegation, on the most interesting
and important question which we were called
on TO decide | deem it proper to render You
3 an explicit account of my conduct, aud of
4 the motives, reasons aad circumstances, by
which my course was regulated and CONTROL
ed. am the more induced to pursue this
course because, having zealously supported,
in the convention, the amended Constitution
now Submitted to you, from deep conyic-
q ton that it was eminently calculated to pro-
&mote and ensure the happiness and the pros
*perity OF the whole people OF Virginia, feel
q it to be sort Of posthumous duty OF the STA
81 tion lately filed, to do every thing in my
e power to recommend it to your favorable
Reconsideration. Other motives for the ad-
dress are not wanting; and | may even say,
with truth, that is scarcely a voluntary act
For, since my return from the Convention. /
have Seen urgently and repeatedly called on,
by some OF those who have done me the hoa-
our to approve OF my course there, to explain
to nay constituents why il was that |. aloae,
of all the thirty six members from the West,
voted in favor of the amended Constitution
which has been submitted 10 the people Of
i Virginia.
1t viii be perceived, at glance. that the
task assigned me is one OF great delicacy--
/ For, If succeed i'll showing the correctness
of my own view Of the one greet question
which divided noe from the western Cieiega-
ton, must, however reluctantly, convict
some of nay nearest and dearest friends OF an
error of judgmentin regard to that one great
question. To the purity of their motives it
were superluous in me TO bear testimony
The gentlemen alluded to are too strong In
the good opinion of their fellow citizens to
need the tribute of my praise. May be
permitted to add that estimate their mag
nanimity and their good feeling too highly, to
apprehend that they will take amiss any thing
that shall necessarily say, IN visdicating my
own course and conduct | trust that they
know me too well to entertain, for a single
moment, the idea that it is any part OF my
purpose to assail them, or TO acquire popu-
larty at their expense. Having, myself, no
tanning, on the contrary, fixed and rooted
aversion to public life, and finn conviction
that happiness IS not to be found, by me at
least, in the thorny path of ambition, | seek
not to acquire that sort of popularity which
might secure to ine suiiriges which do not
want. | seek merely to show that, in the
course which pursued in the Convention,
was guided by sounda and correct views ofthe
real interests of my constituents, and of the
whole people Of Virginia, and that the ratiiica-
ton, by the people, of the amended Constitu-
ton which has been submitted To them, win
eminently promote and advance the prosper
ity Of the Stale.
To me this proposition seems to be so
clearly lnferrible from the nature and charac-
of its provisions, that should consider it
waste of time and labor to attempt to prove
1t, were not convinced by many circum-
stances that the provisions themselves are
misunderstood and misrepresented. One of
the circumstances to which aiiude Is of so
striking character as to deserve brief aad
passing notice The editor of the Leesburg
Washingtonian in his paper Of the I'd of jan
nary commenting on the proceedings of the
Convention in regard to Gen. Gordon's reso-
luton, which contained the plan for appor-
tioning representation since made part Of
the amended Constitution, makes the follow
ing statement
1--WE have already appraised our readers of
'the final settlement OF the sail absorbing
'question' basis of representation in Con-
F'vention, on Saturday the 10th uit. on the
'basis Of Units popslatioa a'sd federal Numbers;
"ih plain spOrds, negro representation" "In
publishing this decision in our last sheet we
''merely stated the fact, the proceedings in
"fIll not having then arrived; but, having
''since seen and esamiaed them we find that
e'three or four of the western delegations DC
>esertad their ranks, and aided in forcing up
son the srcstern portion of the State, who are
''contending for just and equal rights, this
'ohnosiuas, unequal, and aristocratc state
"of things-and reader will you believe, a
nrong this numbcrwas one from Loudoun?"
''.Nsg,o representation has prevailed, and Mr..
@'5iiehard Ii Henderson voted III support OF
f'it, &c."--.The interest originating from
S'thIs question is such as to induce us to pub
s.lish the remarks OF several members on its
"gassage, and the ayes and noes in the pre-
sscediag page, which wit eeiigdtes the reader
son this singular state Of things---the de-
"sestion from the west Of several of the dele
ssgates who were viewed as urcompromlsias. u
5'he ayes aud noes are then gwen, showing
Chat Mr. Henderson voted for tue resolution
] OF Mr.. Gordon. whieh is not set forth al
/ length, but which the editor. after an ''exam
4 snation" OF whole week. understands and