Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-10-07

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] represent us IN the next Legislature Of this
STATE. Accustomed to the peaceful walks OF
|, private lite, and 9nsolicitsus Of the glare
"hica dances around political fame, he would
nave YET chosen 10 remain in unobtrusIvs re-
uremsnt- Bat VIXEN he sees the importance
oil the present crisis in our Political affairs,
and al the same time, the Ietharry which
perEsdes ali ranks Of his fellow citizens, he is
inpeiied TO como cut and 20 lift up his voice
N this time Of gensral apathy and unconcen
Would 10 Cod that his voice might be heard
by every man. woman and child in Western
Virginia. aud that, startled hy the alarm,
each enc might be awakened 10 a sense of his
duty, breathing the holy fire of patriotism,
and hrmly resolved 10 maintain his iass and
equal rights.
Forty years have gone by, during which
time we have lived under the Old Constitution
which was framed by our forefatbcrs with a
view TO secure our rights and liberties. But
this Constitution was made TO suit Virginia as
she then stood-with a dense population IN the
last. and a WIDE extent Of unsettled lands in
the West. Ii did not look forward to the fu-
iure growth and increase of the State. when
ITS western lanos would be filed Up with a free
white population, giying power and strength
TO Virginia, asa member Of the Union, while
they possessed themselves all the Inherent
rights OF lreemen, and a title 10 an equal en-.
| Joyment ef them with their brethrea Of the
East. Such now is the actual condition of
Virginia. Nc longer half peoplcd on her cas-
tern borders, she is now filed up throughout
the whole extent of her territory with a har-
dy, freebcrn race, the offspring OF forelathcrs.
iiluStrious for theig courage in war, their wis
dom in council, and for their ardent love of
liberty and Independence. Was il 10 be ex-
pccted that the sons OF Western Virginia,
defendants Of men Ike these, would be con
tent TO live or any other footing than that of
! equahty VITA their Eastern brethren No
with one voice ihey demanded a Convention
for the purpose ,. amending the Fundamental
law Of the land, and Of securing to them
selves these rights which God and nature had
gtven them. Their voice was heard-a Con
! sentteu was asxemblcd-and a new c~onstitu-
ton formed. Yes, fellow-citixcns, n .Ntte
Constitution, which promised every thing. and
performed sotLingi How, let me ask, in this
laisorlous struggle for reform in which we
ceftended for nothing bat for our equal
nights as fellow citizens ofthc Conmonwealth,
ne failed 10 attain that which was the prime
object Of all our wishes and efforts? How
did tl,is ridiculous mouse creep upon us from
this mountain Of our lahoufa The truth is,
NV NfNFtAHt ibHA 8Ou oilfLthth III
calling a convention, You vainly supposed
that the chief Of your work was done. You
ina 3ined, that Ia this assembly for reform n.
mongst generous Virainiaps, there would be
a generous distribution Of rights aud Of pow
er, ~amongthe respective portions Of the state,
and that IN no case would there be a depar
ture FROM that sacred principle Of equality
which forms toe ground work OF our rtpubii
can institutions, and which is embodied and
eensecrated in oar Bill of Rights. Alas! You
forgot that mar is the same in all ages and all
ciine-, and that when possessed Of power,
however obtained, never parts with il with
ost the severest struggle. Infatuated with a
blind confidence in the justice of your cause,
in your selection of members of the Convcn
ton, the people Of Westcrn Virginia, in ma
ny instances, disre garded talents and past BY
our ablest aud best men. The consequence
was, that in the Convention We were reckon
ed in animal force very strong, but ia men
tai power, very weak. Such indeed, in the
main, WAS the Notifying fact. In this pre-
%dicamcnt, what could we do-what did noe do.
in a contest wherein such men as Leigh and
Marshall and Randolph were opposed TO us?
With justice on sur side, with pubic opinion
in our favour, and with even the acknow-
Iledgemcnt Of our adversaries that we had The
vantage ground Of them, we nevertheless
came ell vanqnished and defeated. We bad
a new constitution imposed upon US, not of
our own making, bat shaped and modelled
for us by our opponents BY what Charm was
this unexpected revolution produced against
us:o Fellnw citizens, believe me, when ] tell
you that it was owing TO the great SUPERIOR
~ which the Eastern meBabers had over those
of the West, in kno,rledge, capacity and eto-
quencc. Ssch the causes which imposed up
on US this new Constitution, in which our
rights are laughed to scern, and IN which a
mortal thrust has been aimed al republican
government.
Thus has been made the first grand step in
this our civil revolution, in which, with shame
and modification be il spoken. our own im-
providence lost us our cause. The sin be up
on our own headi The first grand step was
the convention TO make a new constitution
the second grand step is the next Legislature
of the State, 10 organize the new govern
ment. As you have tript IN the first step, my
fellow citizens, beware how you make the
second. | beseech YOU TO take warning by
the past. Let it not be said Of as that we are
ignorant in spite of experience. and dat we
doom ourselves, by our own folly, 90 be hum
| bic tributaries 10 those, To whom nature has
made va eqIsi; bat eur own supineness and
their injustice unequal Let US not, however,
vaiuly brood over the misfortunes oil the past;
bat let US turn our views to thc future, and
endeavour 10 make amends for past mistakes,
by exercising good sense. sound Judgment,
and more caution in the selection OF cur re-