Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-28

Speaking IF the character Of that
power which the people Of Virginia bad
"eSo'ved On the assembly Of 1889,
ot organizing a convention, he SAWS
The legislature of Virginia OF 1898
and %, may therefore be considered A
q"as' convention. entrusted with ex-
traord'nary powers, upon the wise and
honest exercise Of which will depend
the success Of the effort nov in progress
to reform our institutions without en-
countering the danger Of a revolutions
ry movement
Again. They have conferred on
the Legislative bodies the power to say
whether the proposed convention shall
equally represent the people Of Virgi-
ma, and so be the fountain Of peace and
harmony and prosperity and liberty.
or shall u1equaiiy represent them, and
be the author Of disc ord. the RATHER Of
acknowledgements, and the cause Of CT
WI trials and confusion, possibly, nay
bloodshed and dismemberment.'
That assembly did so organize the
convention as to cause il 20 represent
the people inequality and to be the
RATHER Of dislrsnchisement'-of a con.
stitution by which the majority Of the
people are subjected 10 the rule Of a
minority; and Mr. Cooke voted for
Tins constitution against all the west.
because those representing the minori-
" would grant him no better terms.
/ When Mr.. Cooke wrote his Earnest
Appeal, he thought otherwise, for he
immediately after the last quotation,
speaks thus: 'But let il be borne in
mind. that while the people, 10 spirit
at generous confidence, or 60 avert the
evils inssparable from n revolutionary
movement, have reposed this high and
extraordinary trust in the legislative
bodies. they have not imposed upon
themselves an obligation to abide by
the event.
MIR. Cooke, after successfully prov.
ing the rights Of each man TO be equal.
and that representation, which he says
Is power. should be apportioned in dis
tricts according to numbers, in page Is
Of his Appeal, advised the minority Of
that assembly to .secede from the lie.
gislature, form themselves into a Sc
parate body, and perform those duties
which the people sent them TO perform.
They Says Mr. Cooke enjoy in pre-
eminent degree the confidence of the
people. They were elected for this
very work; and If they leave il un.
done. they will disappoint the expec.
tatons and fall short Of the hopes and
wishes of those who sent them.' The
difficulty Says Mr.. Cooke) OF organic
ing convention without the aid Of the
I legislature, is not by any means so
great as might at first be imagined.'-
Tie proceeds To sketch out a plan for
the introduction of a new government
by the majority, which he believes may
he done without force or civil war. IL
not, he concludes that, 'if these fat
teriDg anticipations should, unhappiIy,
prove fallacious, we shall have the con.
ISOLATION LEFT, that though civil war ia a
great calamity, a slavish submission TO
usniped authority is a still grsater.'
This advice was given with a view
10 an event then likely TO happen. Ii
was found that the assembly would es.
fablisb the federal basis OF Representa-
tisn, counting three ff..s Of oil The
slaves also, "a a rulo whereby ca an.
portion representation in the eonVen-
ton and the above advice to secede
and act separately, vas given With a
view TO such an event. or the refusal,
by that assembly, to pass any law on
the subject.
The Iaw that passed did not assume
that basis in express terms. but another
as unequal as that would have been
u looked 20 the state Of population in
1890. ! believe the minority would
bave acted on Mr.. Cookies advice
would have seccded aud acted las we
always Supposed a majority have a
right 10 do) separately bat We enter
tanned hopes of a sufficient majority in
convention, and supposed that il nj.
nority Of the people should triumph IN
: that body By thSiS plurality Of votes, so
; Ne to outyote us on any essential prin
J cIple, the minority IN convention, re
presenting a majority Of the people,
would secede. act separately, aud ten.
der to the people q constitution found.
cd on equal principles; aud IL was pot
. supposed that the fear Of civil war
! would deter them from thus acting.
b w hls eloquent sppeal, Tor u vel
b deserves that epilhet,) Mr. Cooke CON
, pieiely demonstrates slIst the repre-
, sentatIOn of slaves N congress is not
given 20 the master, but Co the state.
/ snd warns us 81 the danger. that " q
slave representation should be allowed
: en- convention. the slave holding party
, ould appropriate that represe btaiior
90 themselves forever. These are hi,
! words, IN page 10: For We haze Z
, right 10 presume. and our safety and
interest require % tn presume, that ~,