Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-08-14
CONVENTION MEETING.

N
John Letcher, Esq, General c. p. DoRMAN was
called to the Char, and o. r. BALDWIN and JonN
EcnoLs were appointed Secretaries. The chair
man, upon taking his seat, addressed the assem-
bly, very ably and at length in explanation of
the objects of the meeting.
Inc meeting having been thus organized was |
addressed 6y s. McD. Moore, John Le,cher and
. w. brockenbrough, Esqrs., and MIR. Moore in !
concluding his remarks, submitted series of re-
solutions, which, upon motion of Mr.. Letcher.
Were reierred TO committee Of thirteen with
instructions to report upon them TO the MEETING
and also TO report suitable memorial to be pre,
scented to the next Legislature of the State; the
Chairman thereuPon appointed the following
gentlemen to constitute that committee. viz:
S. Med. Moore, A. Il. Barclay, John Lotcher
John w. Brockenbrough, Robert White, o, p.
Baldwin, VIM. Paxton, senr., ID. +. Moore, Da-
vld Edmonson, Matthew White, Andrew Pat,er-
son, Joseph Bell. and Robert Sterritt. The COM
mlttee having retired for elaboration, in about
an hour returned and reported sundry resolutions
and memorial to the General Assembly, through
their chairman s. McD. Moore; which report be-
ing sustained by o. p. Baldwin, Esqr., the fol-
mously adopted. ''"''
Resolved LIST. That majority of the people
Oh this commonwealth have an indubitable. ina
hehaoie, ana indeieaslble right to alter reform
or abolish their form of government i'm such
manner as shall be judged most conducive to the
public veal.
End. That its being known, that a large and
respectable portion OF the people of this com.
monwealth are in favor of calling u convention
10 amend the constitution of the State and doubts
being entertained whether or not a maioriiv of
the people are in favor of the measure il is the
DUTY OF the General Assembly to provide the
means OF ascertalnlng on which side the majority
49, In peaceful, orderly and certain mode, and
.hat continued refusal TO pass an act submitting
II to the people to decide whether "a convention
shall be called or not, under such circumstances.
VIII be gross violation of republican prnciples.
and deserve to be characterized as tyrannicai and
iniqutous., . re. 81
Sd. mat although the people of this county
are not directly or Immediately interested i'm a
change In the apportionment OF the representa-
uon In the General Assembly as fixed by the ex
iS'ihS constitution, we do not hesitate to pro-
nounce that apportionment to be UNEQUAL, uniust
and ant-repubicar and that we will use our hest
efforts to have it reformed. -
4tn. mat we recognize the white population
OF the State as the only fair and proper basis of
representation in the General Assembly.
9TH That the fear expressed by some of orr
eastern brethren, that a representation in the Ge-
neral Assembly based upon white popnla,ion
would endanger the security of their slave pro.
perry, is not founded in reason, and that the deem
stake which the counties in this valley and some
oil the T.ans-Alleghany counties have in thai
species OF property, ought TO be regarded as a
suiIcient guarantee, that they will never suffer i,
Woe ouIaehed WIN an undue proportion of the
taxes which may be assessed.
9th. That committee of TWENTY-FIVE he an
pointed to obtain the signatures of the people al
this county to the memorial just adopted and for.
ward the same to the General Assembly.
The following is the Memorial as adopted bv
the meeting:
TO The General assembly Of Virginia.
Inc undersigned, citizens of the county Of
kockbridge, respectfully represent, to YOUR honor
able body, that they have been taught from their
earliest infancy that majority of the citizens OF
every Tree country have IAN indabitabe, nalen-
aole and !ndeteasble right 10 reform, alter or a.
6oilsh their form of Government at pleasure
ihey hold 1t to be the unquestionable right of
the cltizens OF this commonwealth, at all times.
10 make known their grievances to the General
Assembly, either by respectful memorials or
through their representatives, and that whenso-
ever 1t Is suggested TO your honorable body, by
large and respectable portion of the constituent
body, that majority of the citizens of the COM
monwealth are in favor of amending the Stale
CONSTITUTION, the means of ascertanng with GER
tdInty whether or not majority of the people
are In favor of calling a convention, ought to be
provided promptly by law Your memoralsts
mold the white population Of the State to be the
only true and Republican basis of Representa-
ton ;-that that basis OF representation is clearly.
1nouSn perhaps not expressly recognized by the
Dill OF Rights and Constitution of this State, a.
do2ted In the year l776, and that no other basis
oil representation in the General Assembly ever
ought TO be established. The apporlonment of
representation, as it now exists in your honora-
Ole body, is, in the opinion of your memoriasts,
not only clearly and fragrantly unequal and un-
Just; but is every day becoming more SO. And
Wrist your memorIaiists do not feel that thew
nave any direct or personal interest in any change
winch may be made in the apportionment of Re-
presentation, inasinuch as the Delegation from
their own county will not probably be increased,
they feel deep interest in seeing Justice done
10 other portions of their fellow-ci,zens, whose
rights have been less respected. Your memo
iialists beg leave TO remind your honorable BODY,
mat lhey, In common with the citizens of all
me counties lying between the Blue RIDGE and
worm Mountain, and OF some of the counties
lying west OF the Allegheny, are too deeply in.
ID the protection of the slave property of
me commonwealth ever 10 suffer il TO he over
burlhened with taxation. And that the Deleoa-
ZION from those counties, together with that from
the counties lying east of the Blue RIDGE will
constitute very large and decided majority of
oolh branches of the General Assembly, after
the representation therein shall have been re-au-
Portoned upon the basis of white population.
and they therefore conceive that ali apprehen
slons for the safety and security of that species
OF property, as likely TO arise from re.appor-
uonment OF the representation in the General
assembly upon the basis Of white population to
be unreasonable and uncalled for.
our memorlalists therefore pray that an act
may be passed by your honorable body, reuuir-
Ing the Sherifis and Sergeants of the several
counties and towns of this commonwealth, at the
elections in April next, to take the vote of the
persons entitled TO vote under the existing con-
stItuton, upon the question of calling conven-
ZION to amend the constitution of this State, and
your memorialists will ever pray, &c.