Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-04-05
TO THE VOTERS OF AUGUSTA.


~ alternative Is to address you through the public
prints. RAISING by the consideration of measures
beneficial to the County Of Augusta the passage Of
which we have secured, we will speak only Of two
subjects, which we learn have been misunderstood
at home we refer to our course On the call of a
Convention and the eapportionment of representa-
ton. First, then, in regard to the call Of Con-
yeniion. Early III the session Mr.. Stewart, Of
Berkey, offered resolution, in substance, provi-
ding for the call of Convention the basis of the
House of Delegates. This resolution, on the mo
'ion oil MIR. Stewart, was laid the table for con-
sldelatlon. 1t was not called up again until the
list Of March. A few days ailer this resolution
was offered, the friends of Convention in the &C.
neral Assembly resolved to hold meeting, to do
termne what action should be taken in reference IL
Mr. Stewards resolution. The subject was under
consideration nearly week in adjourned msctinus.
All agreed as to the necessity OF Convention
The only questions that caused discussion were
the basis OF representation and tho propriety Of call
Ing Convention now, or of waiting till after 1850.
Col. Floyd, OF Washington county offered at tbe
first meeting, resolution, III effect, that the friends
OF a Convention should go for Convention ON tbe
basis of the House of Delegates. Mr.. Sheffey in
stantly (being the first in that large meeting 10
take the alarm) arose and declared that he could
vote Tor no such proposition. He protested against
Western gentlemen giving up the sacred principle
that "a majority Of the pe0pie"-and of the people
aone-haVe ''the right u alter, reform or abolish
the organic law" He declared himself in favor OF
the call Of Convention at once, if it could be or
gained ON right principles We both concurred
IN these views and have adhered to them through
out those meetings and up to the present moment.
The Northwestern members very generally agreed
that the Convention should be postponed till after
lSoU. This circumstance prevented unanimity:
the meetings became thin, and at length the dis
cussonS were discontinued because it was ascertain
ed that the friends of reform would not for the pre-
sent, unite In efforts for the call of a Convention
On the IL OF March, Mr. Stewart moved in the
House to take up and consider his resolution. Be-
ing In favor OF the call Of Convention at once If
II could be organized on right principles and intend
ing 20 urge such amendments as would secure the
recognition OF those principles, voted to take ,p
and consider the resolution. Our sentiments as to
the basis Of representation referred to in the resolu
ton were well known. The mover of the resolu
ton himself knew that we voted to take II IN, in
order to amend it-See Mr. Stewards letter To-
MIR. Shelley, CA. This was the only vote on the
subject of u Convention during this session.
And now, In the second place, in regard to re-
apporllonnent. On the 9Th Of February after va
rous unsuccessful efforts TO agree upon pri,,
ciple of re-apportoument which would be approved
by two-thrds of the General Assembly (that vote
being necessary 10 pass bill Of re-apportionment)
Mr.. Scott OF Fauquer moved the following resolu-
ton:
'Resotrcd, That select committee be appointed
'cih instructions TO bring in a bill increasing the
number OF Delegates TO l42 and of Senators to 81
and re-apportlonlng representation throughout the
Commonwealth, as to assign one Delegate to Tho
county of Alexandria, one additional Delegate to
The City OF Richmond and six additional Delegates
ana TWO additional Senators to the counties west OF
the Allegheny mountains" This resolution was
laid Oh the table on the oth and the 9Th of Fe-
bruary was taken up and passed by vote of 90
ayes to 2S noes-eucry Western man potine for it.
ledt ie
bill would provide constitutional representation for
Alexandria, a community annexed to Virginia and
taxed by her, but not legally represented in the &C.
neral Assembly. Ii would increase the number ofre
formers In the Senate and in the House of Dele
gates, Alexandria and Richmond both being favor
able to Convention ); and it would strengthen the
cause OF the white basis by the addition Of Dele
gates and Senators, certainly, with the strong
probability OF one from Alexandria The passage
ofsuch bill could not by any probability affect the
question of call of a Convention No one pre
tended that would settle the question Of represen
tation no one pretended that the West would
rest satisfied with the concessions of such bill
the passage 1t, therefore, would not prevent the
HeSt from voting for Convention Ii would onlv
strengthen her hands in struggling for her RIGHTS
The passage OF such bill would prevent no East
ern man from voting for Convention, who is mon,
In favor OF that measure, because the bill did not
redress Eastern grievances The East has evils of
for the call OF a Convention. Many Eastern gen
temen were in our Convention meetings amongst
them, Curtis and Allen of Accomac Stoyalland Ma
JoT OF HALIFAX, Perrow of Nelson Woods of Frank
lin and many others, all anxious for a Convention
This circumstance induced Col. Stringer of tho
Northwest to declare in speech in one of those
meetings that he was ''afraid the East would force
Convention on the West before it was ready for
IL. lhe bill proposed would have piven the re-
formers an irresistible majority in the General As
semoly. Again, In view of the basis of representa-
lion In the Convention, which must come, the nro
posed Dill would hence been Of great Importance to
the West. Had that bill passed it would have re-
CURED only ten Eastern gentlemen to unite with the
West In organizing Convention on the true re-
publican basis, or In voting TO let the people decide
for themselves what shall be the basis of represen
tallon Every gain III power is an advantage to
tho West; and enables her the better to contend
Tor the principles she has always held sacred The
bill reported in accordance with the instructions
contained IN Mr.. SCOTS resolution, was defeated.
We voted for the original resolution and for the
bull and In so doing stood side by side with the
most ardent and ultra friends Of the West,-with
stephenson OF Tyler, with Price of Greenbrer.
faIks or kanawha, Raymond of Marion, Oldham
of Marshall, Dorman of Rockbridge, McEIbennev
OF Russell and many Others Could such mon he
tray the rights of the West2 Never. Never
were men more loyal in their devotion to her
more true to her interests. Some Western pentle
men did vote against the BILL but it is we'll Under
stood that the votes of most Of them were oiven or
theT from local OF political considerations. Many
Vi 'le democratic members thought the arrange
menus OF hlectlondlsrics contained 10 the bill obiec-
ohaOie' ana elt IL to be their duty to vote against
1t: other members thought their respective counties
neglected and accordingly voted against it. An of
Mem, however, had previously agreed to the prin-
c,pte OF the bill as expressed in Mr. Scou's resolu