Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

Extract of a letter from Col. Edward Colston, to the Editor, dated Richmond, Dec. 15, 1827.

Dear Sir—I congratulate you on the passage through the house of delegates, of the Convention Bill by a majority of 28 votes. Every effort was made to impede its progress, but the friends of the measure, knowing that delay had defeated the bill last year, and that it was only calculated to produce embarrassment if not defeat now, resisted every attempt of the sort most manfully. A strong effort was made yesterday, when the bill was on its passage, to postpone it until the 7th of Jan. but this last struggle also terminated in our favor by a small majority. You will be surprised no doubt when you see the vote by which the several propositions for amendment and delay were rejected, to see the majority by which the bill passed, but this I presume arose in a great measure, from the number who were not themselves friendly to a Convention, and therefore voted for all the measures calculated indirectly to defeat or render it ineffectual, but who were bound by the wishes of their constituents to vote for the final passage of the bill, although some no doubt supported the amendments from the strongest convictions of right. The bill is now with the senate who have adjourned until after Christmas. We have strong hopes though by no means a certainty, of its passing that body. It will either pass or be lost by an equal division. Upon them however be the responsibility should it be rejected.

I regret that the debate on this question is so meagerly sketched in the papers of the city; as the friends of the Convention, and its foes, are almost made to appear to change sides on the first amendment proposed. Be assured however that the proposition to take the votes of all the free white male citizens above the age of twenty-one on the question, was that most certainly calculated to defeat the bill, as I do not believe it could have obtained 5 votes, with that feature, although I myself was determined not to be driven from my support of it, because the foes of the measure should succeed in engrafting upon it an amendment which they would not themselves support.

You will also perceive by the papers that they have had a preparatory caucus of the legislature. I did not attend it as a spectator and can give you no details of its proceeding, except that I understand several speeches were made and perfect certainty of success expressed. For my own part, if the convention bill passes, I should wish the legislature to do nothing but the annual business, and postpone all other legislation until a new order of things, as I see no use of spending so much time and money in bolstering up an old system, which may all be swept away in a few months by the Convention.