The Virginia State Convention of 1829-30

Abstract

The Convention ended its work January 14, 1830, with the adoption of the Constitution by a vote of fifty-five to forty.[1] On the negative side were all the delegates from the Trans-Alleghany , one of the Valley representatives and a Mr. Stanard from Spoittslvania County. "The sentiment among the western members seemed to be that in the constitution of 1830 they had not been given even half a loaf; that the Tidewater planters had again succeeded in frustrating all attempts to make Virginia a democratic state in a democratic Union.[2] The Constitution was submitted to the qualified voters of the state at the regular April election and after a bitter contest, the new frame of government was ratified by a vote of 26,055 to 15,563.[3] The northern Panhandle rejected it by 1,014, to 3, and in no western county was there anything more than a mere scattering of votes in the affirmative. The Valley supported strongly the New Constitution, an action which was a virtual rejection of the action of the Valley delegates in the Convention. [From concluding section]