Page 135 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 135
A HISTORY OF
or be subjected to all the vicissitudes, and destructions, of a state of an-
archy and confusion. Should one pillar of the Union be removed, the
whole Edifice would soon tumble into ruins; and all hopes of a reestab-
iishment will be preposterous. Every state will assume to itself individ-
ual sovereignty, the smaller states will feel the encroachment of the
greater, and be a prey to every dangerous passion.
There was evidently a strong sentiment in Rockingham
and adjacent counties favoring a revision of the State con-
stitution in 1829-30. In Rockingham the vote was 630 for a
convention, 125 against a convention; in Augusta, 560 for,
109 against; in Shenandoah, 968 for, 13 against. All the
counties of the Valley— perhaps all in the western part of the
—State gave large majorities for a convention, while many
of those east of the Blue Ridge gave majorities against it.
After the convention had done its work, Rockingham gave
457 votes in favor of adopting the new constitution, and only
49 against adoption; in Augusta the vote was 285 and 270,
pro and con; in Shenandoah, 671 and 61.
In this connection it will be of interest to see how the
famous Nullification Ordinance, passed by South Carolina in
November 1832, was received in Rockingham County. The
writer has been exceedingly fortunate in securing, through
the kindness of Mr. James B. Stephenson of Harrisonburg,
a copy of the Rockingham Register of January 12, 1833, in
which is a full and detailed account of the great mass meeting
that was held on Monday, January 7, 1833, to consider the
burning questions of the time.
The following editorial note, in the Register referred to,
will introduce us to the situation:
"In this day's paper we give the proceedings of the
meeting held in the Court House on Monday last, pursuant to
notice. It will be seen from the preamble and resolutions
adopted, that Nullification finds but little favor in this
county, and that the President's decided and patriotic course
meets with general approbation from all parties. '
The meeting referred to in this note was held, as already
stated, on January 7, 1833, a large number of citizens of all
parties being present. Dr. Peachy Harrison was made chair-
-116—
or be subjected to all the vicissitudes, and destructions, of a state of an-
archy and confusion. Should one pillar of the Union be removed, the
whole Edifice would soon tumble into ruins; and all hopes of a reestab-
iishment will be preposterous. Every state will assume to itself individ-
ual sovereignty, the smaller states will feel the encroachment of the
greater, and be a prey to every dangerous passion.
There was evidently a strong sentiment in Rockingham
and adjacent counties favoring a revision of the State con-
stitution in 1829-30. In Rockingham the vote was 630 for a
convention, 125 against a convention; in Augusta, 560 for,
109 against; in Shenandoah, 968 for, 13 against. All the
counties of the Valley— perhaps all in the western part of the
—State gave large majorities for a convention, while many
of those east of the Blue Ridge gave majorities against it.
After the convention had done its work, Rockingham gave
457 votes in favor of adopting the new constitution, and only
49 against adoption; in Augusta the vote was 285 and 270,
pro and con; in Shenandoah, 671 and 61.
In this connection it will be of interest to see how the
famous Nullification Ordinance, passed by South Carolina in
November 1832, was received in Rockingham County. The
writer has been exceedingly fortunate in securing, through
the kindness of Mr. James B. Stephenson of Harrisonburg,
a copy of the Rockingham Register of January 12, 1833, in
which is a full and detailed account of the great mass meeting
that was held on Monday, January 7, 1833, to consider the
burning questions of the time.
The following editorial note, in the Register referred to,
will introduce us to the situation:
"In this day's paper we give the proceedings of the
meeting held in the Court House on Monday last, pursuant to
notice. It will be seen from the preamble and resolutions
adopted, that Nullification finds but little favor in this
county, and that the President's decided and patriotic course
meets with general approbation from all parties. '
The meeting referred to in this note was held, as already
stated, on January 7, 1833, a large number of citizens of all
parties being present. Dr. Peachy Harrison was made chair-
-116—
