Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-04-01

=
principle, giving 10 ! man who may Be
possessed oftwenty Negroes, q much
influence incur governments asnine Other
citizens, each of whom my Be q ho-
nest, q respectable, and q independent
IN circumstances, q this slave holder
surely 5ou cannot expect to justify prin-
ciple Of this kind. And | believe the
true reason Of lis being brought forward
during the last session, may Be gathered
from the following considerations Il i
wen known, that difference Of intcrests
and Of disposition, exists between thein-
habitants below and those above he
ridge. In the lower parts of The state
there are many influential characters pos
sessing large landed estates. who 4 the
same time are deeply involved IN debt,
and il i neither their interest or wish
thar lands should Be sold for the payment
Of debts. On the other hand, die inha-
bitsntso f the western counties, are gene.
rally opposed 10 this Unjust and arisso-
cratic principle. Hence one cause Of III
that anxiety and exertions made use ofby
the eastern member in the Legislature
10 maintain their present undue power
and inHnenee over the western represen-
fafioss. Its observable that the wee-
tern influence Is rapidly increising, and
as there Is at present no established prin.
ciple of representation in the senate, the
eastern people, fearing least We may take
advantage Of these circumstances 70 se-
cure-ourjust proportion of infuence IN
the government, they are become anxi-
Gus to tx us down by some more per.
nnanentls established principle. As there
are FIVE negroes below, for1one whichis
above the ridge, they could think Of no
principle, 50 completely adoPted TO their
purpose, as that Of negro representation.
BY thisregulation, the eastern counties
would have been entitled to seventeen
senators, while those west.of the ridge,
would have been entitled 10 only seven.
Nov By way Of excnsing your conduct,
you tell US, that you knew thai I large
majority Of the members were defermi-
ned to accede TO no other principle, and
therefore you determined to vote with
them. Ifthey were dishonest enough TO
reject an equitable and justprinciple, and
10 adopt another which was the reverse,
this surely can Be no excuse for your
having done 90 too. Besides, although
they acted unjustly, yet they acted agree
ably 70 their own interest but youvoted
contrary to justice, and also TO the inte-
rest Of your commitments. You have
wished to make US believe that6y adopt
ing the principle ofnegro representation
and having The number Of senafofs west
Of the ridge augmented to seven, We
would derive very considerable adyan-
tage- but In this cannot agree With
you, for il cannot be presumed thatthese
seven would Be more able to obviate and
keep down the interest and influence Of
the seventeen members from below the
ridge, than our present number Of four
is to check the power and influence of
theirtwenty. Thus you have attempted
to FIX us down BY principle = corrupt,
as il . despotic, without the smallest
prospects ofbeing benefited by il in any
way. You further 60 on TO excuse your
conduct, BY telling US that the principle
of negro representation & recognised BY
the federal constitution, but in reply 10
this, can tell you, that 1 believe such
principle would never have appeared
in that instrument, had Il not been for !
the selfish and aristocratic disposition
Of the negro-holders Of Virginia, and Of
the rest Of the southern states thus
wherever we meetit We find il 70 be 1
branch ofthe same oldtrunk, and ought
10 be avoided Is deadly poison. OPP
on the whole, think the motives Of your
conduct in this business are very mex
plicable, especially upon any solid
grounds. The reasons which you have
assigned are by no means satisfactory.--
Why you should so Ear desert the int.
rest Of the western inhabitants q to Join
kith the eastern members in their At
t<mpts to pin Us down 10 an eternal de-
priyation Of our rights, and that TOO by
4 ,srineinIe 40 ahsiird and aristorr aficsl