Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-03-18

state, il the loW.land gentry Wouik not
relinquish their proiectof re-assessini the
western lands this determination land
spirited opposition Of the western ntm-
bers to the re-assessment, was the cAise
Of its being abandoned, and for witch
they are doth federalists and demochts)
entitled to the thanks and confidence Of
their constituents. Mr.. mo Rivisbn"
says that adivision Of the state woull be
attended with great disadvantages to the
new orwes.ern state, andthat we should
be cut off from any ports, or placeS Of
trade upon the Atlantic or elsewhere, atd
that no one convenience would arise b
the new state in consequence of the div
sion. In answer to which, would asl
him, shameless rs he is, how he could
have the effrontry TO advance such sentf
ments-he should not in common decer.
cy have told this lie, until the people 81
the western country had all become fools,
and then they might probably be induced
to believeit. An the citizens ofthe uni
on have q right to ingress, egress, and
regress, and to pass unmolested to any
part Of the United States with their pro-
perry and produce, and this right is 500
lemnly guaranteed to thsm--yet be says
we should be cut off fran trade, when
every farmer and tradesman know, that
they have as much right 10 trade to PHI
ladelphia, Baltimore, or any other port
Of the United States, rs they have 10 A.
lexandria. Il appears from authentic
and Official documents that our state is
taxed with, $500 dollars annually, for
slaves executed in the lower parts Of the
state, and 1880 dollars for keeping 4
guard in the city of Richmond to protect
these low-landers from their own slaves
Notwithstanding al this, il ID evident from
the journals, thar when proposition was
made teobtain IN equal representation in
the senate (which would increase the
western members from four 10 nine)
these low-land republicans, Tor more pro-
perry speaking) high-aying aristocrats,
opposed il, and insisted that If any alte-
ration was made, their negroes should be
represented also. When the people west,
OF the biuesFidge see that they are propor-
tionably taxed with S p, 900 every year
on account of the negroes below the
ridge when they are informed that
HS2, 900 have been paid for one insurrec-
ton amongst these slaves, and il another
should happen, which God forbid, il
would probably require al the cash and
produce IN the western part Of the coun-
ny to defray their quota Of The expense
when they know By experience thai
their petitions for redress Of grievances
are often rejected with; contsmpf and
lastly, to'erown al, when ! Bill has ac-
tually passed the house of Assembly to
allow these very negroes I representati-
on IN the government, In order thar these
despots may the more securely trample
upon our rights--whenW We know and feel
al this there eannot Be . man inhabitine
this western country, unless his mind Is
more debased than thai of 4 menial SER
want, but would think il his duty and his
interests 70 obtain adivision Of Ire state by
every honorable and lawful means in his
power. Would it not be great conse-
nienceto be freed from the payment Of
these is IS, 900 per-annum, and this negro
REPRESENTATION, besides the apprehension
gf having to pay for themat a future dayl
Think il would, and do believe The great
body Of the western people are Of the
same opinion. But Mr.. . No Division
thinks differently, and urges the freehold
ers 70 vote for his hind ef republicans,
amongst whom are Sprigg, the candi.
date for congres, and Manning, the can
didate for Jefferson Gounty-both Of
these men, 50 say the Journals, voted In
favor of this negro.iauU, and 70 give the
public printer fs,en,y-sepen hundred doL
iars, when more respectable men offered
to do The business for f.peIpe hundred dol
lars. The voters Of this district can ne.
yer be persuaded by such miserable
scribler, to give their suffages 10 men
who have wantonly squandered away
their public money, and then degraded
them bv ntittiF,U them ify,en a,, .s,,,aI:,.,,