Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-06-12
Grievances of the West.


nails of our State, the next session of the same
Legislature promises to be, at least, equally i'm
portant and equally memorable This may be
anticipated both from the mass of talent and
experience which the late elections have en-.
listed in the service of the country, and from
the momentous questions which arise from cir
cumstances to which it is now our intention tn
advert. Grievances. of a serious nature have
excited in the People of the Upper Country feel
ings of strong discomfort. The eve of jealousy
mas long been open and the voice of complaint
IS now loudly heard. To recapituiate infinitely
the different causes of that jealousy and resent
ment, is not our present object. Suffice 1T to
observe that the disappointment with which the
proposal for the establishment of more Banks
met at the last session of Assembly, is one of
those causes. But there is another much more
powerful, mitch more extensive in is effects
we mean the unequal state of representation in
Virginia. The constitutional rule directing the
proportion ofrepresentation, does not distnru sh
between the population Of one County, and that
OF another county. Hence twenty counties ON
tide water. with only population of 53,443
white persons, and twenty Counties in the Up.
per Country with 215,323 white inhabitants, are
alike represented. each by 40 members in the
house OF Delegates. A majority of the house of
delegates is actually sent to the General Assem-.
bly, BY 40 counties, and three Borougis adjacent
to each other in the eastern and southern sect.
ons OF the State, though their popula, ION a.
mounts only to 204,766 white inhabitants,
number less than one half Of our white populati.
on by 72,l38 souls. The same constitutional
rule IS still more defective in what relates to the
senatorial branch of the State representation.
he Senate Consists oftwenty four members for
whose election the different Counties are divi-
ded into "a districts The section of Virginia
which lies west Of the BIue-Ridge embraces IN
extent OF Country equal to more than one half of
its territory, and contains nearly one half of its
tree white population. Yet, its extensive and
populous counties being classed into four Sena-
torial districts it sends only four Senator's to the
General Assembly Hence it follows that the
other half of Virginia, extending from the ridge
to tide water, and from tide-water to the east.
ern boundary of the State, sends twenty and to
render this inequality more striking, it is fact
that IN the South Western part of the State,
one district contains fifteen counties borders
upon four States of the Union, includes one
fourth OF the territory of the whole common.
weaiuh, and enunerates population of more
than seventy thousand free white Inhabitants.
This enormous and almost incredible dispro
portion OF representation, has natural and ne
cessary tendency, to create discomfort and it
IS to be feared lest that discomfort in itsefrea-
sonabie and just, may eventually be perverted
to the destruction of that confidence, good will.
and harmony from which our responsibility and
our happiness result, as children ofthe same DO.
htical family, members of the same State.
The evil IS too great, too keenly felt, to CONT.
nue. long. A change must unavoidably take
place: representation must be restored to its
proper equilibrium The people oftbe north & of
the west OF Virginia must obtain n due weight
IN the scale other legislation Free men will
not tamely submit to wide a departure from
Common sense, reason, and justice as this une-
quail state OF our senatorial representation. in
particular. II is true that no practical evils ex
cept such as are of very problematical nature.
nave yet resulted from this obnoxious inequality.
YET, even IN theoretical evils, frightened and
pure minds are unwilling to acquiesce. On
tins subject, lie, us listen to the eloquent author
OF letter which has lately appeared in one of
our public prints !" The People of the Yves.
says that writer, feel degraded below the rank o.
'reemen, and think they are denied the right of
set government. They are unwilling TO ac
knowledge as their law-givers their bre bren n
| the Eastern Country, however wise and v;rtnous
they may be: or to submit quietly 70 the 90
vernment OF laws in the formation ofwhicb ,bev
nave not had an equal participation. S,lnpose
,or a'npmens, that no great practical evils have
nsaesoo, resulted from this inequality of re-
the state which holds the reins of government -
.1S o'''' hand', has hitherto guided them with
lusIce and mpartialty vet, this IS not the
Hi.u oi government for which our Fathers foupb,
~ = not the Kind of government, that will salts.
| y the freemen of this country They nrefer
that government in which their own voice is
nefro, ana those laws to which they have piven
enei onn Sssent.-The conduct of our lawcivers
may mot always be liberal and enlightened. The
"uo nave gone before us, have taught us
" uier conduct" to augur mis.goyernment NJ
distance, and TO snuff the approach of TYRANNY
IN every tainted gaIe."-They waged the war q,
1ne revolution for the establishment of principle
Iney could have paid the tax upon tea. conciIia
eeG tne favor fthe mother country. and grown
rlCn uhuer the maternal government she claimed
over tnen. But they begged to be excused
ION rer notherly protection, with all her kind
aiu SHectIonate feelings They chose difFe.
REM c, road 3 road, which led through the field
vi osnger, butte the summit of glory and ;pde.
pendence, aud over which they deierm;neJ -
ularch AT the hazard of life and propertv and "a
esery o,her consideration which could appeal In
'ue Sordid feelings of man. The present proud
pseernlnence we occupy is the reward of thei,
suugSiss.--And, what freeman would be w;lIno
70 surrender the grand and enlivenine prospects
opens to him, to be confined to the wealth and
Iunny which might have been found in the
mire beneath" '">
From another quarter, we hear, in substance
.houSh IN less moderate tone, similar obserys
IONS The Delegates OF eleven of the VYesterr
counties have issued an address to the People o.
virginia They propose efficient measures Eol
'he cal of convention, to alter the constitution
so as to remedy the evil complained of.
i ne origin OF this evil is well known On
constitution is ayowedly defective. It's deGect
org mated in novelty, inexperieace and haste
An o'erzeaous desire ofcreating snational gov
eminent, prevented, in its Trainers, adequate dis
QUESTION and maturity Two respectable AN,
: sDie politicians have examined the defects o
that instrument, sNfr. Jefferson in his notes ~
!, Virginia, and Judge Tucker in his Append;r :,
Blackstone's Commentaries. Those two dis
tinguished Gentlemen differ it is true as to tn
origin and nature Of die Cnnstiinii.n h,,t H.,