Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-09
SATURDAY. MORNING. JULY % 1885,

then existed, abesides West Augusta,
which the policy Of the crown had pre-
vented from being peopled, ""Berkeley,
including all Jefferson, and part of
Morgan; Culpepper, including Madison
&c." to which, the writer might have
added, Loudoun, including part OF Fair
fax. Now, in l776, the wolves prowled,
almost unchecked by the hunter, over
many Of the still uninhabited mountains
Of Berkeley, and ten years after, in spite
of his kecn-sighted rifle, they wasted
the flocks Of Loudoun. The large coun-
ty of Berkeley did not then contain, as
many people, as the thinly inhabited
county Of Morgan now does; and the
little counties which Mr.. Leigh emu
merates, boosted at least twice, their
present numbers. If the brief Loudoun
address, was declamatory, by what
term should such arguments, as these,
be characterised? For noticing them,
at all, an apology is due to GA Friend
Of Equal rights" who is, unaided, very
competent to maintain his own ground.
Had Mr.. Leigh included, in his essay,
the facts adduced by his adversary, to
illustrate the inequalities, OF which he
complained, (Mr. l.. could not ques-
ton their truthD he would have su.
perseded the use of his own. ga
Friend of Equal rights" indicated
the trainers Of the constitution, from
intentional injustice, by ayerring that
they could not have foreseen, since they
did not provide, for the enormous in
crease of the inequalities" which, even
"then existed among the counties. =
Here the quotation of Mr.. Leigh stops.
His adversary's next sentence, added,
"They did not feresee, that a time
would arrive, when 20 counties in the
upper country, containing 2ss,26l free
white inhabitants, would have no more
weight, in the government, than 20
counties on tide-water, containing only
5o.97l." "When freeman Of War
wick would have as much political
right and power as twenty-seven free
men OF Loudoun, Frederick, or Shenan-
doah:" and so, it might have been, as
truly averred, of the treeholdsrs Of those
counties. If the House of Delegates
were reduced to only, for each Sc
nator, or to 100 in all, but little less
than their number in l776, when Ken
lucky formed part of the territory OF
Virginia; when Pittsburg, and seven or
eight counties of Pennsylvania, were re-
presented under the denomination OF
Youghagany, on the floor ofthat House;
and before the brave Clarke had con-
quered the Northwestern territory,
once known as the country Of Illinois,
or Virginia had ceded her title to the
soil of three States-if the House OF
Delegates were so reduced, there would
be lying together, on tide water, 7 coun-
ties and city, having at present IS re-
representatives., who would be entitled to
but .; and a recurrence to the census OF
thirty years, would shew that reduced
title to be declining. We all, must be
aware, of the importance Of stimulating
the resentment Of the inhabitants OF
these small counties, against the pro-
posed reformation of the House OF De.
iegates, by appeals to their strongest
passions and prejudices. The posses
sors of unrighteous power, usually re-
quire no such appeals, to induce them
| to maintain the occupation, whatever
be the title, of what they have: The
effort to place the slaves, on footing
| with the free white population of Viz
| ginia, may be traced to this origin. A
part of its support is gone: but small
part of it, yet remains 10 be considered
A freeman is relieved from farther
labour, and some portion of the com.
munity, from no little apprehension OF
impending danger, by Mr.. Leigh's re-
wing recollection, tina. in the last ar
rangement of senatorial districts OF
Virginia, the question was not only
started, but discussed, and settled, with
out any CONFUSION, whether the basis
of representation should be laid on the
equality of the white population, ex-
clusiveiy. A senator, who was present,
on that occasion, who is not to be OF
the Stanton meeting, perfectly re-
| members, that not a murmur OF COM
plant escaped that body, at the justice
or expediency Of the principle OF this
arrangement.
IfMr. Leigh did know, as we'll, as ne
now does, what occurred on that occa-
sion,-ifit "was indelibly engrayen on
his mind at the time," then, the facility
with which he acknowledges it, with
out the least apology, for his late ter
rife array of the dangers, which must
beset the discussion of such question,
is truly admirable! 1t is a model oil
that forensic composure, under any
circumstances, which professional ma
bits may engender. tits surpassed, on
| " by the like indifference, with which,
L. .eIIs %ho rohlir after all the use which