Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-23

nave had ample opportunity 10 ASCERTAIN VIC WIZ
of the nejosty of their constituents. it is truly
surprising that the representatives Of eleven cou
tics should have actually defeated the will OF their
constituents, by voting en- contrary sides OF the
question; viz. Alben,arle, Botetourt, brunswick,
Bedford, Campbell, Greenb,ier, Hanover, Mason,
Monroe, Stafford aud Wood; and from the seosra-
pica situation Of nearly all those countless there is
moral certainty that they are in favour OF refer
tng the question to the people.
The will OF the people has, also, 10 moral
certainty been defeated in another way by the re-
jection OF this bill; the delegates from nine other
counties hayas voted against the bill, while the
geographical situation OF nearly all those counties
places il beyond doubt that they friendly to
the bill; viz. Allegheny. Giles. Halifax, Bath.
Buckingham, Charlotte, Grayson, Montgomery and
Nicholas.
Bat if the delegates from these twenty counties
have neu,ralised and defeated the will OF their
constituents, (Which no man of common sense can
believe 10 the contrary, till the matter be decided
at the polls,) yet Is very probable that the ma
iority Of who rejected this bill, is merely anomi-
nal minority, and in fact minority, there were
ID absentees from the House when the ayes and noes
were called; for, the counties of Logan, Patrick,
Pntsylvana, Scott, Tyler, Fauquier, GI eensville,
i.inenbirg, Mecklenbuig, Orange and others, gave
but one vote each, and Fairfax no vote at all. Il
1t not morally certain that large majority OF these
nineteen absent members would have voted tn,fa-
voar OF the bill, having regard TO the sentiments
and wishes OF the people they represent, the
mode or proceeding amended To admit absent
members to record their votes on the next day,
whenever their number exceeds the majority, as
may appear on comparing the ayes and noes?-
Moreover, we are credibly informed, that there
was majority in the senate in favor OF the bill.
Are notthese ample grounds for general dscon-
tent Adequate incentives for n campaign !?
The mere matter of fact that the bill has been
rejected, not upon the discussion Of its merits but
by the Gogmatism Of sectional interests, il a posi-
tive demonstration of the injustice of the act. For
let me ask did it ever enter the mind OF A i,,ri.t
IN discussing the political liberties Of reemen or
OF Legislators devising the method of putting in
practice their right Of equal representation to make
question OF cIs-dlpine or TRIMS alpine {! The
rist tells you that every free man. in the abstract
IS entitled 10 share of political liberty The
wise and just law gvers OF republican creed taking
ms fundamental principle OF equal rights az their
text lay oil their country into many districts
OF poiiucai corporations, proportional to their
population, and give to each equal weight ac-
cofdng to tia, scale, in the aggregate boy polite
other ia'v-Sivers, IN this distribution, have made
some compromise between property and population
throughout this Union, the Congressional districts
are continually changing and multiplying, to keen
pace with the huctuaing and growing population.
IN order that each may have its just and due poit
e IN
Is true in all the States OF this Union, in reqard
10 'he, own Legislatures, Virginia alone excepted
she neither regards population nor taxation in the
distribution OF political liberty among her citizens
ior the blessings OF which their fathers have ougb,
bied, and conquered, but which, in consequence Of
Sn oversight in the first written charter of freedom
'hey nave yet TO undergo painful struggle TO OBJ
IAN, 'l the hands OF their iilibera, nay, despotic
brethren OF The rotten boroughs of East Vrciui,
i il utt orly in,
10 republican mind, how any one but tyrant a,
hesTt' can obIert 10 referring the fundamental urn
(lpes OF 'heir own government, TO the iivestga
lion OF the people He who makes the obiectio,
- that 1t would be productive of disturbance aud
''0' a. Inc polls, would make the same objection
against change from hereditary and despo,ic
government, TO an elective one in any shape I'll
the people are not competent dispassionatcv to
decide, whether they will have a convention or
moi, they are equally incompetent TO give their
peaceaoie votes Tor any of the nc,ionaries who adj
minister their government For. as d woulJ.br- |
great Jlrist would have it, H. &" that government
wnlch Is best administered is best,'' the peopIe
sAoHiu DC more aSltated, and driven like the waves
Of tempestuous sea, by the voice OF our po,ica,
demasogueS, at every election OF the functionar;e.
OF our state and federal governments, than upon any
question that merely concerns the theory and finn !
Iamental principles of the government itself
Nay, shch abstract ideas and calculation, neve, ,
heat the blood, and therefore may he settled with
out any dread OF cVmmotion. Bat this is no, The
eh aiaiclity; the secret spring Of some men = mo-
lives IS quNe another matter Look 10 the co,n,io.
winch oppose and those which advocate the hin.
and you will ind that the east is mars,aIIeJ a,in.,
me ioeSt, Ia order to maintain that power and in
hlence III the government TO which the reI,,iyo
Stte OF population no longer entities them. bnt |
winch they are resolved to keep by all manner of
IeVice anG cumming they can practice Their re-
presentalives IN the House of Delegates have even
gone 50 lar As 10 deny that great portions of the
oCou people OF TINS commonwealth are in favour
ot taking the sense OF the State, not ONLY in ds6
,nce OF petitions from forty odd counties. but in
ne very teeth OF ninely-tour of their own body
'Sainst one hundred and one. If this be A " LEXIS,
awe truth, as worthy member observed. il is
nevertheless " common sense falsehood" How
=" others may have been guilty of the same dere-
teton oil their representative faith, they and their
constituents pest know; but l will assert of NV own
knowledge, that three representatives. did voie Co.
FaTy to the asceriained wish of their Constituent
But may be permitted to ask, ybv should ,ha
EAST thus marshal herself against the west what ia
he bone OF contention between them, Nav !, =;
Ddt 100 evident on surveying the ayes and noes
'si nave before observed, that the question of con
'enton or no convention has degenera,ed into
1laoole between the east and the west about the
'resent ana daily increasing inequality of represeo
"'''' "i9HHB lo reclaim the bITtbriRbt
which they have Ios', or rather left in the nossss
ion OF their brethren of the east, by migrating 70
he mountain forests, to subdIe the wilds of nature
md multiply the resources of the common weaI,b,
While the former are ungrateful, so unjust az ,o
eiuse the equitable claims Of the hardy pioneers If
he west. But ii so great portion of Viroinia
annot be operated on by motives Of justice, which
las been so clearly and repeatedly established in
ayouT OF the west, by the most iTeffagable caIcn
atoms, showing that two or three counties of ns
vest have greater population and pay a larger
evenue into the Treasury, than so rnanv dozen