Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-03-06

posite policy, furnished BY the authors of the bill Of
rights. Here was an illustrious example stamped
with the seal of revolutionary authority The bill of
rights and the constitution formed combined instru
ment; the former, the text the latter the commenta
~: the de of abstract principles; the other
modified application of those principles to the exist
ing state ard condition of society
An important circumstance, however, appeared to
DC overlooked and forgotten upon the present occa-
sion. The province of the convention WAS rot to
dHopt, hut merely to propose constitution. The
instrument would have validity, until it should be
ratified BY the vote of the people In this respect
the proposed convention differed essentially from the
CONVENTIONS OF l77G and 1887 If the constitution
should be defective, it would not meet with the
appreciation of The people Tt was not 20 be prcsi-
med, that the convention would attempt ,ould sue
coed Iii an effort to impose form of government,
Ill opposition the general sense Of the community
1t was very apparent that the point in controversy,
derived its principal interest not from the relative
numbers in question, but rom the principle involved.
4 rule OF representation sought to be establish
Ell on the enc side and avoided on the other. Upon
this subject, Mr. c. did wish to affirm or to disaf
firm, TO approve or disapprovc any fixed principle whal
ever fae would nevertheless, uddce some considera-
tons to sheW that the future representation in As
sen2bly should be settled with extreme caution.
The situation Of the state is altogether peculiar.
q cham OF mountains divides it into two distinct
regions, differing very widely i'll local circumstances
On the enc side lies champaign country, over
which the plough may be driven from the MARYLAND
to the North Carolina line, and from the mountain TO
the ocean. On the other side, Pelon is heapcd upon
oss', ana Ossa upon Olympus. In the eastern cline,
torrIc sun pourrS upon the parchcd plains Farther
west, the SHOWS of winter yield TO the milder
suns Of summer. OF these grand divisions of our
state, the cinlate OF the one is congenia 10 the IN
crease OF the black population: whilst, that OF the
o,hcr, is auspIclOus 10 the multiplication of The whites
We have Italy and Poland; Carolina and penns,-lva-
MA brought into close ytaposition separated only by
narrow ridge OF mountains. From the district line
even around to that Of Tennessee our border settle
-,t- IL
or expected, seem unfrcnaly to eGuable diffusion
OF thu slave property Of the state.
ihat such Is the actual tendency OF population in
the eastern and western sections OF the state seems
clearly proven by its history for the last forty years
Mr. c. invited the attention of the Senate to a tab
ular statement furnished at his request by the
second auditor, and which exhibited the relative
march OF the white and black population in The four
grand DIVISIONS ot the state iii the period OF 81 wears
which elapsed between tie year 1890 and the wear
l9Su. In the counties beyond the Alleghany the
amount CT increase Of the slaves stood in regard to
mat OF the whites, as 20 &" In the valley the pro-
portion Wcs as l to 2. Whilst in the middle and
eastern sections, the proportions we're in the converse
order: the amount OF increase Of the slaves bearing
to that OF the whites in both of these sections nearly
as 10 q The combined result in the whole west
was one black to II whites: in the whole east 1
white TO about four blacks. In the year 1920
nearly hall century from the Declaration of indie
pcAcehce--ont OF an aggregate population in the
whole STATE, Of l,Q50I94 there was in the east
ote~ AK ~ the WEST 3Ibg; Leaving
In favor OF the east of 446 $780, But of the arrre-
gate reputation il the east, of . 10 ,492 the free
whites amounted to BAL 153; and the colourcd popu-
iationt to 407,33i. Wst in the west out of a total
mass OF Sol. IQ2. the free whites reached the heuht
OF Z54,2Q8, ANA the col7ured mass sunk to the sum
OF 47,i94. From his tendency Of the black popua-
ton TO accumulate in the east and of the white TO
accumulate Ill the vest il resulted Of nccessitv that
the day was fast approaching when the majority of
The white population possessing but few slaves will
appear on the west, and the minority, possessing
nearly all tie slaves and forming with them by fur
TIE gF2atGr part OF the aggregate mass of the whole
population, would actually nhabit the eastern part
OF t2 state ticre then would be fixed, geograph-
zeal majority, on side of the state, having dis
tinct interest WELDING all the powers OF government
over minority IL another part Of the state, possess
ing different Interest The situation of Virginia
IN rms respect differed essentially from that Of every
Other slave holding state in the Union. Marva nd
NoEih Caona and South Carolina possessed com
paIa!iftIy little OF no mountain country. If the
settlement o Tie cstern lands III the state of Ceor-
ga had not been 0bstructcd by the claims OF Indian
tribes and the federal government III from the lesser
varieties I'D The surface of her country, and the unyer
sal influence OF southern climate. tie spread OF
Si&FeEE would have kept pace with the march O.. her
Wlt@iniaOitants. In all the other sid re states The,
l4ee Tie and c1ioHrcd population were every where
mixed III! II Ecar!y uniform proportion. Ia tie midst
OF her sister states, Virginia stood alone marked by
1c2tHE.r Of the most stiling pccuiarty.
Ia " society thus srgularly constituted, we are
referred 20 Tie rule Of rights and the abstract princ-
pies OF government, to Rlay orr apprchensiors for
Inc future peace and harmony the people On this
system nothing was easier than the science of goy-
crnment Al countries are alike and all forms Of
civil po'ity The snma. But said Mr. c. the safety Of
me peoples the supreme law. 10 great section OF
our commonwealth viii consent TO sink forever in
thtt Influence 10 which it is Justly entitled. very
part Of tie state had the deepest interest in settI:n%
.hr !aIire powers OF government with due regard
- tie great Interests and permanent security OF every
other part Of tho state.