Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-09-11
By request we give insertion to the fol-
From the Culpeper Gazette. |


1t will be seen in the following article
which we extract from the Columbia Is.
CO. Telescope that, the Convention Of Vir-
GINA engages the attention of our sister
States. The adjusting and settling the
scale OF representation, is dwelt upon, in
the relation which it may bear to taxation
and population but the important infiu.
'ence which this subject may exercise over
the Southern States, is deep and engross-
ing. 1t must sensibly touch the tenure
by which large part of their property and
ours is held. Nor is it's action exhausted
upon the sole question of property. The
means OF restraining class of population
towards whom, there is not, and cannot
be other, than feelings Of disirust, that will
invoke the most guarded vigilance, are al
so wrapt up in this measure of representa-
ton. Where there is neither community
of feeling nor identity of danger and inter-
est, it will be in vain to hope for that sym
pathy and assistance, which we have not
the power to coerce, by all the force ne
'cessary to the creation of law. We yield
no credence to the rumors, that the peo-
pie have already elected to the Convention,
I. majority of Delegates prepared to sacri-
hce our best interests, and to abandon the
vital principles of seifpreservation. Wis
1onary enthusiasts and oven-heated poll
tIcIans, who hope, in the fervour of their
geserous nisjudging zeal, to find perfec-
ton In human nature, may be preparedto
surrender, into the custody of others, our
most sacred rights-but such is not the
disposition Of men in general, and espe-
'cially Of the people in Virginia. Our own
preservation will not be recklessly aban-
doned. Selfishness when single and de-
based is the cause Of crime and the source
OF general mschief--but selfishness in
just and enlarged sense, which compre-
nends the welfare Of the Society as asso-
clated with individual happiness and pros
perity becomes virtue Of the highest val
ne. Ii is the silver chord" that binds
up the welfare Of the Community it is the
golden bowl" from which the Genius of
Liberty is fed. The time has gone by in
which the bug-bear of Arstocracy can be
conJured up to frighten sensible men out
OF their lives or their property. Our coun-
ttrymen are too enlightened for this; they
know their nights, with the means ofpre-
serving them) and -"knowing will dare
maintain" They may applaud the gen.
erous enthusiasm ofthose hearts, that glow
with universal philanthropy, without being
seduced into the adoption of their schemes.
They prefer Hercules clothed in the skin
OF the Nemean Lion, Though the dress be
Tude, 1t sheltered and defended him) TO
the same hero covered with the beautiful.
but poisoned shirt of Nessus the Centaur,
which eat into the vi:als of the wearer
and hurried him in torture to his grave.
we advise eur readers to give this ex-
traeted article an attentive perusal. If
they do not concur in the views presented,
IL Will at least shew what has been the
practical effect of the adoption of the prin-
'ciPle 1t mentions in sister state, Of high
character for talents and patriotism.
From the Columbia (S. O. Telescopel
VIRGINIA CONVENTION
Ehe Southern states cannot but feel
deep interest in the questions which will
be agitated in the Virginia Convention,
which meets in Richmond in October
next. One of the great objects of that Con.
Vention IS to alter the representation in
their state legislature. The same causes
which rendered the representation in
South Carolina unequal and unjust, and
required the amendment of our constitu.
ton OF 1903, have operated in Virginia.
counties in both states was originally arbi-
trary. 1t was fixed on no settled princi-
pie, although it no doubt had some refer
eDce to the state of population and the ex-
tent Of surface of the election Districts
But as the population spread from the sea
board to the mountains, this arbitrary al
lotment became most glaringly unequal
and unjust. In South Carolina the small
est seaboard had as numerous represen.
tation in the legislature, as the largest dis
trict of the upper country, which though
thinly peopled when our constitution was
originally framed, had in 1903 more dense
population than the parishes below. In
Virginia the same thing has taken place,
though not SO rapidly, nor perhaps to the
same extent. The evil there has, howev-
er, been so great, that it can be no longer
borne, and a convention is called to cor
rect it. She is about to do in 1929, what
South Carolina found it necessary to do
in 1903. Our state then adopted
principle, which was thought correct, and
which in practice has been found to work
well; and if any regrets have been express
ed on the subject, they have been that the
principle had not been extended to the
Senate ae well as to the House of Repre-
sentatives. This principle was presented
to the Legislature by Col. Blanding then a
representative from Kershaw district, by
resolutions and speech explaining the
principles Of them. His plan was adopted
IN the house Representatives, their being
but one dissenting vote, In the Senate
it passed unanimously. The principle he
q. assumed was that in a rpnuhiic tho conet;-,