Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-11-20

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.rcul and that n minority can under no circum-
stances consent for the majority that tho pos
session ot property cannot give 10 the iE.,ividu-
nls who own it, any right to additional influence
in government. TO obviate the danger which
Is apprehcndcd by the inhabitants of Eastern
Virginia, with regardto their rights of property,
The people of the Yves; propose TO give consti-
tu,ional restriction tho power Of the Lcgis-
let"rc to impose or 20 appropriate revenue.
They argue thar suc,; restriction would afford
eHectual protection 10 tho ri shts of property
tho only subject of apprehension while irpro-
perry is adopted as basis of representation, il
would authorize it's owners, not only TO controul
the revenue, but To coniroul the government in
all its various departments. legislative, executive
and judicial, ana thus tho minority would be.
come the organ Of the public will on overy sub
ject.-It is answered by the inhabitants of East
ern Virginia. hat the relations of master and
slave are so delicate and peculiar, as not to be
understood or appreciated by stangers-thut
therefore no constitutional restriction on the
subject of revenue can guarantee their inviola-
bility that the principles from which a ma
ljority derive their right to govern are only con-
ventioral, and as such subject to be modified by
compact and that where the local interests of
one portion Of n community are adverse to those
of other portions, they who are thus Interested
have right TO stipulatc the terms on which
they will acocdc to the compact of govern
ment.
This is brief and very imperfect analysis of
the opposite views which have been taken in
our Convention, Of question which seems
pregnant with the fate of Virginia do rsot
propose to argue this question, Just now, or to
enlist your judgments your feelings in be-
half of the East or the West l would appeal
to You as Nirginians-as frecmen, whose patti
lotism is not circumscribcd by mountains nor
chilled by the sordid love OF self.interest, and
would urge you to interpose arbiters to save
your country-nOt as parties to a conflict which
may destroy it. An effort is making to instruct
our representatives in Convention, to vote for
the compound basis of property and persons in
both branches of the Legislature. If you adopt
/ this measure, very much fear, you will only
, throw away the scabbard of the sword which is
, already unsheathed- you will close forever tho
door of reconciiation-you will forfeit your
high and blessed prorogatlve of peace makers,
and enter the lists of IN angry contest deter
mined to gain every thing for yourselves and to
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be actaatch by any vain desire to obtain 4 VIC
tory: cost what ii mayor will you interpose be
tween brothers and countrynen, to arrest tho
D mad spirit of faction-pi eserve the rights-pro-
, tect the interests, and perpetuate the glory of
the entire Commonwealth BY adhering per-
tnaciously 20 the aohite to the compound basis
of representation in both branches of the Legs-
: latuIe, you will only heap additional fuel on the
, flame of discard Whether ou Delegates shall
r finally vote for the other of these bases
r in both branches, the question must be decided
D IN Convention by lean majority of only one or
4 two. The excitement which exists, will be ar
n gravated and prolonged, not aIayed Should
you instruct your delegates to vote throughout
for the compound basis, you will render it almost
, entirely question Of East and West-in which
nearly equal divisions of the State will stand
drrayed against each other-you may draw the
fatal line of eternal separation between your
selves and people endcared to us by all tho
/ ,enderest bonds Of common affection, interest
and fame. Let me entreat you then 10 pause
, to reflect Let me ask, if all that you ought to
5 desire protection to your own peculiar in
terests, may not be attained without unfurlinp
l the banner of division, and tearing the limbs,
l the very heart Of Our country asunder. If you
SICKLE for every jot and futile of what you re
gard as your rights or interests, you may indeed
gain triumph now-but the only trophy which
t will remain, will be dismembered Common
wealtIh-thc fragments of great State If YOU
resolve to instruct your delegates, on this cues
; ton, tel them to bind up the wounds which are
already inflicted, TO knit more indissoluby to-
getIer the destinies of the State-to stand forth
Inc 1iofn
strife Tell them, to Dotc for the uhae 5asis in
The house Of dctcgGtcs-.for the compound basis
IN the Senate. recommend this compromise,
| not because 1 prefer it to any other course
which might have hecn adopted on the subject,
but because entertain the fearful conviction.
that nothing short of it can restore harmony to
our distracted councils. There is reason-a
propri"ty in giving to the majority represen,
taiion in The most numerous and popular branch
OF the Legislature while there is perfect safe
ty To the rights of the minority, in representa-,
ton in the Senate The Limits prescribed by
ihs column of a newspaper, will not allow ma
to assign'ths reasons why this specific compro-
mise should be preferred. They will occur to
you, without being suggested, they may be
assigned hereafter
I II is for yon to determine whether you will
instruct your delegates. As one of the people,
| was conteut TO await the result of their DELHI
CITATIONS, and TO approve or reject the proposed
constitution when 1t shall be submitted at the
polls A rejection of the Constitution which
may be reported, is evil, which all must dep.
rccatc--nnd no means should be spared to enable
The Convention to submit such a plan Of 90
! vcrnmcnt viii be acceptable to large rnajo
Iity of the people. OLIVE BRANCH,