Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-11-11

aud It must necessarily increase still with
the population. And the East now claims
the establishment of that basis by which
her power will be perpetlated. The Eng
lish of 1t Is that the population on this side
the mountains IN order to quiet their own
feelings on the subject of their own slaves,
require that the whites beyond the noun
taIns should become their slaves also. 1t
we were willing to engrat this principle IN
our Constitution what would be done with
those who have the power. Some gener-
al reflections here present them,el .es. In
proportion to mans wealth so is his pow
er. Tie is wealthy to day, aud exercises
"a proportionate influence. Sudden re-
verses make him poor tomorrow. He
then loses his equality aud his political
standing They are transferred with his
wealth to some more fortunate pos5essor
This was once called the ancient dOuin-
ION la our pride We are disposed to con.
slider ours as, the best regulated ConslItu-
ton in the world. We have had 1t for 81
years aud We are warned against the dan
ger Of altering it. Whnt should We ina
gine. If some hundred wretches, either in
families or sIngly, together with the lands
Of their master, we're set up at the Bell
Tavern BY aucuonl The land is describ-
ed as so and so-the apurtenances are 50
aud so--lnd when you buy this property,
40 the land Of the purest and treest prlncl-
ples-or this best regulated government
90 the worId-you buy with 1t the political
power end rights of ITS possessor, and the
unfortunate man whose property you buy,
becomes by the change your slave. This
hing. property, is to have the power Of
making you sovereign TO day, and by the
loss of It a slave tomorrow. Dad he mis-
represent when ne SAID the proposition Of
the minority makes the western citizens
sIayesl I may live, said he, free in the
West, follow my own pursuits, and
obey my own inclination, but / am
shll your slave if your slave while you
hold political dominion over me We are
a majority Of units ia the enumeration,
and we are equal 10 intelligence moral aud
political, to any portion of the State-yet
we must be your slaves, and although you
say that you have not heretofore oppressed
as, vet zee are bound TO say that We have
sometimes felt your misruIe. 1t IS not for
YOU to Judge when any practical mischief
$ done 20 us, 10 consequence of the me
quality Of representation. We scarcely
know what districts will be Nith Us; but
this we know, that lfthe results Of the polls
furnish any criterion of the votes Of rep
rsssntstives. who are 20 receive their po-
ltcsI creed from their constituents, our
majority will stand IN tho proportion Of
t02 % DO thousand. When those who
are agsiust as perceive themselves array
ed against such a vast population, the he
ole resistance which they make to the
public will, proves them at least TO be very
6rm or very honorable men.
Among the propositions suggested by The
gentleman from Northampton, there WAS
me which he Mr.. d. J omitted to notice
that a minority in society means not
majority Of men, but a majority Of men
and Interests. This was a generic Propo.
sluon
Mr. Up,hur said he did not intend to
say that tbs was Of necessity the case.
He had sad that 10 fixing the representa-.
ton, that there might be q majority OF IN
tsresls; and It did DOT neceSsar lily follow
that the majority should be of any partIcu-
lar description; it might be a mixture Of
persons and of property.
Mr.. Doidridge said he understood the
gentleman nov as he understood hun be-
fore; that majority did not necessarily
mean a majority Of units, but combna-
ton Of UNITS and property.
Mr.. Up,hur. He had supposed the Gov
eminent 10 operation; and had never con-
tended tha. IN the Senate or House of Del
sga,es q msioriy 10 not the proper rule;
hut we are engaged 10 the formation Of
government, and /, ia for US to say out OF
what elements that majority shall be form
ed. You may get one Of numbers alone,
or oui uf combination of numbers aud
property. In state OF governmental ma
iouty is the rule; bet We are here assembled
10 6E on the original materials out ofwhlch
the majority shall sprlu <; aud We may de-
lsrmiue whether i, shall be composed Of
one element or Of both elements
Mr.. Doddridge said he did not ml'un
lerstsnd the gentleman. II his friend
from Northampton had listened little Ion
ger, he would have discovered this. The
gentleman pll doubt whether the right
IF the majority to alter or amend the con-
suiution shall be obtained by taking units
Ion. .,r man and nrnnnrfr rnrnhmed The