Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-09
THE Va.1GlNIAN.
LYNCHsURG. N0y. Q, 1929.

OF this subject in the Convention has become
quite warm aud animated, aud We fear its con-
iinuance will elicit more heat than light. The
parties differ so widely. and the ground of DIFF =
ference is of such paramount Importance, af-
fecting deeply the rights OF one party. aud
trsnching upon the long possessed poVer of the
other, that any decision which they may ulti-
maiely make, will, we fear, be uns ,tisfact1ry TO
a great portion OF the community. It's a con.
test ofpfiaciple, of right Of justice. and of re.
pubiicdlisni against sectional interest, lore Of
pooer, and an aristocracy Of eealth. lis con-
test of the middle and poorer classes of society
against the rich-of the feeble against the
mighty-of men, for the first time placed in
situation in which they have had an opportuni-
ty of exhibiting aud maintaining their just
claims to proportlona'e share in the admins
tration of the government, against the people
OF iide-water, who have heretofore, in violation
OF every pr'Gciple OF equality, possessed and
exercised exclusive control over it. In such "a
contest, there is mncn room 10 fear. that they
who contend for The right will fail But, we
hope they II prove firm t. iheir principles
aud unHmching in their determination, contend
ing in the last trench for the imnIlablily and
unchansing character of the axloms of personal
equality set forth in the Bill of RE hts, anI now
for the first time gravely questioned by men
m Of government.
Shall the friends Of the free mhiie basis Weld
their point to tue clamors aud threats of their
opponents Shall they be alarmed by the
readiness with which some gentlemen (who
were, by the bye, backward enough with their
words during the last war, although not very
far from the sea-shore.) can conjure up danger
in the perspective, by figuring TO the imagina-
ton blades stepped to the hit with the best
blosd ofVrginia II We would not have them
reply TO these gentlemen in the language Of an
ger or retort for, if they should, it night only
tend to provoke war Of recriminaiion, on the
floor, which could answer no other purpose
than TO show how valiant legislators can bs on
the carpet of their Hall. II will not cnlighten
he public mind as to the true bearing OF The
subject, nor qualify the people to Judge dspas
.onately oflhe merits OF the great question at
issue Such tinse, may serve we'll enough as
ornament for Fom,h ofJuy grafton but as
it can excite no apprehenSlons, IN the present
discussion except for the sanity OF him VIM
resorts to it, we hope it may be permitted to
pass without reply.
We are gravely told by the Eastern people,
that they hare the lOeaHh, snd are therefore en-,
titled 10 the pom.r-as if wealth IS aot powerful
enough IN itself, without rxtrinslc ~ Let The
farmer, and mechanic, and indeed all men
whose purses are not overloaded with gold, look
20 the man of wealth who may be his neig'lGor.
Is it not as clear as the Sun at noon-day that ha
is elevated 10 undue degree Of superiority
and influence Does he not, from the very
Circumstance of possessing vast sums oil money,
or large tracts of land, or negroes, or indeed,
any species o. property by winch he is exalted
above his neighbors exert an influence in our
elections, and orer our Legislators, HkeWiss.
which numerous combination of poorer men
might in vain aspire 10 exec clse2 No man will
question this. Equally undoubted is it, that
what is true ofan individual, in this case, is as
true aud Infinitely more Objectionable, when the
primo ipIeis extended TO large districts Of coun.
try.
We are told, however, of the dissatisfaction,
and discomfort and heart burnings winch will
ensue, and hints are darkly thrown out OF
division OF the good Old Dominion" if The
West persist in demanding a participation in
the administration of the government proper
toned 10 its white population 7 Indeed And
will not discomfort and dissatisfaction be fell,
and expressed by the people ofthe West, il Their
Just demands be refused VIII not their muir
murs be borne on the mountain gale, if they be
told thai the East, having been SO long accus
toned to unjast ascendancy in the State,
will not gveii APP VIII they not rem onstrate
against the crying injustice Of balancing their
sinews aad their blood against bags OF gold2 If
such az unjust principle prevail, will they not
listen with indifference in times of danger, to
the cries of help which shall come up from the
margin OF The ocean, when the Underwater peo-
pie shall be quellng a servile Instruction With
one hand and with the other measuring swords
with foreign foe ? Their focks and herds
will be safe-their dwellings will be beyond the
reach of domestic or foreign incendiaries-their
wives and daughters will be safe from the grasp
of brutal rufians. And can it be expected that
the, will forget their wrongs' Where, then,
will the Eas look for protection for their wealth
or for themselses' VIII they look for it in
that political power, which they say can
alone afford il Their power will be coven
down b, the enemy, while their wealth will be
a tempting indueement to his approach. No.
They will then look TO that white population