Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-11-12
THE VHElGGSEAN.
LYNCHBURG. nov. 1929.

The Bdsis Of RepfeSeniatiOH.-We alluded on
Monday TO the fact taat some OF The citizens OF
the neighboring county of Bedford we're endea-
so,ins to get up meeting, for tho purpose of
, insirucling he Delegates from his District TO
support the compound basis of representation.
In order 10 effect this purpose. aud to give to
the measure the most imposing aspect. great
eXeriions are making TO alarm the people o.
that county by the bngbear Of unequal aud op.
pressive taxation. Handbills OF most in1an.
malory character Owe are told, for we have
not seen one OF them are induslrnusly eireu.
lated, breathing, like the ancient Prophecies OF
Woe, RUN aud devastdton-tyranny aud OPP
pressisn-as the certain and inevitable conse
quence of SO laying the foundations of the
government tha, the will oil the ma jorly shall
he the law of the land We confess that we
had never expected toliye long enough TO hear
such an arisiocratcal doctrine openly advocated
in this country-buI. as IL has been done, we
nope We shall see il pun down by the voice of
tn" people. The minority to rule because they
have more wealth than the majority Who
does not scout the idea AS alike degrading 10
the sensisiblliiy AID deroga,ory to The rights OF
freemen, aud repulsivo 10 The genus OF repnb.
llcan Institutions We have no doubt that the
gentlemea who express apprehensions of the
consequences of appoftlonlng representatio ion
agreeahy To free white population, do sincerely
believe that the evil wnich they predict will en.
sue--and, of course, that they are actuated by
the most pure aud patriotic motives. But have
they reflected that they already feel the opera
| ton Of an unequal system of taxation, which
they only fear will grow on, OF the principle Tor
which we contend ? II ihree.fou,ths Of the lie,
venue of the State is paid by the people east OF
the X dye, does not me dsproportlon bear
most heavily on the uiddie counties Aud to
what purpose has il been appropriated but 10
the benefit of the counties in the lower coun-
try, which, by their minute subdivisions are
| entitled 10 more representatives than they can
pay' II, on the other hand, the West should
even acquire an ascendancy in the Legislature,
aud all the worst fears of gentlemen should be
| realized, we believe il would be attended with
| beneficial consequences 10 the Commonwealth.
this matter, as we regard the country from the
base of the Ridge TO the Underwater section rs n
| kind Of umpire between ihe,exlfeme East and
West, which, with representation based on
fair and equitable principles, will always be a
sufficient gua antee against the oppression of
any one section by another.
But, let us return to the Bedford meeting -
We said in our last paper, that the people have
no right to instruct their Delegates this
question. IT, indeed, the acts of the Conven-
ton were binding on the people, and without
| appeal, then heir right TO instruct, and their
duty likewise, would be clear aud indispurabe
But, they have Invested themselves Of it by the
reservation of the more important and more
efectual power of subsequent adoption re-
lection. Add to this TOO, the fact, that many
of the Delegates, whilst they were candidates,
hestaed to declare their opinions on several
| important points, and, with regard to others,
reserved the privilege OF changing or modifying
be induced 10 believe them erroneous. IL short,
from the very nature of The duties which they
are delegated to perform, subject as they are
to subsequent approval or condemnatio by
their constituents, they should be free and un.
| trammeled.
Whether, however, this view of the subject
be correct or not, is not material, SO far AS this
District is concerned. 1Wo Of our Delegates
gaze a po'itire, and one an implied pledge, 10
| uote for the While basis and wi h this pie dye
before them, the people elected them, to the ex.
clusion Of gentlemen who contended Tor the
mixed basis II is true that one gentleman who
declared himself opposed to the white basis,
was elected but it will not be denied that his
success was in great measure attributable to
his great personal popularity in Bedford which
carried him in, in spite Of his principles, aided
by the limited acquaintance in tina, county Of
one Of the gentlemen whose name was on the
far famed 3" Convention Ticket"
Mr.. CLAYroR, in his address 10 Tie freehold.
ers of the District, said
| :" That power should be- so distributed among
the people TINT The loiH Of The majority should
be carried into effect by the goyernment-tha,
every citizen capable Of furnishing evidence Of
attachment TO, and common interest with, the
community. should he entitled 10 perfect equal.
ity of rights and priuiteges"-and that . this
evidence IS furnished by residence in the State,
payment of taxes, and performance OF other
pubic duties"
And, in addition to this extract from his prin.
ted Circular, his Speeches before the People
uniformly contained the same senimcat.
DR.. SAUNDERS was equally clear and une
qnvocal. In his reply TO the invitation of his
fellow citizens TO become a candidate, he
said