Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-11-27

"'u'" Odfoiiha i-6c also referred to the
authority of the FederaIist, penned by a
distinguished gentleman now on this or.
To show the dangers arising from the
oppression ofths minority by the maiori-
| ~ (reading passage to that effect.
| me gentleman from Brooke, (Mr. Dod-
drIdge) had referred to he annual peti-
tons for Convention, from Patrick and
aud from Henry. But what did those
petitions convey? They sought for a
d'nlinution OF expenditure, for a reduction
OF the expenses OF the General Assembly
Dut,t never entered their heads to suppose.
that their purses were to be thrown omen
to the gentlemen of the West, or they
would have done as the citizens OF Culpep-
or have done they would come to the
/" right about, aud not suffer one man TO
lake money from the pocket Of another.
Mr. Gordon then addressed the Cum
ml,tee in opposition to the amendment
lie said, it might be thought presumptu.
Gus in him to attempt TO en!iphten hi.
Assembly on the great question which was
presented TO them. But he was in pos
session OF certain facts, which he thought
1t his duty to bring before them.-He ,6o's
'nuch OF this debate had neen beside the
question. From most of the arguments
urged, one might suppose that the uues-
'oh was not, whether we had me, here to
amend the Constitution, but whether a
Convention should be called at all. That
question had been decided already by that
| class OF persons, whom some gentlemen
seem to respect SO highly--the treehoders
and they had decided in favour of call.
ne great proposition now was, whether
we should not remedy the evils. and
equalIze the representation of the State
Gentlemen were now labouring to inlusc
new principle into the Constitution
10 found 1t either upon slave population.
or the principle ofiaxation. And GENTLE
men argue, that there is potion of the
State which will be deeply injured by
founding it upon the basis OF white popu-
'ation alone, and therefore they wish to
counteract this influence by infusing a
new counteracting principle into it, But.
how is the fact al this time1 What mate
rial change will be made in these res
poets ! Your State is divided into los
counties. various IN their population and
representation. Some of them have a
greater delegation. than would be required
by any ratio of representation or by any
theoretical principle. And the question
Is, whether 1t Is wise. calmly and sobe,ly
to remove this injustice and equalizes this
inequality. What are the facts, Mr. q
here entered into variety of statistical
statements to show how uneouaIlv the
middle country was represented. both on
the ground Of population and taxation in
relation to the other sections.-He also
remarked, the great superiority of iuau.
ehce possessed by the country from tide
water to the sea-board I'ha, portion
does not pay any thing like an average Of
the expenses OF the Commonwealth and
yet they possess very undue share Of re.
presentation. (He illustrated this posi-
ton, by numbers.) The representation in
me west OF Virginia is already redundant
land also IN the East Of Virginia. 1t is
the middle country which is to gain.
OH are 10 carry more OF the blood to the
heart; and If you suffer death from the
circumstance, il was indeed disease for
which we have no remedy. He contend
ed, that the basis of the white population
whould make very little difference. in
these respects, from the proposed com.
pound basis.
But he insisted upon the basis of white
population alone, as comfortable tn the
genius oi republican government. What
good can come to Virginia, as an entire
State by this apportlonment Gentle
men had argued as if the majority of the
Eastern country were slave holders. He
was disposed to think il was not the case.
and u SO, will not the non-slaveholders be
disposed TO join The irritaed and discon.
tented citizens of the West, in LAYING n
heavy tax upon your slaves2 The non
siave-holdIng class every where is opposed
to giving the slave property such an in
Huence in the Government. He was w,II;nr
I" protect that property, ,but IN different
way from the proposed one. He contend
ed that u you engrait this slave provision
III the Constitution, The right Of suffrage
could not he so much extended as it ought
to be. tie asked, what would be the sill.
nation OF the Sta:e, If the slave property
entered INTO the basis Of represention
You would introduce a discordans sn;,;,
to the West of the mountains-and ever
among the non shareholders on this side
VIII they not attempt to impose the bur-
den OF taxes upon tie slaves Twill pot
the voters make it test at the polls
is there any thing in our course. NOT
conSonant with the great principles which
Virginia has uniformly adopted Z She.
who has been the foremost in Drawing the
tyranny Of the whole world.
tic controver.ed the arguments drawn
from the twO-thrds veto in the Federal
Constliulion-from The fact OF elec,nus
being decided by piuroHty-from the fac,
referred To- in the history Of England
fIom tho raw.head and bloody bones OF