Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-10


the government of the state, but like proportion
OF that which is equally due in the Congress of
the United States of America.
, For we have right TO presume, and our safety
and interest require us to presume, that the same
spirit o; systematic usurpation which has induced
the majority in the legislature OF Virginia, repre-
senng the slayeholdins minority Of the people. to
set at nough; The rights of the eholdintr
sections Of The commonwealth, in five successive.
apportonments Of the members O! the house OF re.
personalities among the people OF Virginia will
continue TO aciuate the same slaveholding minori-
, ~. And If, in the constitution that is about
20 be formed, We virtually swell their numbers by
agreeing 30 consider every five slaves they possess
as equivalent To three freemen in the state govern
ment, we shall. in effect, perpetuste the exs,ing
Inequality OF representation IN the congress Of the
United States.
1t hehoves us, then, if we would act like men of
sense, not to swallow This glttering bait, yclept
|" Cancellation and COMPROMISE without frst en-.
quirng what will be the practical effects OF this
double surrender OF political power and conse-
Guence. With the practical effects of our want of
due weight an the government Of Firgnlu, we
are already but too familiar. To cnumerate all
I the modes in which are made to feel our poii
cal inSignhcance, would be task as unpleasant as
It would be laborious. The mos, important of a n
Is our total inability TO carry, in the Legislative bo
dies, any oil those great for the internal
Improvement in the commonwealth in which we
are so deeply interested. The people of the east
and the south are inveterately hostile TO what they
SarcaShclNy style " these magnificent enterpri-
SeS,' and just so long as they retain a prepondc
! rance in the government, will the commonwealth
! ci virginia Continue TO tIeal the downward pa Ia
10 poverty and ruin. into which she has been guild
cd. and IN which she is now hurried along. by the
! policy Of the tide wato r-coveinmant
! Bot The politicians Of the ealt and the south not
/ only withhold the assistance OF the state gore,n-
r1ent from all extended schemes Of internal i'm.
pfovemcnt; hut by the Jealous ard practical en-
lorcement OF their opinion, that the general gov
eminent has not right TO appropriate the funds of
the United States 10 such purposes, they actually
ceprive, do all that they can 20 deprive the pco
pie Of Northern and Western Virginia, who enter
tam am opposite opinion, of the aid which they
would otherwise receive from the treasury of the
Union. That the latter have no right 10 COMPLAIN
OF the eastern and southern politicians for jealous
iy seIting their opinions this interesting cues
ton, Is freely United. But they have A tight TO
complain, aud they do complain, that their opin.
IONS nave more than their proper weight in the
congress Of the Union.
! ;ni9, then, is t!:e extent Of the abandonment or
surrender OF ad:ritted rights that we are asked to
! make, with view 10 coRciiiston.
I We must perpetuate, and give a solemn sane
ton to- The principle of the virtual representation
! oil slaves III the government Of the state and OF
the United States, 10 the extent of rating every
i've slaves as equivalent, in political weight, to
( THEE ifeeinen; aud this with the moral Gel tainty
tiat, By so doing, shall perpetuate the ,gither.
! ing .iisrue of the ROWLAND government-It is for
the friends OF reform in the legislative bodies TO
say whether they are prepared to sacrifice on the
altar q oonclistion the best hopes of their couu-
| try, aad their birthright as frcemen:-I think
may venture to say, for them, that they are not
prepared TO make this srca, sacrifice unless indeed
they can TIC convinced that the sad alternative is
presented 20 them Of making the sacrifice or en-
couniering still greater evils.
neither they are in fact placed in so unfortunate
Z dilemma, is therefore the next inquiry
And here must be permitted TO remark, that
.he plrhsans OF the existing constitution, in draw
ing picture Of the evils which will flow from all
uncomproniIsing assertion Of cur rights have
thrown too much gloom OH their back ground, and
given too oTriiIc a coloriUm 20 the objects seen in
pe'spective,-whie they have filed the front OF
Tie piece with imaginary figures, the unreal crea
ticns Of an excited isncy-I believe, myself, that
representation may be equalized- and that the sun
will nevertheless, rise and set as heretofore Not
on extensive tracts, where the wolf and the fox
are the sole inmates OF what were once the hab-
tatous 0. msr-not on decaving towns and ruined
vlilascs--not on iS'!csS, tisheartened and impO-
vcrisAcd peoplc;-but en- land removal ID by the
hope oil better days-on people full of energy
and actively engaged in all the pursuits whose
success renders life joyous, and old age serene and
comfortable.
The sad and gloomy picture, to which have al
'u"cu, OF te evils which must inev itably be pio-
duccd by the enforcement of the equal ,lshfs of
all the people OF Virginia, was drawn about four
years since. by an able and distinguished man.--l
IT - therefore doing ample justice to the opposite
SIDE OF the question, TO give At the bGneli, OF his
statement OF the case. Speaking of tlc particular
question which ia now uDder discussion the TIi cr
alluded 10 saws
~ In a?portioning lhe representation the slave
population, nconsilcra Die in the western couI,-
ties, 80 Large in the middle and EASTERN shall be
wholly Clsrcgdrded, the western counties will
perhaps as eagerly embrace, the eastern will
srepUou7'y resist, this blessing of equality And
let the attempt be made when it viii, this cues
ton, (Which seems 10 be the very demon OF dis
cori,} VIII be sure 10 rise up, to coniound our
peace
And again fThc very agitation Of this cues.
Ton IS calculated to DO great mischief. IL is 4
searching blast, which will find every weak part OF
the body polite And those who are prosecuting
this design should beware, lest, whilo they mean
only an equitable arrangement OF representation
they be not striking vital blow at the integrity of
the commonwealth"
And again q The actual attempt 10 execute
this design, will array in direct opposition all the
conflicting interests Of the state, growing out OF
natural Universities in the face Of the country, and
oul Of the neral diyersties OF our populations; and
awake into action all the latent causes Of civil con-
ten'ion, which good men should wish. and wise
men should labor, by all means 10 allay."
10 this imposing statement ii was answered
then, (and may be answered DoT,) that th able
Wrier OF the defence Of the constitution alluded
10, had been hurried, by tie fervor of his fe engs
into total iorgeiUlness OF the political events oil
the few preceding years. That in the session OF
l5It- L this subject was fully and ably and tenn
Perotey discussed in the legislature Of Virginia in
which the sayehoding country had then(ss ii has
now decided preponderence, aud that both hou-
Ses cOncuired III deliberately adopting the princi
pie that representation ought to be apportoned c.
qnaily among the free white inhabitants OF the
commonwealth, and made that principle the basis
OF q new arrangement OF the senatorial districts
Moreover, that a bill was passed through the
house OF delegates, at tie same session. for taking
10 a fNnn Nran trN. lrra IL