Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-11-27
THE ADVOCATE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE FRIDAY NOVEMBER At, 1872.
BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.

1t is in vain that the public papers may at
tempt to present any thing to the consider ton
of their readers in this State, that has no refer.
ence to this question, which indeed, under some
aspect or other, continues, and for some time
to come will continue, to occupy the debates of
the Convention, and to absorb the attention OF
the people. Tho universal enquiry the arri-
val of every mall and of every passenger from
Richmond, is what have the Convention done
with the question: We can only compare tho
eagerness and anxiety which occupy every
bosom, to that which prevailed in tho late war
with Great Britain, during the interval of the in
telliscnce that the demonstrations of the enemy
were threatening Baltimore and New Orleans,
and that which assured us that those two impor-
tant positions were rescued from their assaults.
In this district, and particularly in this county,
the people are deeply moved We are satisfied
1t is only since the meeting of the Convention,
and in conse quence of the facts which the dis.
ccssion in that body has elected, that they have
understood the true grounds OH which the ques
ton rests
1t is in vain that the enemies o. the com.
pound basis, which is tho only jaat one, may at.
tribute the spirit which is now awakening to
misrepresentation, that " the old minori.
ties who were defeated last Spring at ihe polls,
and an ignorant few in addition, are undertaking
to instruct those whose election they did not aid,
and could not prevent, TO disregard the wishes of
the majority, * attend to theirs 1t will be found,
or We greatly err in our calculations, that the
names OF many who voted for the call of Con.
ventiop, of some who voted for all the gentle
men who now represent this district in that
body, and of very many who voted for at least
one of them, will be found appended to the in
structions, which will call on them in voice
which they vii! hardly venture to disregard, to
vote for The compound basis, in which alone the
people of this Middle District can find their SC.
curity against the most oppressive exactions,
which alone can prevent their being bound neck
and heels, and offered up sacrifice 10 the ava
rice and ambition Of the west This is strong
language; but it is not unbccoming the occa.
sion. 1T has been avowed BY him who is the
leader Of the western mi erests i'm the Conyen.
ton, and we thank him for the ayowaI that il is
contest for power. Power to do what? What
other power can he exercised in our Govern.
ncn', but that TO impose taxes and to expepd
the revenue they produce9 Where is the ne
cessity of this contest, if tho interests of the
TWO divisions OF the state are of such samcness,
~ th1t neither Of them should apprehend un-
equal burdens from the prcdominating power of
The other Citizens Of this middle district, In
your hands is the balance of this controversy I,
In your hands alono it is safe 1t is for YOU to
prevent the pIedominancc of either of the ex-
uemes, and to maintain in a just eqnpoise the
balance oil the Constitution to secure, by ANAL
gamating, in the only practicable way, the con-
ii'cIng interests of its several paris the integri
ty of the State. Secure the compound bnsis
and neither the East or the West will be able to
act without you, whila spf yourselves you can
do nothing. IF it were TO your interest, i, will
not be in your power to impose unequal bur-
dens on either section of the State, for il will
not be In your power To act al all without the CO.
operation Of one or the other while bordering
upon both, you participate in some degree the
feelings and character of both, and in YOU. is
united some portion Of the peculiar interests of
each. 1t is your peculiarly happy fortune to
occupy position in which being iruo 10 your
selves, you can, in no degree, be false to your
country. Act up then TO the dignity Of the sit.
""''"" you occupy, ana your country in its PEE
sent and unborn generations will have cause ,o
bless you.
We do not intend, in what we have nov; wr,.
ten, or in any thing to which wc may. hereto.
fore, have given expression; to cast the l,,s,
shadow "' blame on those men, who have been
chosen by the district to represent them in the
Convention. So far as we know them, VIC be. !
liovc ;hc.n incapable Of acting from arv o,b.,
motives than result from conscientious convic. |
non OF their own duty, and the true interests of
her constitucnis;a and on this subject, VIC admi,
nat they have, hitherto, had every reason 10 bo. !
ieve that they represent t::cTr wishes. We |
'nmb'y conceive iIrtt they have niiStakon ,bo
'Ne''s'S oi the District, and w thiok they will
md 'Dat 'b' wishes Of TIC. peopip 81 no, nov
'o'opera!s w;'lItlein.