Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-01-15

ma1s', Ahe) shsil nases nor only theW Individual
vote, but three votes more for every five slaves
that they possess. They assign no reasons for
this demand, except that slaves are valuable
property. that the majority ofthe tribe have no
slaves, aud tina, il rulers ara chosen by the non
slave holding majority. there Is Just reason 20
aPPrehend that laws will be made, by which
their slaves will be taken from them, or restor
ed TO liberty.
The non slave holding members OF the com
muntty are struck dumb with astonishment at
this singular and unexpected demand But
when they have somewhat recovered from
their first surprise, they endeavor to convince
the STAKEHOLDER of the unreasonsbieness Of this
s,rsnge pretension.
There are, say they. very plain and OBVIOUS
reasons Why man should have enc vote: he Is
an lntelIigeai free sgent. with enc mind, aud
one will. Hut 1t is very difficult to understand
why one man should have more than one vote,
or more votes than another man. II is clear
that the Great Spirit made us all equal =, first;
tor we know that we and our fathers have lived
in q state of equslity tor ages past, and We
have no tradition OF any other state. II each
man have ore vote, and only one. this natural
and original state OF equality will be preserv
ed under the government we are about to form
But II, tor any Cause, more than one vote be
given to each individual of any particular
class, the natural ancient and well established
principle OF eqasiity is abandoned, and there
Is substituted tor It a principle of inequality,
vague and indeknite in it's charseter, and With
out any perceptible foundation il. reason. II
We concede toyou now, for the sake Of peace,
three additional votesfor every five slaves you
possess what principle is to prevent YOU st the
next electiops from demanding fpe, or an al
ditional vote for each slave. by what process
Of reasoning have you xscertsined the precise
| degree OF political power which you must hold,
In order to DE secure in the possession Of this
description Of property Why should not the
benefit OF The rule be extended TO the posses.
sors olthe fiocks and herds, more valuable than
all the slaves that the most valiant and success
full warrior among you possesses
But. again, il we depart from the simple and
intelligible rule of the equality OF men. and
endeayor to substitute for il q new and fAci-
ttious rule. we should endeavor to give il at
least senbiance Of justice and equality. Ifpro-
perry is 10 be represented It's representation
ought to bear AUST proportion to its value
Each mans properly, OF every description.
should BIO fairly valued before we go into the
election, 80 that there may be assigned to him
gust 50 muchs and no more. political power rs
the amount OF his property, relatively to the O.
mount ofevery other mars property, entities
'tion, make an estimate at che danger to which
| each mans property might be subjected by un.
just legislation, and give him just so much po-
iiicai power as will prevent such unjust legis-
lston end protect his property. But you see
| At once that such an exact adjustment of the
relative weight OF each voter in the election.
or even an approximation TO it, 10 wholly i'm
practicable. Aad attempting to support the
proposition that property ought to be repre-.
| seHted, you are led, by q very few Steps, TO
| the impossi6ie. and so 10 the a6surd.
The STAKEHOLDER advances nothing, in reply
TO this course OF reasoning, except the repetl.
ton of his fears that his slaves will be taken
from him: aud this appreheasio ion being consid
cred by the assembly mere pretex,, by means
OF which he seeks 10 secure to himself an un.
due weight in the election, he is told that he
must content himself with single vote.
The qualification and equality Of the voters
having been thus defined and established, eve.
~ OBSTACLE to the commencement of the cleo.
ton seems to have been at length removed
Hut 1t is not SO. The sppetency for power
presents itself anew, in the shape of claim.
preferred by the smaller villages, to have Q
regulation adopted. by which they shall have
the same weight in the councii with tho lar
ger.
They found their pretensions on the es,ab-
ilshed usage, in times OF war. Ghen,s only the
tribe has possessed any semblance Of govern
ment, to admit the most distinguished warrior
Of each village in the council OF war, without
any reference to the number of the warriors
it could bring into the field. The council OF
war having been the only government which
had ever been recognized by the tribe, and
they having always had 40 equal voice in tina,
council. they contend that they have vested
and prescriptive right to an equal weigh, with
the larger villages, in the government about to
be formed.
To this the people of the latter reply. eft Is
enaisey ridiculous that one man should pretend
10 govern seven and twenty men ~ good as
himself. For that is. in fact, the proportion
that the smallest OF your villages bear to the
largest OF ours. Some Of yours have scarcely
dozen of fighting men. while ours, on the o.
Their hand, number their warriors by hundreds
As to the usage you speak Of, it grew up in
times when the principles OF government were
neither understood nor regarded. To tolerate
an unjust usage, is one thing; to give il the
sanction ofa deliberate appreciation and adop-
ton, Is another. We have . right, as being
the majority ut the tribe, TO reject your pre-
tsntioDs; and no case can be imagined, in which
the exercise OF that right would be more plain
the majority possesses to control the minori
~, We answer, that it is founded in the nature
OF things. and in nscessisy. When differences
OF opinion arise in the councils Of an indopen.
dent community, as there 10 no superior tribu.
nal to decide who is RICH, and who is wrong, in
regard TO any particular question, some positive
rule or arbitrary regulation must be adopted,
according 90 which one or the other opinion
alatf nyeyait. afharwisa ita 3eEhasos.ons