Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-07

10, ~
internal Improvement, than that contended for by the
western delegation in the convention.
But tho grea, rcdccmng feature of the western
plan is supposed to be, that il contains q prncnlo
Of future superintendent. That il contains p,ncpi
OF future superintendent rs unqucsonably true. bur
principle of future apportionment may be u great
good or great OWL. On this subject do not know
that can explain my views better (in part, at lcast
than by again borrowing a few sentences from NV
remarks IN the convention on the 9th Of December
Speaking OF my friend Mr.. Henderson and myself 1
sald I'VE considered 1t, however, great defect in
this plan, (Gen. Gordon's) "that il provided no rule
Tor future apporonmeut, 10 adapt itself from
tmc to tine TO inc varying population of the differ
cnt sections OF tho commonwealth the attempt TO
frame such rule having been abandoned or rather
made, by its author. because he considered that
the very attempt would bring into instant conflict tho
discordant prctensions the contcndng parties which
it was the main object Of his plan keep in state of
quicsccnce But even in this respect we considered
his plan more acceptable compromise to the west
than that OF the gentleman from Goochland," (thc
western plan, first proposed by Gov Peasantsl Sbc.
cause deemed it the interest of that comparayclv
non slavehoiding part of the community to have ma
principle at all of rc-apportionmcnt, rather thar
principle which, in all time to come, ESQ long at least
Us the constitution endured) would make every ive
slaves in the equal to three citizens in The west
in the organization OF the senac body invested with
power to negative every act ofegslation proposed
the house Of delegates, however vital in Importance
| 10 the people of Western Virginia"
But TO this il is answered, that however vicious this
plan OF future apportionment may be, in principle il
will nevertheless work wcll in process Of time, be-
cause Of the comparatively rapid future increase of
white population west of the Blue Ridre A ds,ir.
gushed gentleman from the trans Allegheny country
suggested early in the session of the conventions the
probability that in thirty years half of the whole
white population of Virginia might be found west of
the Allegheny mountains. So that, though half n
mien OF slaves, or more IN the east, were counted
against the west, IN tho apporlionment of represen-
tation in the senate neither that, any thing could
arrest the onward march of the west to power and
IcTplre. How visionary such speculations arc have
already, in my second letter, attempted in Pa t to
shew.
But, one view of this int cresting subject seams n
have been overlooked by the gentleman alluded to-
and by those who think with him. If the western plan
of representa- lion had been adopted, IL would either
have promoted the GIsperity of the whole State of
, Virginia. it would not haze promoted IT, If il
would not have promoted it, then no friend of his
country could or should have been in favor of adop-
ting it, If II 'roud have promoted Tho prosperity of
the whole State, by in!using and sauiary spir
ii into its Legislation, would have accelerated the
( increase OF population in Eastern Virginia Nature
has avished her bounties that favored regions and
good institutions and wise legislation would speediv
repair the injuries which bad institutions and uuvise
Legislation have inflicted it. If the western plan
4 OF representation calculated to produce and
would have produced, these results the sea-ports az
the cast would have been connected, in few years
by paved roads, by the improved navigation of the
rivers, by canals, by oil these different modes
with the interior of the State. They would have
grown up rapidly IN population and wealth and
d would have dlfiused wealth and promoted population
in all the country around them. The natural edv,n
tages OF Eastern and Middle, well as of Western
Virginia, would have been cultivated Agriculture
would have reared its dropping head, and assumed
new life and activity. Manufacturing industry now
a struggling into existence under thousand disadvon-
tages, would have derived impetus from the
increase of capital and would have made rapid nro
gress towards maturity In short, liberal and CIR
ergetic government would have developed the re-
sources of the State, and brourht Thorn inIo ac,es
and prosperity would have been difflsed over the
whole surface of the commonwealth.
Under these suspicious circumstances Eastern
Virginia, having much larger arabic surface than
Western would have begun anew the race of mower
and population, with that decided advantage: and in
es5 than twenty years the ratio of increase through
out the Commonwealth would have been in all prob
ability, nearly the same. If these views be correct
and cannot doubt that they arc, is not that ver,,
questionable policy, to say the best OF it. which vol
unfairly surrenders at present, and for an indefinite
PERIOD the control Of of The legislative bodies t
the people of The cast for the poor consideration in
hand of only four additional members in the house Of
delegates, on speculative calculation Of the future
rapid increase of western populations
We have been dazzlcd by the splendid visions oF
tho rapid march OF western population generated bv
the tervld IMAGINATION of the distinguished rentle
man before alluded to- and so buoyed up by the re-
suits OF the auditors estimate founded as he HIM,
self stated, on imperfect and erroneous dafa fbat
while VIC profess ourselves satisfied with the actual
and present distribution of power made by the new
constitution, exceedingly uneasy lest il rnnv
become grossly unequal at n future day If those
apprchensons well founded-if yo arc indocd
IN the unhappy predcnmont of being certain that NO
SNAIL VI process OF tlme ont-grow the suit Of
P.hical clothes which is offered us, instead of tho
straight jacket which have worn so long is il NOT
nevertheless the part of true wisdom to put on in
peace and quetness ard it as long as will FL
ns? II, in the course Of few years The raio Of in
crease should become nearly equal throughout the
commonwealth, no matter how rapid that increase
may chance to be, the distribution Of political power
between the east and the vest, ftoierably fair now
will continue as fair in all time TO como ii Il chance
otherwise, let nevertheless take the counsel for
the time being, Of that wise man Of old who sail
| Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
We have lived long enough to learn that constiio-
| tons, oven though they possess neither principle
OF future opportionment n provision for future
amendment, are not necessarily immutable and cter-
nal we have given tho couP de grace, / trust to
one bad constitution. Let us rive fair trial to Thar
admitted all hands 20 be far better than the ol
I which has been submitted 10 ne by tho convention
IN process OF time, and in the vicissitudes of hui