Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-09

Iods COnuucc or 10 avert tie eNS lnSspataOle from
"a revolutionary movement, have rcposed this n gh
"snd extraordinary trust in the Legislative bodies,
"thcy have not imposed upon themselves an obliga-
"tion to abide by the event" See p. D, of the "Elr-
nest Appeal"
Mr.. Cooke after successfully proving the rights OF
each man TO be equal, and that Representations which
be SAYS Is power, should be apporiioned in districts
according To numbers, III page Is of his Appeal udvi-
sed the minority of that assembly to seccdc from the
"Lcgislature; form themselves into separate body,
und pc form those duties which tho people sent them
Ito perform. They, (says Mr. Cooked enjoy in pre-
"cminent degree, tho confidence ofthe people. They
were elected for this very work, and if they leave
'it undone they Will dsOppoint the expectations an
fall short of the hopes ana wishes of those who sent
"them." The difficulty, "says Mr. Cooke, of o can-
'Szng Convention without the aid OF the I.ecisa
"ture is not by any means so great might nj first
"bc imagined" He proceeds 10 sketch out pluu for
the introduction Of n new government by the MAORI
~. which lac believes may &c done without force
civil war. If not, he concludes that "Ifthcse flaltcr
ling an'cipatioas should, unhaPpy prove fallaci6us
"we shall have the consolation left that thou oh
"cvil war Is great calamity, slavish submission
ito uSurped authority is sill greater" This advice
was given with n view To an event then likely In han
pen. IL was found that the assembly would cstab
ish the federal basis OF representations counting three
hlhS of all the slaves also, a rule whereby IN an
portion representation in the Convention, and the
above advice to secede aud act separately was iven
with n view TO such an event, the refusal bv thar
assembly, to pass any law en- the subject.
The law that passed, did not assume tha, basis in
express terms, but 1pOihcr az UNEQUAL as that
would have been. II looked to the state of non
ulation in 1890 believe the minority yyouJJ b,ya
'ctcd ON Mr.. Cookies edvcc-woud have seeded
aud acted, las we always supposed majority have Il
right TO do sep1ratey,-but VIC entertained hopes of
sufficient majority convention and s,Inncscd b,t
IT minority Of the people should trumph ~ ibat ho
dy by their plurality of votes rs 10 ont vote n, on
any essential principle, the minority in convention
representing minority Of the people would seccde-
act separately, and tender 10 the people consuion
founded on equal principles, and i, was not sumo
scd that the fear OF civil war would deter them rom
thus acting.
In his eloquent appeal, or it well deserves that ep
lthct.) Mr. Cooke completely demonst rates ,h,, lilo
representation OF slaves in Congress is NOT given to
thc master, but 10 the SU'e, and warm ia of Tho dan,
ger, that II slave representation should he allowed
III convention, the slave holding party would appropri
ate that representation To themselves forever 'rLnsc
ire his words IN page 10. For we have rirbt 70
presume, and our safety anil interest recurc ne to
presume. that the spiri; of systematic r,,ro-
stan which has induced the majority OF the IcrisIa-
utc OF Virginia. representing the slave hold nSr mn,
"nnry Of the people, to set at naurh tho rirbts of
the non slaveholdng sections of the Commonwealth
in five successive apportionmcnts Of the numbers of
the House OF Representatives Among the pcone of
Virginia, viii continue TO actuate the same slave
holding minority"
l; viii not be oTiss, to sum Up the arguments and
opinions of Mr.. Cooke previous to, and az the COM
noncemcnt of, the late Conventions they appear TO
be the following
l. That with few. but Just exceptions the poIi,
ical rights Of frcemen are equal.
!. That representation Is power, and that each
electoral district ought to elect so many members as
would bear the same proportion TO the whole number
Of members as the white popHlatiou of each district
bears to the whole white populations
3. That the several acts by which the benef, of
slave representation in Congress has been conferred
on slave holding districts. parts of sysie,aafic
cgt,rse IF us1Priion praeiced Jg the STARE holding
minor7tyto the prejudice Of the rights of the ma
jority.
4. That The majority or neemeu have right to
rule under al circumstances
D. That where, IN n public body, the minority hap
pens 10 have majority Of members and by means Of
that majority triumph over the essential rights of the
minority, the people "hnve not imposed OF them
selves, an oblga' ion to abide by their decision"
6. That when the minority, having minority of
representatives. proceed To establish an unjust ds;ri-
button OF representation. which is power, so as TO
perPctuae the rule of the minority, the members i'm
the minority representing the majority of tho reople
ought to secede-jorut themselves into q scparn,e
body, and PerHm those duties Which The people sent
them TO PeUorm;' and further, that if they should
leave It undonc they would 'dsappoiui Me erpectn-
H3ns and fIu short Of the hopes and tcishcs NJ those
toho SEM them"
7. That from such secession, less difficulty is 10
be apPrchended, than Of first would be imagined and
IN all probability Constitution could be intro
duced by the ajority without the aid of the Iaris
la;ure, and without force or civil war.
O. That, "if these fiattering anticpations, should
"Cnhappily, prove fallacious, they would have the
L
"frnay s'GDth submission 10 usurped dufh0riiyis
''SiW .gre1teT."
viii now proceed 20 shew that all the forcroInr
principles and opinions were sacrificed by the accept
ance of Gordons plan, and of the amended constitu
ton based upon that plan. | will do this in the or
der in which they are stated.
and 2. The first and second may be considered
together. Tho Constitution does not propose to ox
tend the right Of suffrage to but small number of
those who are entitled according TO the doctrines Of
the Earnest Appeal and second, in apportionnp
representation IN the House of Delegates between
the four Districts and in the Senate between the two
grand divisions of the State, the amended Constitu
ton does not propose to distribute power according 10
population. Thc distribution is arbitrary and une-
quail, If even population had not changed since 1920.
But according to the Auditors estimate the amended
Cons'itutlon leaves fity-nne thousand souls west Of
the Ridge unrepresented. This innate may be in
correct TO considerable extent yet that very large
population is To be left out Of the scale WINS ms VOL
knowR TO the Convention theiroyvn existence
The extent Of this known injustice will be nanfcsted
by the next census. For this excluded population
rs wen as Tor IT'S future relative increase, no pract-
cal provision is made hpcuugp M fpo -,