Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-23

tives which will induce them to give that vote should
do hereby explicitly declare, that they regard the
white population the only proper basis of repre-
sanitation In the General Assembly of this State, and
every departure therefrom violation OF republi-
can principles, and the principles asserted in the bill
of rights unanimously adopted by our ancestors in
June, i776 And we do Furthermore expressly de
clare, that we do not now intend to sanction any
other principle of represent alton by the vote which
we are about to give; the contrary it is our deli
berate opinion that whensoever another convention
shall be Called new apportionment of rcpresen-
tation made. no other principle than that which is
here asserted can be acknowledged, or acted upon
peremptory effrm, that whensoever it shall be plain
ly ascertained that there is majority of the white
inhabitpnts of this Commonwealth the west side
OF the Blue Ridge of mountains, apportion-
ment of representation ought to take place. to
give to the western people majority of representa-
tiyes in both branches of the General Assembly
And we do hereby pledge ourselves to unite with
the rest of our western fellow citizens, in support OF
the principle here asserted, whatsoever it shall be
necessary to enforce it. We further declare, that
we are not induced to vote for the new constitution
by conviction that it is the best that could have
been devised, or as good as we had right to cx-
pect from the hands of the late convention, by whom
it was framed-or from belief that it's provisions
are in exact conformity to republican principles but
we shall vote for it, because believe to be bet
ter than the existing constitution in many respects
cause we feel well assured that by adopting it we
shall greatly facilitate the procurement of such a.
mendments and alterations in our form of govern
ment, upon just principles, may hereafter be de-
sired And we do further declare that SO far as we
know or believe, the determination never surren-
der the principle of equal representation according
to white population is common to all the citizens OF
this country well those who will vote for, as those
who will vote against the adoption Of the new con-
stitution.
Being sOcitious that the vote which we are now
about to give in favor of adopting the constitu-
ton, shall not be construed into abandonment of
the republican principle which we have always pro-
fessed, and are still determined to maintain every
hazard, we respectfully request the publication Of
this candid avowal of our sentiments in the Licking
ton lnteligencer, the Richmond Wing, the Rich
mord Enquirer, and the National Inteiligenccr.
Rockbridge County, April 5th, 1880.
% a correspondent says:-
t'You ought to ask Tho. ii. Benton whether or
not, he has been engaged very largely in buying up
the public lands, for the purpose of specuatipr.-
neither or not there are large companies formed in
ST. Louis for the purpose of purchasing public lands
on speculation What has he done with the public
money which he took out of the Bank at ST. Louis,
and other large sums which he obtained by unfair
means?
1T you can get him 10 answer these questions, you
may be able to his private and individual obiec-
ton to the passage of Foot's resolution Perhaps
IT he will not answer these questions, Bates or Bar
ton may be willing to answer them for him, if YOU
Will take the trouble to PROFOUND them through your
paper. = ?.
AS it was asked of us to address the above inter
rogatories to the Senator from Missouri, we could
not do less than comply. When our correspondent
wrote, he perhaps had not seen Benton's efficiency
In immortalizing Tho. Jefferson, or, being himself
an old Republican, he would not have wished to
plague with hard questions, who was doing SO
much for the Republican Party for Virginia, and he,
illustrIous son! How much does not Virginia owe
him, for he was who conceived the idea of recsuno
the memory Of Jefferson from oblivion. by eating ar
| annual dinner in his honor (See Enquirer of Goth
in which correspondent the editor, that it
was not a Virginia project of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
is believed 10 be eutitlcd to the glory. He too, was
Chairman of the Toast Comrnittee.1
We have sort of respect for Benton, for his I'm
common qualifications. He must be no ordinary man
whom public opinion cannot move, and who has con-
quered the last vestige of that human weakness
shame. Undsturbed by public scorn, unmoved by
the recorded evidence of his turpitude he is MOI
salamander for whom the fires of conscience, of re-
proach and exposure, have no terrors. He hvss
through all, and seems resolved to live down. all.
Like Anteus, ne rises refreshed by every fall, and a
ter every new conviction, claims and attempts fresh
laurels. Who but he could have morally survived
the East Room Letter. the catastrophe of the
Bank OF Missouri: or the appropriation of the wi
dows mite? Benton not only survives, but scars to
the first honors.
We say If not altogether lovely" he is cone in
ten thousand" and let others say they will we ati-
mire his salamander vitality, the brazen texture OF
his nerves, and sincerely do admire, his uncon-
querabe, his nflexble, his almost superhuman, firm
ness OF PURPOSES and satanic energy and perseverance
OF charncter eDo or die is his device, and most
mperiurbah'y and invncibiy docs he pursue its ndi-
cation.
The Albany Advertiser of the i7th instant con-
tans the following under the postscript head:
domination Of Gen. Root for GoUernor.--A meet
ing of the Farmers, Mechanics and Working Men,
was held Inst night In the hall of the capitol 1t was
as large meeting ever held in Albany, being
at least equal in number that held on the removal