Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-04-01
/ they a.. narasE and Il VA 8. a Nm Zoe

1 nssIatas rescFo5tSsn and did not nsess what they
said
! The proposed constitution il purposely
contrivod aud expressly designed not only to
give to the east the control Of the state, bat
. to pspetuots their domination. We must ae-
cept OF reject There is no other alternative.
! Ii we sign that fatal instrument, we deliver
/, ourselves bound hand aud foot, to the most
overbearing and arrogant set of mon on earth.
Ii we accept IT by our Votes, it will be IN vain
/ to say Afterwards that we did not intend to
surrender every thiag that is dear and yalua-
BILE, to be disposed of according to thar win
and pleasure. They viii reply with Shylock.
the Jew, lit is 50 nominated in the bond
| Bssides-a constitution, the supreme law
of the land, that 10 to bind alike the hum
| blest citizen and the highest officer, that is
to gside and control not only private citizens,
but Governors. Legislators, and juages-is
really too lmportant--too sacred thng to DO
triiled with. Ii may DO eagrossed upon paper
! or parchment, but these viii perish at the
! touch of the moth or the worm The true
paladium--ths only safe sanctuary for the
constitution. il in thc hearts of fresmen. But
to these ID can be recommended ouly by its
| consonance with the psrduring and eternal
principles of truth and justice. Ii our fellow
citizens cannot accept the proposed constitu-
ton fally-frsoly -heartily we counsel them
to reject it, lest 1t prove a suars and a curse.
But, Tuscarora says
"In the Lsgsstat~s we gain much in politi
sal weight" We have already shown that
notwithstanding all he boastsd gaua ave are
not only left in the minority by the new con
stitution, but uachangeably and perpeturily
| fixed in it. So much for the gaar IN the Lee
gislatsrs.
But we shall effect saving Of forty thous
and dollars per aanum by tho reform in this
department.
TO this we reply. the freemen OF the
| west think their dearest rights well sold atthat
price, let them bow their necks, aud receive
tho yoke.
Bat "ths Right of Suffrage Is extended
by the new constitution. And who, we ask,
is gamer by that? The law making power
does not reside in the primary, or electoral
! assemblies of the people. but in the assembly
of Delegates and Senators at Richmond, and
we are in minority there, and must of ne
cessity, remain in a minority, under the pro-
| posed constitution. The number of voters
/, may be doubled, tripled, quadrupled, increas-
| ed ten ora hundred fold, or to any assIgnnble
! number; still, there is no increase OF power.
/ The number of Senators aud Delegates, which
| they can send and who could vote in the
making of laws and regulating the policy of
the State. remains uBai,erably fixed, invaria-
bly, the sams Extending the right of ssf-.
frage in connexion with free white population
/ as tha basis OF Representation would have had
some sense in it IL would have given to those
| admitted to thu full privileges Of citizenship,
resi- substantial power TO protect their rights
and avenge their wrongs. As it is, 1t is mere
mockery.
But the Executive and judiciary depart
ments ofthe Government ara very mneh inn
proved, it seems, in the new constitution.
The new constitution provides that the Govern
or, the Judges OF the Supreme court of APP
peals. and. the Attorney General, shall be e
lected, or appointed by the joint vote of the
two houses oil the general assembly. In one
house the East has majority Of six, and in
the other Of twenty-five. The East, then, is
to make the laws, to interpret the laws, and to
saec,as tho laws; and that not because the
East has a ma lority Of freemsn, Of the men
who pay a.sd fight. but simply because they
live on Eastern side of the Blue Ridge and
have great many negroes But it is alleg
ed taat there 10 a majority of the free white
population on the other side of the Ridge.
Why thsn did the eastern aen 80 strenu-
eusly, SO perseyeringly reject the free white
basis, even when coupled with the offer. on
the part Of the West, to recognize and adj
NIT their favorite mixed basis in tbs senate?
That would have given them the power, the
sway, as long as, upoa any just or reasonable
principle, they could claim it.
We recognise the great cardinal principle
Of all our free instituiions-the right of the
majority to rale-not according 10 their own
pleasure or espriss- but according to the prin-
! eipies of the constitution tAe sacred and g
+ ternal principles of justice. But this new con-
stitution seems TO have been constructed with
an especial view to secure and perpehiate the
personal slavery of the backs and tia political
slavery of he West But we are told that f.
VERY SINGLE OBJECTION nade a.
gainst the new constitution applies with ten
fold force to the old one. We deny it. The
old constitution does not divide the state in ito
districts and grand divisions, allottisgs Ger
. tain quantity of political power in perpetuitv
TO each--right or wrong, without any prinsi-
pie but that securing to one portion of the
country * that the least hourishing AN eternal
domination over the rest. The old constitution
was atany rate made in good faith--mada by
wise and honest men--nen who had IN view,
not the political aseerdancy Of apart, but the
, safety and prosperity of the whole.
: The evils of the old constitutisn are the
growth Of time and accideat, over which We
have no control. and to which we must ae-
commodate ourselves To whatsoever 10 OBJ
! iectonable in the old constitution, we have
. not solemnly and formally given our assent.
We have objected, complained, demonstrated,
! and earnestly sought to re-ccnstract il upon
principles that wise mas would approve, aRa
ireemen could accept But we have failed.