Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-12

The valley %
Piedmont, or tile middle country, 10
The Underwater country, SO
Total 1874
The distribution of the members between the
country west of the blue ridge and the couxtry east
OF IT, wonld according to the chr basis of $50, be
as follows:
| TO the west, go
! To the cast, =.
The actual distribution made, is as follows:
| 70 the west, 80
| IO the cast, i3
Thus you perceive, that viewing the subject (as
many choose to view it, but cannot, for tie
sons VIII presently ass en in the light of struggle
for power between oil the country west of
the ridge on the band, and all the country east
OF the ridge on the other, we, of the west, have
made compromise, mol being able to do better, by
Which We obtain within four members, out of 1874,
OF the utmost amount we claimed, OH our own prin-
cple OF the equal represent alton of the free white
people of the commonwealth. Now, I think, that
Wien you consider how prodigious increase this is
of the power which you cnlov under the old const;-
tutiou;* how impertectfy your numbers we're repre-
Secd IN the convention itself how much weight
you are allowed In the new government than you
had In the conventions and lastly, how difficult it was
TO convince the eastern people, having majority of
VOICES i'll the convention; that the cIrcum stance of
their now paying hce-fousths of the whole taxes of
iment OF representation;-you will incline to consd
er this L more favorable compromise than might rea-
sonably have been hoped for under such complica-
ton of suspicious circumstances.
Rut we, of the west, are left il the minority il Is
sald IN both of the Legislative bodies So should
we have been, on the white basis itself if you insist
on considering the Blue Ridge of mountains as the
dividing line between the cast and the west KAT
t has it ;.en the dividing line, even in the great
political struggle which is just over Where were
Loudoun and Fairfax, and Albemarle aud Nelson,
and Amherst aud Campbell, and Bedford and Frank
lin, and Patrick, and Henry and Pittsvlvania at the
commencement OF the struggle in the conventions
only three members oct of the twenty from these
districts, were opposed 10 1t is true, that a
movement of the whole talent and influence of the
east, brought to bear on the people of of these
districts, during the sitting OF the convention
wrought them up into panic fear about the security
OF their slave property, which caused them to coun
teE-Istruct the very whom they had elected the
spring before, avowed white -busis nnenn But.
instructed as they were, they secured to u.s. by7ther
4 votes, a constitution such as have described and
winch we should have asked in vain from tie east,
but for their assistance.
! but the struggle Tor power is now over The
questions which will hereafter arise between the DIFF
teren sections of the will be questions of diff
ierent character. They will relate to the snir, of
our legislation The people of the valley, for exam
j pie. want good system of road laws at home
"ihch under the odd government they have never
been able to obtain They want paved roads to the
markets OF tie east, which under the old government
they would not have obtained for fifiy perhaps hun
dred years to come. Look at the face of the conn
try III TIE tifst range of counties east of the RIDGE
and the character OF the country between them g. the
seaports the east & then doubt fyou cal that their
interests are identical with in these mportan ma
tlculars. The western part of that whole ranre OF
counties, more rough and billy by far han the valley
), we inhabit, wants good system of road laws at
home even more than we do. 1t is, moreover sepa-
rated from market by ridge of mountains IL; many
places as formidable as the Blue Ridge itself al.
Jude to that ridge which in Loudoun called the Cat
= tic Rt1
tler to the southwark the South west mountain ard
Whch extends under various names, to the line of
7 a. Carolina. Those counties are, moreover, sepa-
rated from market by district of country called !,
tauquler the Blackjack country, and else where nv
various other Names all equally hateful TO the hardv
and much-enduring WAGNER, because the rains md
SHOWS and trosts OF each successive winter convert it
into one great and almost impossible SLOUGH Tho
I paved roads which will enable the people of those
u counties to snrmount these obstacles. ard mss
through this annual swamp, will be your roads tn
market Likewise. You may count, then with GER
tany, on perpetual legislative alliance as to all
road questions, to all reasonable and proper plans
of internal Improvement, between the peonle west Of
! the Ridge and the people immediately east of il
Il whose united representatives will constitute n m.
jority in both Of the legislative bodies And wha,
were your objects III the grea Struggle in which Won
have been engaged for fourteen years? Did Won
want power purely as CTS molane poroer or with the
view OF ciiectng great useful practical results? And
what were tie practical results you chiefly aimed a2
was not the Improvement of the country BY GOOD
roads tie most vital,y important of all? Give the
farmer good roads to market, and he will grow
rich apace lie VIII erect neat and substantial ia ms
and houses and fences, in place of those which now
deform the face of the country; lie Will build school
houses and churches, and subscribe literally TO the
endowment OF academies and colleges. In snort ia
city of transportation Of the essence of the nros
perty of an agricultural community and IL was the
neglect, by the old government, Of this important
branch oflegIsation, which more than ali other can
SEES, wrought is downfall.
In this aspect ofthe case, then your victory is com
plete. You have destroyed the poraytic govern
meDt, not in lined TO do evil but impoicnt for GOOD
which for half century has benumbed the ener-
gies of The people. What more do you want
To begin at home, Frederick county gains under The new
constitutions absolute increase Of power, House Of
Delegates Of lao per cent and jefferson county absolute
increase Of 60 cent " the House of Delegates had been
left at 214 aud representation had been distributed as is
under lhe new constitution Ereserlak wnnl 20