Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-02-11

W. not give up our n Ihts nv Foting LOT ms
C...t,,...s.,... i answer eo--lye so Ear 20 Sc
cure them. DO you suppose that believe
we have obtained ALL thai we arc justly en-
titled to, as members OF the body poiItc -
Far from it. But say tiiis--and J think ev-
cry sensible m.n vii sag so with me--thst
we have cer%sibly gained mach, and we have
.iHcd enough TO make our chance 81 SEGA
rag, filiiy, eur rights hereafter aCcH BEfrES
than it would DC uader the - Constitution.
II | may illustrate 80 plain " by a plan
example. wuald compare our situation TO
that ofnea who have to raise log TO given
height: when tlsey have rarsed it one foot
high, and find their str myth gone, Is It not
better TO sfotch it there, and take breath for
the next lit. than to drop il and commence
from the bottom again7 Now this - what |
sax ,ge shoai,i 10 we have not got The iog 10
its D ace .bni ~ have ithalf way up;let es bod
on TO what we have got beg OF you further
to bear in mind that speak now Of the Ia ~
latiye branch only. The argument VIII Apply
much stronger when we come to examine
other parts OF the new Constitution; for tins
is the ONLY part of the new Constitution where
our demands have not been answered: that Is
to saw, the demands Of the majority oil our
people IFcpeat that think with the major
ity, the DaasS of the upper country, and al
ways have thought, that the only basis OF rep
presentation true in principle, Is the tree white
population of the State; but | insist, at the
same time, that it would be folly and self in
jury in US to give up what we have gained,
when that very gain viii give US more ability,
at future time, 10 assert this principle and
to carry it: And this brings me TO the last
reference which shall make to the new Con-
stitution relating to this branch of my sub
iect: il is to clause which has determined
me to vote for the new Constitution. Ii is a
clause which auihorises the Legislature, ten
years from this time, aud at intervals OF ten
years thereafter, to fix the basis of represen-
tatios upon any other pripciple,-two thirds
of both Houses agreeing TO IT. II provides a
mode Of amending the Constitution in this
most important and vital particular, without
the confusion, expense, delay and danger OF
getting up a Convention. 10 is a isise proofs
ION, I, for one, would not have Constitu-
tion Of 50 little stability and sanctity that :
mere majority Of any Legislature could alter.
1t would be no Constitution-no fixed, para
mount charter Of principles; but an ordinary
law that any prejudiced or ignorant set OF
rnen, elected for year, could alter. VIII
differ with him. The census of the people
tdAcH IfUhi ttH years ~ tti years, Wih sttOf'
the disparity in representation over the whole
State Other large counties, besides our
own. win find themselves aggrieved. A sense
Of instice-public opinion will come in, and
power viii he again distributed upon such
terms rs sre demand-upon the broad princi-
Piles of equality But if still we csanot get
this ma jority in the Legislature. we can then
do al that we can now do. If we reject the
Constitution we can cali Convention; and
we can then do it the better, because we will
have more weight in the councils Of the
Commonwealth We can do it under better
a,rpices. because the sectional and party
feelings will have passed away, which would
nov cripple our efforts.
IN fnvnext shall treat of the change in the
right Of suffrage. TUSCARORA.