Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-02-17

ton as woaid place US on fair and
equal grounds. They went into the
convention. interested in retaining
what they had, on the score of repre-
seD'at'on. and obtsinipg what they
could, in respect TO other mntsers.
And, however true and faithful they
may have been. in feeling and in fact.
TO the white basis, and TO our interests,
At the commencement Of the session, IL
cannot be denied that. when the white
basis had received its death blow, they
pretty clearly indicated that they were
neither ignorant nor regardless Of the
advantages which they enjoyed, under
the old constitution, on the score Of re-
presentation. do not know that we
have any right to eensure them for do
ing what men have, in all ages, been
prone 70 dol mean, for taking care
of themselves, and leaving US TO take
care of ourseires. But il cannot he de-
nied that they did. in fact. pursue this
= old and beaten road. I will not say
that they deserted Us. But, after fight.
ing by our sides. during the greater
part OF the session. they certainly made
proposition, towards the close Of IL,
which. had il proved successful, would
have kept US, and perhaps our chi
dren after u, in q state Of political
vassalage. ! allude to a proposition
made by judge Summers, a prominent
trans-Alieghany delegate. on the 9th OF
January, TO leave the distribution Of
power among the people Of Virginia Al
: It stands, with the exception of some
trivial notifications, which the resolu-
ton itself will show. This resolution,
on the very face Of it, was proposition
made by the extreme west, having 50
members, to the extreme cast, having
20, to unite. in the future government
OF the commonwealth, against the mid
land and valley districts, containing
one h0Jf Of the white population of the
state, and having, both together, but
Sc members. Ii was q proposition to
perpetuatc this inequality "a propo-
sition, tempting to the eastern people,
but odious and hateful to US Of the val
ley, and equally so to our neighbors at
the eastern foot of the Ridge. But the
people Of the east were either too Just
to accede to q proposition SO fatal to
our just pretensions, or too tcise 10 a
dept course Of policy, which would
have convulsed the state. from the falls
u the rivers to the base Of the Allegha.
ny. The proposition, though sustain
ed BY plausible and ingenious argu-
nent, was therefore rejected. You
cannot fail to perceive. in this men,ora-
Die fact alone, abundant evidence, that
on the great and principa! question Of
anew distribution Of political power,
the people Of the middle country were
our natural allies.
But the war Of political interests is
happily at an end. and ], for one, am
heartily disposed Ia forget this little
political fa'tr pas Of our trans Allegha-
ny fcilow-citizens, and 10 greet them
"a friends and brethren. They will not,
however. have any right 10 complain.
IL We. OF the valley. draw an inference
IMPRACTICAL wisdom from the transac-
tion alluded to. And IT is this that IN
making our calculations, in future, a,
TO the probability Of obtaining assis-
lance, in the prosecution Of our views.
from this or that quarter of the state.
we should never forget to inquire tchieh
section Is likely TO haze me greatest in
feTesf in promoting them. A proper
application Of this maxim may throw
some light on the inquiry at which
have already glanced, who are likely
to be our stsunchest friends and sup
porters in the legislative bodies, on
those particular questions Of internal
Improvement in which we shall be most
Immediately and deeply interested.
We are separated from our trans
Allegheny brethren by a wide extent
OF sterile and mountainous country: we
do not trade with them: we do not
pass through their country 70 our mar
ket. and cice oersa, they do not pass
through our country to theirs. There
is, therefore. and Il is much to be la
mented. little identity Of interest be-
tween Us.
The contrary is the fact, in all these
particulars, in regard to our eastern
neighbors. inhabtIng the region be-
tween the falls of the rivers and the
Blue ridge Of mountains. They are
connected with u by proximity. by ia
mily alliances, by constant trade and
intercourse, by great common want,
the want of good roads to market
their road TO the seabosrd being ours.
The rivers which gash from our noun
tains wind their way through the hills
Of that region. wish have Ventured,
'Erfraef |ro1s ne Journal Of re Coareafio,s,
January \. 1850.
W. Summers then moved 20 strike out
the third seo,Ion." Cof the draf, Of = eons,ltu