Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-13

score OF represe NATION do not know that have any
right to eensure them for doing what men have. In q
ages, been prone TO do mean, for taking care oil
themselves, and leaving to take Of ourselves
But cannot be denied that they did, in fact, pursue
this old and beaten road will rot say that they de-
seried US. But alter fighting by our sdes during the
fgr-aier part Of the session. they certainly made prop
oston, towards the close Of it. which, had il proved
euccessfu, would have kept US, and perhaps chill
dren after us, in state of rotcsl va.salsre aiiude
to proposition made by Judge Summers. prominent
trans ghany DELEGATE, on the sh Of January to
l,sve the !i$irihuon IF power among the people OF
Virginia stands, with the ex &c pton Of trivial
notifications, which the RESOLUTION itself will sl,owT
ihis resolution, en- the very face OF IT, wn. roposi'
'ion made 10y the extreme west. having OF members
to the cxtrs cast having TO- to unite. In the future
govei nment Of the Commonwealth, against the mid
land and valley districts, containing one-haf OF the
white regulation OF the state, and having, both oseth
er, hut SO members Ia was proposition 10 peira'e
this nequaliiy-a proposition. tempting to the eastern
peopl but cdious and hateful to of the valley, and
equity to neghbor- at the eastern foot OF the
Riige.But the people Of the east either ust
10 accede TO proposition fatal TO just preensi
or too tcse 10 adopt course of policy, which would
have convulsed the state, from the falls of the rivers
The base Of The Allegheny. The proposition, a rough
sustained by plaus BILE and nge NOUS argument, wa.
You cannot tail to perceive in this
mordoie fact alone, abundant evidence, that the
great and principal question Of d.tribution OF po
'iucai power. the people Of the middle country were
our natural allies.
But the Of political interests is APPLY at an end,
and j. for cne heartily disposed to forget this ii tie
political Jaur pas Of our trans yhany eliow-c-
zens and TO greet them friends and brethren. They
will not, however, have any right to complain il We.
Of the valley. draw an reference Of practical wisdom
from the Transaction alluded And is this; that In
making our calculations in future, the probability
oil Obtaining assistance in the Of views,
from this or that quarter Of the sate ehould
forgot TO inquire tchtch section likely to hare the
greatest interest in promoting them. proper appi-
cation OF this maxim may throw light the il.
qnry at which have already glanced, who are likely
TO be our stauDcbest friends and supper in the egi.
lave bodies on those particular questions OF Internal
| Improvement in which We. shall be most immsdi
| and deeply interested.
We are separated from trans ALE INV brethen
by wide extent Of sterile and mountainous country:
we do not trade with them: do not pass h gh their
| country 10 cur market, md, uice rersa they do
pass through our country 10 theirs There il, there
fore, and it is much 10 be lame ntrd, little identity oil
interest between US. The contrary is the tact, in all
these particulars, in regard to neigbbors,
inhabtng the region between the falls of the river,
| and the Blue Ridge of mountains They connect.
ed wi us by proximity, by family alliances, by con-
slant trade ard intercourse, by grSat wants
the want OF good roads 10 maike-their road TO
the seaboard Icing ours. TIE rivers which gu.h
from our mountains wind their way through the
hills OF that region, which I have ven;urcd, on
he authority OF one OF il, talented sons, TO ca
Piedmont, or the country at the foot of the
II ouniain.' They point out the OF trade,
anu are The hsaments that connect us with the east
III 1T he true, then, tina, the middle region is more
Intimately connected with va, in interest, than that
beyond the lleghany, why .houi we, in estimating
The power VIII CHI we acquire under the oonstitu.
ion count our delegation with that Of the trans Ale
ghany region, aud say that" the wcst has this tha
ate! why not count our votes with those Of the mid
die region. would acsrAn correctly the myth
we are likely to have in any emergency, in the legis-
lave bodies?
These calculations repeat, are not pleasant, and
trust that spirit OF compre hrnsive PATRIOTISM rather
than one Of sectional combir aion will rule the future
counses OF Virginia But il these sec ional calcua
tons are made against the constitution, il il hu,
lair that they should be maze in its favor Aud IL they
must e made, l. for one, thoroughly persuaded
mat the view have just tax IL sound and correct
How, then, does the question stand in This
peci oil the case What of rspres alton has
this united middle eountryn The house dele ate. un
der the new or amended constitutions The ans wer is
The same quantity Of power which would have heen
assigned 10 IL by the " white basis" 20 uo,1ine BY
the white basis, not Of 1920 but &C 1880. The proof
consists in tie mere COLLATION. OF a few figures.
The hie population OF Ito state in 1880,
have estimated at 6i9SI6
The half Of the white population is, there,
fore 1924 sos
Th+ ,ofed middle county contains just ono. half a.
thus:
The valley contains. in 1880, 135 335
Piedmont, or the middle country, lS9, 1863
Amount OF ho'h 324 7Oi
The united middle country il. there fore, entitled on
the principle Of the equal repre-. entson Of tho free
whit people TO one half Of the representation in the
House Of Delegate, or sx;y.s members.
And IL has what it IL entitled to-,hus:
The new constitution assigns to the valley 25
| To Piedmont, or the middle country, AZ
Amount Of both 81
owe You apology for the proixity Of hi. letter.
The subject is copious ono, and rausbt with great
| interest to you az well az myself
| January 81, 1880. JOHN r. COOKE