Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-04-09

time to time, to the varying population of the differ
ent sections OF the commonwealth; the attempt to
frame such rule having been abandoned, or rather
never made BY Its author because he considered that
the very attempt would bring into instant conflict the
ascordant pretensions contendng parties which
IL was the main object ofhis plan to keep in state of
auiescence But even in this respect we considered
[ MS plan more acceptable compromise to the west
than that OF the gentleman from Goochland," 1.-THE
western plan hrst proposed by Gov. Pleasans) sbe-
cause we deemed the interest of that comparatiyey
non slavehoiding part of the community to have no
2r1ne!pfe ut az OF re-apportionment, rather thar
Principle which, IN all time to come, ESQ long at least
| as the constitution epdured) would make eyerv 6re
slaves in the east equal three citizens in the west
IN the organization OF the senate, body invested with
power to negative everyhct oflsgslaon proposed by
the house of delegates, however vital in Importance
| to the people of Western Virginia"
But to this 1t answered. that however vicious this
plan OF future opportionn1en may be, in principle il
Will nevertheless wtrk WE'LL in process of time he
cause ofthe comparatively rapid future increase or
white population west of the Blue Ridge. dist,n.
gushed gentleman from the trans AephaDv country
suggested early Ii the session ofte convrnrI0n tie
probability that in thirty years uls of the whole
WHITE population OF Virginia might be found wcst of
| the Allegheny mountains. So that, though, half a
miliien of slaves, in the east were counted
against the west, IN the appor'onment of represent
tatlon in the senate, neither M0t any thip cond
arrest the onward march of the west 10 power md
empire. How visionary such sDecuations arc Ibave
already, in my second letter, attempted i'm pait to
| shew.
But view Of this INF crestinp subject Scam, -
have been overlooked by the gentleman alluded tn
and by those who think with him If the western nIo'
Of representation had been adopted il wnnld etbor
have promoted the prosperity of the whole State of
Virginia, or 1t would not have promoted it, IF il
would not have promoted it, thcn, friend of his
country could should have been in favor of adop
ting it. If Mould have promoted the prosperity of
the whole State, by ntilsng and salutary spir
it into It's legislation it would have accelerated the
increase of population in Eastern Virginia Natm,e
has lavised her bounlics that favored feeion and
good institutions and wise Legislation would speeilv
repair the injuries which bad institutions and unwis.
| Legislation have inflicted on It. If the western plan
| OF representation calculated to produce and
would have produced, these results the sea-ports of
the east would have been connected, in few vrers
by paved roads, or by the improved navigation of the
rivers, by Canals by all these different modes
with the interior of the State. They would have
grown up rapidly in population and wealth ana
would have d'ttused wealth and promoted population
in all the country around them The natural advnn
tages of Eastern and Middle as well as of Western
Virginia, would have been cultivated. Apricpltnre
would have reared Its dropping head and assumed
new life and activity. Manufacturing industry now
| struggling into existence under thousand dsadvan-
tages, would have derived new Impetus from the
increase of capital and would have made rapid pro-
gress towards maturity. In short, liberal and en-
ergetic government would have developers the re-
sources of the State, and brought them into action
and prosperity would have been aidased over the
whole surace of the commonwealth.
! Under these suspicious circumstances, Eastern
4 Virginia, having a much larger arabic surface than
4 Western, would have begun anew the race of power
and population, with that decided advantage and in
less than twenty years the ratio Of increase
out the Commonwealth would have been in all prob
ability. nearly the IF these views be corrert
}, and cannot doubt that they are, is that very
questionable policy, to say the best Of it. which vol
unfairly surrcDders at present, and for an indefinite
PERIOD the control of one OF the legislative bodies to
the people OF The east, for the poor consideration in
hand OF only four additional members in the kouse Of
delegates on speculative calculation of the fi,turn
TdPtd increase OF western populations
We have been so da1zed by the splendid visions of
the rapid march of western population generated bv
: ouis nod
man before alluded to, and so buoyed up bv he re-
suits OF the auditors estimate, founded as he him,
self stated, on imperfect and erroneous liafa that
while we profess ourselves satisfied with the actual
and present distribution of power made by the new
constitution, we are exceedingly uneasy lest it may
: become grossly unequal at future day. If these
, apprehenSlons are well founded--if we are indeed
in the unhappy predcament of being certain that we
shall, III process OF time, grow the new st of
political clothes which is offered us, instead of the
straight jacket which we have so long is il not
nevertheless the part of true wisdom to out it on in
peace and quetness, and wear 1t as long as il will Gt
u.s. IT, ntiie course Of few years, the ra.io of in
crease should become nearly equal throuahout the
commonwealth 40 matter how rapid that increase
may chance to be, the distribution of political noer
between the east and the west, if oieruJly fair now
will continue fair in all time to come If il chance
otherwise, let nevertheless, take the counsel for
The time being, of that wise man OF old who said
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
We have lived long enough to learn that tonst;,,
items even though they possess neither a princinle
OF future aPPoriionrnent, provision for future
amendment are not necessarily immutabio and eter.
nal. We have given the coup dc grace trust 70
one bad constitution Let give fair trial to that
admtted on all hands to be far better than the old
which has been submitted to us by the convention
1t, in process of time, and in the vicisstudes of bn.
man affairs, shall be found hadequateto the attain
ment OF the purposes of its creation the people have
{ only to viii 1t, and it will be changed
= JOHN r. COOKE.
, February, 10, 1880.
p. S--JIareh 1911, 183o.--The letter 10 which
this postscript is annexed was written Oh the dav
which is Indicated byits date. But thinking after
had written It, that the view taken was feeble one
and being tired, withal, of the subject, and 10th to
run the risk of provoking further discussion threw
II aside ano determined not to publish it. any thing
further, respecting the new constitution unless fe
then expected publication Of Mr.. Doddrdpe should
render necessary and proper. That publication,
though dated far back the fst of March pevn,