Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-28

pie. TO set at nought the rights Of the
non slave holding section, ct the com
mon~eaith IN five successive sppor-
tionments OF the numbers of the house
at representatives. among the people OF
Virginia. will continue Co actuate the
same slave.holding minority
IL will not be amiss Co sum up the
arguments and opinions Of Mr.. Cooke
previous to and at the commencement
OF the late convention. They appear
TO be the following:
/. That with few, but lust excep-
tons, the political rights VI irce,nsu arc
equal.
9. That representation ID power, and
that each electoral district oush, to
elect so many members n would bear
tho same proportion 10 the whole num-
Der OF members, as the white popula-
ton Of each district bears tn the whole
white population.
8. That the several acts bv which
the benefit Of slave representation in
congress has been conferred on slave
holding districts. are parts Of n .sys-
ferndfic course Of usurpdfion praefiscd
ty the Stare holding minority, 20 the
prejudice Of the rights Of the majority
!. That the majority Of freemen have
a right TO rule under all circumstances.
s. That where, in q public body, the
minority happens 20 have majority Of
members. and by means oi that major
ity triumph over the essential rights Of
The majority, the people shave not i'm
posed Oh themselves an obligation 10
abide by their decision
g. That when the minority, having
majority Of representatives.. proceed
TO establish an unjust distribution Of
representation, which is power. So as
to perpetuate the rule Of the minority,
the members IN the minority represent
ing the majority OF the people. ought
10 secede. form themselves into a Sc
pdrafe body. and perform those duties
'chich The people sent them 10 pcrforn,;'
and further. that il they should leave
It undone, they would 'disoppoim the
expectations and fall short Of ire hopes
and wishes Of those rao sent them
z. That from such a secession less
difficulty is to be apprehendsd than at
first would be imagined. and ia all pro-
liability \ new constitution could be
introduced by the majority without the
aid Of thelegislature. and without force
or civil war
g. That If these fattering anticipa-
tons should, unbsppilv. prove ialla-
cious, they would have the consolation
left. that though eiui uar Is great
calamity, sidrish submission 10 u.
surPed authority is sfW greater
will now proceed TO show that all
the foregoing principles and opinions
were sacrificed bv the acceptance of
Gordon's plan. and ot the amended
constitution based upon that plan.
will do this in the order in which they
are stated.
] and Q. The FIRST ard second may
be considered together. The cons,i-
tuition Goes not propose TO extend the
right OF suiF age 10 bur small nun Der
OF those who are entitled according 10
the doctrines of the Earnest Appeal
and second, IN spportioning reProsen-
tation III The house Of delegates between
the four districts, and in the senate be-
tween the two grand divisions Of The
state, the amended constitution does
not propose Co distribute power accord
ing 20 population. The distribution 10
arbitrary and unequal. even ifpnpuIa.
ton had not changed s,uce 1890. But
according Ia the auditors estimate. ths
amended constitution leaves 50. 900
souls west Of the Ridge unrepresented.
This estimate may be incorrect 40 a
considerable extent; vet that q very
large population 10 TO be left out of the
10 1t
vention as was their own sxistence.-
The extent Of this known injustice will
be manifested by the next census. Eos
this excluded population. a. we'll a. fos
ITS future relative increase, no prarti.
cal provision Is made, because 70 man
10 his senses can hope that two thirds
OF any future assembly will 30 act on
der MIR. hadisOn's provision a. 90 a..
Diinish their power, although, by posi-
bllIty. they may so set as a. mcrcGsr
II. should the proposed constitution
be ratified, every future general as
sembly under IL will not so equally re-
present the people, 60 Use Nj. Cooke
words. az 10 be 'the fountain ~ peace
and harmony and prosperity and iiber-
ty.' bat ga Unsqually ~ to be the aii
thur II distord. ne TGfifer If disfran-
eh'sehHe'If. a5idfhe cause 81 eira diseord
md eonf'"ioH--possibly, If Jioodshsd
and dismembefmenf.'
.. The sixth clause Of The proposed
constitutions, eHeFed by Judge Green, 10
~ these ~ords: J. 9. "'Thc whole
number Of members 20 which chs state
may at any time be entitled IN the
house Of representatives, 0l the United
States, shall be apportioned ss nearly