Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1831-11-25
From the Roekbridge Intelkgencsr.
TO THE PEOPLE OF WESTERN
VIRGINIA.

VIRGINIA.
FELLow-CITIZENs Be not startled at
the proposition which we are about to sub
mt to your consideration Ii is one every
way worthy of your serious attention, and
which presents TO you, in our humble csti-
NATION, the only efficient and practicable
remedy for evils, the existence of which can
not be denied, and which are Of too much
consequence TO be overlooked or despised
What those evils are, we shall presently at
tempt to unfold, and we are greatly deceived
II you do not readily agree that some OF them
at least, are of such 4 character as to demand
your utmost exertions TO eXtirpate them. If
we are right In supposing that the evils to
which we allude, grow out of our connection
with Eastern Virginia, then it is apparent
that the only means by which they can be
exterminated, is TO destroy tina! connection
by procuring division of the State into two
independent Commonwealth. We are a
ware, that by proposing the division of this
Ancient Dominion, we may subject our
selves TO the imputation of arrogant pre-
sumption, and even to have the purity of our
motives called in question by those who en-
terrain opposite sentiments. We expect,
too, TO have to encounter in the breast of al
most every individual amongst you, high
dices and predictions in favor of the exist
ing order of things. But believing as we
do, " that truth is mighty, and must pre-
vail, that the present is moment pecu-
llarly proper for agitating such question,
and having to address ourselves To an EN- =
lightened, intelligent, and rejecting people :;
we hesitate not TO propose TO you, TO ask for
IN immediate division of this State into two
independent Commonwealths, by a line run
ming along the top Of the Blue Ridge of
mountains. Nor do We despair of conyinc-
ing majority of you at least, if you will
deign toretlect on what we shall now advance,
not only OF the eXpediency, but Of the abso-
Lutte necessity OF such a measure. We shall
not ask you to place implicit confidence in
our declarations or statements; all we de
sire is, that you will read, reflect, and de-
eide for yourselves. And without further
preliminary remarks, we shall proceed, in
in the first place, to point out some of our
most prominent objections to the longer
continuance of our present connexion with
Eastern Virginia
The first oftbese objections which we shall
mention, is That the existing Constitution
of the State is not in conformity 10 sound re-
publican principles, and withholds from the
Western people n portion of their rights.
To sustain this objection, we refer YOU TO
the notorious fact, that the representation in
theGeneral Assembly is moi, i'm eth branch
OF it, fixed on the basis of white population;
which we affirm 10 be the only Just princi-
pie by which representation can be regula-
ted in this country, and the only one which
ought to be acknowledged among frecmen.
We will not insult you by attempting to
support by argument a principle which we
presume no man west of the Blue p .Gre will
have the hardihood TO question but shall
proceed, by the following statement, to show
you how large share of representation has
been withheld from us,by those who formed
the existing Constitution of the State.
Under the existing Constitution the whole
number of members in the House of Dele
gates, is 1874, of which 76 are chosen by the
people East, and Sc by the people West oil
the Blue Ridge; which gives TO Eastern
Virginia majority of % in that branch o.
the Legislature. If we divide COG ,953 the
whole number of white inhabitants in the
State, Gas nearly as we can ascertain it) by
l34, it will give us 5 POI as the number
white inhabitants in the State for each mem
her IN the House Cf Delegates, and leave a
fraction of 10. Divide 379 $50 (the num-
Der Of white people on the East of the Blue
Ridge by 5,20l, and il gives ~ as the NUM-
Der Of Delegates TO which Eastern Virginia
Is entitled on the basis of white population
and leaves fraction of4 ,77S. Divide g III ,7O9
(the number of white people West Of the
Blue Ridge by 5 POI, and it gives 81 as the
number of Delegates to which Western Vir-
ginia is entitled on the basis of white popula.
ton, and leaves fraction of442. live give
10 Eastern Virginia the remaining delegate
e g L.,
sented traction of white people, she W i'll then
be entitled TO 70, and Western Virginia Il
81 Delegates, making the majority of Eas
tern virginia IL in the House OF Delegates
instead of y as al present From this state
ment, it is apparent J. Eastern Virrini;
has a majority Of 10 in re House of Dele
gates, moro than she is entitled TO on any Jus
principle of representation, which excess i
made by depriving Western Virginia of fiy,
Delegates, to which she is fairly entitled
and giving them to Eastern Virginia, VIII,
has no shadow of right TO them.
The whole number of members in the Sc
nate, at present, is 80, Of which 10 are cho
sen 10y the people East, and l3 by The people
west of the Blue Ridge, which gives 10 Eas
tern Virginia majority Of 6 in that brancl
of the Legislature If we divide COG ,953 b,
81 ii gives 81 ,779 as the number Of white in
habitants in the State for each Senator, an,
leaves fraction Of %. Divide $40 ,250 b,
~ ,779, and it gives II as the number q
members Eastern Virginia is entitled to il
the Senate on the basis Of white population
and leaves fraction Of 9,OO7 Divide 3i7,
T03 by 81 ITO, and it gives MS I4 as the mum
Der of members TO which Western Vireini
is entitled in the Senate on the basis of whit
population, and leaves fraction Of 10, 707
five give 10 Western Virginia the remain