Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-07-02
PrRLIC MEETING

June 1912, m pursuance Of previous notice JOHN
NLURE. Esl was called 10 preside and jams =
wuAEroN, appointed secrs,ary
The .hJeC, ofihe meeting was explained by James
PAUL., esq and on ms moiiun the chair appointed
james PAUL, James Z Wharton. John Laughlin. a
m Io report resolutions expressive OF The
sense Of The meeting
The committee having retired on consultation re-
ported the following preamble and resolutions.
which were unanimously adopted.
Unler the fifth section Of the third article in the
Constitution of our State. beng ns follows. The
Geurs,l Assembly, after the year one th, usand
Eight hundred asd forty one, and at interval,
thereafter Of not less than. Ten yeprs, shall have au
thorty, tSu thirds Of each house cuncuminr. 20
make rcappouionmeuis o. delegates am sena,ors
Throughout tho commonwealth 50 that the number
Of delegates shall not al any time exceed ono hun
drcd and fifty, nor Of senators thirty SIX" The
people Of Western Virginia are now making greet
aud unI'ed eitiu. 20 procure from the Leci-lalur,
the passage of a law IN accordance with the flrgp.
Ing provision, cqualiZrug The representation through.
Out the STATE; The inequality of the present app1r
trnnmont Of p%niiucal power, or the great difference
~ the number 1G the delegates and senators from
thc Eastern, aud Western divisions Of the ) ate. u
well known 10 us al, while the unhappy con,e.
quenCe resulting from Its existence, have been
bitterly ielt IN our own experience and the striking
IulustIcc suffered 10y the people of lhc West Is eN-
hihied IA The strongest li-ht By 4 reference 10 the
statistical tables prepared by Tho citizens ~ Kan
Rwha county, with n view 10 legislative acton
upon This subject, while however such are The
views entertained among us. vet ne fo the nature
OF the principles gpOn which lhis inequality uf re-
presentation Is based. as 10 whether The Conse.
queuces resulting from It are just or unjust, aud rs
10 tho ~propriciy Of changing II. we are forced to
the reluctant belief, that there does exist al least an
nftsTfal a H.r,,n. 81 4.rf8w.,N k-F....- a.. -.
ern. 4 Western pouiuns Of the State; 20 whatever
cause This difference Of opinion may be attributed
we believe that the grievance might he readily an
usiraIed from the badness of Tho principle itself
without waiting for It's practical effects, (Which are
now severely icl) and consequently we are nov
seeking ia a constitutional method n redress Of
what We deem q sore political evil We ae not
dIsP"sed al has lime by anticipating an entire tail
ure IA the accomplishment of our object Iu this way
20 attribute This difference Of sentiment IN ou5 Els.
tern brethren, 10 n blindness Of mini created nv an
InordInaic love Of that political power Which They
now hold IN Their hands, or % charge hem with a
wanion desire, TO retain is exercise, despite Ih,
injustice Of he act, snd in derugltion Of the rishl,
OF a large portion OF ihoir fellow citizens. whose
only SIN eNss IN the fact, that they inhuhii that
portion of The old Commou,ye alth lyiug west 0G the
Allegheny Mountains. The natural love Of DOW.
ar must Of course, however. generate a deep reluc.
lance 10 rau with as possession, aud consequently
WIN NV NAAtu-lNG NAN AltlEe~T WHICH o. mfgni he
adapted to confer. To The force and o, erAtion Of thI,
principle alone, could We then attribute the dcf,ar
OF our wishes M his matter, should we uulodl IN.
ately fail; for we cannot believe, unless they act
upon that exploded tenet Of despois that might give,
Hshi, that their own views Of pfopreIy, or their
own understanding OF tHs nature Of The right, ui
the citizen under a republican government. can
ever lead them 10 the honest and conscientious con.
NIcilon, that our views are erroneous. that tho pro
sent disposition OF Ite political power Of ths Stale
should not be disturbed. The unequal representa-.
ton IN proportion To- the constituent body In the
western portion OF he state, we regard a. poliirgl
evil of such magnitude. so extensively affecting the
rights Of the western citizen, equally qualified fe
vote, equally qualified - participants IN he admin.
Islraton of The government In al respects with our
eastern friends, rs 10 justify Us il calling upon Them
who hold the power, for rOnpI and immediate re-
dress. We deem It n matter Of total iudiT renee
at TINS lime, as 4 matter wholly unworthy Of our
consideration, or Of theirs, 10 review The ground,
upon which The present appouI0nmcut Of rgprase1.
ttiIOn was or ginally based, or to canvass the rel.
sons which may have induced the convention 10
aCcpf u, When or how any evils may obtain m a
political system, whether through "A defect IN is
fundamental prov slons. NAL administration or other.
wise, y not 50 much a matter Of serious consldra.
lion a. The application Of a prompt and efcciuaI
remedy. The only question for determination rs
this are the people OF western Virginia entitled 20
an equal representation iH tho Legislature with
Eastern virginia. Dies right. Justice % The citizens
thus deprived oi Ja equal share Of ppHtiCaI YlWrf
OF ara equal participation u the administrator of
the government. and especially in The legislative
drpaHmenLwnerc The Hws,hy which ih,r are 20 be .
governed, are made, euutlo them Co ihs rryIIareg|
We h]pprehen5 that a clear and dsnassionaie ytey,
oi tbs subject dIycs'ed 81 oil local. or sectional
considerations, can elicit but one reply from every
intelligent nan. IL IS indeed a matter of lsilnI.b
Ineni, how such IN ? nomaly rs that which we are
now seeking 20 remove could ever have found IN prs.
tence under q government prOfcsscdly d~cmpcnucOr
republican 30 Us ChamCter. Holding. as we all a.,
in This country, The great doctrines uC the entire
equality Of all men, that the people alone are the
fountain Of all power, we regard the present ar
Tangement Of representation a. utterly |IurompatI.
ble with The sPiut end EXPRESSION Of our hin Of
rights. where those doctrines are clearly set forth
\ bret reference 10 some Of the declarations of
that bill, my not be Inappropriate IB This ctuDcc.
ton, as ilusiraIug uurSiews upJn Ibis subject. To-
The fret section oi that bull. 90 b. declared that MI
tnon are by nature equally free aud mIrpsrdrof
and m iha Second, lhIfa 80 power be- vested i1 and
consequently derived from the people. With rbs
broad principle C egullly lying 40 rhr n1gI4
ton ul our government. with what pfuurTety rr .ue
lice, can 20 be confen1cd under an elective finn
that an equal number Of The people -haI NOT be-
entitled 90 an equal representation d much less. fbai
the greater number shall be entitled 10 fewer re-.
prcsentauyes2
Were a convention now held hr the purpose Of
ue'lsins no'n.ttuuou wo u1hcsifaunzIy affirm. that
such % uorirnc. would Dot find o. single advocate.
ihli no one would hr willing i1 incur fhc prr41
and Just indignation which would follow its Frlmur
CATION. lu the fhIH section Yf Tho BIN Of rrtts
s declared thaf government isar ought ta De .r-r.
i1ied "r tGe common benefit. protection and ,.rY-r.
" Of ihc people. nation or c.mmrrff. with fsa..
''pns iuih here so',mHIy I4I1 duna. asa fu1JsmcD.
'I prnclp.e In our record We enquire uaI sa.f.
% OF c'ndor have aH iHo people 1i Virginia tHr
sam. ~tu11iiar, OBJ. amr equal Insurance. f.4t f.
government nnIrr wH.a hoy Igo. will ba admin.
l'efei lr The common benefit of Them aV how 81
o. P'''nIo Il1i such ln assurance con- be- laI BOO fbr
''fnee ri ihe p0wprrcII..fa Or fI1f purpose de.
lff'i 90 an rGu1I share n Ie legislative arrI.7 Of
''a .'lP, ihrr p1nofis Inadequate. u the first ,..
I'' '1 secure fHe accomplishment uf fMs aH-ae.
..'''' y Ho rl arc oft bera1.uI laws. 1f rg r-a.
aIY "H.rH ore ufurHus eur.a.y ta dad.
".-h. F'. H"-lHre of those. rrr rr arf rarr..r-.
'm'.'r number of trr ..rsl.sart H..Ig-.r
PC t''.H' .'s''Frr. 1s H' .lr Executive 4r..ssr.#