Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-08-18

injustice, cannot be without It's moral eff
feet upon our Eastern brethren They
have bat to know the Western people
better to be satisfied, that there is TO
ground for the jealousy they entertain TO-
wards them.
Ihe ''Ball" is ttus set in molten. aud
"Asitation,'' "Agitation," | suppose,
will now become the order OF the
day. do not thinks however, there is
muck chance OF getting Convention at
this time. Tie West itself is not united
Oh the question:; but assufedly it viii
soon become SO the Legislature persists
in refusing a re-appor1oDmeat OF repre-
seutation upon fail; and just principles.
REPORT
Ofthe Select Committee, adopted Jy
tie LesyiS5Wg Convea5ion.
The Committee appointed under the
resolution to prepare and report such
subject for the consideration OF this
Conventio as they may think proper for
its action, beg leave respectfully to re-
port: That the short time allotted them
by the Convention renders it impossible
TO enter at large into an examination Of
those grievances under which the people
of Virginia labor from the unequal, arbi-
trary, geographical foundation upon
which the representation of the State is
based. This Convention is too famil-
lar with the formation If the present
Constitution Of Virginia to give a minute
or detailed history thereof;t is fresh in the
recollection of all. All Of US remember
the long, painful and protracted struggle
which gave it birth, and we all remember
the stern oppusltion with which it was
met in many portions Of our Common
wealth upon the question of its adoption
by the people. Your COMMITTEES do not
promise to awaken any feeling. or one
recollection, calculated to divert our
judgement from calm and deliberate
consideration Of the question to which
your Committee have thought proper to
call your attention.
The great and leading object Of our
assembling at This time is to take toto
consideration, and to suggest ouch rem
edy as is just and proper for that inc
quality representation which exists in
different sections Of the State in the
General Assembly, and to attain, by all
those Constitutional means in our power,
that equality in the councils Of our State,
to which our rights as men. our loyalty
as Eirginians, and cur principles of de
votioa to republican government, entitle
US. We do net ia the prosecution of
these objects propose any invasion II the
rights OF others, or Of resortto any but
those weapons OF truth and justice which
have at.all times. aud under all circum-
stances, proved victorious III those CON
tests in which majority Of the people
laboring under manifest wrongs and in
justice have with steadiness, unanimity
and perseverance, asserted and main
tanned their rig hts.
BY the Constitution Of Virginia the
power Of apportioning the representa-
ton throughout the State is conferred by
express provision on the Legislature of the
State after the year 1871, and at intervals
thereafter Of not less than ten yeaFs, two
thirds of each house concurrlng therein,
SO that the number Of delegates shall at
no time exceed $50, or Of Senators S.,
Under this clause Of the Constitution
ample power is.yested in the Legislature
Of the State to remedy the existing repre-
sentatlon, and to FIX that representation
on the free white citizens OF the Commo-
nwealth, the only just, true, and repub-
llcan foundation upon which 1t can rest.
Your Committee cannot but regard that
power as wholly imperative and nugato-
ry under the terms imposed for its exer-
else; as power merely declared in the
instrument itself. but<upon the practical
exercise of which. the minority in the
Legislative Halls cannot rely with any
reasonable or we'll founded hope for re-
lief, however great may be the majority
asking for that relief in the Common
wealth itself.
The inequality Of representation and
power in the councils of the State does
not rest i'll an inequality of the elective
franchise in point Of qualification; il is
found in its practical appiieation.-lt is
found IN that geographical feature of the
Constitution which at present assigns to
1856 qualified voters in the Yves. the
safae political influence, and no more,
which 558 Of cur fellow citizens of the
East enioy.-ln that inequality which
vests the same power in 4,757 of our
Eastern friends, as in 1913 Of GU, trans
Alfegany people. Z
These are inequalities which we are
told it is proper to preserve as constitu-
tional guarantees for the protection Of
property, against those dangers which
result from the possession of power by
that portion Of our people who have not
| a common interest in the preservation Of
that property, and who do not contribute
an equal amount Of taxation to the sup
port of the Government. Your Com.
mittee are not prepared to sanction such
principles, or to adopt such conclusions.
They rely with implicit confidence
in the capacity Of the people Tor self gov
ernment. in their justice. wisdom, slr-
tue, and moderation, and cannot but re,