Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-11-13

( Piedmont do. I9U 2bo 10 zig T49 81 63,9B4 50
Tide ttst.do. la 432 Ia 206.e05 40 62.s7s -
Upon the mixed basis of white population and
taxation, the present Representation. will be per-
ceived, Is. ainost equaiiy, adjusted, between The
lIwo Dvisluns--the Eastern having rs Delegates
AID ~ senators, ard the Western Sc Delegates
aud rs senators.
Its insisted by the West, ihs, the sole iIxt ba-
SIS Of Representation - the white popslaiian. Ii
I that basis hall be adopted he baiaaee OF power
viii be transferred from the Eastern to the west.
efn D'sison--tfs majority OF white population be
! ing West Of tie Blue Ridge.
Population and the value Of lands having in
creased 10 the West and decreased in the East, the
process oi accession aud dminutsea sui going on
and there existing, necessarily and 10 fact. like
disparity ct erpris@, IN the .wo great sections
II IS OF high Importance. in reference to measures
Of Sta:e advancement. fbe, Representation should
he, more nearly. egusiized. Til. meeting is 20,
prepared, however say, that il should rest upon
ice white basis, soieiy 1ale.s ample guatabsy shall
be provided fur the secusy OF the Slave populatisa
OF The East. II Is unwilling assent. that VITA
out such security, portion Of the Sia'e which
/ pays, rs did The East N is4G, S426 55s95 of Re
vsn5e, shall have greater Representation, ihan
that which pays s 1873 69a63 The guaranty can
not, meniiesty. be- provided b. Legislature enact
1ent, Otherwise than THE appafi ionmeu NJ Of the
/ representation. An adjustment, therefore the
/ IuacIpal element Of which shah be the white pop
nlation o. an arbitrary spporilanment, which shall
materially, diminish the pteseut majority of The
Esst, present IN the estimation Of this meeting
! Just remedial modes vi reform.
/ Although It may Be questioned, low far Il i.
4 polite ia the Valley DISTRICT to adopt basis OF
/ Representation, the chief element Of Which Is
y hue population, WHEN the effect will be 10 ID.
mtnl,h The present IelstIve s'iengtb OF che Pred
mont y slricf, (steater, under the sppnst ianmenl
oi 1919. than -iiher the Valley OF the Ttan.-All s-
g6any Di-,rct, upon the auto basi.) which -
4 The amoua, OF, about, 10000. from 1880 TO $40
alone OF the four Districts diminished in iis white
/ population, and with which the valley is much
identified IN ierling, sad habits and interest, yet
this meeting regards the general welfare Of the
State a. paramount TO al considerations Of local
OF seclonal interests.
The Po~er 10 effect lhis reform is nov vested In
the Legislative Department, and nay be. at once
eaeieisr'l. BY The h Sectiua % the Bed Article
OF the Constitution, the General Assembly, after
the year l8ii, and at intervals thereafter of mol
less thar ten years, has the authority two thirds
OF each House mourning, to make ,e,appoftioa-
| rent Of Delegates and Senators, throughout the
| Commonwealth. that the plumber 81 Delegates
shall not, At any time, exceed hundred and
/ hfif. of Senators ,brtv-stx" Justice To IT,
measure at the hands ofiis Representatives but
specially, do we invoke H. in behalf Of oui Western
brethren, whose every energies ore patal, zed by
/ the present unequal system of Reptesentanon.
While there ia possibility, therefore 0. Legs.
! latve reform, in this respect, We are content 10
abide existing evils, relying upon the sense Of right
aid polite forecast Of the East in reference to The
unavatsbIe issue of thi, sectional struggle, and
trusting, chat necessity shall not cnmpei ns even
tually to the last resort--the ultima rstio Of a
sovereign people, mindful Of their and ea-
ous oi their privileges.
Such, in few words, Is the course. which thi.
meeting deems the most prudent, upon this alarm
ing proposition of a Convrntion--lt thinks fii fur
her to say, thar. 50 far respects The County Of
Berkeley, no general agitation Of the sul jecl has
taken place. The movement has NOT emanated
from The mass # the People. with Ybem, il ever.
upon mstter of 81 grave concelnnent as this
act zion should 0rigiaats unex ciied and undecsis-
ed, aninilnenc-d by honest bot speculative Reior.
mers and uninstigsted by petty fomentefs Of sec
| ,ionsl di.cord.
Resoiee9, Therefore tina, /, is inexpedient, at
thr PR sent time, that Convention OF the People
should be held to revise the Constitution OF the
State
Mr. PESpLEroN supported his resolution in
speech Of considerable leng,h and replied to ihe
views expressed BY Mr. FAuLKSeR--denying Ina,
a majority Of the people OF Berkeley we're in favor
| Of call for Convection. Dr.. pAas combaued
the views of Mr.. PESpLEros, and believed from
hi, intercourse with the people. that majority of
the pc pie Of the County in favor Of a call Of
a Convention Mr.. FAULKsER sustained these
| views, aud his previous positions, and replied 10
the remarks Of Mr.. PESDLEIos JAMES f STFw-
ART, Esqr,, replied with considerable warmth to
some remarks which had fallen from Mr. Piss.
DLkToS IN rotation TO the Editors of the Newspa-
rers in this place. and which he consi cred person.
al to himself "a Editor of the "Martin-huIg Ga
zeue" Mr. F. g. ALBURris. Editor Of the "Vir-
gnia Republican" endorsed The remarks of ME-.
STEWART. Mr. PESpLETos replied and explain
ed the position, which be had taken and further
urged the propriety OF the adoption Of the preamble
and resolutions offered by him. The OF the
meeting was then taken on Mr.. PEsDLgroN's pre-.
amble and resolutions and trey were lost by an
overwhelming majority.
Mr.. STEwART's motion was then pst and car
ried, and The Chair appointed the following gem
tlemen a Committee to adopt preamble and
olu,ions expressive of the of the people OF
Berkeley County in relation os the call Of Con-
venlion, 10 wit: James + Stewart, Henry Sci.
bert Charles Jas. Faulkner, James w. Gray.
William +. Snodgra... Amos Williamson. Tillot.
son F,ya,t, DR.. Thomas s. Page, George Lsmon.
f. g. Alburus, D H. Conrad, and Edmund PEN
dleton. The Committee then retired, and after
due deliberations returned and offered through
their Chairman the following preamble and reso.
buttons to the meeting, which were read and, on
motion, adopted by very large majority.
The members OF this meeting composed
Of citizens Of the county of Berkeley, with
out distinction Of party, and rejecting as
they believe, the sentiments OF majority
Of her qualified voters, promulgate as their
deliberate opinions on the important ques-
ton Of Reform Of our State Constitution
which question is now agitating the peo-
pie Of Virginia--the following preamble
and Resolutions
That, the power 10 alter or amend the
Constitution of the State is an inherent,
indubiiable right of the people of Virginia,
whenever, in their judgment it ceases 10
be productive Of the happiness and poiiti-
cal prosperity of the whole people Of Vir-
giria: That the people, being the foun-
tain of power and honor, the Legislature
disregards the sovereign Will, whenever,
through timldity, or fear of the people, or
sectional influences, OF any other cause,
that Body hesitates or refuses TO test the
popularity of our organic laws. by referring
propositions for amendment, or substl-
tion of other forms 10 The Indictment OF the