Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-02-20
From the Richmond Whig.

From The Richmond Wing.
An objection raised by some to a Conven-
ton, is that it may result in the removal of the
Seat Of Government from Richmond! o. most
lame and ideal objection? Richmond is not CEN
trail indeed: but here, fer 70 years, have been
transacted all the great affairs Of the Colony and
Commonwealth of Virginia. The locality is
ndissolubly linked in the associations of memo
ry, with the mighty men," as Jno. Randolph
called the Revolutionary patriots Of Virginia in
the Convention of l829-the Henrys, the Lees,
the Randolphs, the Madisons, the Masons, the
Graysons, the Nicholases-who conceived and
accomplished the Revolution! Here, too, are
the public buildings necessary for the accom-
mediation of Government, and not to be re-erec-
ted except at great expense! But, most po-
tent argument of all! here are the gay society,
the variety and novelty Of amusement, the fish
and oysters, the soirees and the suppers, and
the mileage. which Sta,naton can never COM
mand, to compensate our Western brethren for
leaving their fire-sides to serve the public, and
their gentle spouses to face the gloom of Win
ter in solitude!
No! there is no reason to fear the removal
of the Seat Of Government from Richmond
We have often heard it threatened, but we
know human nature too we'll, ever to have at
tached the least consequence to the threat. And
! if it acre removed, wonld Richmond be injured
by the transfer? Just the contrary in our
| opinion. She would cease then to be the step
| daughter of the State, and, relying too much
| now upon the resource of the accidental pat
! ronage Of the Government, would learn to rely
upon her own magnificent and inexhaust;ble
| resources alone.
If for nothing else the independence of the
| Judiciary being guaranteed we would, had we
| the power. call Convention to correct the in
equality of privilege enjoyed by some conmu-
mites of Eastern Virginia over the rest.
Let US look at only one instance, that of the
| county of Br,a,spick, as compared with vari-
Gus others.
| Brunswick by the census of 1910, contains
1886 inhabitants, as heavy proportion being
slaves, as in any county of the State. Bruins
wick has t,co members.
Caroline has II ,8l3 Caroline has but one
! Representative.
Chesterfield County has II Jas population !:
Yet Chesterfield has but one member. Thus
| IA, 346 people in Brunswick, have an equal
weight in the House as Chesterfield and Car
oline, with taco counties each superior in popu-
ation, and with larger ratio of whites: If
this is right any thing is right and nothing is
wrong.
| Louisa has I5,433.
| The city of Richmond has 20, l53 inhabi-
tants, now conjectured to be near or quite
% 1000, Brunswick first ties her vote. and then
carries one. If this is right. it would be equal
| ly right to transfer the sceptre at once to the
county of Brunswick!
-e6e-
.NaturaIization.-A Washington
correspondent of Baltimore American
says: 81 send you below an abstract
of the Naturalization Law reported by
the committee on the Judiciary this
morning.
First, The person naturalized is to
make known his intention before the
Supreme, Superior, District or Cir
cult Court Of the State or Territory,
where he is to certify 2 years before his
admission to- the privileges to citizen
ship that it was his bona .fde intention
to become citizen of the Il. States.
An alien, two years after he shall
have made declaration ofintention to
become citizen, and shall have resi-
ded five years within the limits and
jurisdiction of the United States pre-
ceding his application, shall be a citi-
zen of the United States upon taking
an oath to support the constitution Of
the United States.
The persons claiming the privileges of
citizens are to swear that they are the
bona fde persons naturalized.
The resident is to be one year in the
State or territory before voting, but
this is to be done of the FIVE years.
Aliens in majority may have their
time counted as in majority, if they
arrive at 81 years before asking to vote.
Every Court of Record having COM
mon law jurisdiction is to be regarded
proper for naturalization.
The expense of naturalization is to
be three dollars.
Six months imprisonment or a fine
is to be the price oftrautlulent swearing.
The District Attorney is authorized to
prosecute persons fraudulently voting.