Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-08-09
NlRGl\lA-NO z

Virginia, west ot the Allcglany mountains
c%ontaius a territory of 29.6O6 square miles;
between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge TO-
29i; beyond the Blue Ridge To Tide Water
l3,i69 square miles; below Tide Water H.
ISL square miles. In all 66,9ti. Increase
in population in the Western District during
the last ten years 20 per cent. Increase i'm
the Valley >cvcnty-eigli, hundrcd,hs of ] Al per
cent. DccrsdS, in the District betwee thu
Blue Ridge and Tide Water three and
nincty-two hundreths per cent. Decrease
below Tide Water two and one third per cent.
The whole white populationi is al ,26t; aver
age white population TO the square mile III and
twelve hundrcths.
BY the 18th scctioa of the 81 article of the
Virginia Constitution, ii is made the duty of
the Legislature, in the year 1911, to app
ton the representation in both Of the lcgisla-
tive bodies, with a proviso that there shall be
no increase OF diminution Of Senators or De-
lcgates from the four great divisions of the
State.
The 9th section ofthc same article gives To
the Legislature, after the year 1871. and ut in
~tervals of ten years thereafter, the authority,
(two-thinls OF each house conscn,ing.) to make
re-apPoriionments of Senators aud Delegates
throughout the Commonwealth.
To AN individual familiar with the genius
" V"' iNpuptI'dh 'pIiI UtHbNtTiltlcnI, tile u
mended Constitution of Virginia must appear
an anomaly not less than the occasional de-
parturc from the laws of nature. which at
times excite the wonder of the world, and
put at fault all the theories of the learned.-
One great object had in view in the call of
the Convention of 1929, was the formation of
AN organic law. Tor the government of a peo-
pie ot equal, natural and political rights; yet
It's result was u form of government in all
it's essential characteristics erected upon the
assumption that men or nations s.were NOT
c.eated equal" and .that all men were not
endowed by their creator with certain inhe-
rent and mali nable rights. The fran, RS of
the amended constitution seem to have over
looked or forgotten the great political axiom
that lies at the foundation of all her govern
ment, To wit: that all just government derives
Its authority from the consent of the governed
and that any system OF government that has
not such sanction is an usurpation, which il
is the bounden duty of the people to 50 alter or
abolish and To adopta new government laying
its foundation on such principles. and organi-
zing its provisions in such form as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety
and happiness"
The apportionment provided for in the 4th
section ol the 81 article is of no importance to
Western Virginia at the present time, as 10
change could or would be made i'm the repre-
seDtation from either the Senatorial districts
or counties entitled to Delcgates.-But West
em Va. is deeply interested in the re-appor-
tionmeut OF the representative power as pro-
vided for in the 9th section Of the 81 article.
Had Western Virginia its just share in the
legislative power, the policy of the State upon
several important questions would have been
very different from what it has been, and to
the extent of the influence of the State i'm the
councils of the General Government policy
much more consistent with Western interests
would have been assumed.
At a public meeting recently held i'm the
county OF kanawha at which Judge Summers
presided, a memorial to the Legislature was
adopted, in which a variety of arguments are
urged with great power upon the consideration
that body, i'm relation To the unjust and
unequal representation of Western Virginia,
in the Senate and House Of Delegates, as fixed
by the constitution, and praying that such an
adjustment of the legislative power may be
made as will insure To all portions of the State
something like equality OF political power.
While we are willing TO admit that the
rvst Objectionable fosturc of the constitution
~ the unequal distribution of the legislative
power among the different divisions of the
State; yet there are other features of that in
strument nearly as obnoxious, and which i'm
pera,ively require corrections: as for instance
the restrictions imposed upon the right of
suffrage, the mode of electing the Governor,
&c. &c. In regard to the legislative power
of the State, the Legislature will, after lSil,
have the power to make "a fair and equal dis
trlbltion throughout the State; but there is no
mode OF correcting any other Objectionable
feature OF the Constitution but through the
medium OF a convention Of the people. We
are moreover willing to admit that the reason
ing OF the kanawha memorial ought to have
the desired effect with the Legislature; yet l
am well convinced that the constitutional ma
jority can never be obtained for any other rule
OF -apportionment than the one now fixed by
the Constitution. Ii has been said that the
participants of power, rarely if ever, v%olunta-
rily surrender it. To expect, therefore, that
the people of Eastern Virginia will surrender
the control OF the Legislature Of the State,
is at war with the motives which govern
the actions of all political bodies.
There is an argument however, i'm support OF
the plan proposed by the Kanawha memorial
that is of some weight; it is this, il the West
can obtain a representation in the Senate and
House OF Delegates, based upon white popul
%lation, then the friends of reform will be able
to call a convention at any time.
Let us then hold meetings in all the coun-
ties west of the Allegheny, and dept memo
rails and resolutions expressive of our views,
as well in relation to the form of our present
Constitution, as also in relation to the manner
in which that instrument should be modified,
SO as TO conform more nearly TO the doctrines
OF the founders of our republic, and to the
advances that have been made i'm political sci
cnce, since the era of our independence. II
we shall fail (as we believe we willy in indu
cling the Legislature to extend To us an equal
representation in the Senate and House OF
Delegates, we will then be the better able tc
determine what Interior measure must be re-.
sorted to, to command our just share in the
councils of the commonwealth.
From the ". y. Sun.
FROM THE AFRICAN COLONIES
INTERESTING and Lmporiant-PIRAcy by A BR,.
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