Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-09-04

a. J. smith, 6i0eon ~. camden, Lsq.,
aud Col. D. kjneheloe aud unanimous.
~ adopted.
Whereas il is fundamental principle
Of Republican Government that az its
citizens hare equal politicalrghts, and that
the political power Of the Government
should be welded by a majority Of IFS citi-
zens that il is an abuse OF terms to call
that Government. republican where mi.
nority offs Citizens have the supreme pow.
er over, and can rule the majority:
And whereas by the present Constitu-
ton OF Virginia, the citizens of one por.
ton Of the State have greater political
power than the citizens in other portions
of 1t, thus destroying that principle Of
equality, among the citizens that consti.
tutes the basis Of Republican Government,
and thereby giving to the minority Of
the citizens the power TO rule the ma
jority that by the arbitrary and unjust
provisions o. the existing Constitution the
eastern portion OF the State having free
white population of many thousands less
than the western portion oft, nevertheless
have the supreme power TO make and al
ter the laws, TO impose taxes and disburse
them, to appoint to Office, and in all mat
tiers pertaining TO State policy, to control
the western portion Of the State having a
majority Of the free white population
and this meeting OF the citizens Of Harri-
son County protest agains, the doctrine
that because ofthe accumulation OF wealth
from accidental or other causes in any por.
ton of the State, that the citizens OF that
portion by reason Of their superior wealth
should be clothed with more political
power than the other portions Of the State
less fortunately situated. We hold that
every free white citizen has equal polti-
cal rights with every other citizen, that
the ma ority ofthe citizens without regard
to the portion Of the State in which they
may happen to reside, constitute the only
true basis Of political power, and whilst
this meeting does admit that at present
the Eastern division Of the State, owing
to the superior wealth of its citizens, con-
tributes more revenue than the Western
division, yer the moral influence arising
from the superiority of the number of Cit.
zens of the western division, coupled with
the means that this superiority OF numbers
furnishes Tor the common defence and
general welfare of the whole State, more
than compensates for the inferior amount
Of revenue tha: il may contribute
And this meeting, whilst they maintain
the abstract proposition that the western
portion of the State is deprived OF its jus,
share OF political power, they also nam
tian that the practical effect Of the present
unjust aud unequal distribution of politi-
cal power within the State, has been in
furious to the prosperity and harmony Of
Its citizens, and without entering into a
detailed statement oft the many Instances Of
misruIs that have characterized the
government, we refer with sorrow to the
fact, that with superiority in climate, soil
and situation, over, all or most OF the other
States o. the Union, Virginia is losing
her population IN many parts Of the State,
without obtaining corresponding increase
IN Others that her soil has deteriorated
IN value and productions, and the proper.
ty OF her citizens is diminishing; that with
an ample fund for internal Improvement,
little has been done tor the Improvement
OF tue commerce and trade OF the State
that with an ample fund for education,
nothing has been done, or very little for
the diffusion of learning among the cui.
zenS, and that Virginia at this day as is
proved by the late census, EXHIBITS larg.
er portion Of lis population that can Meth.
er read nor write, than any other State
IN the Union, with only one exception,
and contrasted with the progress Of edu-
cation III the Monarchies Of Europe, the
neglect Of thus important duty on the part
OF Virginia, goes far to furnish an argu-
ment derogatofy OF free Institutions.
1t is therefore the solemn and deliber.
ate opinion Of this meeting, tha; if politi-
cal power within the State We're placed
upon It's true basis, that is upon the equal
rlgAts Of all ats citizens, that energy would
be infused INTO the administration Of tho
government, as also among its citizens,
that the resources of the country would
be brought into activity, tina; It's populA.
lion would increase, aud that the citlzens
would be- better educated and rendered in
all the relations Ollie more posperous and
happy.
Res0teed th9eUpon, That it IS expedi.
ent that there should be assembled as soon
as practicable, convention TO reform the
constitution otthe State, so as to apportion
representation ia both branches of the
Legislature equally, according to the free
white population Of the State.
And whereas, lest it might De inferred
that the inequality Of representation il the
Legislative department or the Government
is the only grievance arising under the
constitution under which the people labor;
there are others to which this meeting will
refer, and which demand correction and
reioim. By the constitution Of the feder.
al Government, which is paramount to
the present costltution of Virginia, it is
provided "taatre representatives in Congress
shall be apportioned among the several
States according to ther respective mum.
beers, which shall be determined by adding
to the whole number Of free persons in
GLIDING those bound to service for term