Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-08-07
THURSDAY, aUGUsr7, 1875.
TIE COVfEyrlON QUESTION.

Inc Re1m0nd lines does Us Injustice IN sgppping
that "lesri ii meeting the question" Of the ba
sis Of representation "pronpuy anI dfmly." II is be-
cause Ia favor OF doing nav, rather Than of
p1slponing n future day, icbca must be ael under
mptopiti9us circumstances. that advocate the
sail Ola Convention al his time. Admit that The East
has majority Of y IN the House Of Delegates and Of
in the Senate and that this majority has, AMI will for
have 1t in It's p1Hef maintain its aseeadaucy,
in despite Of Western tem4astanres lng does the
Times sapposc that the Western people, Wh) complain
Of what they aeso to be elrias inequality, will sub
NIT peaeea5y to this state of things VIII they
sent that this "Gxed anioy shall forever reprl their
application for Convention to consider the grievances
ufWieh they complain although each successive inter
val often years. heeensas may expose the fact Of
r1rlye increase Of population west Of the Ridge, aud
Comparative decline oas} It csnnot 50 believe nncss
a has broughtits mind the conclusion that the West
eo Esnians o5 sadly degenerate assert and to
maintain their rights. "lfagitaton be the consequence
of our refusal" to eel This question now, and Ia adjust
II upon principles satisfactory and safe both PARTIES
it rM be ours 10 answer for it, aud Tor It's dsaslous
sequences. That 1t may be adjusted now unless by
uugenefeos taunls larno and exasperaie the con,
tending parties against each oher,, instead of soothing
and conciiialing them, do not doubt. IT, when the
representatives, u lie conflicting views and principles as
semhle they shall meet brethren Of the poIiti-
cal family, both sociious TO preserve the unity Of the
State by mutual eoHce isions instead Of maintaining
each lis extreme position in doaged spirit oil olstinacy,
which, IN Commonwealth situated as is Virginia. with
distinct Il not hostile interests, be safely at
temp!ad, even ly "G.cd majority" Gtself al
legged II be an unequal and unfair representation of pop
ular opinion We say, they meet in such spirit aud
viii proceed IN sueh temper the consideration Of
this sfeetncsoo, we have IN apprehension but that the
result vii be satisfactory ar1e majority oi the peo
pie on both sides Of the uounlans, We do not hesitate
TO say, however. that, If, upon meeting in Convention
the Western delegates shall refuse assent 10 snch con
sIIiao1ai provisions will eeeuay guard the rights
OF the Eastern stakeholder and give him the ampest Sc
cu:ily against Injustice end ppessonshoud iLey pro-
claim lie while basis their mmatta and turn deaf
ear lie such reasonable compromise OF the question as may
be tendsftd We vii t'Ien them in the same in.
ieAl5.e aflri and, with the Tunes, cling with enyield
'ng ianaciiy to the EXISTING arrangement And it QUO h
not Ia be forgotten by the Times that fthe East be op
posed 10 tie white bass (and If il ia not thea let il be
SURRENDERED rs oushlto be -aee incur no hasard by
ecAsHg Goac3tios-toae ,chaierer. For, il it be
called tha ngibef ii members u which it shall be COM
posed end hemaaner Of their election is to be prescribed
by The Legislature in which there is as the Times has
shown, "ISedp eastern majority OF % in oae branch
and OF IN tie other. Is it to be presumed tia refer
ence Will not be lad, by that fixed majority in the or
ganHatian OF Convention, 10 the most important sub
Jet upon which ii will be called act and Of which
That majority are the special representatives, Let
'he ilns then, dismiss lis fears. They are altoseih-
er unfea-lhe phantoms Of MUD on This subject mani
lestly I'VE speak 1t with all respee) distompered For.
although have admitted thai il Is ''by no means i'm,
hat ~ L.; 10.
mixed, yet we do regard il as al all likely to happen.
IN the chapter Of accidents. As we remarked in our
article this subject on the 30h of June last, SO
we Say now so far from deetaiag it absolutely Ger.
tam that he call ola Convention will result in this ele>
ncatay change in the State constitution, we regard the
apprehension Of that event, expressed and SO earnestly
> dwell upon BY the Richmond Times, as altogether I'M,
founded llihe opponents Of the desired change in The
Legislature be tre to themselves and their constituents
IN The organization Of Coaeeation, it's accomplish.
eat Is altogether improbable; aud consequently, the ar
gumen against takng the OF The people as to the
eSpedleaey Of holding such Convention founded upon
that assumption, is entirely destitute Of weight
} The difference between the Richmond Times and
ourselves them Is t'is That paper resolved because
There Is "hNed majority" ia the Legislature in favor
4" The mixed basis, 10 make that basis a frea feet
"e the laws u Tie Modes and the Persians fore yer I'M
'"1a2eaele,-in despite ofthe yearly increasing strength
''d elahor OF the W estefn people, who with voice
deooonee It as hagrantly wrong in principle and
as mol less unjust Injurious and degrading in It's pract-
cal operation. We, on the other hand deem il unNise
To excite and ntame our Western brethren by repeated
!'Jfciiuns Of their demand Tor COMMUNICATIONS
them tie ROB Roy maxim as reason for our pertina-
cou5 refusal even to consider their alleged grievances:
hat Those shall hoep who haze the power,
! And those may get who can"
eareIn favor OF meeting them in iroternal spirit
and hearing their arguments in favor Of their theory of
government which. plausible under any circumstances.
Is only wrong When il isapplied TO Commonwealth
situated as Virginia IS with large portion of it popua-
TED 10y class combining in itself The double character of
property and persons, While in other sections this class
Is numerically inconsderabe. We are in favor OF show
ns them, that however plausible and in the abstract
even correct may be their theory ceases to be app-
cable to state of society like ours-and need be- to
compromise the question, by making such concessions,
as, while they may satisfy them, will not eopardze our
safety. 10 this extent VIC prepared to 90 on this
Plni-bnt not Il whit farther Aad it, on meeting in
Convention, II be found mpaccable TO effect this com.
promise-it Gd Cesar art .Naii " be the MOTTO Of the
/ Western peoplc-why then we shall fall back upon
the only ground of safety left, and fight the battle with
u'em there-preerrng any result rather than to transfer
without an efficient safeguard, the majority into their
hands. Such a compromise believe may now be
made-Pospone the attempt few years longer. BY re