Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-07-31
PUBLIC MEETING


In accordance with the public notice ssen for several
weeks, large meeting OF the citizens Kanawha as
scmblcd in the Court House in CharlestN ON Monday
July ID Nj. DUNBAR, Esq, callA to the chair
and JAMES III. Fay, appointed Secretary
On motion of Andrew Parks, the Chdr appointed a
committee OF five, viz: Andrew Parks George w
Summers, Spicer Patrick, John Lewis Ind Robert A.
onpso", 10 uraw up ana ouer Kcsoiutns for the
sideration OF this meeting
Alter a short time, said committee E,ported the fol
lowing resolutions which, having been discussed and
supported by Mcssrs. Thompson, Summer and Robin
SON, were unanimously adopted:
The citizens ofthc County OF Kanawha y ling deeply
ther own prvaons and sympathizng withthosc of the
whole western division Of the State and believing this
TO be an suspicious period for presenting their
ces to the public with the their redress embody
Their sentiments upon the subject in the foil ing
Resolved, That the present constitution Il Virginia
' IN many respects, very imperfect and lily designed
10 answer the great purposes of enlightened system Of
organic law, and ought to be speedily altered abolish
cd, and new one adopted in lite stead.
= Resolved, That that feature Of the constitution
regulating and determining the representation Of the
State, by geographical boundaries, is without principle
republican, and tending, as does, virtually 10 dis
franchise majority of the populations and voters If the
Commonwealth, cannot be tolerated by a free peopc
3. Resolved, That the prccnce of our Eastern b,ch
reE, for claiming majority of the representatives the
Legislature notw understanding their minority in point of
numbers (o wit that they the larger property hol
dcrs and pay the greater amount Of the rascl for
the support OF government and that property ought
be represented as well pcIsons and by such adj
Justment as to give property the rropondcratng niu
encc IN the body pohtc,l swthou reason and hostile
to the cardinal principles of free government.
l. Resolved That the fears expressed by the East,
that their slave property would be unsae and subjected
TO be unduly taxed if the West should be allowed the
asccndcncy in the Legislative councils Of the State,
which her population and number of voters cpttc her
to- unjust and insulting to the West, and ,cnd TO
sunder the ties which bind the several divisions of the
Commonwealth together great social COMMUNITY
aud that We as portion OF the Western people
prepared to give them ample guaranty that sub
Ject by the adoption OF uniform system Of ad ualorcm
taxation.
s. Resolved, That the exclusion of the Western dyi.
sion of the State by the unequal system of
resenia'ion from her just weight in the body polite,
the great which retarded the growth improve
incnt, and prosperity OF the West.
o. Resolved, That IN the opinion Of this meeting
majority oil the people of Virginia, and particularly oil
The Western division Of the State mpcrousy demand
OF the next Legislature the of an act submitting
the subject of the call of Convention for the purpose
amending the Constitution, to the people at the follow
Ing spring elections.
T. Resolved, That the right of suffrage under the pre-
sent constitution unequal unjust vague and
and that the should be fixed on some certain and
permanent basis by which equal and ust participation
III the government of the Commonwc may be secured
TO all her citizens.
s. Resolved, That the James River and Kan w ha i'm.
Provement, recommended and projected by the
iightened citizens OF the Commonw eath was cordially
supported and considerable portions of the stock of the
company taken by the West, under the impression that
II was the purpose of the State in good faith TO com
pete the work according its original design by unit
ing the Eastern and Western waters by chain of i'm.
provcncnts passing through the heart of Virginia.
y Resolved, That consider it the boundcn duty OF
the next General Assembly of this Commonw calth, &c
provide the means for the immediate resumption and
ly completion OF the great central line improvement
according TO the originally contemplated aud that
inc good faith OF the State should be fully aud al
pledged TO the accomplishment of this work.
H. Resolved, That should the next Legislature fail
to make provision aforesaid, and furnish satisfac
tory pledge Tor the entire completion of said line Of
provcmcn, then we hold il 10 be equally the boundcn
duty OF the General Assembly grant permission to the
Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company pass through
the State with their Improvement to any point within her
boundaries ON the Ohio River, Or to incorporate com
paiy with like powers and privileges.
H. Resolved, That Intelligence is the life Of lber-
y, and that II is the duty and of every free
State TO provide ample for the education of her
citizens, and that prevailing ignorance in Virginia
shows lamcntablc drelccton the part OF the Com
monwealth in regard to this high obligation.
H. Resolved, That II is the imperative duty of the
Commonwealth TO place within the reach of all her cti-
zens the of education and the next General
Assembly should provide for the State efficient and
complete system of schools part of the
burden OF which we hereby most checrully pledge
selves.
H. Resolved That invite brethren of the State
at large and especially Of the West who agree with us
In the views embodied in the foregoing resolutions
unite IN memoriazing the next Legislature take the
necessary steps tocay out the Objects therein
plated.
ID. Resolved, That committee of five be appointed
by the Char to prepare memorial to the General
Assembly, praying the call of Convention amend the
Constitution OF the State.
Under this resolution, the chairman appointed the
following gentlemen TO constitute the committee, viz:
George w. Summers, b. H. Smith, James l.. Carr,
John Lewis, James III. Fry.J
Resolved, hat the proceedings of this meeting be
published in the Kanawha Republican, and the pa
pers throughout the State friendly the objects of this
meeting be requested to 'oPy then, r,,.;u.
j. II. Fay, Scc'y.