Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-07-14
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.Mo.vDaY. JgLY a. 1915.
THE CONVENTION QUESTION.

Of The chie and mred basis Of epresen ailon in
the State legislature, in the of the call Of State
Convention w.t. to base representation upon white
population in The House b Delegates and in the Senate
upon population aud taxation combined lis sharply re-
bnked by writer in the harrisburg Chronicle 'as ans
republican. unequal and unjust" II may be so; new
erhel-ss, it Is confessedy great modification of the
rule of superintendent fixed by The pr sent constitution
which is iIst very essential modification of that which
existed prior 10 its adoption II follows therefore, il this
impnlaon he os tha, HE original founders Of our State
government, either ignorantly or wully imposed upon
the people anlirepuhcan, unequal and unjus, sys-
tem," and thai this fragrant ffaud upon popular rights
has been perreuated by their surcessors And it is
qualy true that the federal constitution 10 which the
slaves Of the South regarded both persons and prop
ery, aud entitled therefore partial representation in
Congress, is ani.repubcan. unequal and uni u., in i,s
character. We are willing to be condepned in such
honorable and renowned association!
The writer in the Lewisburg paper, however, seem
to soncede that in adjusting plan Of representation the
safety Of the rights of the Shareholders should be guard
ed; and he proposes effect this end the following
scheme: Base the whole representation upon white pop
uleion aid let a clause be inserted in the consttu-
ton prohibiting the Legislature from taxing slaves be-
y." We are not prepared to say that this would be
an efficient protection but if il would we confess
our objection to the white basis would be greatly III.
unished by lis adoption. Upon this point, however
we must insist upon the most ample security-
For. after all The magnoqnent and hig sounding phra-
about "equa rights, wherew,h il is so easy to gar
nsh essay dscourse-and after all the swelling
defamation about privileged aristocracy in contrast
vii sod nd ,raJ ola =.
common to see aud hea-no who has paid any at
leniiun To the practical Workings of governments every
where, and of whatever FORM have failed to perceive
whatever prominence may he given to eqaltu of per-
sonnl rights, that equality eiora,ion really the mos,
pervadlng, and therefore the important of func.
tons. and that violation OF this principle more frequen
y than all other causes combined, leads To discomfort
alienation, popular iomu aud revolution. 10 our own
brief history as haon, this remark finds unlrequenl
illustration Shay's Rebellion, the Whskey Insurrec-
ton and the utilization CONTROVERSY all grew out of
complaints, not OF unequal or of personal
dsfranchisemen oppression. but of unequal TAXATION
Hence the infinitely greater Importance in the forma,
ZION of the organic law Of free State that inequality in
the imposition Of burhens should be guarded against
than that precise equality representation in the Legs
'sal've department (Which Is, after all unattainable.)
|
allowed. For, while concede that some personal
rights are nirinslcaIy dearer and important than
rights of property, yet claim, the other hand that
they much less liable IN, ason;-and especially is
this the in respect that class Of personal RICH,
which we here specially refer and which no inc
quality Of representation rossby endanger since the
same laws will be always alike applicable The majority
and 10 the minority. When therefore, a mere privilege
sur iha rIuht nf v,tin, h,,h,
always be subject of conventional arrangement, and
which is always regulated with special reference to so
cia older and to public safety and welfare comes in con-
nct with the vital question Of equal iaxalion-in other
words. when to equality Of ,epreser taton
between geographical sections of the same State we find
necessary 10 confer majority of white voters in one
sec'"n, the pocer Cypress the minority of shareholders
another the system would be maneslIy unsafe for tina,
minority, however. beautiful and perfect it might be in
theory indeed it "pu hook into the mouth Of
Leviaihan." And as prefer always safe practice
to pretty theory shall feel constrained, though ad
vocal'ng the propreiy otakng The of he people OF
Virginia as 70 The erpedency Of calling a Contention
to oppose any change in the appoonmen of represen
ta''on IN the Legislature which will hot o,erpose an ef-
fc'ent check upon The admitted proneness of Legislature
nooriies 10 Cypress mnoritcs whenever they can do
so with IMMUNITY aud especially when they can do 80
Pr'faby as well as safely. Give us tina, check. and
, We shalt he satisfied
While on his subject, We have word 10 saw to the
Richmond Times, which expresses some surprise tha,
after svo~ing opposition to the white basis. we
should be IN favor nevertheless of taking the sense OF
the people the expediency of calling Convention.
particularly when Of the advocates Of Conyen-
tion expressly that the Substitution Of the white
for the mixed basis heir primary object The surprise
ct our friends of the Times natural perhaps seeing that
They ok upon the triumph Of the advocates Of the white
basis. II Convention be held. as necessary conse
9 qnence OF the unanmlty with which the Western Dor
ton Of them and the distinguished snd able Editors OF
the Wing In the East. sustain frat change. But we by
no means concede that TO be CERTAIN or even nrob
able. There was Just the same unanimity in favor nj
the white lasis in the Western part of the State
in 1929 tlat there is now and il WAS s,,ro,,.
= ed with as much zeal and ao,ltv as ,bev will
no" Se able - orng 10 lis sI--and what is of mole i'm.
p'rance, The white basis Party was then stronger il
Eastern Virginia Than is This day. In this Eleclo,
raj District for example posed of the large slave.
=, holding counties of Bedford, Buckingham and Camp
bell three of the four deleaates elected To the Conyen
lion in favor Of the white basis and the fourth was
defeated only by the overwhelming personal po,uary
q u" the distinguished and lamen,ed CaloiN Mennis The
|. leading candidate on The opposing ticket in Bedford
county. The white basis ticket too was rarred in III.
Abemaie District, the centre of the savehuding inf