Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-21
A CONVENTION.

which IL has laborously erected for the protection Of lin
Republc) totally indefensble proposition But before
we proceed to the execution Of this very easy task us
be permitted to discsim the charge Of bitterness" We
conscious Of expressing any We arc
eons,uonally warm. and this warmth our neishbors new
| to polemics, mistook for bitterness.
The position Of the Compiler which We eombat,ed with
zeal at least and will combat was this subs,an.
italy "That bill submitting the call Of a Convention to
the votes OF the People, must I've suffered pass
Legislature, because ,f it suffered to pass THE
CONVENTION WOULD ASsUREDLY BE CALL.
| EDm
lDo we state the with sufficient accuracy, Such
is our intention at loastI
We commended that this direct and unequiyoc al
admission that the PEOPLE favor Of Convention
and that the only hope Of the opponent. Of Convention
for defeating the CALL sange the bill in the Legi,
laiure We might have also commended. we now con.
tend that To do when the Legislature were in
their own hearts that the People desired Convention
whether wisely unwi.cy, betrayal Of their rights
and an outrage upon Republieanism.
reply to the expressed apprehension that the West
If !, obtained the ascendency through the Convention
would exercise il Cypress the East by unduly taxing
Slaves We pronounced think il STILL reflection on
Western honour, justice and integrity: For in point Of
fact, though il intended il amouns
TO an mpuaiion Of premeditated robbery And we fah
er said, that even if haunted by such morbid and
ngsersA fancies, would allow them TO control our
conduct rs Republican.
We now proceed notice the rejoindcr Of the Com
pler.
| The Compiler asks:
SLOW have attacked the honor OF Western yir
ens7 The sole ground for the mputaton is our deel,ra
on that "hc Of the Convention will place the E,.,
at the mercy ofihe we and expression Of our belief
property would be GENEROUSLY taxed In that
II this be mputaon upon Western honor then we
confess that have made IT, But we do NOT so consider
it, We only that dsrust which our acted
upon in declaring the independence the thirteen coon,
because they taxed without the be
We do not assert that the principle applies with equal
to the relations OF Eastern aud Western Virginia bccaus.
in event. would the East be actually deprived of
presentation But il applies to this extent and with con-
elusive power, that three fous Of the property of the
would be placed in the hands Of the people holding the re-
manning fourth. Although the East would have share f
the representation that share would be sufficient pro
lection 10 its rights"
singular and we must think, impotent oxpia-
nation and lodging Of the fair construction of the Co
pliers own language. To refuse justice the West from
the declared apprehension that il that justice vas
ed tho West you'd opress the East wit, UNEQUAL taxes
what is II in effect, but the imputstion against our
Western brethren Of readiness plumber the East tn
relieve themselves Of burthens and build I'D their for
tunes the expense Of the East We know no ground
TO Justify 50 nsnuaiion. II Slaves have been
taxed dsProporona'ey to other property has been done
with ihe concurrence Of the East and could not have bee
done without IT. Our ioreiaters, separating from
England, acted upon fancful principle They
separated because they taxed without
in Parliament They conceived that be Despotisn and
they resisted il accordngly-The parallel so far Irom
running on oil fours," does hop on one leg -
Suppose instead OF hreeourhs OF the property Of Virgin
Ia yhg on this side Of the mountains by the way most
enormous over esi'maiel nine enhs Of il ddl Suppose
again. that majority Of freemen, Of voier las we believe
the fact Isl resided West Of the Blue Ridgel Shall the
| I'm have the r,.L; Il,
again this property be To n very few hands
some thousand sol BY the rule should not this
small number be entitled supremacy since il pr0perfv
natter and not and mind, which is 10 be con.idered7
| Tho Compiler adds:
"The Wbig in nvowing its disregard Of all apprebep
sions from burdens slaves. declares that il did fear
such consequences, THAT fear ought not should moi avail
u overthrow the sacred princplcthe very definition of n
Republc-thai mgjoif y shall rule" Now the Whg will
not deny that the United States equally Ms much Re-
pdbie as the State Of Virginia II this be we ask TO
whether approves Of the unequal establish
sd BY tho Federal Constitution between tho Slave and
tie Free Staiss1 BY that Constitution, "reprssenfa.
tees and direct fgres" are apportioned among the
several States according their respective numbers
which shall be determined by sddinR to the whole
number OF free persons including those bound service for
term OF ycars, and excluding Indians not tsred tire,
s ef all other psrsoRs Our Virginia Constitution con-
tain the same provision for spporoning
re'entaon amongst the counties Il is evident that the
very same principle is here acknowledged and vet the
Whg in Southern State, denounces as leading TO the
esab.shment Of IN "OGgarehy." instead Of Republic
Base your advocacy Of convention this broad principle
thu. broadly ayowed, and you compelled 10 acauexce
IN the demand Of the Massachusetts Legislature and of
the AbolitOniss every where, that the Federal Cons,t
ton be altered to exclude slaves from in Con-
gress"
The people Of Virginia within knowledge have never
a 70 their own State Government, the Compiler suppo.
s recognized the principle that property entitled to
representation Distinct and apart from numbers. What
they have stekled for and obtained in the Federal Cons,
ton was mere matter Of bargain and compact hnd suR-
gesied by considerations Of safety and federal
equality Possessed ola peculiar property, not owned by
States which would have the they
cd out 10 entering the confederaey for the best protection
could find for that. while they ct tho same time made,
the means Of raising them nearer to representative equal
y with the north. Blu, who dreamed Of applying the
principle At that time, TO domestic Government Who
Indeed would have yonurcd then 10 contend that three
slaves IN the Legislature Of Virginia should have the weight
afoehoden Or rather that that slaves master should
havo an equal weight with five, perchsnce twenty free
holdersi Against whom would such protection sueh an
Arocratic inequality have been invoked7 Notsgsins
ernh States cold friends II not in time certain to be i'm
pseablo foes. but against vgnsns our own people, OUT
own broihers For ourselves, would only not ask
any such protection, implying md doubt Of ourselves and
unworthy distust and suspicion Of our fellow citizens bu
ssRepublicans would Jsdsin 10 receive boon II vol
unary rendered. which gave representatives 10 slaves and
stabbed equality 10 the heart.
We do no, therefore dsspprove Of tho federal principle
a representing three 6fhs Of tho Slaves II neither more
nor ICES than treaty stipulation among Sovereign powers
Each Sovereign made the best bargain could for ITSELF and
those who have pro6ted likely TO complain. But
would Virgnians treat exactly with vi,eini,ns
with fellow citizens with brethren Of the same community
subject TO the laws and sharing the same fate ne wa
would with external States. connected with us BY ties Of
federation.
We are, therefore, not compelled scqaiesce IN the dc
nand Of tho Massachusetts Legislature, bot sre bound "a
resist acknowledging her right however get the Con.
sdIaion amended 4 sLo can.
Bo, we must stop though he'd hoped finish TO- day
fro cOsrTs0ED.l