Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-07
To Tic Editors ofthc EMqNircr:

To tic Editors fhc Enquirer:
Gentlemen: Pursuing lie peaceful and happy
avccation OF a ter of The soil, in secluded and
lonely SPOT Of Eastern Virginia, The Enquirer, 10
is len thousand mcanderings through our coun-
try-as though through sympathy for my loncli-
ness-preliy regularly reaches my Gomci. With
tic much pleasure always afforded ty VISIT from
your interesting columns, ] regret 10 say there
las been, for some time, little mixture u alloy
bcheId with regret, Mc>srs. Editors, your avow-
al in favor of a change Of Constitution; and be-
hold now. with still deeper regret The sprl Jea-
lousy and discomfort arising between Eastern and
Western Virginia Many oil Us OF The East
Nlessrs. Editors, are with you, for change OF
Constitution in some minor matters, bul II IS up-
on the ground that The hasis OF representation
"a vital principle Of The East, change OF which
is The grand and darling object, for which Inc
West is con;ending and will contend lor with
all possible zeal)-will be opened Tor discus
sion. that we oppose Convention III IS best
10 bear the ills We have, than ny 10 Diners We
know nct Of" Open the Constitution for innova-
lion now in these times Of corruption, log-rolling
and sectional feeling, as exhibited BY portion oi
the West, and no tongue can tell the result
Ii NAV bc said, that the people oil The present
day. after years Of experience, are prepared 10
Judge OF the imperiections OF our Constitution,
and compe,ent 10 make innovations requisite for
presep, government. To this We would remark,
tha, We believe in the entire competency OF The
people of The present 10 govcrn-but we lear, IN
these times Of high party zeal OF selhshness and
ogrolling, lha, the sense Of The people cannot DC
fairly taken. This question oil Cohven Ion IS
nothing moro nor less than contention Tor pow
er The West, defeated IN its ohjec; last winter
is about 10 make powerful struggle Tor ascen-
dancy in The Legislature. This obtained, and
Eastern Virginia, with her wilheIed soil and tax
ed blacks, will be but tributary, dependant upon
the mercy of the West. We en,reat our trelh-
rem of The West 10 pause and retlec, awhile. One
of the great difficulties in all Republics is The ex-
eIcise Of the taxing power, and AUST and equia-
BE appropriation Of the revenue. Among the
great principles established with our existence as
a nation, The frs, was, that taxation and repre-
senIalion should go hand in hand. Was not the
exercise OF the enc, on The part OF our mother
country, without the olher one OF the first causes
OF our separation, and existence as nation =
Was mol Virginia, Eastern and Western, lore
most in establishing the absurdi'y Of one princi.
pie, and the equity and justice ofthe 9th r VIII
our brethren OF The West now repudae this prin-
cipe7 Our Constitution, in accordance with The
principle Of equal taxation and representation,
a principle so loudly contendcd for OF yore oy us
all, has fixed The power OF controlling appropra-
lions in that portion OF Virginia contributing
most revenue. This certainly is wise, equitable
and Just, and entirely in keeping with the pin.
ciples and professions Of Virginia. We en,rea'