Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY.


Alta meeting OF the people of Cumberland,
held al their Courthouse, on Monday the 9Th
day OF October, TO consider the expedency OF the
call of Convention 10 alter the Constitution OF
the State Capt. John Miller was elected Chair
man, and James M. Austin and John I. Thorn
lon appointed Secretaries.
On motion The Chair appointed the following
commune 10 draft resolutions Tor the considera-
ton OF the meeting: John w. Wilson, Henry T.
Irving, Codringlon Darlington, Col. VIM. Will
son. John C. Page, James Blanlon, VIM. b.
Crowder, VIM. Nj. Thornton, J. Il. Davis, Valen-
tine Parrish, and Edward |. Darlington. The
Committee reported TO the meeting The following
preamble and resolutions, which, having been
read, were adopted by almost an unanimous vote:
The history Of every free people demonstrates
the fact that dangers from lime 10 time arise 10
menace their political and civil rights HAPPY
is that people whose vigilance discovers Inc peril
in its inception, and whose hrmness opposes 70 IL
prompt and resolute action. Fatal ever 10 inc IN
terests of freedom are insensibiliy and supine-
ness. when great changes pregnant with lasting
and momenIous consequences are sought TO be
made in affairs OF government. Impressed win
these truths, We, the people OF Cumberland,
part of that ancient community OF Virginia, that,
first of all the communities on earth, taught men
how 10 win their rights, and then how 10 establish
and perpetuate them by good government, haveas-
ssmbled today 10 declare in view of the strenuous
efforts which are now making to call Stale Con-
ven,on 10 change the Constitution, our solemn
conviction, that the Commonwealth is IN danger,
and TO urge upon our brethren OF Eastern virgil
mia the necessity OF adopting vigorous measures
for her rescue. Our existence as Tree Peo-
pls is menaced Our highes, constitutional rights
are threatened and invaded. Our proportion OF
the sovereignty of the Stale IS claimed al our
hands. and we are commanded 10 surrender II 10
that portion OF the people OF Virginia who reside
on the West side Of lthe Blue Ridge OF noun
tains. The floor of Convention is sought as
the arena in which is 10 be fought the battle which
shall decide, whether we shall any longer govern
ourselves or whether We shall hereafter be gov
erned by Western Virginia. This is not disgnis-
ed by those who agitate and clamor Tor Con-
venticn. The public meetings in The West, their
newspapers, the writings ofihtir essayis!s boldly
transferred by some OF them our own prints,
and what is worse than ALL the efforts oil some OF
their coadutors here in the tas:, all attest the fact
that change of the basis Of representation is the
great object OF those who desire Convention
they wish the feature OF compromise, which ba-
ses representation in the Legislature on properly
and white numbers combined, stricken out OF The
Constitution, and representation founded wholly
on white numbers. The undenable, the antici-
paed nay, the desired etiec, Of that change, will
be 10 deprive The East ofthe majority OF %, Owen
iy.lwo) which she now has in the House OF De-
legates, and TO place her 10 an actual minority IN
that body This is the governing motive tor call
ing Convention, and ifone be called nothing will
be considered by the agators effected unless this
change be wrought in The framework Of the Con-
stituion. The great struggle between the East
and the Yves, will be upon that point; struggle
with US Of life and death. All other proposed al
lerations Of the Constitution that now may seem
10 some among us oil importance, will be lost sight
OF, will be utterly forgotten. The man ofthe East
who wishes Convention 10 restrict voters from
voting out ofthe county of their residence will, in
the stern and dreadful conflict that will ensue on
this question ofrepresentation, cease TO remember
his frivolous objection 10 the Constitution, or, II Il
should recur to his mind, it will be with keen re-
morse, that for the purpose OF effecting amend
ment in so uninpoctant regard, he lent his aid
TO measure fraught with such dreful results TO
the great interests of his native land. Those who
have other small objections 10 The Constitution ana
who are DESTROYS Of going into Convention TO
have them remedied, should first ask themselves
whether, for the hope OF eifectng or even for the
certainly OF efeciing their desired changes they
are willing 10 incur the great hazard of being com.
PEELED 10 surrender 10 the West the entire control
and their properly. II seems that cosent reason
and indeed The only reason with some East
ern men for sustaining the call OF Conven-
lion, is the belief which has been industrious.
" impressed on their minds, that il will
certainly take place. Now, men Of The East,
the Convention will certainly not be called
unless 700 will that II shall be called. This
very Constitution which you are asked to dis
card endows you with the power OF protect
ing yourselves against the aagressions oil The
Wesl; and, indeed, therefore it is that the west is
SO soliciious TO pull down this barrier. You can
defeat the West in this call OF Convention, if
you will make known 10 yonr delegates in The
Legislature that you do not wish them 10 vote for
law 10 take the vote OF the people on the ques-
ton OF call Of the Convention. The Constilu-
lion has armed you with power in the Legisla-
ture TO project yourselves against danger, whether
from an ordinary law, or one preliminary TO The
call OF a Convention. Employ your legitimate
majority, then, of %, and vote down the bill 10
take the vote. Encourage and sustain your dele
gates in that course. Tell them 70 pay no regard
10 The clamor that nigh, be raised against them
for being unwilling to refer the question OF Con-
vrution to the people. For you and your dele
gates both know very well, that TO refer BY law
The question OF a Convention to the people,
amounts TO this and nothing less, 10 wit. to refer
on this side the Ridge might vote against it, and
yet it would be carried, there are more arhites
over on that side than in the East You would
thus, by referring the question TO the people, per-
nit the West To have al once the benefit OF that
very principle of white numbers not known 10 the
Constitution and which they in truth want Con-
vention to obtain! Shall we be SO weak as that
or shall we stand on our constitutional grounds,
and defeat this scheme Of Convention, in the
only theatre in which it can be defeated, viz: in
the Legislature {?
The East now has, and should have the MAORI
" in the Legislature. It owns much more than
two-,hirds the property of the State, and pays
more than two-thirds the taxes raised in the Stale.
1T was unquestionably the doctrine OF our
forefa,hers of the Revolution that representa-
lion and taxation should go togelher-that the
former should be in proportion 10 the latter. They
never said that representation should be founded
on rsls numbers, but that i! should be based on
taxation, or at least on numbers and properly
combined. The principle that representation
and taxation should 90 together, brought on the
American Revolution, and was established by II.
Now, If this be true, the West, instead Of being
entitled TO more delegates than she now has, ac-
tually at this time has more than her proportion.
She does not pay one.lhird of the revenue of The
State, and yet she has more, much more than one
third Of the delegation in the lower House. The
whole number OF delegates is 1874, OF which the
Yves, has IS, whereas she would have by this rule
but IS, and BY the mixed basis bu, 81. Again,
he principle that representation ought to be based
~ property along with white numbers, lies at the
rery foundation of the Federal Constitution, re.
in Congress being In proportion TO
sAiies and slaves, five slaves having as much re-
presentation as three white men. Shall we aban.
Ion the principle that slaves are TO be consider
d a. one OF the elements Of representation If