Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-04-30

The Election in this county was attended with
witnessed In merely local contest, among friends
OF the same party. The issue which had been
made, growing out of the course of our late De-
iegates on the Convention question, both of
whom had voted for the bill providing for the or
ganization Of the Convention on the basis of the
present House Of Delegates, believing that they
were bound TO adhere to the Constitutions pro-
vision OF Representation, and their avowed pre-
terence for the mixed principle of white popu-
lat'on and taxation in any future arrangement
which may be made in regard to il, became the
fruitful source of exaggeration and misrepresen-
ta,ion, tending to mislead the ignorant and ex-
cite the very worst passions of the community.
The contest was openly characterized, indeed, by
some, as struggle between "Persons' and
property - and numbers would believe nothing
else than that they were battling against the
odious assumption that FIVE Negroes of the East
should be counted as equal to three White Men
Of the West
1t was the apprehension Of consequences like
these, as we'll as those Of myre general charac-
ter, which we have heretofore intimated, that in
precate the issue which had, so unnecessarily as
We conceived, been dragged into the contest
No man can seriously believe that we are any
nearer the attainment of that principle now, than
we were before.-Augusta, il is true, has return
ed her white basis candidates, but the dead ma
jority Of % in one house and 6 in the other still
stands against us.-What practical good, then,
lie to result from it? The Trans Allegheny De.
legates have said they will not compromise this
question; and those of the East have averred
that, whatever they may do in Convention, they
will not advance one inch beyond the bill of the
last session. Thus the two parties are at stand,
and unless the West, with the heavy odds against
her, does recede from her position, all hope of
regular and peaceable Convention is forever at an
end.
we confess that we do look forward, with no
small degree of solictude, TO see what NAV be
the next steP if any thing practical is expected 10
arise from this ISSUE Should no compromise be at
tainable, and division of the State follow, we
here make 1t known that we opposed to max
ing the Blue Ridge the line, and are. for going
with the East and such we believe 10 be the
decided sentiment of large majority of the peo-
regard her. therefore, as being placed in false
position by the result of this electon,-not as
respects her sentiment the abstract principle
as to the proper basis of Representation, (for on
that we have never doubted her,) but in regard to
the general question, as it affects the peace and
Integrity of the Commonwealth. and what it be-
comes us as men, having high interests at stake,
to do IN such crisis. Many good Wigs, we
are persuaded, suffered themselves to be carried
OH by mere feeling Of resentment towards the
old Delegates for their obnoxious sentiments,
without any defnabe object in view-while the
Democracy, with concert as remarkable as it
was unexpected, brought ought their almost en-
IRE strength to the polls in support of the white
basis candidates. This latter fact ought TO teach
our Wing friends lesson, and induce them TO
take measures TO avoid, if possible, these mis-
chleyous contests among themselves, in future.