Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-11-10

iro'n The ts,st giving ,o the Easi a msorit,
o' ~ on JOINT ballot. instead oi - which she
now has On the same ratio of Western in.
cressc, aud ct Eastern decrease, from the wear
ISL ull Tie year lS5l. which has been cxhib
lted ior the ten years next preceding the year
ISL, the West, would. on the principlc of
representation accOniinS TO population anil
ta1a,lon, hKel by tb, present constitution, be
entitled. ln 1881 10 majority in the Is.gis-
i"tute oi both Senators and Delegates Yet il
the Constitution remains unchanged, anil il
the Legislature shall persist, az there is every
reason To expect i, Will. ia refusing to make a
gcnrrdl fe-arrauge ment ot the representation
over the state IN 1891: Western Virginia after
that year, with an immense nsjprity of white
population sad with a vastly increased ratio
ol wealth aud ia1aiion. will be found still in
minority IA her Legislative halls of dead and
inSurmouuiable twenty eight.
! The lives aud THIRTY and property of her
ciiizens must b. disposed OF and settled there
rights equally dear, and much greater In
amount than those of the Easl--ye. she is left
powcTlss To control thcm-and the govern
ment OF the State will BE- in the hands of a
minority. both ia numbers aud iutercst.-The
Bill oi Rights solcmnly adopted as a part of
our present Constitution declared tina all pow
er X invested in the people. Yet under tbs
practical operation of that Constitution. 1T has
been Invested, aud mia ority Of the people
Tcigns over the people. Shall II nc said that
the governed uajoriiy il safe IN the hands of
ruling minority. The same plea might sl-
ways be urged Iu favor OF an srlslocraGy. But
our Constitution, whose provisions were die.
taied aud controlled BY those who now con-
s,itu,e the ruling minority, declares otherwise
--ond they are es,opped by their own acts
from urging the argument Moreover, since
ffftk
benefit, and that government is "best which
Is capable OF producing the greatest degree Of
happiness and safety" why may not the mi
or'ty trust ihi majority with the same conf
deuce with which they ask the majority To
trust theml They can do no act. they say to
the injury ot the majority, without, at the
same time, inJuring themselves, Two obiec-
tons, at least, occur TO this argument The
first ~, that on the supposilion of that diver
slty Of interest on which their claim of power
rests, they may do many things To the Injury
OF The majority which will not only not iniure
bat benefit themselves. For instance, il is as
much IA their power (and there is fully as
much danger OF their exercising the power TO
exempt their peculiar property from tsxation,
as II would IN the power OF the majority with
the government in their hands TO tax il un-
justly. Ii 10 as much ia their power to bur
then those interests which the majority holds
distinct lom theirs; such as the minerals. the
cattle, the horses, which abounds ia the West,
a. II would be ni The power OF the majority to
burihen their peculiar interests. IL is in their /
power To collect taxes irum the whole State. |
ratibly, an,l apply them when collected, ex
To the BENEFIT OF their section. -
Witness the expenditure Of seven millions OF |
iollars collected both from the East aud West I
pa 'hr Improvement oil the James River 10
Lynchburgh, and their stoppage OF that i'm
,roVe,ncUt az that poin, where IL was com
nencrd aud the money appropriated under
lcluslve pledge 10 carry IL TO the ohio.) Ills
lot only unjust, bat prcposterous an. pre-
unptHous for the East 10 require us 10 place
'uI dearcsl rights at her dispoSIi--to reposc
confidence in her integrity and jas
ice awhile she ooOlly gives as a rsason Tor that
acTiiice, her own distrust OF our honesty.
But another objection To the argument is,
hat COOL motives are not alone necessary COR
good government. Admitting then, the best
Intentions IN our Eastern brethren TO govern
nright--1dmittiDg that theiT own interest
would always jump with our advantage, vet |
there Is greater wi..laan ia The -Ylninrii.---
s.-.-s~- ---S sssoTc particular knowledge of the
general wants, and of what would promote |
the general welfare. Two reasons, no doubt.
operate mainly with our illustrious fore
iauhcfs, to INDUCE them TO prefer the location |
OF power IN the great mass OF the people, over
aUy other form oi government. One was. |
That the people bring tbe parties interested /
AMI peTaiet ou by government must always
honestly desire To preserve IL pure; in other |
words, that they never could desire that that |
government. under which they must live. aud |
by which their persons aud property were TO |
I've operated on, Tor good OF cyl, should b.
other then pare and wise. But another e.
qnally prevailing Argument, doubtless, was,
HAT the mass OF the people, knowing their
owu wants could best aud most wisely pro-
vide for hem. Ii our lorefalhers were risht.
then II is not enough TO secure good govern.
mint hat 81 should be in the haild ri those
who have no motive To abuse IL. BIT il
must, moreover bc in the hands nI those
whose wlsdOm aud whose general knowledge
oi the wants OF the governed would enable
them to Judge aud decide Alright on the inca
sufes proposed. IL eau hardly be NECESSARY
however to consume time la an argument To
Nirglnians, persuadIng them OF their right Ia
equal representation, and equal government
by majority oi the people. THIS question
was definitely settled before our goyernme nj
was formed, aid IS plainly recognized as one
oi It's fundamental principles. This RICH,
has been invaded not IN theory, Tor the Con
S'liniion still recognizes IT,; but in practice
"u"tT thHt tpnniitution. And IL "a now
niade miniiest by the progress of things. that
every year without All amendment Ui the
Constitution, this grievance under which
riPldly increasing majority Of the citizens of
Nngnia labor, must grow upon them till il
VIII becone insufleTabc.
ehdet these circumstances Of wrong 20 b.
redresscd, The Convention assembled at Staun.
ton. on the i7Ih day Of August last. From
yauous causes Of irTeguladty in It's call, dif.
renee OF opinion as % time and place OF it's
meeting ADD uncertainty whether il would
meet at al Tie numbsrs Of that Convention,
and The counties represented were 80 lew.
That II dad not think proper "a act, finally, on
ihe graf questions inyol gedl bat Adjourned
over uli the second day Of December next.
ami appointed the undersigned It's organ 20
'uRe upon The people the importance Of unah-
UNITY oi action, Hnd Of showing by the luli
attendance of their Immediate Representatives
on That day Of adjournment that tilcir reyilers
have erred u they suppose that the failure of