Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-26

the song Of Western grievances, is the charpe
against the East Of Withholding the proper share
OF internal improvements, and lavishing al the
surplus funds Of the State i'm public works on the
other side of the Blue Ridge. Let us examine
this matter a little and see how the facts of the
case stand, and place the wrong, ii wrong there
| be. on the right shoulders. 1t appears from an
examination of the proper records that the funds
spent by tho State in the last eight or ten years,
amount to about seven or eight millions, of which
upwards Of amillion was spent i'm the district
between the head Of tide-water and the sea coast
about tho same amount west Of the Blue Ridge.
and the remaining five millions in the district
between the, head of tide-water and the Blue
Ridge; and all who know any thing about the
matter, know that this was almost all spent on
the James River Canal.
| Now docs not every candid know that this was
not spent entirely for the benefit Of Eastern Virginia
ing at union the of the Ohio with those Of
James River and designed alike for the benefit of the
East and the West The idea of completing this con.
ncction by means Of canang has now been abandoned
by all practical men both East aud West, and we ina
CINE it would be equally as difficult to get Western
men TO advocate the idea of carrying canal by means
OF locks, across the Allegheny il would be to get
Eastern men. We have never for a moment thought
that the great design of uniting the Valley Of the Mis-
sissipp with the Atlantic sea board by means of cen
trail improvement through Virginia, has been abandoned
and when is completed both sections of the State will
be mutually benefited by it, Is fair them the pre-
sent stage OF this improvement make the charge a
ganst the East, flavshing all the funds the State on
| Va
take nearer view OF the subject. Let them look at
the magnificent State institutions. for the cause of hu-
manity, that have been established at their county
Town. ana say has Augusta cause OF complaint against
the illiberality Of her Eastern BRETHREN We should
think that she, at least, has right to complain
1t is well known that The Legislature that has lust
adourned passed abll authorizing the construction of
McAdamiacd turnpike road through the South western
portion Of State section which has been less i'm
proved heretofore than any other. BY whom was this
bill passed? Was it by Western opposition TO
the East? On the contrary it was carried through bv
Eastern w Wcste
and against the votes of portion of those from the
West. The Scottsye and Staunton road was also m
improvement that would have been of great benefit TO
the Valley. Was this defeated by the East /? Look at
the vote and you will find that il Western had vo
ted for it, the bill would have passed. Ii would have
passed il even the Valley men had voted for it,
Thus much has been said on the white basis question
the East towards the West, and before leaving this
question: be well to state simple which
it is probable that the people generally not Of
event of the white basis being adopted but on the con-
trary appears by calculation that she will lose
what the Valley could for identifying her
self with the West against the East 1t is by many cr
roneousy supposed that the present of
ton State legislature is the old federal basis in
which five blacks counted equivalent TO three
whites. This is altogether mistake. The four diiic-
rent sections OF the State above mentioned repre-
scented in proportion to their white population aud taxa
ton jointly, in which the slave is more represented
than the horse, except that property he is val
liable and hence pays tax. And moreover prov
sion is made in the Constitution itself for the represcn
| increased,
proper RATIO whenever the taxation and population of
that section shall call for it.
We ask then again. is the Valley prepared, in def
ancc OF all these considerations i'll defiance of every
principle oil right and justice, TO identify herself with
the West, with whom she has tie of vital interest
against the East with whose prosperity she must her
self either stand sink Is she prepared yield up
her principles of conservatism Join in the hue and
cry of what apparently appears TO be the popular side
of the question: and to lend her influence the West in
the unholy attempt TO plunge their hands the pock
cts OF their Eastern brethrcn To the of Angus
In Aset;no
VIII ere long be submitted for their decision Ii has
been stated that the object of this was to
call their attention TO this matter and induce them
investigate it for themselves Some facts have been
presented TO fellow citizens, which, it thought,
nave an important bearing this question. Examine
for yourselves and if they be correct This is
not simply question of policy to you, it is more, it
is question of justice injustice, of right wrong.
Reflect calmly and considerably it before you make
up your minds, before you adopt course, which eli
Their to proiong peace and harmony rend in twain
with commissions, this venerable, time honored
monwcath.
There seems to be a disposition the part of to
censure the OF delegates the late Legsa-
ure on the question Of passing law for the calling Of
conv ention particularly for their in regard the
basis which this convention ought to be organized
They have been accused of trcachery and s,igmazed
! as traitors to their constituents. They who
before had the confidence of the people and it is hoped
that this charge will be sanctioned by the people
until they have investigated the matter and have
upon what ground this charge is made. Before is
convicted OF treachery is necessary to show that he
has solemny promised and then violated that promise
How is it with delegates, do they stand in this posi-
ton Have they violated promises made TO their
constituents previous their election? Let us lock at
some Of the facts of the before these
questions Every one will recolcct that during the
canvass last spring. all that it deemed necessary
for the candidates TO pledge themselves for, with
gle exception, that they would for law to
take the of the people the call of convention
Examine the journal ofthc House, and you will find the
names OF both of delegates recorded in favor the
passage OF this law Upon what grounds then they
DC accused OF treachery and recreancy, we at a
loss 10 conceive. But they charged with voting
for the organization of the convention upon the basis Of
established by our Constitution IN opposition to the
organization the white basis. grave charge truly
to bring against delegates, for voting accordance with
the acquisitions oil Constitution, which they
bound by oath to observe. We had always thought
that it the first and most sacred duty Of a reprcscn
tavc observe the Constitution of his government be
that good bad, until that Constitution amended
w hat then was the question before the Legislature last
winter, and upon which they called upon TO
| tion should be organized? We humby conceive not
The basis OF representation upon which this
wealth Is TO proceed, was iald down in the convention
OF $780, migrated into the Constitution, and ratified by
the people, and until that Constitution be amended be
1t the true principle of representation not, it is the
fundamental law OF the State, and every delegate is
bound by a most solemn oath to sustain it, The nhe
rent right of the people in primary assemblies
to discuss their grievances and alter the original law
OF their government right too sacred in its character
too undeniablc 10 be for called question
1t is right of which no Constitution deprive them
But whenever the people, for satisfactory to
themselves, choose thus aside the organic law Of
the land, be II done peacably by and bloodshed
~ nothing more or less than revolution revolution
then in our State government be the ayowed object of
those who are demanding convention upon the white
basis 1t were needless further to argue this question
with them. But imagine that il is the desire Of
the good people of this old commonwealth revolution
nc at the present time, and upon the present question
Upon what ground then must they obviously proceed
we confess 1T seems TO perfectly clear that
can scarcely conceive how bias been possible that
opinions with regard to the question could have arisen
amongst intelligent men. The question is simply this,
and il need but simple statement to be
perfectly understood-Tou have Constitution, which,