Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-06-18
To the People Of Berkeley
County:


The undersigned have deemed il fi, on be-
half Of themselves and those who concur with
them in opinion, upon the proposed changes
in the Constitution of the State. to present, as
briefly as they NAV. the views which they en-.
/ terrain upon-the subject Of the basis Of Repre-
sentation--imporar being attached, very
4 properly, in prominent degree, TO that branch
of the Convention question.
/ They are free 10 say, that they do so. with
/ hesitation and reluctance Apart from their
aversion TO expose themselves TO such assaults,
/ however unwarTanted, as may be anticipated
/ from the recent publications in this County, in
| derogaton of the opponents ola Convention,
and not assuming any special claim. on their
I part, to exhibit to you in the light, in which
they regard them, the existing features Of the
| Constitution and the notifications which have
| been suggested in reference TO the Representa-
ton, they find, in the consideration of expedi-
ency alone, strong inducement to abstain from
unnecessary agitation Of the subject They
/ have not proroked discussion, and deem il wise
not to stimulate excitement upon such topics
knowing full well, with what success artfnl
appeals to preludices, suppression and misrep-
resen,ation OF facts are employed upon all ques-
| tons that refer themselves to popular rights.
! Unwilling, however, TO be entirely silent.
while prominent and influential gentlemen Of
| the County are exerting themselves TO propa-
| gate their sentiments, and 10 excite the public
mind--deeply impressed with the serious char
| acter of their observation-disclosures that the
| citizens OF the County should give, 10 so mo-
mentous a subject, the gravest and most un-
| imprisoned Observation-Disclosures to check,
I in some degree at least, that fatal facility, with
which the Public embraces the speculaiions Of
those, who propose TO remedy evils, and to
| guard their fellow-citizens from the extreme
| folly ofpermittng pride ofopInion, or personal
| considerations, or party attachments 10 inilu-
ence their action upon such an occaslon--ad-
rnonished by those warnings, which are ex-
hibted in glaring and startling colors upon the
pages Of the history of our own States, IN their
sad experience of unwise change-and relying
upon your good sense, when II shall be, fully.
presented 10 you, to pause and shrink from the
infection, by the contemplated re arrangement
of the Representation, of monstrous outrage
upon the people of Eastern Virginia Gas dear
10 us, as those of Western Virginia. we shall
offer TO YOU, respectfully, our views. II is our
purpose TO get at the truth and the right The
subject demands the most deliberate consdera-
ton We shall indulge in no unmeasured
terms--in no elimination or denunclatlon.
| You, thus, have our justification for this
| Address.
| There is still, however. another reason forl
( Ii has been said, repeated and re-afiirmed, in
Editorials, Communications and Resolutions,
that the County of Berkeley, during the entire
period OF the last thirty years, has been, peeu
| liarly and prominently, s;aunch in her adovca-
CIV OF, what is called, Reform II is our puT-
pose, in part, in order that the action Of its cit
| liens may not be Inexperienced, at home
or abroad. TO show that, while from the year
I Il. -. h. xSune .,.t
reformation of certain gross abuses their course,
upon other projected schemes of change in the
| Constitution. during the whole "thirty years"
and upon the special matter of the basis Of Rep
RESERVATION, since 1880, has not justified this
I statement.
! Before entering upon the exposition, which
we design to make, we will premise one or
| two remarks. which lie al the threshold OF the
| Convention question.
| |. We are at a loss to conceive, to what
4 beneficial end the consideration of this subject
| is pressed with such heat and energy at tbs
| time. Is il supposed, that It's continued agra
! ton WILL as in other cases, insure an ultimate
triumph That result might, reasonably
expected, If il were a case, in which oP,n'cs
! merely are to be combated--in which lhe
power of truth or error. by dint ofperseyeranee'
could achieve the work, unresisted by m,gh'
| But how stands the fact2 The population II
! that portion OF the State, East OF the Blue
/ Ridge, and in the portion West Of il, is equal
/ --or as nearly so, as the purposes OF illustra-
/ ton require-while the Eastern Division pays
Seventy per cent. Of the State Rerenue. Is there
any hope, until these Divisions approximate
in the aggregate value of their property, that
/ the power 10 control the interests Of the East
! will be Welded to the West2 All our inior-
nation, Independent Of the probabilities iha'
attach 10 the subject, ascertain that II IS useless
10 urge Convention at present upon the
/ White basis.
| . HINT are o,r btrthens IN Berkeley? In
what are we sufferers, or the energies oil our
people repressed by legislative acton3 Whd
ars ,se 10 gain by a change? We leave the
answer TO yourselves assured that il is manifest
that there are at most no such evils, OF suflicl-
ent magnitude TO warrant the measure.
! II we are to receive no material benefit oil
| special. local character, are we 70 realize re-
mote and indirect advantage2 This question
refers itself to the Improvement OF the Nesb
and the general benefit lhereirom to the enuie
State Unquesuonably, we are interested
the prosperity and the development Of the re-
sources Of every part of the Commonwealth
and all will admit that the aid of the State has
not been, perhaps, sufficiently, although ven
considerably, extended to the people oil WeSE
ern Virginia but it is another question, whelll
er--the Interal Improvement debt OF the S'ae,
being, now about Sc SOC, 000--the improvement
Of that portion of the State should be obtained
BY such immediate and excessive appropria-
TONS jas viii. probably result from the tfaisiei
ofpower to Western Virginia, which. IN lish
| extent, viii, severely. adlict the East and lne
Valley, and whether, although the appropfa'
tons Tor this purpose may have been insuihct
ent, heretofore, ii is moi cissr policy than b'al
,chich the Vest ,co,ld adopt--there being, 700,
indications and evidences OF TIE prevalence o,S
In this age Of selfish legislation, it is an over
strained and quixotic philanthrophy, when
looks 10 our neighbours advancement, regsra.
less Of the measure Of the present burineo
upon ourselves, indulging the deluson o. uIl.
mate ample remuneration, in the releI ltom
taxation-not considering that the expenditure
of State keep pace with its prosperity