Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-03-05

either in the conflicting interests of ter
rnory or the peculiarly of her property,
shat viii justly authorize the virtual
dlstranchlsement of more than one
sixth OF her entire free white population
in the election of delegates to Con-
vention to amend the Constitution;
more especially, when 1,2 ,929 of that
number, reside in a District of the
State, having peculiar interests, some-
what antagonist TO the residue, COM
prising only 39S,1O2 free white popu-
latlon IN the whole, being sacrifice of
a fraction less than one third Of her en-
tire free white population. The most
weighiy objection to this bill is, that,
by the adoption of its provisions, there
would be an example of a surrender of
the power of the majority of the COM
mnnity te reform, ai.er, or abolish the
Constitution, and confde it to nil
nori.y. This, in my opinion, so long
as the people are capable of self-gov-
eminent, is principle, so vital in its
character and so congenial to The spirit
of liberty and freedom, that it cannot
be surrendered without greatly endan-
gering the existence of all our republi.
can institutions.
1t cannot be commended hat Con.
vention, elected upon basis SO une-
quail and unjust, would faithfully res.
pond to the many complaints of par
ticnar interests, and hence ought not
to be entrusted with that power. II
has been shown that the bill proposes
to give representation in the Conven-
lion as follows, to wit: In the Eastern
division, which includes all the coun-
ties, cities, towns and boroughs East
of the Blue Ridge, seventy-eight dele-
gates. having a free white population
of 375, 445; and in tie Western divi-
sion, fifty-six delegates, having a free
white population of 39S,102. The
several districts would be represented
as follows, to wit: The first district,
including all the counties West of the
Blue Ridge, having a free white popu-
laiion of261 ,264, thiriy-one delegates;
the second district; including all the
counties lying between the Blue Ridge
and the. Allegheny, (the Valley having
a free white population of 1856, 1888,
twenty-five delegates; the third dis
trict, including all the counties lying
between the head of Underwater and
the Blue Ridge, having free white
of POI 900, forty-two dele
gates; and the fourth district, including
all the counties, cities, towns and bor-
oughs lying on Underwater, having a
free white population of I'D, 436, thirty
six delegates. Upon the assumed ba-
sis of the free white population, the
delegates in the proposed Convention
would sustain the following relation to
their several constituents, if elected, as
proposed by the bill you hold in your
hand. The ratio in the Eastern divi-
sion would be 4,813 Of her free white
to each delegate; and the
ratio in the Western division would be
TICS of her free white population to
each delegate. In the several districts
it would stand thus: In the first dis
,,ict the ratio would be S,4.27; in the
second district, 5,473; in the third dis
t'ic:. 4,7S5; and in the Fourth district,
4,s45. Upon this basis, equalizing
the ratio, it would stand thus: the Eas-
tern division would be entitled to 65
delegates, and the Western division
would be en,i,led-to So delegates; the
FIRST district would be entitled 10 forty
five delegates; the second district would
ne entitled TO twenty. four delegates;
The third district would be entitled to
thl'fv-hve delegates; and TIE fourth
district would be entitled to thirty DEL
rgates.
| contend, that if the members to
he proposed Convention are elected
and organized upon this principle Of
equality, they will be most likely to
advance The great interests of the entire
State, and reconcile the conflict of feel
ing and local jealousy, that has so long
pervaded her councils Of State, and
virtually annihilated every effort TO sus-
tain her declining prosperity. ~
1t is unsharitable to presume that
body thus elected upon the princi-
PIES of equality and FITNESS, would
,ompromit any of the important inter-
isis Of the S:ate-they would have no
to do SO; and if they will
ID it. they would no, possess the pow
u. To make any delegated power
dangerous, ii must be capable of COM
'ining sufficient strength within itself
o control the equilibrium Of the whole
body. 1t has been seen that the delega-
ion in Tie Convention, upon the equal
alto, would be sixty-fve in the Eeast-