Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-17

Wyihe, l,366,4IU AZ Si.ia'ooao ~
MonoDsalia, l,2H,3h2 tl @ooo' ZEE n
TazeweU. 297,4i7 GU 9S,bbo y.
Wash;nn,,on , on OH 70 2S6S,0l6 Z:
Monroe 7729s0 Ga 2,053, 700 OF
Russell, 500 22i II h22, lol "
Scott, 210,S56 G. QUO, 80 w
1881 ,l3i 50 2i1,1s9, l3o "
Thus il will be seen, that lie value OF lana
including bulldogs and town properly in the tcl
counties selected as above in the Eastern u,Vl
sion OF the State, mas declined in value from loi:
10 1888 from so, 4Sl, 10 60 10 Sl9,335, 40 on
whilst during The same period il has increased
in tue Western division in the Twelve counties
selected as above, from 1881 ,44 30 TO 81 1o9,
i3S 0S. Has, lhen any change in relation 10 tn'
slave property taken place since 1851, una
vorablc 10 The West, that will justify The unIea
sonabe additional concession demanded by ih'
terms Of This bill? We find that in 1850 Their
were l69, 1855 slaves in the Stale, OF which mum
Der there we're in the Western division 5342.
and in The Eastern division, 4l6,3lS. In le4l
there were in The State 447,9S slaves, OF which
number. there were in the Western division 33,
~, and in the Eastern division 394 Pei; show
ing an increase in The Western division, from
1880 TO 1910 Of 500, and decrease during lht
same period in the Eastern division OF y oS7
Nuh thSit ~ nHN iu'u- a'hhN - 80 S'''''rS
The amount ol revenue paid by The tWo divisions
oflhe State since 5000 Justify luher prescription
in the Western division? We findtha,ihe revenue
has Increased from $50 10 1913 77t per cent. II
the Eastern division and l33 per cent in Inc
Western division; 2O0 per cent. 10 The ilrSt ais
,rict, 100 in The second, ia in the thiid, anu u
in The fourth Population has increased IRON
1880 to ls45 in the Western division 20 rel
cent; has decreased in the Eastern dlVi>ion
during the same period , per cent; has Increased
in The first district IL per cent, in The second
district 2 per cent, in the fourth district PEI
cent and has decreased inlhe third district per
cent The value OF land, including buildings 20
town properly, from 1919 10 ls3S has increased
in the Western division l2G per cent; Whils',
during The same time. II decreased IN me Ed 'eth
division 81 per cent. Inc save poPu'atioh " ::
increased from 1890 10 1910 in The Western di.
vision six per cent, whilst ii has decreased IN
the Eastern division, during the same period, SIX
per cent. In view Of all these facts, inclndinS
surely all The subjects OF representation, II is now
proposed By The term, Of this bill that the West
shall surrender all these advantages Of their IN
proved condition since the adoption oil The present
Constitution up 10 the present lime, and 60 mo
a Convention with unlimited powers, ORGANISED
upon the arbitrary ratio of The subjects Of repre-
sentation as they existed in 1880.
must now be permitted 10 say word or Two
in reference TO The immediate section OF country
from whence have The honor 10 come, SCUM
western Virginia proper. We have been Stigma,
Used with the degrading cpilhet oil beng annuaI
begsars al the door olthe Treasury OF the Con-
Let us see whether II IS SO Sohil-
western Virginia proper comprises fourteen
OF the most fertile soil IN Inc Common
wealth embedded within her bosom ne1haustloie
quantities Of minerals, consisting OF san, iron,
coal, lead copper and gypsum. since leo she
has received from The Treasury, for objects OF in
ernal improvement, ST. ,35l %. She pays
into the Treasury annually, under The law OF
1913. S24,970 Is, having free white Popu-
a,ion of 81 500. The whole amount oil money
expended in The Slate, during The same period, lor
objects of internal improvement is Sl,9l3,-
5000 making the expenditure in South
western Virginia stand, as one dollar is 10 one
hundred and eleven in the balance OF The State.
This statement Of facts regard as triumphant
OF this unjust aspelsion upon her con-
iilion.
The question has likewise been mooed about a
prevalent disposition in the West for separa-
ion the State. | take this occasion 10 disabuse
lie public mind with regard to this questions; ana
n doing so, must pro,es, against This being
eba,eable question al this cay | speak for my
constituents positively, and believe that may
en!ure 10 speak tor the entire West The 10y
inv Of the citizens of Western Virginia has been
90 effec,uay tested by the operation OF unequal
esislation and proscriptive powerio The last NJ
y wears 10 be doubted now might, in support oil
his position, advert, 10 The further fact that when
our borders were invaded b. powerful foreign
ncmy, and your wives and your children, ana
our properly were threatened with destruction,
id the West fai,er in her LOYALTY and attach
nen 10 Virginia, one and ndivisible? Al The FIRST
an ofthe dunn she came forth, without waiting
Or The compulsory process OF your municipal
aw. in numbers lar beyond what was demanded
or the emergency, and the question was MOI who
huuid 20 to your relief, but, vino would DE per-
niiied 10 90 and testify their devotion and raler-
al regard for the interests and safety OF COM
non conntry. And the consequence is, that the
zones of many Of the then best citizens OF The
Vest, now lie bleaching on your coast, as mon
menl 70 their bravery and their patriotism.
Ii is with great pleasure and saa>'actlon thai
have witnessed, al the presen, = sion, what
ope 10 be the beginning Of the al OF bitter
ceiling between Eastern and Western Virginia.
md | now tender 10 this House my grateful
hank, for The liltle boom that they have gwen
IS during thc present session, anc sincerely nope
hal. whilst the benefits resulting from the con-
immediate constituents, il will form COM
nunication between Eastern and Western Viz
,inia. that will annihale the local jealousy, and
he supposed conflicting interests, that have SO
opg marred their peace and harmony.
Secondly. Would Convention, elected ana or
,auized upon the plan proposed by he Dill uhcel
consideration, remedy The causes OF cotnpiaiht
,er,anipg 10 the Constitution? ! think lmay
,ately assume that il would mol. What are the
.ansss Of complaint that urge the people TO The
ALI of c INVENTION : The answer is, they are
numerous; and some of iLem OF great impor-
ance-many of them local in their character
and others affecting The general interests oil the
lire Stale ! am sorry 10 say that some are re-
oar,,ci rs local. when in truth they are not 50.
will no, consume The time OF The House in consl-
1pri. these several objections in detail, nor will
| ,ay a word about any that may be regarded as
Of secondary impor ance
The most important object in the formation OF
a Republican government, Is the equality oi
in the legislative Department.
In The sixth Article Of the Bill of Rights may be
found The rule for our guide on this most OF all
imporan, principle, and it's in these words;
"That elections OF members 10 serve as repre-
senjatives o. the people in assembly, ought !" be
free: and that ali men having sufficient evidence
of aermanent common interest with and atiacn-
ment 10 tue COMMUNITY, have the right OF sui
iraee. and ednno.b c tart ~ deprirca II cir PRO
D r;p tr yuJhc rs lc,thom ite~ o'rn consent, OF
Mal a their representatives. 50 elecisd; nor boand
by anu tar, 10 rhict ticp hare not IN Ike mann.1
assenicd, FIR Tie pubic goOd."
To the want of compliance with this cardi.
nal rule, may be jus ly ascrled the present exist
ing necessity Of the call Of a Convention io
amend The Constitution Of The State; and ven
,ure the assertion, without the tear of conlradic-
ton, that, until yonr fundamental law is based
upon this primary poslulae, the complaints OF The
people will never cease 10 be sounded in The halls
Of your Legislature. Taxation and representa-.
ton are so indissolubly connected with each other
in Republican form Of Government, that even
the most partial separation cannot or will mol be
assented 10 by people Acknowledged 10 be al!
equally free and Independent. This, then,
maintain, is he MAJOR evil that has moved the
sovereign Will on The subject Of a Convention
tina, has caused 50 much dissatisfaction through
OUT the extent Of Virginia and, moreover, The
principal cause that has turned this once glorious
and prosperous Stale, from her onward course 10
elevation and distinction, downward on the de-
scendino scale 10 embarrassment and Uankrup,cy