Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-09-10

to such Ia law, and to convention, as the only
means of redress ARdemasatled that basis srhich
ue new demand. The bill which grew out of
those memorials & petitions, provided for taking
the sense OF the people, on the expediency of call
ing convention, with power to consider the pro-
Priety OF adopting certain amendments The
friends OF Reform did not then suppose the people
prepared for one with full powers ike the present
The amendments proposed, Were, first, to equolise
representation among the free eshitc people accord
l,tg 70 numbers; second, TO equalize the land tax
10 these was added third, on the motion of a
member from Fairfax, amended by his colleague,
to ertend the right Of suffrage to all free white
male citizens, twenty-on years OF age, "who
have evidence OF permanent common interest
with, and attachment to the coulmanity.n The
words of the Bill Of Rights.
The bill passed the House in that limited
form 1t provided for taking the sense of the
people on 80 amending the constitution, as TO ex-
tend the right OF suffrage; to eqlalize represen-
fatlon on the basis OF the white population and
to equalize the land tax. After Intellectual strue.
giles to strike out the first and second clauses. 1t
passed the House Of Delegates, and was sent to
the Senate The ma ority in the House in this
vote represented more than three-ffths of the
white Inhabitants of Virginia. Mr.. Tazewell.
from Norfolk Borough, opposed the bill with ali
his zeal. In lis progress he moved an amend
ment to introduce representation of slaves-
Whether he intended representation of all. or
three-ifths only, does not appear, as no proposi
ton was made to fill the blank in the amend.
ment This proposition was maintained by that
able ard acute dehateT with the most eloquent
and coeent exerIions Of his matches powers.
but Notwithstanding his unrivalled exertio1s
there were but t1cent4-saI votes for his amend
nent IN the whole House of Delegates. Had
that bill passed the Senate the Convention. then
TO pc called, would have represented the free
White population according to numbers and it
IS 50 tar from being new and unheard of, that
the demand tos it in that session and its estab-
llshment IN the Senatorial bill of the same see
SION, form parts OF our record history.
When the BID was sent to the Senate, it wa.
tor 4 time laid on the table, and not acted on.
Inc reason was as follows: The belief was sn.,
gested, and gained ground, that some eastern
constitutional lawyers had changed their opin-
IONS touching the power to legislate over the dis
trlcts and hopes We're entertained that in order
TO tranqnllize the public mind for a while, like
throwing tub to the whale, they would bring
III bill to equalize Senatorial districts and to
apportlon representation in the Senate on tho
basis OF tee White populations which would re-
leye the Senate from the responsibility Of &C.
ceptlng Or rejecting the convention bill.
These hopes were not disappointed; for thu
oppossfs OF con9ention brought in bill to g.
qualize the districts, and to apportion represen-
tahon accordingly, and passed it. Thus in enc
and the same session, there We're these peliti-
CANS no opposed and supported that very la
SIS, which they now denounce as SO new and un.
heard OF, cruel and oppressive I admit that af-
ter power had thus, partially, changed hands in
the Senate, the public mind rested from its e1.
cltemen, alle took a breathing spell. until the
autumn OF 1924, and the spring and summer of
1929. During this PERIOD the representation in
the House OF Delegates, and proposition to e.
qualize It on the white basis, became the subject
OF newspaper controversy. Writers on one side
endeavored, by exposing the misruIe of tho mi.
norlty, and the evil tendency of that rule, to a.
Waken public attention to the subject, and bring
about reform On the other hand, attempts were
made to alarm the people They We're taught
to believe that those who proposed to reform.
meant to destroy; that the judicial tenure of Of
nee the right OF suffrage, and even property of a
certain descrlpton nay, all that was valuable in
society, would be ,ia2arded by the call of a con-
vention, It was then maintained, as it is now
maintained, that ssthe majority suffered no prac-
tlcal eyll from the government of the ninority.,
The reader will see from the above extract
from MIR. Doddridges speech s'the truth of histo-
ny vindcated' in relation to the principle Of the
white basis. Il is a great Republican principle
Which has been sanctioned and practieed by the
solemn act OF the General Assembly of Virginia
IN the passage OF the Senatorial bill above refer
red TO. The extract above, also meets and ex-
presses many of the objections made to reform
| BY lis opponents then-how like the fer who
row cayil and object. With the pernicious and
anti Republican doctrines of the enemies of pop
uar rights and popular liberty--have descended
TO fhis day their weapons of war--our opponents
now seek to alarm the people-they say of us
"ho'propore TO reform, that we mean to destroy
that the judicial tenure of office the slave.
property, all that is valuable in society," is TO be
hazarded by the call of Convention. A dis
tinguished gentleman of this State remarked to
me that he would as ''leave see an army of wild
cats turned loose upon the community as Con.
venfion ot'Retormers.a Doubtless he was sim
cere--torhe is one of the most deeply dyed aris-
tocrats in his feelings, views and sentiments
with whom have ever met. l cannot imagine
a human being otherwise constituted, who could
be IN love with such governmental institutions
| as Vrginians live under. You know there are
always to be found some i'll every community
Who 1t they cannot really and in truth be aristo-
Gratis, are extremely fond of the afectotion OF it,
they, too may despise Reform and the principles
tor which Reiorners contend. But there need
De no useless aarms-no unnecessary feas-our
objects are few--cear and well defined, such as
experience has shown to be necessary, and such
as will make US a republican people and forever
extlneulsh arlsocracy and olieaIchy from our
fundamental law and place our beloved old Com
monWealh where she ought to .be--the sFoc
ship" Our object is not to destroy-our Object
is not to despail our brethren of their property
that song Is worn out--our eastern brethren know
it-among them there are some of the staunch.
est friends OF fefom-what is their interest. ie
our interest, and when come to treat of TIE
rlsht ef suffrage shall more fully set forth the
laea, and show our brethren if the accursed spir-
4 q abolition shall ever manaee them, that the
ngat blast Of the bugle which shall sound the a
arm from our eastern borders, will meet q heart
felt response from beyond the mountains, and
our gallant spirits willmsh to the rescue, as they
did in days OF yore. Insult not the memory OF
the dead-tread not irrelieiously upon the hon,
ored bones of western vireiniaus buried benesss.
the sands of Norfolk, by such base insinuatisns.
In all our hearts and souls we are Virainians.
and in the solemn resolves of our Leaislaflre-
STAKEHOLDER and naazslaveholder will be found
shoulder to shoulder in maintenance of the riehts