Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-06-11

i|Nc.-S3
A. Bedilllon, do
Robt. Griffin, do
VIM. FariS, do
James Ewing, Of Marshall county;
Sa,nl. Cox, do
Jas McMurry, do
Secretaries.
D. NTaclane, Of Ohio county,
Oliver l. Taylor, DO
D. Baguley, do
The President upon taking the chair, explain
nd the object of the meeting, in brief and ex
plicit manner.
On motion OF D. Armstrong, ESQ, a commit
tee consisting of the following persons were ap-
pointed to report resolutions for the consideration
and action OF the meeting.
c. w. Russell D. Armstrong, Geo W. Thorn,
eamuel Cox, n. H. Garrison, VIM Boggs, D. Nc
Gov. John Pierson, D. Cracratt and John Porter.
During the absence OF the committee, the meet
jog was addressed S. Clemens Esq, OF Ohio CO.,
jefferson 4. Marshall, Esq, Of Marshall, and T..
M Gallv. Esq. of Ohio CO., who each enforced
the subject of Constitutional Reform by enllght-
ened and comprehensive views, united to strong
aud effective arguments.
The Committee reported the annexed 'Preatl-
bic aud Resolutions which after spirited and
eloquent discussion. participated III by Nlessfs.
]. T. Martin T. NJ. Gally, D. M: EdgiGgton, c.
w RUSSELL G. w. Thompson and Jas E. Nhar-
ton, Es1rs., were adopted.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS
It is our right to be free as any other citizens
of the commonwealth. 1t is our duty to assert
and vindicate the fundamental principles OF CIV
il liberty. 1t is both our right and our duty to
aid in reforming and amending our frame OF gov
eminent when it is found to violate those prn-
ciples. Such is the purpose OF this meeting,
The written constitution oft commonwealth
is, in important particulars, at variance with the
: painest republican doctrines. The memorable
Declaration Of Rights which it re-alfirras, lays
down as the cornerstone OF our constitutional
poltv, that all men are by nature equally Tree
and independent Yet in the distribution of 20
litical power this constitution Las designedly
subjected majority Of the people to the govern
ment of a minority; and has secured to the MI
nority perpetual monopoly OF authority 1t per-
petuates the very inequality against which the
Bin of Rights protested. 1t banishes from the
polls numerous body Of the people, equally H.
terested in the common veal, equally virtuous
and intelligent with the favored classes who are
admitted to the exercise OF suffrage. In dlsre-
card of the vital republican security against NAL
administration, it withdraws the selection OF all
public officers, except members OF the General
Assembly, from the people, and lodges vast
proportion OF power and influence IN bodies
wholly irresponsible. Without exhibiting its
constitution seem to us to demand immediate
. and effectual reform.
Bv virtue of this instrument the legislative
power of the commonweal is so partitloned
that the counties east of the Blue Ridge elect
seventyeioht delegates and nineteen senators.
while the counties west of the Blue Ridge can
elect but ffty-sx delegates and thirteen senators,
Nor has it any principle of adaptation to the in
crease or diminution of population. Yeta ma
c4l, 1atip oIO of ba 1nrro
voters of the State inhabit the western section.
The county of Ohio, in which we are assembled;
can poll nearly 1900 votes and elects but one
deleoate-no more than other counties having
about one-ffth that number of voters while
Others with not half that number of'Totefs elect
two. A comparison between many other coun-
ties would exhibit a ein1ilar disparity. Nor
would the injustice Of these inequalities dlsap-
pear if we should admit that property rather than
people, or both combined, are tine proper basis OF
Representations And to fill the measure of in JUS
tice, our eastern fellow-citizens have secured to
themselves all the chief Executive and judicial
officers, by requiring them to be filled by the
General Assembly thus constituted. Our repre-
eentation in the Senate of the United States is in
like manner monopolized by the East.
This brief and simple statement of facts needf
not the aid of rhetoric to move the indignation Of
every Western Virginian, or to convince every
impartial mind, imbued with sentiments of lib
erty. that the constitution under Which we live
is a perpetual transoression of the first princi
ples of republican freedom and of natural right
All the pfetences by which this iniquity is de.
Tended BY those who enjoy the profit OF lt-all
+, resolving themselves into one apprehension on
the part of the minority that their property will
be unsafe if the majority be set tree-might be
urged with equal plausibility against every at
tempt to substitute Republic ot general equal.
ty for an existing government OF arlstocratlca
privileges. For our Part we do not believe thai
any legitimate end of government justilies OF
palliates the exclusion of freemen in the Wes
from an equal enjoyment of political power with
their brethren, in the East Political thraldon1
has not induced rs with a servlle spirit We i'll
; dignantly protest against the claim OF the East
ern Yirginians to rule us upon the arrogant as
sumption that we are unfit to assist them, on
equal terms, in governing ourselves and them
We demand as our right, representation in the
Legislature based upon republican principles with
provision for the future adaptation to the same
basis
The restrictions upon the exercise OF suffrage
in our present constitution are absurd, UNJUST and
unwisc. In this respect the instrument exhibits
a strange medley of grave wrongs and ludicrous
absurdites. 1t defes construction, and by It's
obscurities renders the rules OF voting almost as
variable and inconsistent as the opinions prelu-
dices and interests of the judges of elections
It has not abandoned property as a criterion Of
fitness for the exercise of suffrage bat it has re-
linquished too much if a substantial property
Qualification be an important advantage to the
Commonwealth, and too little il not lis prac-
teal effect is to make suffrage almost universal
in some localities and to restrict it very much
in Others 1t precludes from the enjoyment OF
this right, class OF citizens superior, in every
GOOD attribute of the citizen, to theee whom il