Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-08-20

will not be tolerated by another Convention
Representation will be fixed upon some prineiple
and what will that principle be--certanly it will
4 not be the odious NIGEL basis--where weolth is
| to be enthroned upon the ruins of the sacred
/ Republican princlple-that the majority shall
govern, or that the rights of freemen shall be
/ crushed beneaththe feet Of the fcw who on ac-
count alone of their superior number Of slaves
and sEweight Of purse" shall seek to rule tho
many. Icannot 50 forcibly express my views
upon this point as to quote one or two short para
graphs from an article ritten hi the very heart
Of Eastern Virginia, by the late lasnented John
Hampden Peasants short time before thefer-
mination Of his editorial connexion with the
! Richmond Whig.n He says-"To depart from
| the rule of natabcys-from the rule that the ma
| jority shall governs giving up REPUBLIC 1t
Is embracing avowedly, an OLleaRcHy; Who
is prepared for, ta y5ho dare to propose TO: the
American people serio,lsfy, or toapy portion of
them, to submit to the Government of wealth
to the predoninating control of few, not select
ed either for their virtue, or talents, wisdom,
but for the number their slaves the weight of
their purse? Men may be found hardy enough to
propose such a thing bus from that instant that
upon him or he has fallen upon the rock
When we learn the simple, the plain. the old
fashioned recognised in all ages, Republican
maxim, that the majority and the majority only
have right to rule, then we are from that mo-
rnent no longer Republic, bat an Arlstocracy or
Oigarchy, in some of their Hultiarous forms:
Obsta Principals! If we pretend TO be Repub-
lie, let us be a Republic. Ii We tired Of it and
sigh fer British Fo.l.tian FORMS let US courage
ously say 50, and make tie change" These cor
rect sentiments will find response in every truly
Republican breast--ihey present strong platform
in few words--they eXpound The mixed basis or
an Oligarcby--the white basis or e Republic
where majority Of freemen are to rule in a few
| lines-and leaves US to choose. Who can hesitate
as to the choice2 But it may be said we are sur
rounded by peculiar circumstances in Virginia,
and that however true. correct and Republican tho
principle for which we contend may be- still it
may not be proper and polite to put 1t in practice.
But consider sach appgehensions (if may so
term then) entirely fallacious-because the West
land by the term EVest mean all that section Of
the State on this side of the Blue Ridge have al
ways been, and are now, ready TO incorporate In
any new Constitution that may be made, all me-
cessary and adequate guarantees required by the
East against any interference with, any or unequal
or oppressive taxation of their slave property
Farther than this no reasonable people should CO.
more than this they should not ask or require. Wo
have always been taught to understand Republi-
can Government to mean government OF the peo-
plea government where majority OF the peo-
pie Of any community prescribed lis laws and pol
/ ICY and exercised all the functions Of legislative
prpmacy" This is d clear and distinct defini-
ton from the pen of of Nirginia talented sons
1T is correct and TO the point. All know that
in Virginia we do not enjoy any such government
i, and that instead of majority Of the people gov
i, ernipg and furnishing US republic, minority
Absolutely rules, and we are living under an Oil
carey. Nor is there my escape from this diretul
state of things long as ten Senators in body Of
thirty-two-or .t6fty one Delegates in House of
l34 should object 10 a change The nature Of
power (ifl may he allowed the ern] Is to hold on
and have never seen those who possessed it, who
did not think they could exercise it,quiie as well
4 if not little hotter. than those who wanted to
take i. from theni-and hence the tenaci.y with
which The minority in this State who now have
the Legislative control of the State hold on, and
are unwilling to let go their grasp But injustice
sometimes becomes 50 palpable and fragrant to
close the lips and silence the exacons of those
who possess i!leg,imote power. By the examina-
ton of the relative white population east and west
of the Blue Ridge by the census of le40-and
comparing the ratio of increase and decrease by
1886 and 1910, think we may safely set down a
majority at this time OF upwards of AZ, lU0 west
of the Ridge But we shall have the census of
1885, in short time, by which the facts can be
accurately ascertaned, but We need not wait for
that census as the resalt can in way affect the
, principle--a large majority in the West is no
whsse doubted, and yet as the government exists
, now. the West has hut Is out Of 80 Senators, and
Sc out Of 1876 in the House of Delegates. The
most illibera, with the facts before him, will ad-
mi. that the power of the State is most unequay.
unlusiIy, and partially distributed, and ought to
be remedied. Any Convention, established upon
any thing approxinating to fairness, will remedy
this CRYING injustice. The vicious principles upon
which! the political power of the State is based.
affects our whole system. It's true the energy
of the Eastern part Of the State is beginning TO
wake up. and we observe manifest improvement
in her condition in the last two or three years. and
it is this fact which encourages me to believe that
our brethren beyond the Ridge feeling the liberal
izing influence OF their improved Agricultural and
, Commercial condition will coae into Convention
, with much less rigid views than their able repre-
seuatves in the last convention entertained
r They feel themselves the Inconvenience of the
Il Oligarchcal power which now 'scribs cabins
and confnes'' the energies and growing inpor-
lance of the State.
The great object which have in view is TO
place information before the public mind in these
letters, and knowing the pleasing effect upon the
reader of a variety Of mind, I shall, occasion
may require, call my aid the views and opinions
of others, eminent as advocates of cur glorious
cause. Some TWO or three years ago held an in,
teresting eonversation with Mr.. Chas. j. Faux
ner Of Berkeley, upon this Reform question--.at
which time he presented me with a number Of the
@ Marliashurg Gazette" then edited by Mr., Stew
ait, and which contained full an accurate report
of a speech made by him (AIr F at the Berkeley
Reform Meeting in November, 1915. From that
liable speech beg leave to close this long letter,
which is much longer thanI first intended it to
have been--but hope the Importance and interest
of the subject will plead the apology of the hum
bic though enthusiastic advocate of Reform.
| The views of Mr.. f. may appear too strongly
has manifested itself since the period at which his
remarks We're made. After arguing against tins
anti Republican theory Of. the present Constitution
of Virginia, and condemniag the Pracilcas admin.
stration of the government itself as .anfuenced
By vicious principles upon which its political pow
| or WIS afnaniz ID y he nrneeeded To say: "Ruti il