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

that we VIII Ill no way interfere with llelr
slave population or exact unjust or oppressive
taxation from them, Yes, we will give them
all that, with any show of fairness, they can ask,
and after we have signed our hands and seals,
then we will direct one of our best men IN the
convention to rise up and adl''now we have
given you all the constitutional guarantees tilat
you have required, it at any other Tune, III the
Providence Of God you should need. our bone
and sinew '!the serried ranks OF the West VIII be
here upon the first sound OF the tocslil--we shall
not ask who calls to arn1s-it will be enough Tor
us to know. that Virgnia--the beloved old COM
monWealth- mother upon whose lap we have
MI been reared, and from whose breast we have
all been nourished-calls us to her Standard
there we shall be all Democrats-all Wings
aye, all Virginans.'
But to return to the record Of history-after the
passage of the Senatorial Bill and the subsequent
effort to equalize representation Ill the House OF
Delegates upon the white bass-and the able
and warm discussions which agitated the State
in the autumn of 1924, and during the springan
summer of 1925 Mr.. Doddrdge proceeds with
his "vindicaion of the truth Of history" he says
Gout Of these discussions arose the second meet
ing at Staunton called the StauntoIi Convention
of July, 1925 That Convention was body
which woald have suffered but little dispara9e-
ment by a comparison with the Convention OF
1829-3O) this 1t contained upwards of 100 del
SN"'AiC IN
the borders of the State; from the east to the
west. from the sea to the Ohio. Their object
was to increase the numbers, and strengthen the
confidence Of their friends and to weaken and
reduce the numbers of their opponents, by pub
fishing to the whole commonW ealth the grlev-
ances of which they complained and the redress
they sought In a word, they intended to act
OH public opinion, and in this they succeeded.
Their coincidence IN uie'rs and opinions ras re-
u1qrkabla 1t rvas matter Of DISBURSEMENT TO them
selres. They acted openly they sat publicly,
&, kent and published a Journal containing their
proceedings and resolves By ihels resolves, they
claimed
Reformation of representation on tho white
basis.
The reduction of numbers in tho House of Del
egates.
The abolition of the Executive council;
A more responsible Executive;
An extension of tho right of sllllrageto all those,
whether freehohlefs or moi, who have evidence oil
common interest and permanent attachment.
This journal was published in all the eiazettcs
n was communicated to the General Assembly,
,onJ tooether with the memorial of that meeting,
and the petitions Of the people, become the sub
iect of the most grave and animated discussions
in the three following SESSIONS, and unth III that
Of 1927, their prayer was granted ov the passage
Of the law for taking the public. sense on calling
a general conyeuticn. All 'tlose principles We're
slsAin discussed last w.lter (182s1 during the
progress en- the passage OF the law under which
we are now assembled. | will briefly notice the
proceedings Of last winter on this subject. Inc
bill for organizing u convention, was prepared
and reported early in the session. 1t proposed
representation by Congressional districts. 1his
scheme was restored to, to give representation
in this body for three fhs Of the Slaves, or what
is called the Federal number. It was maintain
lnfIl
,matds the close of the session. Iho pfIhciple
was then called the black basis and it became so
odious within these walls, and through the coun-
fry. that its friends were compelled to abandon
4 Il was perceived, however, that it their ar
puments proved anything to sustain representa-
ton of hree-fGhs they equally sustained rep
resentation of all the slaves. From the lnomeit
that it was determined to abandon the btoc& basts,
the bill was sustained as one founded on the
verv combined ratio proposed by Judge Green)
The gentleman from Culpepper, and under con-
sileration. Some OF those who had, by argn-
ment. maintained the black basis, denied that
anv thing but a basis of population and tarataon
was ever contemplated, and they wound up then
efforts by endeavorng to show that the arrange
ment of Congressional districts, reasonably Ell
Elected their new pretensons, and had been re-
sorted to for that purpose. Atcr all ms, IL
wou]d be paving poor compliment to the IN
IGNORANT that the qnlsite basis would be here
claimed. and the battle between that and a COM
mound one of several sorts, would be the one
most severely contested. In this bret review
nfthe nroceeaings of last winter (ls28)l speak
with confidence, and to the memories OF many
gentlemen now present, who must sustain me
when say that the friends OF the minority IN
this convention, have commenced mere pfeciseiy
where they would last winter 1t was then sad
m l,rr /.
and in the form, of taration the same thing IS now
claimed by the compound ratio Of the gentleman
from Culpepper. Il is the same principle Ia DIS
o1,ise After the candid admission OF the gen
tIeman from northampton (Judge upshur) and
Cnlpepper, Judge Green proof OF this has be-
come unnecessary. Whether you co,lnt Ann as
a whole man or as fraction, 1t is still the same
nuestion, cy,ered indeed, by lew llounces AND
flowers, but it cann1t be eonccale.', mat sf,Ve
representation lies at the Bottom OF llle epipo'.e
ratio. Both gentlemen admit tha., out iof tn'
The purpose OF security for that species OF prop
erty. the principle would not be insisted on"
/ have quoted Mr.. Dodtlridge fully--amost GER
battm ct hteratim-pyeterrng to do so Tor the Ill
formation of the reader--and because his argll-
nents and statements OF iacts, are 50 much IKE
.bosc Of Mr. Calhoun's so admirably condensed,
and 80 beautifully compact, that il IS dangerous
TO touch a line OF dock word 1t states ne
case fully--it presents the issue clearly and diS
t;netly I beg the readers attention to the E's
sentence containing the admissions OF Judges
Upshur and Green Even the minority polner
in the last convention did net deny the Wslsct
and RIGHT of the srhlte btsis--ndf weuld they
have insisted on the miced basis but "ior purpo-
ses of security to their slave property, Nol
could they have entertained that fear, but 1oi
Me agitation preceding the call OF the Conven-
ton and sethe gorgons, hydfas and ciiimeras
.dreh pressed upon their minds and instilled IN
to their hearts by the eloquent alarms from the
,poGshed and able pens and speeches OF Watkins
Leigh, Randolph, Barbour and others o, OF eastern
VIRGINIA. But we meet them now IN limiie, and
tell Them we are your brothers, but il ye fear US
md are opposed to us alone for 'tpurposes of Sc
curity to your slave property we are ready TIC
IN rive Won whatever reasonable guarantees you
NAV desire-we are "bone of your bone--iesl
f ,onr Ansh,,-onr Intentions are honest and