Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-06-17
And NOW for an answer to These ouestions-.

And now Tor an answer to these questions
why was their work so imperfect? Why did
they utterly fail in the work of Reform?
We have said in another article in this paper
that Benz. Watkins Leigh, of Chesterfield was
the ruling spirit in that Convention. This was
so. And we now say it was under the auspi-
ces Of Mr.. Leigh, that the present Constitution
was formed. This also is true. And how did
Mr. Leigh possess himself Of such vast infu-
ence as to control, in all things majority of a
body that adorned by the presence of SO
many distinguished Virginians? There is but
one answer. A pretended apprehension was
manifested and raised and urged by Mr.. Leigh
and others, that Western Virginians would deal
falsely by their brethren of the East, burthening
with un ust taxation should the power of the Le-
eislature pass into their hands. We would, if
Mr.. Leigh were living ask of him and Of all
other slave hollers-by whose power and per-
mission do you hold slaves or any other proper
ty, in that day as well as in this? Where the
people rule all power over life, limb and proper
ty is with the majority in numbers and in force.
This is unqustoned truth Numbers and force
combined constitute government. To make up
the force to be added to numbers, so as 10 take
and maintain control, the wit of man has been
moved in every age of the world. A large mi
nority in numbers, may rule and work the mil
lions, if they have the intellect and tact to d.
vide and conquer those millions. This is done
buying up and arming large bodies of men, who
are separated from society in every sense of the
word separate in interest, pursuit and associa-
| tion and these stand ready TO do the bidding of
tyranny. Here is one species Of force; which
added to another item OF torce-money-rnake
the few in number Of people to have the majority
complete in what we term numbers and force
But in this State, Virginia, or in these United
States, there is no such thing TO be DONE Here
| md bo1I Of
self or his children may be landless and penni-
less to-morrow-the man of poverty to-day is the
man of wealth tomorrow s by tie destruction of
entail estates in our border, that real value which
may at one time have existed in the idea of u
feed interest in the community and the Com
monwealth, has been destroyed. Every child
born in Virginia, has an equally fixed interest
in the prosperity, and growth, and wealth ofthe
State and the humbest citizen in the land
k,,o,rs it, Though poor, and perhaps despised
in himself he looks upon his child, and the
chances are many of the truth of his hope,
which says, it shall be independent nay, rich.
| Mr. Leigh had been delying too long in black
! letter learning, was loo intimate with the stiff
necked Lord Coke, 10 make a statesman and u
| Constitution maker for the men Of Virginia, or
the United States in the 10th century. His asso.
citation in life too much with your Honora-
bes and your Ladies, 10 understand the value
put upon human rights, and the rights, civil and
! religious, promised and cherished to himself BY
the pouehman and the mechanic, reared on Nir.
| enia soil, in Virgnas bosom. Therefore be
INJURED ten thousand enormities if the right of
suffrage was extended, and he magnifed The G.
normities even into the blowing up of the ten.
pie of liberty itself, if all free white men, free
from imposed disability, or mental alienation,
power among their fellows. And there ars
men now within the borders of Virginia, who
would pretend to apprehend an unjust taxing,
at least OF the slave property OF the State, if tho
citizens West of the Blue Ridge were 10 become
the majority in the Halls of Legislation. Who
believes that any sensible man entertains or
ever entertained fear on this head in this good
Old Dominion? There can be none such, fof
here if it ever has existed on EARTH in these
States the power Of the people. Of the free white
male citizens, prevails; and there is no escap
ing it. Ii is by the consent OF the masses that
property is divided and held and it is so be-
cause they wili it, and intend it to continue
( But to return. Why was their work so im-
perfect? A question dividing the State in twain,
was raised-raised by Mr.. Leigh and his satel
lites, and pow erful the lash Of section APP
piled that men who went up TO The Capitol at
Richmond full of the spirit of reform, of tho
knocking away of ancient shackles, and of en-
lareing to the utermost the rights of all un-
tainted citizens, fell at the beginning ofdhe con-
fict, licked the hand Of the unrelenting tasks
master, and bowed at his feet. Reform was
Frustrated in sectional question.
Shall there be another Watkins Leigh to striker
down the largest liberty in the largest number,
sent up to the Capitol from the polls TO be- la
ken in August next? We trust not.
Again, we ask, why did they so utterly fail in
the work of reform The sectional question,
being raised, and safety to slave property be-
ing questioned, and questioned falsely, Mr.,
Leigh pressed them to the uttermost, and thus
obtained an undue influence over the Eastern
members, which influence and falsehood went
out also among the people, which returned not
as Noah's dove, with an olive leaf but with
thorn, and thus posioned, Mr.. Leigh was
enabled to mar and thwart all the reforms
sought to be made. And thus was Virginia
cursed for twenty years with her present Con-
stitution.