Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-08-17
EAST AND WEST VIRGINIA-THE CON-
NENTJON

The following extract from Howison's Histo-
ry of Virginia, vol. II p. 434-439, gives some
facts and views which have bearing upon the
prominent subject now before the people. Speak
ing of the vote by which the present Constitution
was adopted, the author says:
at will be remarked that in general, the counties
west of the Blue Ridge voted heavily against the
amended Constitution. Harrison threw thousand
hundred and twelve votes to eight; Ohio six hundred
and forty three to three; Raodoph live hundred and
sixty five to four; Logan two hundred and fifty five to
two; HARDY one hundred and twenty TO sixty three;
Grayson hundred and forty nine to seventy and in
the county OF Brooke the whole vote of three hundred
and sevenyone against the plan In the forty
counties then composing the entire region west OF the
Blue Ridge there clear majority OF seven thousand
three hundred and two against the New Constitution
And yet in its favour the sxtyeigh counties East of
the Ridge gave majority OF seventeen thousand Sc
hundred aud nnety-tour, which was sufficient to
extinguish the hole adverse majority OF the West and
to bring the State in favour of the New Government by
balance OF ten thousand four hundred and nnety-two
votes
"This conflict of sentiment was too remarkable and
too plainly defined by geographical bounds to be with
out adequate cause.
I'VE must endeavour to explain it.
In 1880, Eastern Virginia, upon surface oftwenty-
seven thousand two hundred square miles, had popu-
iaon Of eight hundred and thirty-two thousand nine
hundred snd eighty souls, OF whom four hundred and
sixteen thousand three hundred and twenty Tor within
minute fraction of one-haf) slaves. At the
as tins Nersern Virginia, upon area OF forty-two
3 assaaa sehs hundred square miles, had population
aad se!enty- eight thousand four hun
Fl f@}7es OF }Rhom fifty-three thousand four
N ssS & ~ sesefls for about one-seyenth,) were
a 2A55*saesss 4 s,c ladies' the free blacks,
= %s Hty-seven thousand 10 number, and
81 5susk 5otss sections of the State
N AfS4 Ss hiyed At 4 glance the enormous dispari-
AZ "a ss.sssstg ses ri Tie two great division of Vr-
ii & 81 .fftsisas caased the difference OF sentiment
Ss4 ssaigh hasthreatened TO rend them asun
sssEaef and MINOR causes may have increased the
feeling, but this is paramount lis operation may be
developed.
When the Federal Government formed, sa-
very full being, aud it entered largely into the de-
bates OF the body that framed the constitution 1t was
decided that direct taxes and representation n the
several States be proporoned to their respective
numbers. but in estimating those numbers the difficulty
arosewere the slaves to be considered persons or as
propery2 In Tact, they were both; they were persons,
for they had bodies and souls they increased the nur
merca strength of the country tor every effort requiring
human exeron they added to its responsibility for the
protection of life and health they capable of
crime and liable to punishment for it. And they were
also property, liable to be bought and sod conveyed by
deed, bequeathed by will, gained by marriage or de-
scent At length fair compromise effected be-
tween the slaveholding and non-saveholdng States,
and the result was the well known article in the con
sttuton by which three tths of the slaves added
TO the free people OF the States in extending their NUNS
bers This established what is called the mired basis
OF taxation and representation.
cit would be hard to find equitable objection to
this compromise; The instrument containing it was
since, acquesced without resistance. And it it was
right Tor the Union, 1t seemed tort0ri right for Vir-
gnia; for the expenses Of the Federal Government
have been generally paid without direct taxes, and thus
the slave States have had the advantage Of having their
slaves estimated in representation, without the
pondng burden which must be Imposed when necessary
But Virginia was obliged TO pay her expenses by direct
taxes and these of would fall heavily upon
Shareholders, and it seemed reasonable that those who
bore the burden should have the oudest voice order
ing its adjustment This view commended itself to
0tt he Coz
principle OF the miTed basis Tor representation IN Vr
GINA.
"The people of Wesera Virginia have never been
satisfied with this arrangement. Their complaints are
natural and merit serious thought. They have urged
that the slaves OF the State ought not be considered
ing the number of representatives, for they be
regarded persons because they do public duty and
can never be permitted to vote and property they
cannot be considered because such property is not the
basis OF representation. They have insisted that the
chlfe basis alone should be adopted and that only this
will insure TO them her legitimate influence in the pub
lie councils. These views have been controlling that
IN the session ot lS4546 a vote taken in the Lee
gisalue upon the expedency OF calling another Con-
yentlon
The attempt then failed but it is believed that it has
not been finally abandoned.
" II would be obviously improper n this work to ex-
press any opinion upon this subject farther than may
have been necessarily involved in fair statement OF its
merits To the wisdom, the moderation, the patrlo-
tism both OF the West and the East it must be commit
ted.
But the candid will forgive an earnest depreciation
OF hasty measures for obtaining new government. II
has been thought that this attempt, unless conducted
with degree OF deleacy and Of selisacrice seldom
found IN human action, will end In sundermg entirely
the two great divisions OF the State, than which,
suit could be deplorabe, They have been united
not so much by common origin or common interest, as
by those thousand hallowed and tender associations
which cluster around the very OF Virginia. There
are few sensitive hearts either in the East the West
that would not bleed under the shame OF a divorce so
unnatural. And even if this extreme evil did not fol-
Iowa change of government might produce other ills
only the more formidable because not yet Defined
Nothing dangerous than hat popular restless.
ness winch, without adequate cause, seeks to remodel
the whole framework Of government, Whether this
has not beeo demonstrated by the experience of the past
twenty years in Virginia. the public conscience may de-
eide 10 this subject beyond all Others, it becomes U TO
consider whether We should not
"'Raher bear those ills we have,
Than fly TO others that we know not Of"
The health ofthe city of New Orleans continues
good, although the heat is represented as most OPP