Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-07-26

MEssRs. EpiToRs ~ rec The argument of the
speakers on Monday; aRtzheg leave 20 offer some
suggestions relative 10 the chIet topic 81 dehate-
the basis Of representation, Had the force of ar
gument been in proportion ID The veNemence Of
gesticulation or lie roar Of the vocal thunder the
subject had been exhausted But il seemed to me,
that in that war of words the still small voice Of
reason aud reflection wire forgotten or pnheeded.
The advocates Of the white basis, 10 their ad.
herepce 10 one fixed idea--lhat the majority shall
frame the laws OF the laid, whether fundamental or
merely legislative that every motive of ex-
pediency every Safeguard 10 property must ilrst
yield TO dangerous abstraction And then, when
every thing is acknowledged TO be at the mercy OF
this majority they viii lisento suggestions for
siraining its powers-yea for annihilaling that
omnipoenee which if their fnndaeenlal principle
were carried out cannot be TOUCHED. But II ma
joriy can and should befesained, does not the aD-
siract principle of its inherent right BECOME map
plieabe and fail Of its purpose Is nof the subject,
BY the very admission Of its advocates, changed
into eof expectancy The white basis men, in
one breath, affirm that majority shall adopt such
constitution as their good pleasure may grant !;
but in The next breath propose prohibit their ex
ercise OF power upon suudry subjects uf legislation
True, the favoufte dogma isusnaiy stated in more
Eagne ard sfnaEa II sne
power be denied 10 a majority, is not the dogma
false and miscellaneous But il is argued that This
power of majorilies applies only to those periods
when constitutions are 70 be framed and that in
ptOGcSS tnCSS ufhSSt Vi
some Of their inherent powers for the general good
Admitting. for moment thai maorities are always
SO generous JUST, so litleiam itous Of power as
to adupt these self-denying ordinances. Why do
they 80 divest themselves q power Generally,
because they cannot exercise it.-they have no
moral right 10 exercise il; and if they dol it is
tyrannica and revolutionary Thus the very ne
cessity of guarantees adnifed hy all the speakers)
proves want of power in ulalGriies, 10 conside-
rable extent Ifthere be the absence III moral sight
n m raipf< emrplv lie 1ha RI
Of wisdom and 81 fore sight 10 deny them the.pdySt-
caf goacr sought to be- even by theiT advocates
cautiously and tfemblingly conferred
But as was argned on Monday, whfa ihS white
basis proposed to restrict the right of suffrage
10 males over d years Of age they yielded the abb
stract principle at once. Females are said 10 ex-
coed the males in nearly all countries; and If TO
them be added the minors III sufcieat discretion
under Ct majority of that very majority these
gentlemen eulogize so highly. is excluded from po
liGical power. The white basis men require women
and minors 10 be counted in the contest for polit-
cal power, but refuse 10 let them participate in the
exercise OF that power. Again The relative pro-
portion between men over p and the fesdue of the
white population probably varies considerably in
different localities for instance in Jefferson ihefe
may be probably 1000 or $500 men over 81 in a
population Of some 10 COO Tor about ene1foufih or
one-ffh; whilst in the county of Norfolk from The
greater exposure of men iii an uhheaBthy climate
thew may be ID less ratio ID tile total white popu-
lalon OF about the same number. So that BY The
white basis principle even, some I200Eor 1900 men
ia one locality may wieId IS mneh political power
as 1000 or $500 in another To accomplish this
perfect equality of power the white basis advocates
must coniine their enumeraGon,to the mem over 81
and exclude entirely the rest OF thu population
So that their principle carried out brngs 10 this
dilemma: they must either place no restriction
upon the right Of suafageor they must admit that
the fatal white population isnot the rue basis Of
representation
Mr.. Editor, some Of the speakers sadly misrepre1
scented HE object Of the mixed basis party. They
ask not for an undue share pf power, as was charg
protection Specially from the evils likely 10 result
from the course pursued By ihe white basis men
Nor is il for the slave IxppsIEy only Fhss We want
protection. The rich lands OF the valley Of which
some Of the speakers posses fair share may need
as much. ! beg those who are urging the abstract
principle Of the absolute right &c ma5orities, to
member that TWO classes OF persons-shey who pos
sess nothing. and they who possess less than an
average share OF the properly OF the Commonwealth
constitute most certainly "a najoriay Of the whites
over 81 Are Fou not tempting such persons 10 the
exercise Of The mighty power they, might WELD
You tell tiem chiefly that ghet have The right tb
govern the state; and then ask them TO dires Them
selves Of power and deny themselves the tempting
prize almost within their grasp. Tell me not Shat
this would Be revolutionary course, not cpniem-
plated 10 framing system Of govfrnmeut just
increase the facilities for action andwork up vari-
Gus classes % sufficient pitch tand yon may do
both j and The worst Of all tyranny
Of the mRltitude-may legalixe any atrocitv Or Ii
such consequences do NOT fellow ons.result hardly
less 70 be deprecated IS almost al hand. in my
Judgment and thai is-a division ar The State
July IL "a TIsrrrrn