Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-07-29
correspondence of the Vindicator.]
A FREEMAN
SUTToN. Braxton co., July Is, 1850.

t1r. EdltOr,-Belng SuDScflDer 10 your pa
per, and also being anxious to see the great mea-
sures of reform carried into effect, and which
have been advocated so uniformly and efficiently
in your excellent paper, send you this short
sketch, which may, possibly, be of some little in
terest to your readers. The pioneer in any new
enterprise which tends to the public veal, neces-
sarily, is compelled to undergo many hardships.
Without any attempt at f1attery, think | may
truly say that you have been in the front rank of
the battle for the reformation of the organic law
of this Commonwealth, and therefore, in my
humble opinion, deserve well of your fellow-citi-
Zens.
At the Convention held IN Staunton, in the
Fall of 1885, it was the general opinion Of the
representatives in that Convention, that the West
should cease to insist upon the call for a Conven-
ton until after the re assessment of the lands.
and when the census should have been taken, in
1850, at which period it was supposed, that the
increase of the value Of the lands in Western
Virginia, and the increase of population, would
stare them in the face so garingy, that they
could no longer have any pretext to deny their
Western brethren the true and republican basis of
representation-the White Basis. But our Eas-
tern brethren anticipated us Of the West-they
forced a Convention bill through the Legislature
one year before it was desired by the West. AT
ter the bill was passed and became law, !, with
Slliull VI FCVPlC VI 4>oltu
Virginia, voted in favor of The bill, in April last
believing that it was, perhaps, the best that we
could get from the Legislature for many years,
And we have seen from the Spring elections that
MANY of the Western counties voted in favour of
the present bill, no doubt, for the reason above
assigned, and because of the necessity for early
and immediate action. This, indeed, was the
reason that the bill was carried before the people
by the very large majority of $4,000
Although very large majority Of the people of
this Conventional District were opposed to the
bill in the Spring, they are now preparing with
zeal for the coming Convention. This district
but having many men in this section of country
of "bold fronts, we have variety of candidates,
some 2 or Is, only Of whom can be elected. ]
think our candidates are generally men of the
| sstrue grit,n and if elected will battle well for
thorough reform. have had the pleasure of
hearing most of them discuss the principal mea-
sures Of reform which are now being agitated in
Virginia. and as far as can learn, their opn-
ions correspond generally with those of a great
majority of the people ofNorth Western Virginia.
The white basis principle is the one most cher
shed in this portion of the State. 1t is the prn-
ciple for which the strength and power of the
West will be exered in manner worthy of a
patriotic and free people. The restriction of the
right of suffrage, in our present. Constitution, is
| regarded as one of the most abominable relics of
arstocracy inherited from our ancestors. We be-
| lieve that it has caused thousands of Our most
promising and enterprizing young men to forsake
the healthy climate and productive lands Of their
native State, and to make their homes in the
great West and South-in climes more cohgenial
to genuine republicanism. Hence, the slow in
crease of population and prosperity in Virginia.
As to the County Court system, it is regarded
as an extremely antiduated institution. Indeed it
would long since have been considered an .'obso-
lete idea" were it not engrafted in the Consttu-
ton. 1t will readily appear TO every observing
reader that the system, per Sc Is fepughant to the
declaratory part of the Constitution itself, viz !:
the Bill of Rights. In early days, during the
Colonial government, and even during consider
rable time, under the State government, the sys-
tenn operated toerably well in in the despatch of
business, and in old times, in Eastern Virginia
the Justices were generally men of considerable
fortune and leisure Hence their ability to make
small sacrifices to perform the business of the pub
lic But even this is now entirely lost, at least,
in Western Virginia. In many portions of this
part of the State, Justices of the Peace are opera
tives, men who raise their stock, reap their grain
with their own hands, and frequ emily go to mill
into the bargain. Reason then asks, how can
men under such circumstances discharge the one
rous duties of the public in ministerial and judi
cal capacity2 This is only citing napplicabili,y
Of the system to this portion of the State in view
of the dispatch of business, not saying anything
bout the responsibility of the ORDER Its self crea
ting and self perpetuating powers, SC.
They are in favor of electing all the public off
GERS by the people, whether they be legislative, ex
ecutive or judicial. The people believe that al
sovereign power in the State should reside imme
diatey in, and be exercised by them, in point o
fact. Therefore, they consider themselves tht
most capable to select al. their public servants
They are in favor of abolshing the Executive
Council, as being too nearly allied to sinecure Off
ces. The Governor should be elected by all the
voters of the State The Circuit Judges by the
voters of the circuit over which he is to preside
his tenure of office not to be over five sever
years. This will not only avoid the grand scheme