Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-03-07

ro5,isfoe2 ~ Mr. Lucas q SeAets1ls : y -
!. q. roiessue Mr. Faulkner . make ~ explanA-
-. Il rrpsy.so Nj Scott. Who adlressed The com
n,Il.e on shesday before.
Mr. Lucas commenced hy referring y ne Fecnll7
II eundison IL Bis district, with large slave Pop
ulaiioh, whieh. according 70 The Eastern view,
would 81 heightened with taxation b. western
maIosIty. laid he most fertile aad The highest IN
assessmepi ind that upon these 1uosin;eFesis the
weight Of tbeiaxes would principally BALTIMORE 50,
certainly, ,hen upon those eonibined interests in
cider sccttlb--fhe East Or West 50 thar i he
vcre lindly % follow lhe selfish Enle, regardless Of
aft eIss, Easiern rather than ! Weston majority
weaId Be preferred Bat his people afeaetnaied ~
higher principles. They acknowledge the, right 81
the majority 10 give the Law; and finding that ma
iosily 10 rsslde 10 Western Virginia, they would
prefer lol detosfl The powers Of Goyernment with
Them, han With he richer though less numerous
people Of ikejEast That this prineiple IS engrait
ed Il f,he Bill OF Rights Of our own and all the
s.ates. 81 embodied in heir Constitution, In fact
With s0z mo Ok three exceptions, they have based
representation upon numbers alone.
He then passed on 70 review Of the prrri0as
history of iii. previous Constitutions Of the State
showing taat the principle for which he eonsemied
had been viaiated, and tia. Inc few had ruled he
fsnf NJ VS. Is! III in stu snii 9 Of
slavery. L4ld com lain,s were made agains. this
miaofiIy rnle DIP 10 III. lJrnllfoa of The present
CsasliIutioaS AMI are nov continaed, especially in
respect y ths extension Of the rght Of suffrage and
the basis4of representation; thar without change
inshc organic law there i no hope Of redress The
complaint fosmeriy was against minority rule
Il Is nov slightly changed, for that minority has be-
come itctioaSi and ii has entrusted to ii all the
powers Of ayernm.nI He conlended thai thisn-
nioa of interest and power had failed or us object,
inas,nueh as hinder that rule our ebt and liability
has reached Tie large sum Of eighteen millions, to
which must b added the.expenditures Of The pres
ent Legislature, amounting TO near tour millions.
He lhoughf better than any major ity from any
section Is the safeguard or constitutional checks up
on the discretion Of III. Legislature; and that al
though The East rejected these as mare paper guar
antees yet experience has fully proved, in our heavy
Indebtedness, .hat they are necessary to restrain
Eastern men themselves.
How long was this rule TO be continued The
West has now ninety three thousand majority, and
the ratio ofincfease continues Unless some change
be made, he askei1f danger to the integrity OF The
Commonwealth mfghtnot be unprecedented There
is always in countries where tne people are free,
danger 70 vijfatiug great principles, which are
known q the people, and cherished BY them
On m6ion 81 Mr.. James Barbour, Of Culpepper,
the committee rose.
10 the CoNvgSTloS. on TaUrsiay, Mr. Hunter, Of
JeffeFsoR odsted resolution providing Tor the p
ponunent 81 Select Committee OF five, to inquire
into lie Propriey Of providing in the Constitution
Iora protection against Oppressive taxation, and
M hmore etfectuaf protection 10 the slave interest
Of the STATE which was adopted.
Nil Barbour ct Culpepper being entitled 10 the
floor, spoke ~ length in favor Of The Mixed Basis,
and against The White Basis report. Western gen.
temen now cante6ded fek the great principle Of suf
frage basis; bul ia 1880 their great sentinel, who
stood upoa the Blue Ridge, challenged Chapman
johnson and would not consent for him to enter the
While Basis camp with those views. They have
changed their front precisely as thSir dictate Mr.
B. ccnlepded that the White Basis proposition B. ;
utterly failed carry out that principle Of equality
which had been loudly praised. They said that
the portion Of the State which had a majority Of
population should have majority Of delegates, and
yet ii their superintendent Of representation, they
give 10 ii ty,igur counties with but 1896 0U8 people
10 delegates ouI OF l5j; aud to 500 900 people only
N delegates. They give nineteen Senators TO 437-
900, aud only u Senator's 10 45s, 00e. Gentemea
cling to Their principles until il geis 10 The Blue
Ridge then bid il good-bye. Members will haveto
start Snew.
Mi Garlic commenced remarks in reply. but
gave way, add then the Convention adjourned.
In The CosvEaTtoS on Friday, Mr.. Cattle con-
inued aud concluded his remarks ii support Of the
WhiIe Basis. He advocated the right of the peo-
pie II assemble at any time, and form new Con.
tha
enacsmenl and:if the Mixed Basis were adopted,
he tlus,ed they would do il, He coniended that
not @nly the twe-thirds Of the taxes paid BY the
East'had been expended in The East, but une half
OfthQ other thi(a paid BY the West; Wa. this The
Eastern generosity which had been spoken Of 50
mucLl
Mr.. Conway replied 10 Mr.. Carlile, and con-
tended that whilst the people had right 10 revolt,
yet, that any Aamation Of Constitution without
the inseryenttotl OF a Legislative enactment, was
Dorrssm. The Government should be placed in
the hands Of ihse who had the largss, interests at
stake, aud wers consequently more Interested in
seeing that power not abused.
Mi White 81 Louddun, Obtained the aoor. and
then The convention adjourned.
In:lhe CoxyESrIos. on Saturday, Mrw of
Loudoun, mad2 White Basis speech; when he
concluded Mr.. Leake Of Gooehland, mads.a por-
lion u bis speech the either side Of tie qaes,ion,
and then the Convention adjourned until Monday,
10 o'clock.
Mr. Bfown, Of Preston, presented number Of
White Basis revolutions.
On lI9sdas the CONVENTION, resumed The fur
ther consideration OF the Basis question.
MIR, Byrd Of Frederick. being entitled to the
floor, gave wayto Mr.. Mccomas OF Cabell, who
addressed The Committee at lengthin supper, oflhe
White Basis. AT o'clock. Mr.. MsComas gave
way % motion for the Committee 10 rise, and did
not therefore, conclude his remarks,
On motion. Tie Convention adjourned
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