Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-03-18
CHARLESToWN, VA TUESDAY, MARCH 49, 1851

be free; and that all men, having sufficient evI'
dence of permanent common interest IN ana al
tachmenI to the community, have the right OF sui
? frage. And the declaration OF rights made by
the thirty other States of this Uniun-and when
, / name them, certainly need not Tell you that
there arc strictly speaking, no other free States
on earth-all set firth and affirm these great
, fundamental principles and eternal truths SELF
evident, and, with three or four exceptions, have
! actually made them the basis Of their govern
, ments. Yes, the whole thirty, with these few
exceptions, have based representation upon num-
bers-people, and adopted general suffrage, and
many OF them have now actually had more than
half century's experience of the practical Wis
dom of equal representation and EeStehded SUI
frage, and others more than a quarter OF cen
tury's like experience, while all the resi-, the new
States, have followed principle, and trod IN the
light of their example, and are now IN the tull
tide of successful experiment. Yes, all launch
ed from this same free port, and under fnll sal
on the same glorious voyage upon the onward,
endless stream of time, fully equipped Tor their
common destination, fearing not, under the smiles
of heaven, storm or tempest, shOal or qulcksand,
but all sufe OF the TiiteTing prize Old Virginia,
the eldest sister, " the flag ship and the most
seaworlhy of all, tagging back solitary and alone,
| still afraid to venture upon calm and tranquil
sea, and upon such vnyaGe-still at anchoNRp-
on her old colonial ground-unrqmal representa-
| ton and limited sUtirage-as If given up to idle
fear or worse idolatIy; still lingering on an un-
safe and uncertain shore as if afraid OF losing her
freight some part Of il, and afraid, my friend
from Accomac (Mr. WIsE) says, OF the majority
| Of her own noble Crew-who would, every one OF
them, shed their last drop of blood in her defence
| standing, as hope to show, on her own sha-
/ dow, in her light, and frightened; that in
opposition, repeat it, to her own dPcla atinn OF
! rights and those of her thirty sister States
| against principle, example, experience, and that
( prosperity aud glory which would attend on
! ward course in the plain republican path OF duty,
| upon this most glorioms voyage.
! After the course OF remark submitted by the
! honorable gentleman from Fauquicr, am led out
| of my way, prescribed for myself. He has
made it important to inquire, how Virginia came
into the position just described, and why she has
! so long continued in it. In this investigation
! beg the committee TO follow me. Like The hon
/ orabe gentleman Just referred to, fear nothing
| in search of truth. The story is plain one and
! sold told, and presents another instance with
/ which the history OF the world isreplete, of pow
er holding on 10 power once obtained, no Tpatter
how, anL not unlreqmcntly against both right and
reason, leaving the many no alternative but sub
| mission or revolt, which, when success attends,
aud their cause is just, we all call glorious revo
/ luton, not rebellion.
The means by which the few have ever con-
! trivcd, in all ages and countries, 10 rule the ma
| n.y. are numerous and various, and the modes Of
| misunderstanding power and force and fraud aud
a combination OF wealth ard interests, the chief.
! With us, while we bavc~had nothing of this sort,
and take pleasure in disca inning he impnta-
ton the process has been a simple one. Yet the
4 fact is so. The few have ruled the many in VlF-
uinia from the beginning. and still do ss.4ei
IyTanncally, not oppreSsiveIy, bot II Is true
/ -as certain as there is God in Heaven.
agree that the origin Of this minority rule in
/ Virginia, is not without apology do not deny,
at least, that there are many things TO eXtenuate
and even to excuse in the circumstances out Of
| which it emerged. Yet | can see nothing TO
sanction the long continuance OF it, and do see
I much 10 condemn the existing, unequal represen.
IaIion, restricted suffrage, aud other anti.Eepub.
lican relics.
Our constitution and government, as you are
aware except as amended and changed in some
few particulars in l829-'8O, had its birth in the
revolution. Those times of trouble that tried
mems souls.'' Our early ancestors, who fled 10
this western world from the perseC utnDs and op-
pressions of the old, in settling here in wilder
ness, brought with them only such laws as were
ada pied to their new and strange situation. And
few in number, at first, and with lile TO care for
but themselves, they indeed needed but little GO
/ verDmcnt and law. But they gradually increas-
cd, grew, and llourished, though but slowly, and
imrToving but little they advanced in their ci-
vii and political institutions, dependent as they
we're upon the crown to which they acknowledge
ed allegiance still, until their prosperity attract
ed the rapacity Of the mother country, ruled by
a selfish tyrant and cold blooded ministry
Then soon that prosperity began TO be abstracted
under color of pretenCe alter another, against
their consent, and exactions to increase and null
tipv until longer submission became ntOeraole.
Then, we know they resisted, and rose with their
confederates, and threw off the yoke, casting it
in the wide ocean that separated them. The
contest was one of fearful odds, one of doubtful
issue and full of hazards, and while it was rag
ing, the old government dissolved and abroga'ed
-amiust the heat aud carnage Of this life-strng-
ole, convention was called under law passed
by the last house OF burgesses, " whose power"
20 use the language Of Mr.. Doddrdgc, had ac-
tualy ceased with the colonial government, and
by the same act that dissolved it," And that
body, calling itsel! a convention, and assuming
the authority, and to their honor be it said made
our first constitution. Our old constitution was
thus gotten up in haste and danger. To meet the
pendiUp crisis, n temporary e&pedIent, intend.
cd only to ride out the storm, not to lasti and
being thus gotten up and designed, as Was SAID
by my friend from Grecnbricr, <Mr. SMTTH,) in
openinG this debate it is no reflection upon its
authors 10 say, Xhat is the truth, that 1t was de-
;. -teotiUe oaL imPosEOct- Indeed, as he irnly re-
marked, the wonder is, that it was not more so,
. under the circumstances, especially as they had
no model 10 gnide them.'
In fact, it changed but little the Old colonial
government which had sprung up, under their
connection with The crown, their Dependence
and allegiance. And the delegates who made II
were elected by freeholders holding fifty acres
of cultivated or one hundred acres OF nncultlVa-
| tod land But the country submitted TO their
authority and t0citly adopted their work, although
The constitution was never submitted to a formal
vote, as in truth they were obliged TO, under the
circumstances, if they hid been otherwise dis
+ posed.
But who were these first constitution makers
Fsay they were confessedly but the representa-
tyes of this one particular class of freehotders,
a portion only-and but comparatively small
portion only-ofthe people.
And what did they do l repeat but little
/, more, besides repndating the crown and allegi-
ance than continue the same slate OF thing be-
: fore existng-the same Old freehold government
of.the few, without the crown-uuder another
name. ii IS true-but scarcely changed in form,
substance, or power.
They substituted honse Of delegates for the
= old house of burgesses, aud a.senate for the old
i legislative council, confding to each precisely
.Se S Predecessors, and prescribing for members