The southern press., 1851-04-24
THURSDAY, APRIL "a, 1851.
revolutionary Movements.

Almost every Democratic member Of the
senate of New York, resigned his seat in that
body the other day, to disorganize the legisla-
ture of the State to prevent the passage Of
bill to pledge the surplus revenues of the Erie
canal for rine millions Of dollars, TO be expended
in the enlargement Of that work. The consti-
tuition of the State prohibits the creation Of a
debt for such purpose, but authorizes the APP
plication Of the surplus canal revenues for it. The
bill which has thus been defeated, or nullifed,
or frustrated, was designed to anticipate this
surplus revenue, and proceed with the work
forthwith.
Now it 30 happens that these Democratic
senators are principally Barnburners, and belong
70 that particular portion Of the party that was
in favor not only Of the late compromise-but
voted TO the Union, that they have regarded
with holy indignation the resistance ofthe South
to these measures of disgrace and spoation.
No class Of men denounced with more acrmony
the suggestion of any measures by the South to
resist or Illustrate in Congress, the passage Of
the acts to appropriate the common territory of
the Union to the North. Yet, now on measure
simply proposing to anticipate the period of an
enterprize expressly provided for in their consti-
tuition, they secede, Illustrate, dsorganize and
revolutionze We think, ourselves, that the
plan of pledging the fund for an immediate en-
larpement, is unconstitutional; but 1t is not
half so bad in principle effect, not half 80 op-
pressive to any part or section as the late meas
ures of adjustment Yet these vehement pro-
fessors of law and order, and submission to the
will of majority, undertake to disorganize.
So in Virginia. The political power Of the
State is, according to the present constitution,
in that portion of it east of the Blue ridge. The
convention now in session to amend the consti-
tuition, is in dispute as to the basis of repre-
sentation-a dispute on which depends the ques
ton whether the east or the west is to rule the
State. According to the present basis of rep
resentation, the east would remain the most
powerful in the legislature. According to a pro-
posed basis, the west would predominant. But
the convention was elected under the existing
eastern members; and they very naturally pre-
fer either the existing system, or one sufficiently
similar to secure their power. Thereupon, the
west threatens to secede-to divide the State by
the Blue ridge-and to accomplish this plan
without the consent of the east or the consti-
tuted authority. Fie fie fe! The western
part Of Virginia is the most quiet and submis
sive to the late Compromise in Congress of any
portion Of her people That Compromise dooms
the South TO perpetual nferiority-to hopeless.
"orthern domination. And it does this not b,
uenyng the Sonth right to suffrage, or of rep
resentation, but by denying it u right to colo
nize, to occupy, to purchase, part of the terri
tory which she SO largely assisted to acquire b,
her blood and treasure.
Eastern Virginia. which has the most property
refuses to transfer the control Of it to the west
which has the most white population. But the
federal government deprives the South of the
right of using property already acquired and
owned. Yet western Virginia submits very
quietly to federal usurpaton, to the violation Of
an existing constitution, and then turns round
and threatens to overthrow another existing con-
sttution by revolution, without any pretence of
usurpation, or even Of abuse of power.
These two signal cases of Inconsistency show
how much is meant by the cant Of Union, CON-
promise, conciation fraternity, and patriotism.
sB The Richmond Enquirer and Wing have
flx,h h,o ad oalv Nth off
which may possibly require brief notice from
the junior editor of this paper. The Enquirer
probably errs through ignorance Of facts; the