Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-23
FEDERAL RELATIONS.

Much has been said during the pending
discussion in the Convention on the subject
of Constitutional guarantees, ana their rela-
"a tive value to the East and West Several
prominent and influential speakers on the
mixed basis side of the question, (and We
would particularly refer to the able argu-
ments of Messrs. JANNsY, and ScoTT of
Fauquier) have contended that what they
term paper guarantees can afford no salts
factory security to the East, because pop
ular majority might at any time call new
Convention to be organized on the White
Basis, which would entirely abrogate them.
These same gentlemen, however, when Of
fering securities to the West in case the mix
ed basis should be adopted, are clearly of the
opinion that paper guarantees would be all
sufficient against any abuse Of power on the
part of an Eastern majority. The incon-
sistency of these gentlemen very forcibly
reminds as of the fable in which the wrong
OK happened to be gored. A more striking
illustration Of its moral has never perhaps
been discovered in the political history of
Virginia.
Hethink that not only Western Virginia,
bat the whole country has deep interest
in this issue. Mr.. SUMMERS has most tri-
umphantly responded to the demand of Mr..
JANSEr, and shown that the future federal
relations of this Commonwealth may in all
probability depend upon it. In the language
of Mr.. ScoTT, "there is in Eastern Virginia
a fearful proclivity to dis-union, and it is
TO the people of the West that the friends of
the Union must look for those conservative
counsels by the prevalence of which that
Union. can alone be preserved. We may
well ask how these counsels are to be made
available for this great end, if the people in
the East are to retain a majority in the Leg
islature. You may indeed apply mega
tive and temporary restriction against pre-
cipitate action in favour of dis-union, in the
shape of Constitutional guarantees; but may
not q new Convention be called, like the
present on the mixed basis principle, which
shall propose new Constitution not con-
tanning these guarantees, but so full of pop
uiar reforms as to secure the approval of a
majority Of the people? We will not say
this is probable, but we believe it to be quite
as possible as the apprehensions expressed
by Eastern gentlemen in relation to the ''pa-
per guarantees offered them by the West.
For ourselves we are free to admit that
this consideration of our federal relations is
the most powerful of all those which have
been urged in favour Of the suffrage basis of
representation. We would be willing to see
any and every proper restriction thrown up
on the power of nero numerical majority.
We could even live happily and contentedly
: under the present arbitrary system, (Which
violates, in our opinion the fundamental
principles ofrepubGcan government,) and
leave its errors to be corrected by the de-
velopments of time; but when we look to
the future destinies of the State, and clearly
see their dependence upon the present de-
cision of this question, we cannot hes
itate as to our duty, or shrink from dis
charging it. To keep Virginia in her orbit
as long as hope for the Union remains,
should be an object of the first Importance
with the present Convention as it is an OBJ
ject sacredly dear to the vast majority of
her people.