Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04

III.
sblc. This however. they have not done ana !
conclude therefore, that the strange comround 10
which I have referred was never contemplated "
hem. 80 . ;,
Blu. sir. in the progress Of time, differences OF oPll
ion must necessarily exist in the community OF WHICH
have been speaking, in relation proposed ca.ses Il,
the fundamental law. and hence the necessity "9 az
solute necessity of rule for the adjustment anu SET
tomeut Of those differences Of opinion. Inc article
Under consideration furnishes that rule. 1t declares
that msiorty of the community hath the ndubitabe,
unaienable and ndeeasblc right TO REFORM as'er OF
abolish Sc Here we have no mixed majority. Which
is bu, another name for minority II the PLAIN, SIM
pie republican majority, to which me Peopo VI lis
country have long been accustomed ana "c iof one.
am unwilling to surrender. rue inc s!tc' ie'ier Vi
the rule restricts it to questions o constitutional relom
In, The sn,it Goes beyond the letter and mskes equal
IL appcable TO any and every political operation Why
No, Why adop, one rule for constitutional reform, and
,noher and diferen, rule for the legislative department
If the Governments If The rule of the bill of rights
h c, in The one case it cannot be unsafe in the other
If il be wise and expcdicnt in the reformation Of the
Government how can it be unwlse and ineXpedicnt in
ts application to the ordinary legislation OF the conn
try? am aware, ot no consideration, howe
yer plausible which at any time or place. or under any
circumstances could tempt me. or ought to tempt
any other Iirenian. 10 discard the tried. well esiab
shcd republican doctrine which aiirns the right Of
simuIt nurc ungiXad majority TO govern. Strip the
people of Ills Invaluable righ-let the convention
rravey and soennly rcnounce it. and it requires no
prophetic spirit predict that the day must come, when
every vesge oP papuar freedom will bo swept away
from this ancient ans! renowned commonwealth
. In my Judgment there can he no safety, no
,nacc no quiet 10 the public mind. except in the adop-
lion OF white population the qualified voters, the
only true and legitimate basis vi representation. But
property or taxation has been and still is most
ementlv and zealously urged proper element in
the distribution Of political wer Are gentlemen pre-
pared by another constitutional arrangement, perna-
ncntly and indefinitely ~ asen upon the people 81 the
West, principle not only repusive To their feelings,
al war with those friendly relations which should al
ways cs. between the different portions of the com
monwcah but utterly repugnant 10 all Ike principles
Of free government We all profess 10 be rcpuicals-
republicans in iheory-repubicas in praclice-and how
then can gentlemen insist upon perpeiuang the power
of the country, in the hands OF minority Nharlgi.,
moral or political, has Inc minority 10 that power
Whence IS il derived iro' what so1Ica iriia what
code from what compact WHO ar4.l parties - ii
ask what what r. sat lia- 4 wealth oi the State IL
control th,ies;inies Of the State ,ihe government o.
ma organized i. -, IS and can - ao:hiGg more
81 less than IN ooils and most offensive ariSocacy
Il! rotation OF the most solemn declaration H. the hli o
rirIs the power Of the commonwealth Is transferred
from the hands OF the many Gts rigliu derscresl
10 the hands Of the favored few. Adespoiish is estah
lished-olica equality (thc most beautiful and dsiin
gushing feature in the creed OF the republican, at an
end, and the whole people Of the West, by the organic
law of the land, are reduced 10 the miserable and de-
pendcnt condition OF Sc s-SerHs TO the East.
| now desire to- ct the attention of mem-
h,rs constituting the Eastern delegation in this
convention to other consequences which mus; necesS
riiy result from the doctrine maintained by them. II II
b. tue tia. property or taxation is necessary and In
dspensablc element in the distribution OF political pow
er and tina; regard must be had to it. in the ap;oT5n-
men, of representation between the Fast and West. it
,nst or at least ought to be, adopted iii tho aproror
,aen, between the counties. cities and owns oi Eastern
Virginia. Are gentlemen prepared ior this I: Are they
willing SO 10 apply their doctrine! Are they prepared
in the apporiunmcnt between the Counties cities and
towns of the East. 10 give IN each representation in
proportion 10 the white population. aid The amount Or
value OF property held b. each, or tile amount c taxes
paid by eac!,2 Are they willing. by such IN arrange
nent to rive to the cities and counties eabracn. very
large amount of the wealth oil the country. the power
OF controlling and defeating a! Hbtum and indefinitely
the wishes, feelings and sentiments OF counties with
:nce limited means Are they prepared 10 practice
Injustice So rcvoltrg Their doctrine leads 10 that
suit Perhaps however, they arc not willing 10 exsb:;
towards the latter counties, 81 much o! unh:ndaess aud
,'terality. Why then do thu! in The aJpariionnent
,ctween the East and West, which il would not be
cities towns and COUNTIES OF Eastern Virginia Ii the
principle be unjust in the case i; ca:ho: be just in
the other But this is lot all. Would gentlemen
be willing b. single blow. 10 strike down the political
equality which exists betwccn the independent tee.rn
Il the East Would they make Eastern vciers
;lal at the polls Would they invest one Eastern
man witt, an amount of power because OF his wealth.
which they would deny IL another Eastern man. because
CT his poverty N'ou! they give to the one authority
to govern the ether! 10 direct and control his fortunes
and estiuies-ina word to reduce him to the condition
Of the veries; slave On earth. an sure they would
not The thought is Indignantly rePoled as unworthy
of fyeemen-as the manifestation of an injustice loo
GROSS TOO in,oeraba TO ~ borne for single moment
Yet | am constrained to say, that thisvery in
justice. this wrong, this gricyous wroag, has been
aud is pr,cticed upon the people II the West. in the
relation they sustain To the people of Tie FAST. IL
is porpctra,ed by the existing constitution Of Virginia,
and |erpctTaed, Must ne permitted 10 say, under cir
culi,staac"s Ut peculiar aggTa9aon What az; these
circumstances Loo! 10 the organization u? tho last
convention True it was organized Oh the BASIS Of the
senatorial districts bal these districts arranged
yordny to the census Of 1910, and the West lost the
benefit Of The entire increase in lis white population.
from tina: period to the passage Of he law authorizing
the sense OF the pcp;a 10 bo taken the question OF
convention or no convention In this, there was injrs-
lice Thai convention not only assigned 10 The Fast
present unjust ..ljoliiy, but deliberately invested her
with the power Of perpetual control in the legislative
department Of the government. In this too. there was
inasce--!..os; manifest ana Islpabe. And now here
in convention, 50 constituted 10 secure tc
Eastern Virginia a nominal !aluT;y 1t least, Of Il.
These facts sir. cannot bat regard So many eyicn-
ccs Of settled purpose, to exclude tic West from its
just participation in the political power Of the State
and thus excluded, to keep in state Of most oa!-
siyc vassalage is it at all wonderful therefore,
that tie Western people should comrain--car
acstly conp!ain-aye, solemny protest against a
wrong which sinks them beo:: the level and dignity Of
Eastern i.eenen9 The constitution desradas The
Western white man, When ii him. rs politically
| unequal to his fellow Gu this silc the ridge. and nc
who snppses the Western people will lie down iainoiy
and quietly under the degradation has wonlly mis;a
! ken their character. will NOT however, despair Of
relief unrropilious as are the circumstances to which
have alvcrtcd. Justice may yet he done 10 the West
and he done BY this very convention
Elsewhere it has been said Git was said in the
las convention ard may be repeated here that tho p!i-
crlcs 50 earnestly and zealousy urged by ,he West.
are m distractions. and therefore unfit Tor any lar
teal purposes whatever To the suggestion. have
this brief bn! On that account no less conclusive
porsc To make. Tie doctrines Of the West are the