Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-03-18
1o,Ihove nothingISio ask for, potbino

" hOJ and affections, WIlekS ~ Is my PIeaSuIe
hear almost increasingly. not The discord that ga
Iu;es me hero, but the social sound of the min
F.! cling food, OF the welded Waters OF old Potomac
! and Shenandoah, allow msito say, not more con
genial or happy in their nt1inn sehor Identical il
their destiny, when lost iHalfe deep bosom OF th'
ocean, than should be, Lean. say with arden
a love as glows in the 6reaseot hefproudest son
east and west, and all yis nisi forever!
| but use this 6gnte To- ale and enforce
the sentiment, and L viii lsed; extend i
TO saw, that as these Ifta6defing streams of diff
(erent source and'seemfngly once estranged. ant
! brought together by some great conyulsion, as
our ancestors were by oppression united in the
revolution, now consummate their union at that
romantic spot so much admired, will hcncetorth
according TO all human calculation, Mt least min
Gle their continuous flow through all time, so, ii
is the first wish Of my heart, that we, as peo
pie who haze one origin, one ancestry, one Ian
Tuare, one rcnown, and one country, with com
mon interests TO unite us in one great and glori-
Gus Commonwealth shall continue for many ages
and generations yet to come, TO live in unity and
harmony together under common government
and Il common name, and that name, am sure
all concur, Virginia and none other, and not only
for ages and generations, but forever! And
will hope and hope to the last, that this is to be
omr destiny, notwithstanding what have heard
without and within those Consccrated walls, and
within and without this ancient, this time-hOnOr-
ed capitol Of our c. mmon country, around whose
atars we are gathered together, from every
portion of this old Commonwealth TO consult, TO
deliberate and trust in God, to act for the com
mon good, not sectional interests! And why not
hope it, why not when can say for myself and
my respected colleagues and those we have tho
proud honor to represent in this assembly, that it
is no part Of our nature or OF our purpose 10 IN
duge even in embryo for one moment, the thought
OF separation and division. Never, never, no,
never so long as there shall remain to sim
e inst md
rights. No, as for us, however it may be with
others, we would rather see the hills and noun
tains that surround MS, ,sattaChCd as we are TO
them, as nature formed them, and as VIC have
been accustomed to look upon them even from
our childhood cEdcarcd TO us by all their holy
associations in our recolleciions OF the past and
by nativity, melted into one vast heap Of ruins.
covering in the mass our homes, our all even
the graves OF our fathers and our toreiathers,
leaving tomb nor stone to tell tho sacred spot 81
their repCsc. Than we wonld rise up TO sever the
band that binds this people in unity, as tic chill
drcn OF a common mother.
Occupving this enviabIc position, favored with
every natural and artificial advantage we only
ask 10 he permitted TO rcmain part aud parcel OF
Virginia, under IL Ecce aud equal form o govern
mcnt, truly republican, 10 secure us in The full
enjoyment Of what we have, aud under such a
government. and under no other may hope for in
future Wen, the question meets us here, have
snnh ea"arnmenl2 2Enr 1at Lao vlzfP
sembled?' Fer what purposes nave we'heen cho'
sen and delegated to this old capital, by large
majority of the electors of the whole State, a
class | hone 10 sec enlarged. We have been
sent here charged with the sacred duty 10 amend
and reform our existing constitution and govern.
mCnt, in various and important particulars, and
CspccaIIy it's basis OF representation. because
deemed Intellectual for the great crds OF IFS Ins!l-
tution. Aud appreheud, we should have very
little III the way 10 prevent our arriving anu
- 4 l., l,oTVo
nious results, but for one difficulty, and that is
this question of the basis which lies at the thres
hold. We cannot take a steP-we cannot move
an inch it appears until we settle II, and fix the
foundation NJ on which the whole government is
to rest and most unfortunately npOn this question
we stand here divided in two parties, and nearly
equally, by a geographical line marked by a
mountain, as th"ngh, Ms was apliy remarked by
the distinguished gentleman from lIcDrco, al an
early stage OF our proceedings, principles run
with momntans.' entertain decided opinion
that If no question of power was involved in this
contest and no question of principle, we could
settle il very soon. Is there any doubt OF this
None in the world on my mind none.
Well, in regard TO this matter, my constituents
if Governed by interest, which the honorable gen
tlcman who addressed you on yesterday, told you
puvcrns all men and all things, and lies at the
foundation of government, would occupy precise
Iy the opposite to that upon which they have in
] ktEuCteu
! be an exception to this rule. With those great
natural and local advantages-wth every grea
| work of improvement nearly already made, we
desire, which you know you were so emphatlcally
told Yesterday by The honorable gentleman, is moi
the case with the East, and is far from being
true as to the West. With our markets beyoDt
| tho limits of the State, and yet almost at ouI
door, while we are to be taxed to make these i'm
provcmcnls East and West without direct bene
tit from either; in this situation, it is manifest
! we have more to fear, in that respect, from pow
! or in the hands of the West than in those of the
! East, for we have nearly as large slave popu
! laliun as the East, and a far larger proportion
! than the West, while our lands are richer ant
higher assessed than those of either, and muct
| more so than those fthe Westj and weall know
that it is upon these two great proprietary Interests
slaves a nd lands-upOn which The taxing powe
presses most GENEROUSLY, and 90 must fall with
| heavier hand upon us than elther the East or tn
| West whoever wields the power. IT is mos
clearly demonstrate, then, II we are tn be govern
ed by interest, or il we were to be influenced b.
the fear Of taxation, which seems 10 be the mali
| ground assumed by our Eastern brethren 10
| holding on to power, that we should go will
them upon the basis question, instead oil with th
West. To be still more explicit, 1t, in our oPin
ion this was simply question OF power, as as
serted by the honorable gentleman from Halifax
! CMr PURKIXs,) ii there was no principle in
vnlved in it. or if we believed principle was OF
the side of the East, and that majority of in
terests," as the honorable gentleman from Eau
ouier so powerfully contended, IN one section Q
lie State, and not numbers over the whole Com
monwealth as one community, was the true re
publican basis, then tho Valley, or at least m,
end Of it, would, from interest and PRINCIPLES b
found on this question on the side OF the East in
stead of with the West These two powerful
motives would impel US. Brtwe are not able t
concur in the view that there is no principle in
volved-that it is simply a contest for Powe
when, so far as we are concerned, we know tha
il is not SO. We cannot concede that minofit
located in one section ofthe State. which hapPs
for the time being, to own the most wealth
should therefore govern the State and the major
and aIour notions of right. 1t would yiolat
first principles aud the right Of government
we we're born and inspired with different feel
Z ings and sentiments. and we have been taugt
iifferently-we have learned othe Fwsei from u
4 tbiphest sources aud the highest authority.
orr bill Of rights EXPRESSLY declares. that a