Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-03-21

east and lhs wesi also that mr. Constituents rieh
slave hildiag land-holding tax-pas az people aud
gnylfialng kn their suppoft q the ~ Yehass fagor
the express positive restrictions ana prohihigioss
q lss.dlatiFe power upon every suhieci, slavery,
debt Sihfe frediI loans taxation aHe all ard will
IEtsisk upon them whatever basis we adopt We
are sick and tired Of protection under the minority
unlimitkd power and implied mixed basis guarari-
lee. dur existing basis IS ID eject and of that
symptoh cdIog.Tulling under 4, pFactcsd il The
LegislalureE ard Of is coFfup,ing denosalzpg in
haence5. - taxation, sinking the charae-
Ter ais well is the credi ard resources 81 the Sfae
We believetand ieel that we have had enough 0f
tkis SORT Of proseeten and TOO much Of il. We de-
sire 20 Foht By dear boUgk experience BY achanse
not b. ihe cpniinnanee Of Tie order OF things
which wonlh be The effect as ii Is the very design
Of The pfopdsed amendment Under constellation
edlrepnbsicau government with almost IN
limited power ID the hands ot sectional minoriEy
upon slavk basis in part E disguise, safeguarding
70 ireemep, whom il excludes from The enjoy ment
Il oItheir tights, and which has worked 50 Badly is
not what wei desire Such government ID our es7
tmafio1, pitile better than monarchiai one OF
Il LIMITED powkrs If am better al all will NOT say
iille better tban an arisioeracy for then should
only compare il with itself
II We know the power in this government 10 who
s0eFer bands east west is TO be exercised bY and
Il through Legislative agents. and | repeat we have
learned from all history we'll from the past ex-
periehcso dur government with power in the hands
oil lhe east has been abused, and We fear would be
i and we therefore we5ld restrict and Withhold all
II power from hhe government except so much as may
Be necessary and proper for wise and prudent adj
minstratiol of ouf affairs believing 10 The doctrine
Of our bill 81 rights that OF all the modes and forms
Of goFerhIndnt, thai is best which is capable OF pro-
daciRg ihe greatest degree OF happiness and safety,
and Is most kffectualy secured against Maladmn-
/ i5dnd fnhde&uale ar contrary 10 these purposes,
majority OF the people hath ndubiiabe, unalIen-
able and indeeasible right 10 reform alter, abo
ish ii I'M such manner shall be Judged most CHI
duciFe II th4 pnblic veal, and our fixed unchange-
able conviction is that OF all the modes and forms,
Aa.rephbean government is the only one that comes
up 10 thd standard, and thatnone is truly TepnbI
can thais not based upon peope-numbers-tha
| one based upon numbers apd wealth combined, is
not republican, apd as il places the power in the
| hands ola wealthy minority and sectional one TO
boot is aD aEistccTacy, and we believe our present
goyefnmentIis such, ana We know certainly 10 our
sorrow thati i not eseually secured against NAL
1 administration. WeuNderstand all this We
utknow tod we'll thai ii the powerexists ua ef the
cunStilutfon3and an act pass the Legislature, cow
ever great ah abuse of that power and OF the ~
II denee oflthe people thai stall the law will be If
Il and binding however great the evils growing QUIZ
i IT, III sIch rights vest, and he courts, can
afford nd relief The power existed, although the
II Legislature nbu.ed its trust ever so nnWisely.-
n This has bedn misfortune 10 great eztenr in
4 The past we must all know and lament. But i'm
i pose positive limitations and restrictions upon the
Il power and dat cannot be abused which does not
exist and if khaI shall be done which is prohibited,
the violation can. do no harm Declare that the
II Legislature $haI have power 10 do the Thing,
ana III u violation Of their sacred trust the conslitl-
tion andther oalhs they do IT, We, the people, will
be safe tor The act will not then be valid and bind
ing but yoid and 80 the courts and judges underline
constitutional and their uaths would decide, and save
the State ant the people from The Consequences
81 This is The Distinction and The difference is vital
| and impprtaht in the last degree. Hence the pro-
prety, ncceS lily, and sutfieiency Of express lma~
tibns and RESTRICTIONS. These guarantees will be
/. cersain and lasting These viii afford complete and
1 adequate constitutional security, guard your treas
urY, SAVE it from bankruptcy, preserve the credit
and rhatacter OF the Stale, prevent batthensome
taxes pfoleSl the slave property and all other prop
ytroTn harm, make safe and perfectly secure
liie Liberty and property and every thing we hold
dear N o hover on earth can break through these
guarantees thsy whe parts, and The vital parts Of
your CONSTITUTION, and must last while it lasts, and
. perikh only when il shall perish Our Judiciary
shall bd our shield My Interests feelings, and
syInpathi esl and my people are with the east. As
have beiote said / am myself STATE rights man,
| andf ybu please an eastern State right man, and
upon all h9 subjects of ourfederal relations stand
, | repeat UPON the resolutions OF $3.50. But my
Npeople and myself are toI the white basis and the
! ntaJbris, and shall not surrender this mother
principle which lies at The foundation Of seli-goy-
eminent
HIhaye said the west claims olitical equality and
4 demand ii d. right Al The same time tender
that most ample guarantees for the protection o the
pecaiat rights and interests OF the east. This len
/ ed lor an iLdefhite time. But gentleman OF ihe
i east spurn the offer with coniemp-sneeF tender
Of paper guarantees, as they are pleased to charac
! | tgrKe constitutional restrictions They say The
poweris 10 their hands, and will be retained because
! its Feteplioh, they insist, is necessary. And they
tell us that any attempt al any time to right our
Il selves and secure this political equality would be
treason agatnsithe existing constitution and laws
Bull warn gentleman that il may be better to settle
I this VeIed question now, and anticipate the time
that may cotne when they may be able to hold ON
to The powef aud get sale guarantees Justice SIM
pie Justice--w ask no more, and we ask this as
majority OF the peopeh a spirit ofconeession with
out threat OF aunt. Have gentlemen considered il
now is not the time, when The time is TO come to set
lie the question 50 as 10 end it forever. Ii say a
+ time must cbme to close il. when is it best that il
should COMO Will be when the Great West has
become Slrohg and powerful with teeming wealth
and eyerwh$ lining numbers, and comes to take the
power Willth be better time for the east 10
secure these guarantees and safeguards 3 have
looked 10 that time when the west may to bear
and rise in her majesty and power 10. assert her
/ rights which God gave and but God could give OF
take away-tand nave looked arcundto see where
I We at the mouth OF the valley would be. Would
4 we stand to Jour principles7 This view gives me
r no peasurs w hen should the time come 10 seIlle
ihisconirovkrsy forever and for securing ample con
stitutional provisions TO protect us all ALIKE as
law+lovng 5nd law abiding people in the enjoyment
OF all we hake. Think you more propitious time
wilt ever come than the present Is there any gen
Z teman who believes there will Why, even now
the east disFusts the Mesi upon The subject of slave
rY Il is Thu very disIrust that lies the bottom U
this desire 10 protect themselves BY inserting hi.
II mixed basis OF representation in the constitution
: But IS that diSiiust likely 10 when the ives
1 should have grown more strong and powerful -
Gan the eaf rely on us power 10 retain the power Of
i her safety ~ the slave interest Il NAV. be tina
), you can in times Of peace and quieiude at home
ef But how shall you calculate this while this issue
i thisIcaneer, grows worse You may now fee easJ
when the MAD attacks oi fanacism from without
i are torcing Pas TO union II may do now feel con
t tented Bue will il not suggest itself TO gentlemen
S H iha hey shPuld have something better than this
D nion OF power and interest in their hands arC
the present strong sympathy OF feeling in the west
H andtwheh they are every mbment alternating by 10
JnstIce, 70 rfly on in the more gloomy future say
gedmy Tor HE thlstng spirit oi mad lanatieism i:
not yet quedched. Have gentleman, seriously con
sidered lhis and how necessary restrictions might
become when they could not be had bur now they
5 may be secured. Why not then coneiliate ane
maize sure df this positiye-eeTain and better pro
/ ( lection. speak where know nearly all aHe3aw-
/ / rers and better LAWYERS than myself; bar aRpRa
g ALL confidently, Il IS not true that posilyecon
sailulional Provisions are The best and safest guar
aaties Afe not these al Easihe only safeguards 10
protect Us all bold my life liberty, and proper.
W as az DO on ter our present constitution imper-
set as y is+and am told il has not been violated
h, by Inc east1and yet when appeal to this example
souehed BY themselves and TO The thirty other free
states q nS Union. and cite them 10 proof Of The
Vltpe ac validity and safety ofwrllen constitutions
!, paper GUARANTEES, what Is the answer! Why, the
{ west = nos ~ oe trusted Away with your paper
: gnafaniies We will have none OF them You