Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-03-19
CORRESPONDENCE or THE SPECTATOR.

CORRESPONDENCE or THE SPECTATOR.
"Between East and West strange contest arose
The mountain had set them nnhappily wrong:
The point in dispute was, all the world knows,
TO which the State Government ought to belong
RICHMOND March l2. 1851
The Convention has been last scared into little NOR,
apparent industry They are holding night sessions anc
endeavorng 10 pay the dear people" for the six or
hundred dollars which they cost them day. at the rate
half speech aday in stead Of quarter, or third as
has been heretofore. This is something gained and the
people must congratulate another that the body which
them the above is willing (rellcsaatv sal It
work tha is 10 EsIen) for full eight hours over,
day though it must be acknowledged that there is moi
spark OF probability that any effect will be produced BY
such prolonged discussion.
Is il not most remarkable state of things that larof
and intelligent body of men divided upon one Of the es
senta and fundamental principles of republican
ment by ,no,,ntdn? What has the unconscious ..Bue
Ridge" TO do with political theory? am induced ,c
lhnk that il Perpa,ec sage should visit our coun
try for the purpose Of becoming acquainted with the opera
ton Of our institutions, he would derive very little sasac
tory information from he debates of the Virginia Conven
tlon He would 60 away impressed with The conviction
that the great experiment making has, IN to his
late dale resulted in nothing tending to confirm the doc
rnes it was expected te establish He would perhans ey
perenee painful emotion from the reflection that after all
here are no hXed principles in politics, and that govern
mehl IS an eternal war between the possessos and the
claimants of power What other inference could be draw
from the fact that this Convention is divided iao two par.
ties on matter Of principle, ~ an an Ike supposed tc be
drawn on the top Oft mountain range? And what cause
he would have quote suguary opposite tho memura.
bic language Of painlve Pue,-thal
''Mountains interposed
Make enemies Of nations which had else
Like kindred drops been mingled in o one.''
The Eastern maturity here in most awkward posi-
ton Very many them canvassed for seat in the Con-
venton Radical ticket The whole Richmond dele
cation did So eonendng with zeal rarely surpassed for
the enlargement of popular privilege the extension Of su
fage and the surrender of Executive and Judicial appoint
mens into the hands of the people Yes the people ires-
pecve of their property, and viewed simply in their nu-
n,erical strength Now il looks very absurd, to plain
man, that these gentlemen should pay such profound
respect 10 King Numbers" their region Of The State
and treat the same sovereign pwer with contempt in other
portions Of the Commonwealth. II majr,ies are deemed
worthy OF ndispuiabIe homagen county, why should
the same principle be considered inappica5e to Stale
If the ,ceahy cv in the East are be subjected To the
power Of the poor many where the objection to placing
the supreme power Of the Commonwealth in the hands of
numerical majority located in the West Surely if sec
tiona tyranny is 10 be dreaded the of classes in much
dangerous Those who could have face 10 rebuke
"Dos," must be very much under The influence Of Sec
ona hate 10 resist the just claims of Western Virginia.
! MI. Smith OF kanawha, and Mr. Soulha Of AIbemarle
have both spoken the subject of the Basis length but
| have been able 10 hear them for moro than few
minutes They are both able and influential, and have
doubt put forth their best power the occasion. Two
the best speeches have had the pleasure Of listening
delivered, the first by MIR Barbour Of Cupeppe and
the other by Mr. White of Lnudon. They both young
men, Mr.. B. very young, but both manifested collected
thought, dignity of style cearnes and concise
ness of argument that did them great credit and placed
them in very favorable attitude before the Convention
Mr. Barbour advocated the 'mxed basis and Mr. While
the other side ofhe question: though he san Eastern man
Mr. Moore Of ROckbdge has been speaking 10 night, and
will probably continue tomorrow. He has never been
much Of public man. and abours under considerable dis
advantage from nexperience and hesitation on the oihe.
hand his fine person. his good sense aud good nature
than couerbalance these defects Il is much to be regret
ted however, that the West has sent more Of her pac
sed speakers to the convention Her anxiety elect al
ira reormers, unfortunately tempted her to reject many
her abest champions and enus her interests in the Con-
ven,iOn, in too many instances to and awkward hands
There number of Of fine promise here from thai
section of the State but they are, for the pari
known and possibly acquire the weight OF influence
which the West so much needs in the present crisis Sc
much for carrying reform" too far ! More hereafter.
H.