The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-05-10

LETrFn FRoM YIRaIEIA.

RiCHToED, May o, 1891
FRIEaD CnADwICK -Four months have
!, green mouHtain boy, from the soil Of q
free s;ate whsre whites a. we'll - blacks can
breAti the pure air Of freedom, been rsaid-
ing Ia proud, Aristocratio Virginia, the State
that boasts Of her first families, her large plan
tations, her sleek and we'll fed negroes, her
tslentsd men and above all Of having furnish
cd nearly all the Presidents Of the Federal
Government, and large proportion Of Cabi'
nat Ministers, Ministers abroad, Clerks and
Heads Of Bureaus at Washington, and an la
numerabe number Of officers for the Army
aud Navy, but which, As was well said in the
Convention, had 10 go 10 other and northern
States for men 20 al their regiments before
she could aend any 10 Mexico 10 Eight the
battles Of our common Country, Day AAeF
day, have listened % the debates Va the Con-
sentlon assembled here IN Richmond, 70 form
a new Constitution for the State, and day AZ
tor dag have heard oAe sst Of speakers ca
tol "old Virginia" 70 the heavens, a. tho
proudesi, beat and first State Ia the Union,
and another set Ia equally strong terms com
pSTiug her with the great and prosperous
State " New York, expose her nAtednsss'
her want Of energy and enterprise, and hold
up her AristocrAts aud would DO nabobs 10 the
Just ridicule Of the world,
- ouvvutios -rlri-h met IN Jauuary last,
10 reform the Constitution Of the State, has
nov been in session -four mOnths And have
done nothing except talk, from four 10 ten
hours 'lsy. Nearly all tl's '''ss'bsss o. shs
Convention pretend 10 DO reiOrmers, and 10
favor Of universal suffrage. There 10, how
ever, one vital question which divides lhem,
and that Is the question Of tho basis Of repre-
srutatuu whether the white basia or che
mixed basis, a. IL l. called, shall be adopted
Ia apportioning representation for the House
ofDeiegAles. The principle Of tho white ha-
ola or suffrage baAis h this there are in the
State about 100000 white inhabitants aud A.
bout 400 900 negroes. Leaving the negroes
out Of the question aud apporiioping rs5 Del
cgatcs TO the different counties according 10
white population, eyeryG or7oOh white inhab-
lanis would have one delegate, and the see
AihW " Wv tAhNt hf' '"eJ~'N| ~
whites would have the majority Of the dele
gates. At the present time the Western
part Of the State beyond the blue ridge has
majority OF white persons over the East OF a
bout 90 .Ooo-=but do not pay as heavy taxes,
arr not As wealthy and own but few negroes
the bulk OF the negro population being
EAst--and would DO entitled to large ma
iority ia tl,e House az Delegates. IA this
basis of representation operates in favor OF
the West IL Is supported unanimously by their
delegates in tho Convention.
The principle ofthc mixed basis is the rep
rasentation Of property and population com
bined-thc representation in the House Of
Delegates, of negroes "a well as white popu-
lAtion. Tho East having the negroes, aud
paying The most taxes. contend that they
ought To have majority In the House Of Del
egates and Senate, although they are in the
minority 100000 white persons. Their dele
gates in 4he Convention ask for n majority
Of -. and "a they had or thought they had n
working majority in the Convention Of o.
they have for the last four months laborcd TO
defend their principle OF the mixed basis and
avoid a vote upon the Report Of their Com
mitiee. Delays have been dangerous and the
prospect now is that they will he defeated.