Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-08-05


the phraseology Of that repei t was concerned,
! | was myself responsible Tor il, aud that tia.
/ at which bis criticism points vas entirely an
/ inaarertenee So far as ] knew tie inten-
/ tion Of the committce--so far as knew my
own intention, and that Of the committee, it
was to opportion representation periodical
i ~
\ Mr.. IIuxTER That i just what desir-
tcd, and what ! anticipated / thought it was
an inadyeriency rs stated to several gen
tlcmen IL the time never for moment
/ believed ihat our Eastern ficads designed to
/ lay trap for Us.
Yet | still wonder that ny friend from
l}auquier who has eontrol over the amend :
mcnt which we are first to vote upon to NOR
rev OK whenever it comes III, did not at once,
/ upon this thing being pointed out, get up
and ask leave to mcdifs H. and make the
terms Of his amendment at least, mandatory
upon the legislature.
Mr.. Scorr. beg leave again to correct
| the gentleman. Il IS rather Singular that be
should persist IN lis criticism ! stated, when
up before that ! designed not only to modify
ny substitute IN that particular, but in sevo-
raj other particulars, before the vote was ta-
ken; and | sill shall hold to that design, if
the committee sill permit me to take that
liberty With the amendment.
Mr.. IluSTm Ny friend from Tauquier,
! trust will excuse me if appear pertenaci-
Gus about this matter. / was unfortunately
absent at the time the gentleman from Kan
| awha (AIr. Sunmers) made his speech and
when this occurred If the gentleman had
made the statement when first up which he
has just madc-that it was bis design to do
it, it would have been entirely sufficient |
was simply declaring my surprise that it had
not been donc before. His explanation is
entirely satisfactory to me, and pass from
the subject.
10 return then from this depression. Mr.
Mason in the same speech, proceeds
According to the present population of
America the Northern par. of it, had right
to prepondcratc, and be could not deny it,
According to the population of Virginia in
1899, the East had right to prcponderate
and we could not deny it. They got it, up
on what fancied principle | care not now
Some gentlemen have demonstrated that it
was upon federal numbers; others have
shown conclusively that it was strictly upon
the mixed basis and if am net mistaken
the gentleman from Richmond city (Mr.
Stanard) has proven also that it was upon
the suffrage basis. 1t was most individually
right upon any one of these bases in oivinr
a majority to the East, "but he wished it not
to preponderate hereafter when the reason
no longer continued"
SO we wish it not to preponderate when
the reason for it no longer remains His Ian
guage is our argument
From the nature Of man, &c, we NAV 10
sure that those who have power in their
hands will not give it up while they can re-
tain it. On the contrary, we know that thew
will always, when they can, rather increase
it,"
The lesson here taught us is not to be dis
regarded, for although my friend from Eau
queir, CHR Scott.) and the committee who
reported the mixed basis scheme, may by a
mandatory clause, provide for re apportion-
ment in the year 1862, yet, sir, if the doc
trines which have been preached here have
any force in them If they are to be carried
out, the time never will come for transfer of
power tothe West. The principle contended
for by my friend from the county of Halifax,
(Mr Purkins,) viii intervene to prevent it,
Notwithstanding the duty of re -apportionment
may be expressly enjoined upon the leeisla-
ture. lie holds that if necessary for its pro-
lection, property is entitled to the whole
representation and by parity of reasoning, ie
the whole property is entitled to such pro
lection, any considerable portion of it, as for
instance, the slave property of the East,
would be alike entitled to protection by rep
resentation--and this furnishes what would
be deemed an abundant excuse hereafter for
preventing the transfer of power to the
West
Ii is conceded that the sceptre must de-
part from Judah about the year 1S62-63
or 1861, even upon the mixed basis princi-
pie and if these wild Arabs of the mountains.
as our western brother are represented to be.
will have the power in their hands then. had
we not better meet the danger at once. |
say ne, for represent constituency Eastern
IA its interests, so far as taxation and appro-
prlation are concerned. If this view be cor
rect, waving all higher considerations is it
not better to make virtue of necessity and
yield them the power now when it can be done
graeiously aud upon fair terms! Our Yves
tern trlesds have announced upon this floor
every man of them, so far as I have heard
| except one, that they are willing to incorpo-
rate into the constitution whatever limita
tatlons may be necessary in order to afford
the amplest protection to property against
undue taxation, and not only TO insert them
in the constitution but to join you in devising
a mode, if mode can be devised. to nut
these restrictions in such a form as will con-
stitute pledge offaith, giving to them the
character ofan inviolable compact, the infrae-
ton Of which would involve such absolute
perlidy, as to bring disgrace upon communi
ties as well as individuals breach Of
faith as would bring the parties to point
when a peaeeable separation ought to be de-
sired by both.
But to proceed with the extracts:
eff the Southern States, therefore. should
have three fourths Of the people of America
in their limits, the Northern will hold fast
the majority Of representatives. 0ne-f fourth
viii govern three tourths The Southern
States will complain, but they may complain
irom generation to generation without redress.
/ Unless some principle, therefore which will
do justice to them hereafter, shall be insert
IN the constitution, disagrecable as the dec
. lar 20, l., I