Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-17

pleasure Tor not very obvious to bring to the
attention of the committee the fact that while lower
Virginia was populated by the descendant, Of tho Caya
her VINO ned from the prosecutions Of Oliver Crom.
we'll the transmontane portion of the State was set
tied oy the aud other mixed races of mon
ne od not tell us however, from what character of per-
Secutos This latter sturdy Of mon fed to this
mon asylum OF the oppressed Had he pursued his in
qures further on this head he would have found that
"hie the sons of the Cavaliers may and perhaps do
eel Their humber neghbors all that belongs the
outward exhibition of heightened chvalry, no where
on earth are to be found in greater degree the solid ee
mehts OF manly independence, the pure rt Of regula
ted liberty and devoted loyalty to all that is noble and
patriotic than among that people, who in settling the
country erected their churches and their school houses
before they built their humble dwellings Among
them tho dignity of labor ia respected They brought
with them to this country their ancient opposition
every thing like oppression. Equality Of rights is a
cherished principle with them. They brook claim
20 superiority in any other class of men. In
humble merit wherever it may BIO found they recognise
no nferiority. These are the and others of the
same stamp who sent here and pl cad to re-
present them.
And here permit me to add, Mr.. Chairman, that in
my Judgment the diversties that have been paraded be-
fore us in this debate existing between the east aud
the west and which furnish the pretext for this
rantabe claim to superior political power lies not alone
or chiefly in difference of geographical locality differ
ence of pursutor i'll any other mere outward difference
of condition they may be traced rather in my appre-
heuson, to certain peculiar tone of thought of feeling
and sentiment sprngng from the social condition Of
eastern brethren fear sir, they have cherished aud
tanned too much of that lofty and overtoned feeling of
superiority, which belonged TO the ancient Cavaliers
from whom they derive their descent to comport exact
ly with tho spirit of republican equality demanded by
the very fundamental priuc pies of tho government
dor which they live aud Of which they constitute
part.
Again sir. whether fortunately or unfortunately, |
will not undertake to say the social condition of
eastern friends differs from i'll this important par
tlcular. They have in tho general only the rich and
the poor The middle region between these extremes
is occupied by the slave population. Fortunately for
us, as have no hesitation in saying We have but few
very rch aud still fewer very poor Amongst Us are
to BIO found in greatly preponderating numbers that
substantial middle class neither rich poor so far As
property and possessions concerned hut which
in preeinent degree constitute the true wealth of
State its strength and main reliance in peace or i'll war;
refer to the upright industrious and thrifty mechanic
The farmer of moderate means who, to use n honely
phrase, enrches tho soil of which he is lord and
master, with his own eft-presscd foot prints, aud
in obedience to tho primcval curse, by the benevu
lence Of the Creator converted into blessing mnslcs
with that SOIL the sweat of honest and manly TOLL in
Guiding too that other and perhaps more numerous class
in the various pursuits Of life who have not yet in the
mutations of property, gathered around them any co
siderable portion of it, but who yet in their strong arms
au stout hearts, and ample capacity for earning their
bread by honest labor bring to the state M aggregate
of real productive wealth, without which, decay de-
crepitude, and ultimate ruin, would be ito inevitable
fate.
This matter has been forciby lustratedby the
trio William Cobbett who in speaking Of the condition
Of English society," ikened it tankard Of English ale
oth ut the top and dregs at the boto and in the mid
die alone, the good wholesome nutritious, and heart
cheering beverage. A laugh do not adopt this il
ustration in full and more especially do not mean to
apply it to our friends of what may be termed the higher
cnsses in eastern Virginia, beyond what they may with
their better knowledge Of the true state Of things there,
be willing to concede. They may be, for aught know
from personal observation all rich creamale from top
to bottom. This much however will venture to sug-
ssst dropping the gurative illustration that if their
little moro of the practical moro of an enlarged
uttaranism infused into their competition the suppo-
sed differences between their condition, and that of their
western brethren would be thereby greatly diminished
and there would be less of either necessity pretex
for demanding degrading inequality of political con-
dtion between them and those who ought to be their
compeers aud equals in all respects.
will not pursue this beet further 1t is migrate
full one have referred to it. merely for the purpose
Of furnishing solution to the enigma, which seemed to
have much puzzled my young from Essex, and to vim
dictate my constituents from the extraordinary inputa-
tion of judicial blindness sending us here instead OF our
worthy mixed basis opponents
These supposed diverstes in interest and condition
between the different sections of the State deemed
by friends the other side, essential to maintain
their claim to superiority of political power and hence
are pressed by nearly all of them with the utmost
yigor Sir deny that there is any thing in tho argu-
ment Virginia in my judgment was designed by the
Creator, to form commonwealth one aud lndvislble
The very dverstes referred to- when properly regard
ed strengthen rather than impair the idea OF unity be-
tween it's different parts The tidewaer east with Its
beautiful champaign country and noble esuares stretcn
ing to the ocean, the commerce not only OF this
state but of vast region OF country beyond It's borders
Pcidmout Astounding in rich and productive soils yet
richer lustrous men, rolls proudly OFT TO the noun
tains appropriate link between tho east proper
and the west Then comes our noble Valley reposng 30
magnicently between the blessed blue mountans-thc
blue mountains! May heaven forbid that ever again
my eyes shall b, dobarrel for nearly four long months
the pleasure Of looking upon Thorn. And last though
lar from being est in Importance appears the undt
ing western slope Of tho Allcghancs, dipping to the
Ohio river, with its surface, rugged but rich abound
ing in untold wealth, agricultural and mineral, which
awaits only the hand Of industry and enterprise to
bring forth The east Offering its rich and products
and commercial facilities to the wes-thc west in return
presenting that back country without which commerce
never flourish and ready whenever the channels Of in
tercourse opened, to unlock its sorehouso ofwah
aud pour it with golden prouson into the lap of the
east And yet are told OF dyerses of interest which
render us not homogeneous people, the meaning of
which, if it has any meaning at ALL only DO that
are not all descendants Of the Cavaliers.
The time was when the idea was entertained that
Mountains in,erposed made enemies of men,"
but it is an exploded fancy The Improvements of the
age-the progress of civilization, tho enlarged and
increased catholicism of State views, have united in
regulating this doctrine. On the contrary in
the development of his nature and his resources have
found that diversity of geographical position diversity
of employment diversity in the products OF the soil,
and diversity in various other respects tend only by
showing the mutual dependence of ono upon the other
IN b;n all interests together In one harmonious, homo
geneous whole. Why then do gentlemen SO necessarily
I'M urgently ring the changes upon this ancled dversl
ty of interest between the different portions of tho com
monwealth Why will they attempt to divorce and
cstrangc those whom manfcsty the hand OF the great
Creator has joined togetherl have thus shown that
as to the physical relations of the different parts OF the
State no such diversity exists. The proposition is equal
" true as to the men who nhabit it. We belong toa
single family children Off common mother; wheth
er originally sprung from Cavaliers or Roundheads we
have or ought long since to have lost every vestage OF
these distinctive features We the children OF the
mists you choose SO to term US come down among ,
these noehearted generous and chivalrc sons OF the
Cavaliers we minge in counsel We warm up to them 10
SUCH an extent often that it requires constant crcnm
h