The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-28
The Virginia Constitutional Convention.

Inc Virginia constitutional ConVentlon
Some new light seems to have broken
upon the people Of Virginia, during the
last year or two. A State nominaly
Democratic and fair example, un.
doubleday, of what the so-cal!cd De
mocracy" Of this day is when fully car
ried out in practce--its government ha:
probably been hitherto more aristocratic
than that Of any other State in the I'm.
ion; and while that party which boast:
IN the ccgnomen Of Democrats il
also loud in its denunciaiion of conserv'
atism, no State has adhered so persever
lngly, in opposition TO all the progress
i've tendencies of the age, to IFS own un
equal, unjust, semi-monarchical constitu
ton, as the Democratic" State of Vr.
GINA. Representation in that Stale ha.
been founded, TO great extent, on prop
eriy-no person being entitled TO vote
for either state or national officers, who
is not possessed Of a certain amount o
taRd, and voters casting number Of
votes prororlioned Ia their wealth.
The government Of Virginia, being in
form republican, consists, as in other
States, of the Executive, Legislative
and Judicial branches. The Executive
and Judicial branches, however, are
elected BY the Legsature-the Gov
ernor for three years, and the Judges oI
the higher courts, VIC believe, for life
The Legislature, then, is the deposiiary
of all the power of the people; and how
that body is elected-primarily by prop.
eriy, secondarily by portion of the peo'
ple--we have already seen.
Ii is undoubtedly true that such a con.
veniion as is now in session at Richmond
is due entirely TO the q eaily increased
power of the Western portion of the
State, and To the more enlightened spirit
which there prevails. Slavery--an in'
siiiuli0n that II has ever seemed the pre-
rogailve Of Locofoco Democracy" io
guard aud protect-is comparatively lit
tie known there, and greater spirit o
enterprise has been there united with a
true Anglo Saxon love of liberty and
equality, which has done much 10 peril
the asccndency of Virginia "Democ'
racy."
From what we have said above, as tc
the essential qualifications to become {
freeman, and of the Legislature, as the
deposilary Of all the popular power, We
should naturally expect constitutions! re-
form to begin, first OF all, and mos
earnestly, with the basis of Representa-
ton. Aud such has been the fact A
long and severe contest has been had il
the Convention on this question. Ont
parly-mosily delegates from Western
Vlrginia-has insisted on the only irul'
Democratic basis, that of population
The other pariy-Easiern Virginia
would have property still the con,rollin.
element. This is, indeed to some ex
tent, question Of local power-ihe for
mer basis giving the West a majority il
the Legislature; the latter the East. Ye
the contes, is strictly one between De
mocraey and ArlstocracY- the latteI
acting on the defensive against the plar
dictates of justice and republicanism
for Democracy requires that the major
ty shall govern, irrespective of location
A compromise has at length beer
agreed on by the Convention, the eiiec
Of which will be to give Western Vlr
ginia a majority Of fourteen in the lIous'
of Delegates, while the Eastern portion
of the State has majority of ten in th'
Senale-leaving the former. on join
ballot, a majority Of four. 1t also pro
yides that on a re-apporiioBment, il
1865, IL the General Assembly are una
BILE TO agree, the question shall be sub
mitied directly To the qualified voters q
the Stale. The rapid relative ipcreas
of the Western over the Eastern part G
the State is expected. ultimately, aud a
, no dislan, day, TO give the people oft
! section a majority (even on the com
promise basis) in both branches.
/, BY The development of the resource
Of the free portion Of the Old Domiu
) ion, that State is undoubtedly destine
] TO undergo important changes-change
in favor Of freedom and true republican
a ism, that will surely work the overthrow
u of sham Democracy, aud open lhi
large and important state 10 The inauer
n ces of genuine progress, and Of a DEMO-
$ racy that can be recognized as such,
! something besides the name.
ray About SOC persons were present
:. the shearng a, Messrs. A. L, and NJ, Bis
Z HAM's,n Cornwall ,on the goth inst. A sum
: iuous dinner was provided by the Mess
: B. Several OF the heeces sheared at III