Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22

bo'h Court and Council will be organized and distribute
en ana The only departure in tLis respect on' Ie &c
ol !s4 will DC that the 2 persons elected VIII nave only
assign three others o their body from the ward IN whch IN
recorder shall be elected 10 be magistrates in that ward
am therefore OF opinion, that If the act of 1901 remain
part OF the Charter OF the city the Sergeant not 70 conouc
election OF tho nine persons from each ward and That
mat election he viii hasc power or duty to perform an'
a The twenty seven elected will have 10 elect tire
alacrnen that Is 10 say three from the ward In which ht
recorder eject resides and from each of the other wards OF m
ey VINO with The mayor and recorder will constitute IN
uncai department OF the city leaving the remaining cei
April Is, 1851 : '"' 0' JOSEPH MAYO.
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
Gentlemen: am native Of Eastern Virginia; have beer
reared here live here, and eSpec, die here take it
part In politics. either local federa but feel deep interes
III Inc Questions now distacng the Union and the State
am slave-hoder opponent of the compromise 0
ao 10 he bitter end and nm now very reluctant friend
acquescence In those portions Of the compromise which be
came laws Lastly, am Democrat, OF the Jefferson
school,
Such am |; and such am at los, know how East
en gentlemen Of the same political school with myself
Justify themselves in the uncompromsng part they have ia
Ken upon the basis question. They say is question
mere poeer and might and hold 10 be their duly 10 perss
in saddng dishono and inerioy upon Western Virginia
because II their interest do had thought that d
een principles of conduct had been ordained this repub
c and at all events that in day and under our nsu
tions whatever real motives statesmen, politicians and c
Zena would allow TO influence hem they would have the de-
cency TO profess different incentives than interest and to
render scunder for their conduct than pouer
The Stars and the Bourbons lost their thrones in dark
age and among ensaved and benghed people, upon the
issue of might against rght- The interest Of The possessors
Of porer against justice 10 those uho had the right 10 it, Is
the Bourbon argument TO prevail In the nineteenth century,
Ia the doctrine of Charles l. which astocrac England
would not brook to prevail in Republican Virginia. Tha
would be winning the title of the "Od Dominion for
Commonwealth indeed The question Of the basis is with
the West of right justice and equality with the East is
pro!essedy question solely of POWER How can the eemer
OF Eastern Virginia. long and provcrbay the defenders
OF abstract right in opposition material porer hesitate
which side TO espouse in such an alternave2
The proposition of Eastern members Of the Convention ID
to give 400 600 Eastern people legislative majority of
Is 20 members over 100000 Western people, Their argu
me In favor OF this arrangement s that they possess that
majority under the present Constitution and their
interest 10 give up They aragn themselves in this posi-
ton directly against the fundamental republican maxms
that the sovereignty of the State belongs the people, and
the right to govern belongs 10 the majority Upon this SIM
pie propositions the question with the Eastern people, is be-
tween their interest on the one hand and the right and
pubcanism on the other. win Yrginans hesitate between
the Bourbon side and the Jeiersonan side They would
have better decide against the right, but fol
another proposition which is coupled with the one just
stated They pronounced at the polls one year ago, al
most unanimously for universal suffrage and instructed
their delegates the Convention against those arbtra
ry qualifications which have heretofore deprived the
poor citizen of his equal voice in legislation with every other
citizen in the Commonwealth How have their delegates
eyed this Instruction. BY announcing, in the amend
! ment under discussion in Committee of the Whole in
hc Convcnton that representation shall be divided half and
half between people and propcrypeope having seventy
five members and property seventy ve-sJ that only in cleo
ting representatives Of people will the rich and have
perLy the rich will have exclusive voice. In counties
settled By few planters Of large Estates ten or twelve rich
will have the representation In the Legislature as
twelve thousand inhabitants in populous county
This shameful proposition is the unmitigated insult
that offered republican peoples insulting TO their
intelligence the time that il aims 10 crush them into
the dust In the very OF exercising the highest function
uf sovereignty they made 10 stand half and half upon
the platform with hogs slaves cattle and sheep The
fact that such proposition has been discussed for month
assembly OF Virgil statesmen, s blot upon the
character of the State eternal and neaceabc Such is the
in which the yeomen Of Eastern Virginia are made
cooperate with arstocrac opponents of the power and
rampers upon the rights Of the people, in war against re-
publican equality popular justice and State integrity Such
mode in which Dorrism in its unhappy and disas
om is sought to be forced upon this Commonwealth
To argument of principle reiterated by the West the descen
dans of The Cavaliers Of 640oPpose the ultima ratio OF pow
To the demand for justice they answer nsultnsy lee
interested in denying justice and what have we to DO
with Justice in question Of porer"
Still remarkable is the Of the delegation from
Richmond and other Eastern cities upon this basis question
West by this hernap phade proposition OF the r. r. to
half the sovereignty of the State in mules hogs plan
ations Like that region have prcpnndcrance OF peo-
pic over property and like the West down from
just proportion Of representation for present population and
sadded with proviso against future ncrense OF proper
onae pdr with the future increase OF
our population Nay, Of Richmond are placed in worse
condition than tho West inasuuch eastern lords not
only deny just present and future IN
regard to people but deny US the representation in
gard property which their own principle whcn asserts
right In ackasses and other property TO rule AES
s9n in which five Of their delegates are willing to place
them With an interest in this basis question precisely den-
ca with that Of the West will Richmond allow her deiegae
10 aid striking down that interest and establish upon nor
without hope of future mitigation inequality injustice and
nterorty? Whence does Richmond derive her trade ana
smstenance3 Not from Tide for country trades 10
Philadelphia New York and Boston, spite OF their vaoous
defamation Not with Piedmont; or Alex
andra Fredericksburg Norfolk and Petersburg divide hat
region of country leave her but the section OF It penc-
rated by the canal Her trade her prosperity and greatness
m these ast evocaby driven away forever oy the
insanity ofher will come from me "sst-can
come from no other quarter the horizon Nhat community
therefore more vtuy interested in the harmony and
rty of the Commonwealth than ours! If doctrine OF
est is prevail that favorte doctrine OF 1891 in e %
with whoa should Richmond side? With her INTEREST," inc
West with Justice republican equality, State integriy COM
nercial power, pecunary and social prosperity, an Po
that direction how can shmono mo q, s,nv and
LAT. herself Carried off with the one idea Oh power anu
cramued with distorted scraps OF phosoPAy "hLc 'ey
prolcss ID have derived from Madison ana hafsha oue
rh those great men, ii alive would execrate they conne
cr enquiries after the interests of Richmond 10 the DOCKS
unon their shelves in disregard and ignorance OF the great
practical interests eSh'oi'eu III ou' '"e'' ""N "p'
If thnse citizens of Richmond who hold opinions in COM
mon with me- denounced by tho Els a9 renegades ana
traitors. our answer asucient for the Eastern coue o
morals s-our interest requires US TO side win poPdo
as opposed 10 property that TO say with lhe "esn -
u.re question power between the proprietary interests
nd rb popular interests lin which latter class you thrust
us) that divides u.s. and our interest fright usce prncPe
and every other elevated consideration being scoed al
d,vs and set asde allows but ono choice-tnc oea OF
hc soualtp ofcn governments founded upon principle ana
m hn class of concets which took effect abont lIo among
set of rebeous enthusiasts thread bare and OUT ot s-
ION now-inicrcst thc only compass-mth the only
index of rightwe mpotent IN the East-uns'ea WIN e
West we become omnipotent-we side with the west rom
ntsrcsk-unted with that region we gain Tie poee' ~
so, down with the East!
1t was hoped by those Of citizens holding the views
have expressed (who number minority OF this CITY, ano
whose name would be egon if such giant minds as bo.!s
would discuss the subject before then that Mr. botts "ou
take bold and independent stand against the odous ana
arrant amendment before the Convention fte couu
carry the city against amendment single IN zen
days Will he try? Will he allow the tmSlty ot Tue
politician 10 overcome the duty of the statesman M NC
permit question vital to his constituents hs wi, o
interests his district involving the integrity OF inc
70 undscussed only that he may save the chances " m
canddae2 His talents his oatory, his strong n1a upon
the confidence of in this district make nun ne
man to awaken Richmond her true interests ana 70 p
cure her vote in favor Of measure Oh conio',.
which will secure justice republican eqnay a anS
preserve the harmony integrity and prosperity o! e
MR.. WEBSTER AND The BOSTON COUNCILS: 6
The EuneuI Hall HDfcuHy-D Defamation 70 sSpea
byhe Great Storm Wrecks an the Coas., &c.
Bosros APRIL lS P. Ma, meeting OF 'ic co''l.1 M
council last night resolutions adopted cGnsufne M
Board of Aldermen for their refusal of Faneu nun Io