Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-04-29
Cautioned f,pm an pnge.l

memories those geographical DIVISIONS OF
the State which be admits, and which |
believe, to be ono of the most striking de-
formities of the existing constitutions
It is true that this scheme does not IN
terms declare that the East shall have so
many representatives, and the West shall
have 80 many representatives, but lue ,rin-
ciple upon which it operates can only - car
ried out by an application of bis rlssto the
four divisions Of the State as separate and
distinct communities 1t takes the popu
lation and the taxes of tide water--the
taxes and the population Of Piedmont
the taxes and population Of the valley, and
the taxes and population Of the trans-Al-
leghany section, and regarding all four as
separate and distinct interests, it appor-
lions power amongst them according to
the population and taxation of each par
ticular district; thus perpetuating those
distinctions as wildly and efcctazlly as it
they were in terms embraced in the con-
stitution. Sir, came here to break down
these geographical divisions in our State.
They cherish false ideas Of divcrsities of in.
terests where none 10 fact exist. They
keep alive sectional jealousies where none
should be stimulated and encouraged. |
am in State matters consolidationist,
however hostile feel to the principle in
federal politics wish to break up that
confederacy Of four petty. feeble States, of
which Virginia has heretofore been compo-
sed, and to mako Of 1t one great, powerful
and united commonwealth
If the old original scheme Of the com
bined basis were now before us--that
scheme, mean. which aggregated the
population and taxation Of the entire State,
and by means Of common quotieut as
certained ratio common to the entire
State, it might not be liable to this par
ticular objection to which am now urg.
ing. But that scheme is far to weak for
the purposes for which this is now intend
cd. 1t could only retain power to the
East few yeass more. When Thomas
r. Joynes 10 that celebrated speech which
he made in the Convention in 1929, and
which has furnished the armory of statis-
tics from which his friends have been furn.
ished with weapons Of defence ever since
Il say, when Mr.. Joynes then announced
that upon the combined basis, the West
would have the control of the legislative
power in 1857, he stated what upon that
principle would be so he, at least, little
dreams that alter lapse Of twenty years,
new device would be resorted to, which
would postpone this consummation some
forty or fifty years longer / do not mean
to say that you cannot find amongst the
debates Of 1S29-'30, illusions to that
South Carolina scheme which is now
sought to be pressed upon us, but | do
say that with the solitary exception Of one
brief allusion to it BY Mr. Leigh, the ref
erences to this particular scheme were
made by the enemies of the mixed basis,
and made for the purpose Of presenting to
the Convention Illustration, in its most alb
horrent form, of the practical operation Of
the principle they were opposing. This
scheme in its present deformity never was
submitted by any Eastern man to the con
sideration of that Convention. | have no
doubt, il it had been, it would have been
promptly secuted by that llustrious body.
now proceed to the consideration of
the mixed basis scheme. shall not con-
sumo the time Of this committee by travel
lug over ground which has already been so
ably and SO eloquently pre- occupied. So
far as this scheme IS repugnan. to the bill
Of rights Ito the principles of that great
social compact, under whose promises the
the peaple of this Commonwealth SO freely
expended their blood and treasure in the
acquisition Of their liberties, and which
promises remain to this day unredeemcd, |
shall have nothing to say. shall leave
all this to the influence of those able expo
sitons with which we have already been ia
vored on this branch of the subject. So
in like manner, so far as this plan is calcu
lated to degrade the trans Alleghany re-
gion, shall have nothing to say. When
stood in my own district. before my own
people, my colleagues will bear me witness
that then took occasion to vindicate
that people from every unjust aspersion
which was cast upon them. feel there is
no necessity for the performance of any
such duty here, BY me at least. The vol
ces of Mariou--of Monongalia Green-
brier-of Kanawha, and of others have al
ready been heard ia this hall, and they
have been heard with power and effect
They have indicated the rights and char
acter of their country in manner that en-
titles them to its gratitude and thanks.
desire to look at this scheme in the
aspect in which its own advocates present
it before us. They tell US it is a scheme
designed to protect property-that under
any other plan property would be unsafe,
and they have appealed to us to unite With
them in the support of their scheme as the
only means of protecting our interests as
well as theirs from legislative rapine and
spoliation. 1t is as a scheme to protect
property, and in that aspect alone, that |
propose to examine it for few moments
And N the first place, to be relieved frnsa
all vagueness Of conception and confusion
of ideas let us see what is meant by this
idea of protecting property. Does any
gentleman apprehend that the laws regu-
lating the tenure ofproperty, and prescrib-
ing the remedies for its recovery, will be
repealed ? This idea would be seornfally
secuted from every part of the hall. Does
any gentleman apprehend that the legal
rights of the master to his property in his
slaves can be at all endangered in this
Commonwealth, it matters net in what por-
ton of the State the politieal hover NAV