Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-04-08
Mr.. Beale on the Miaed Basis:

Mr.. Bcale on the Miaed Basis:
But wish to call the attention Of the
committee for moment to the practical OPP
Grafton of this great principle Of political O.
quality. which the gentlemen profess to en-
body in their organization of the legislative
department Of this government. Let us see
what progress in The accomplishment Of the
great end of their principle, practical cqual
ty in political weight of each suffragan, they
have achieved by the scheme submitted for
our consideration. The report Statement
b before us, declares s"'that the quali6ca-
lions necessary to confer the right Of suf-
frage shall be uniform throughout the Com
monwealth, so that in all elections Of Sena-
tors and Delegates, the same qualification
shall confer the same right Of suffrage, and
the suffrage Of one qualified voter, shall avail
as much as that of another qualified voter
whatever may be the difference in value of
the property owned by them respectively"
This idea of perfect political equality is the
one great principle for which gentlemen from
the West are contending. And what is the
result of this their own principle when forced
in application to the existing state Of things
in this Commonwealth? We shall find that
it actually DISTINGUISHES, aye. DISTINGUISHES a
number Of her citizens, scarcely less, aye
much larger than the boosted majority of the
West trust, | may be allowed to say,
without violation Of the rules Of order, it
was my fortune to be part and parcel Of that
committee, whose peculiar duty it was
to apply this great principle Of white ,popu-
lation as the basis Of representation practi-
cally to the State. | was an eye witness to
the entire operation. from the first electoral
district which was selected ito the last. |
believe it is not competent for any man, OF
set of men, to apply this basis to the Coun.
ties of the State without producing results
equally as Objectionable as those disclosed
in this table OF apportionment which accpmra.
MES statement b. And what are they Z
How near to equality of voters in political
power has the principle brought its ad socatesl
Norfolk city. with population Of 9. 06s white
inhabitants, with taxation of $12,426, has
one vote in the house Of delegates. while
Morgan County witha population Of 3,43l,
and taxation of S9l2. has equally with
Norfolk one vote in that same house Is
this not fine exemplifcaiion of equality Of
weight in suffrage? BY what legerdemain
can you prove to me, to your constituency,
that upon your principle these 3,431 white
inhabitants shall have one delegate, while
9,068 equally white with themselves, shall
be entitled to no more than one There are
other instances scattered over the entire
State. where similar inequalities exist. Ches-
terfeld County with 1854 white Inhabitants
has one delegate, while Clarke County with
1860 has one also; Hardy County with
5000 white inhabitants has one delegate,
Northampton with 3.104 has one. Nor is
this all-add upon the face Of these tables of
apportionment, which are presented with this
statement b, the excess and deficiency col
umns for the house of delegates and the SEN
ate, and we find 190,1s2 Of the free white
inhabitants of the Commonwealth Of Virginia,
totally, effectually, absolutely disfranchised
by the principle which we are told is to ele-
vate every voter to an exact level Yet In
the face Of these facts, which must stand
prominently forth in The very threshold of
every effort to reduce their principles to prac-
tice in republican government, gentlemen
continue to cry hazanah to this doctrine of
natural equality.
HTIf the voice Of publ, opinion can
reach the Virginia Convention, that body
ought to be satisfied that its present course,
is highly Objectionable; and that the debate
on the Basis question is hooked upon with
great diapprobation. Nor do we believe
that the West. will sustain the members from
that section in their present apparent pur-
pose, to manufacture excitement by talking
and speaking. 1t would be much better to
have action, even as far as the West is con-
cerned. None but those who attend the
sittings of the Convention can fully realize
how dull weary, fat and Improbable, the
discussion has become But the whole State
can and will realize the expence that is in
Cured, and the consumption of time and
money by proloneing debpte which effects
nothing, and promises nothing The Con-
vention owes it to itself, and to the State to
bring the Basis debate to close. Those
who are in favor Of this desirable end, should
not be discouraged by the failure of the at
tempts they have hitherto made to effect this.
Let them persevere daily until the whole
State sees who are for and who against &C.
iop-Aieadndria Gazette. AH
THE STATE OF AFFAIRS