Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-03-21


ne right rsselE yernIpsnt Bns. uhen il h1d beei
80 boldly fksgnHsap o ut that large majority had
nSopled CIR pE<Sili CONSTITUTION, and that becaus<
majof: hsd esssled hrs eniions and had -rol
UNFAIRLY eane esfd and iendered II felg called
npon, eorsEary ieamy Intended course % review The
past and SHOW val was theurfgn Of this minority
rule IN Virginia and hDW puwer had held o. TO
power, AMI struggled 10 refain Il. And zniffn
that have eIhioised fairly the miserable, unequal
slafe u fk:nxs and politcsl rssssIaee q he ma
iorily II III peabx snd especially 10 the west, un-
der The oI6,trseh9st CONSTITUTIONS and the present.
ntil mere naisefahse and unequal strie RI things
and politisai FsrAksgss under our exslihg eonsti-
fnEi1n. AMI sectiopel minority fale. Wtsh respect
10 de sdoizon III car present constitution, no
e0nKtitulieas based apon white population was pre-
senred er ziiored 20 be presented to the voters al
the same ifaae Il Is unjust 10 s1y ntaogitv have
Willingly eAneilbned II. The cnly issue was a
choice beiReSk Dc cd and the n-w and u true. as
gentlemen ansf9 ard admit there can be no con-
vention cAlsed nader the present government with
cot The roxasent ut those who hold the power-ne
alternative is leli and 90 remedy for the evil ~
sfresoFt % thvs4 great eternal, inherent 4ts Ia
the majority Of The people. outside Of AZ, Indepen-
cent Of this computation. AID .he hardship is ,ha,
The nequsisy ard injustice Of tb- present consiiu-
tiohal aFrssfemenl i still i..cfeasing. IS growing
worse and Aeealpihg sill more aggravated the lon
ger We live uhstT u, as shown by the results Of the
census and assessment recently laid before rs and
The dissatlstastie q the west has increased and is
increase.
same rassa aith0ut change it continued 10 be en-
dared foFeseT Yes, this eternal clarnor for right
not Tor pl8hdes for the sake Of the profit TO get hold
ofthe 7Fcasgfy, j. Increasing remember the hon.
Crsse geats,nAn i.em Fsnanisl sn,.i,fs1 " :,
salisfacfoa Hft the honorable gentleman from
HALIFAX eFftasnly insisted that the part Of the
west. this xas but a naked question Of power for
The lust Of peseg, and for the abuse OF H. scout
the impulasipb and tell gentlemen thar we will
Il IN ee
which 10 dsh~ both courage and consolation we
know. ~ IT, giant feels bis strength come, as be
grows impient under restraint that this great and
growing aSsi must now, or very soon. and thank
God peacefully TOO. draw powerf 10 itself upon any
basis. Thases Bryanan armr.' alluded toby my
friend ffosH augusta which the east has aided in
exfendfng Il al enormous cost, for the benefit Of
this old citf ADD the east generally will aid us IN
rising into COVER.
peaIing 10 dur own bosoms, TO our consciences, to
our sense nJight and Wzeng 10 our notions oil nat
ural right SGD the gsfat principles Of Justice plant
ed 10 our bfeasfs6y the sland that made us, TO The
teachIngs az those immortal British patriots who
wrote and brd In defence of the same upon British
soil which Served TO inspire our forefathers who
fought and Sed for the same rights IN the revolu-.
tion, 10 QUO bill Of rights to the declarations OF
rights IN Ik thirty constitutions oil The thirty Tree
and sovereign States Of this glorious Union and is
their constitutions based upon them and TO .helF
practicable experience under then. BY all these
consderalj.iss and principles, we feel constrained
10 tnsisi nrssn this change now. know we have
been told With air OF pleasure, thai The east cg-
ed The INSTRUMENTATION and have called this. They
prescribed ,heir own terms and conditoss, is the
honorable gentleman. who addressed RS yesterday
admiund Gpon The unequal term Of unequal rep
reseniation vas the last cdnye.ed and they called
this upon he same. which gives Them majority
" this body although re west has now majority
0f some niaety-Insee thousand white population,
ri Ia lhsktaf
minority aad therefore The less iolerable, sin The
power 10 retain the power. The numbers TO vote
Ms down hefe, IN .this reform convention and sill
so defeat etilal representation, the extension oil tht
right Of suffrage and alireiorms theyiehoose 70 de
ny and SO 10 prrpetnaie their minority government
over the majority; and this IN the character OF tn
repuri:B a&d at the proposed amendment OF the gen
sleman irotsi Faaquier, edeFed-as substitute
skis body nambefs count--hefe Numbers give pow
err Here Numbers rule--here the majority princi
pie Is correct and right and Is recognized as th
only correct principle downing from the jus malori
'ihatthe nSI0fiy have the right 10 rule, because
enables thu majority here representing aminori,
sot the peogt6 possessed Of the government 70 hoi
on 10 powts while denying this power OF number
10 be The ifde principle TO give power Al the polls
the MAJORITY when she play would come Gus. III
majority u The people OF he State OF the free whit
populations are .poweiless heFe-~the minority al
powerful iiete--5eeause this rule this tundamenti
principle lying al the root Of the right OF selfgoS
that will work or does work in every other cas-
save and excepting this singierone, OF taking ava
power frot This sectional minority in the east, an
giving e The majority, not in the west, but owe
the whole State
Thisis silt disregarding and rejecting the appeal
the long continued appeal OF the majority Of III
freemen OF the Common wealth for equal rights
one that will continue 70 increase IN eaTnestness
strength and power'as the majority in the westin
creases, and that will grow ioudcfa and leuder III,
Hal l
is swelling 6eyond the mountains, and echoing il
the valley. eamng1p from old Aecomac. and heard
revefberatinsS al the base Of the Blue Ridge upon
old LoudGnns and as il speaks the mghlyIlrumpe
voice Of .1uth, Il must at last prevail
My constituents, occupying the position they do
IS have Described, lacking nothing, wanting moth
ing, and DESIRING nothing but affee and equal form
~ goyerno1eud based upon people and equal rights
and not psopr and fuctuating, pefishable soulless
wealth which is like the stream that is always run
ming IN aud out with various yeume 10 secure US
~ the ehlyyniept of our personal rights, our lives
and liberties, as well as property, which though
less as ous all IS as dear 10 US as yours to you
have looked abroad over this whole Commonwealth
surveyed andcopirasied all its great interests mar
rewly inspected and deliberately considered oul
present constitution aud frame Of government from
IT'S base up, aud have condemned the foundation
upon WHICH II rests as well as many of its parts
anu haze instructed me To declare and to 0btaii
II practicable the desised reforms, and they have il
effect charged me 10 proclaim that in comingto tn
eon9lusioa that The white basis IS the only re
ipnhsieaa basis. They brought % the consideration
io he subject minds free from all bias arising fror
sectional interest influence, feeling, regardin
their hrethreh east aud west alike. allowing neithe
sthe Bloc Ridge on the one side, the Aleghanie
on the oiher,ko insrose barrier to the tree an
equal ao&&f their affections, but feeling toward
all and FeTasaing all as brethren, sbone OF thei
tone, AMI 1esh Of thsirdesA,e part and parcel, a
q oas and the same great family and body polite
The suIa rising in the Fast, and setting in Ii
Wes4. STRENGTHENING Them as il found them, alier
a,ed tfoen none, but bound up in the same bond
life wila all seated with the common ties of con
mon kindred and common blood anu so they iee
towards each and every portion OF this great eoa
monnseailh alike They have charged me. in efiee
TO deelaee these sentiments; and in their name
and this spirit pl kindness, rem1nSlrance. and com
plainI ba, not with reproach or threat in Ii
breast. orupoh my lips, 70 ask this Convention HOY
much longer are cur equal rights TO be denied us
How ioag YET are We 10 wan How much longe
y the time, oris theFe nntiufe to come Then,
is nevRt. no never never, which involves minorit
pcwar e pakseece then 10 forever grow weary AM
faint. wails Anre, already 80 = long deferred,
should e gathering, daily and hourly, Strengll
ffpm'laeseaSing numbers, and instead Of beeomin,
sick of DELAY ~ swelling stronger and strongel
chasing those fleeing shadows--for like fleeing shad
ors are sknss objections which hearthat gcntleme
would terpose n the pathway q superior power 10 il
rights. ils Just rights that power that petitions an
has % lent pelsoaa4 and ~ tAio attne
Ahis OF vii Be, long physic lily able, TO ccmpan
he rightsi b., Shseh. pray God, may never b =
tenpe11
Isi y not IA, tksss thirty osbs of living light,
W6ich she ecntleman from f1nquser - Beautiful
epoke. whose s<sial fires famed - The breath
Him Who speke ~ hing into being, and holds ther
renal IL pofititsI d4fkusss esea IN their midst Tbs
abe gihcsa Of despair gather and tlleken upon
aiters ~ ne Ftow stronger and stronger IN power
our love 81 5essY With his mighty constellation biaz
tng 1roa4d Us; III cur ye<tai 6tes eFeu grow din,
90 cat ri lie sunlight and glory Of these sseruai ten
piles Of iskelsy rrsaating land, eeera eoaiiscst, mi