Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-03
KANAWHA BASIS MEETING.

| KANAWHA BASIS MEETING.
AT a meeting Of portion OF the citizens of Kama
VIVA county, held at the Court House the l7lh inst
10 take INTO consideration the Basis OF Representation
now pending before the State Convention, Mr. E. w.
| Newton was called 10 the Chair, and T.. NJ Gardner
| and Z. +. D"ddridge appointed Secretaries
| On motion OF X. Aug. Thompson, Esq, by whom
the OBJECT OF the meeting was explained, was resoIv-
ed that committee OF be appointed to draft and
report resolutions for the action oil the meeting The
CHAIRMAN thereupon appointed as such Committee
Messrs. R. A. Thompson, ]. NJ. Laidley, James ii.
Brown, X. G. NJ. Lowell, A. e. Summers, Chas He
cric and Isaac Read.
The Committee reported the annexed preamble and
resolutions
| C.E. Doddridge moved the adoption of the pream
Bile and resolutions as reported. Mr. G. w. Carr
moved that number 10th and 18th resolutions be struck
out, wnlch motion was lost The question was then
taken upon the adoption of the preamble and resoIu-
dissentents.
| On motion of j. H. Brown, ESQ., the thanks of this
meeting rendered to the citizens of Patrick countv
tor their noble and patriotic resolutions in favor of the
White basis, and for the hearty expressions of sympa-
thy tor their Western brethren in their strrooa for
| their just political rights.
ResolDcd, That the proceedings of this meet g lie
forwarded to each member of the Convention from this
district, to be presented 10 the Convention and also to
the several papers of Western Virginia, with a request
to publish tine same.
PREAMBLE
| The people of Virginia in the exercise of that jn
dubtabe iualenabe and indispensable right recoonized
in her bill Of rights having by an overwhelming ma
]orty declared that her present system of government
is not such as will produce the greatest degree Of hap
piness ana safety, or most etectualy secure them
against the danger OF maladminstraton,' and having
In pursuance OF the same high prerogative, called a
convention to reform alter abolish it," subject 10
| their future rejection or approval.
| We, therefore, citizens of the county of Kanawba.
IN view OF the vast and important interests submitted TO
the consideration OF that body, interests in which moi
only our own inherent rights, happiness and presper-
y but those OF postey for years to come are deep
ly involved have convened in primary assembly for
| the purpose OF declaring solemn convictions upon
the important and monenous issue of the basis otrep
resentaon now under elaboration before it, and SO far
our voices concerned of nslructng our delegates
| in relation to their action upon it.
be 1t therefore Resolred, the opinion Of this
meeting,
LIST. That truly free state can only exist in COM
| munlty OF individual freemen united together for their
common veal, with common will to guide them, and
| common force to execute it.
| Ind That In every community where unanmily cam
not be had, either the will Of the many or the will OF
| the few must govern.
Sd. That equal electors ought to have equal suffrage
without regard TO property or locality, and equal nambe
OF eebors ought to have equal representation whether
they should happen to live side the other of
| the blue mountains OF Virginia
4th hat the representative chosen by the people
| to represent the will OF his constituents ard not by
property, which hath no power to choose, and will to
represent.
9th. That treemen alone are the source of civil gov.
eminent and property is only the subject oft-andtha
to give political power to property, by making the
and incorporate It into our constitutions which lies at
the bottom OF all the monarches and aristocraces of
Old World. A principle which we abhor-and which
Is anagonlstic to the fundamental principles Of Demoe
racy SO universal among the people and constitutions
OF America. A principle by which it is sought 10 Sc
cure to a sectional minority the control of the whole
slate-and which, il earned fully out, would make
each individual, in political point OF view, powerful
or poweress In proportion as he might happen to be
rich or poor.
9th. That if the principle of propt rtv basis of rep
resentalion in the Legislature be right then it is equally
right that should be made to apply 10 individuals as
well as to sections of the state, and every should
have vote for himse-an additional number of yotes
Tor his property according that should be great or
small. And the principle should extend alike TO the
election OF Judges and all other officers of the govern
ment as we'll as TO the legislative department.
7th That the principle contained in the second Sec
ton OF the bill OF Rights, "hat all power is vested ill.,
and consequently derived from the people, the basis
and foundatlon OF all tree government and that the
admission OF property as separate and distinct ele-
ment OF power in the government is utterly subversive
OF this principle and can lead only an irresponsible
and oppressive olgarchy, the most odous and dees,a-
BILE OF all the forms oil tyranny.
9Th. That property implied in the term itself can
have no separate ind pendent existence aud thai
the protection OF the personal rights and liberties OF the
people derived from just and equal distribution of
the representative power OF the State, in proportion
TO the numbers OF the cons fluent body or voters ne
cessariy includes The protect security of he pro-
pertY which they own.
9th. That the free white basis oil representation or
its equal apporonment among the constituent body or
voters, IS the only true, legitimate, equitable, and
republican mode, OF distributing the political power
OF the State, and people depart IRON it With
out violating one OF the fundamental principles oil FREQ
government.
| 10th. That the excess OF slaves owned by the peo.
pie OF Eastern Virginia over those held in the West,
furnishes no Just reason Tor altering changing this
great principle, and while we, portion OF the people
OF Western Virginia, willing in spirit OF compro-
mise, to afford The East all reasonable constitutions
al guarantees for the additional protection and seeu-
rHy ofthat species ipropelty we hereby declare
flrm determined purpose neither to support, acquesce
in nor agree TO any constitution which contains any
material departure flom it, or which in any manner
cognlses property as separare element OF political
power in government
llth That if the trends Of the antagonstc proposi-
lions now pending before the convention cannot agree
upon some measure aceep able TO each, they should
then present two separate sci OF Apo onmeni The
one based upon population and taxation bned and
the other upon the free white population or suage,
TO be submitted with the new con Siution to the final
arbtrament and decision of the people themselves at
| the pos and whichever should receive a majority of
the votes OF the people othe whole state should pS0
fdcfo be Incorporated in the constitution and form
the rule Tor future apportionment in that instrument
18th. That a successful effort the part of the
Eastern members OF the Convention by the mere force
OF their numerical majority, to impose upon the people
| OF the Vest either OF the obnoxious propositions
pending before that body airport oning repes
in the Legislature oil The State upon the mixed basis of
population and taxation, for 10 give constitutional
sanction TO the odlus doctrine properly represen-
taon, would Justify all the friends of The whit basis in
| Immediately Withdrawing from the Cov entlon and
taking no further part in its deliberations.
18TH That no bride in the shape OF other desirable
meeting should, induce the people of Western Virginia
to accept or adopt constitution containing either OF
the antrepublican and arisocratca provisions refer
red 10 in the preceding r IS NE1roN p.saso,
4 +. Nj N. p G4RpsnH,' Secretaries.
Great sensation has been lately caused at Flor