The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-06-03


Total population in ls4o ................12se 73I
Do. do. 1850. .............,........l,i25 6i2
Total increase in the State ls5so5
White incresse--Eastern Virginia ........... 3s37s
Do. do. Western Virginia ............ 1888
Total. ............. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1866
Free coored increase-Eastern Virginia. ..... 3443
Do. do. Western Virginia. ........ 253
Total in ten years. 36ee
Increase Of SiavesEastern Virginia. ....... l6 oS7
Do. do. Western Virginia. .......... 9447
Total slave increase. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. c5bJ
These figures conclusively indicate the decline of
slavery in the State. Take the comparative in
crease Of whites and slaves in Eastern Virginia
since 1870 for example and convenience, using only
the round numbers, and we find
The slave increase upon 395, 900 to be $1,000.
The white increase upon 370, 900 to be $4,000,
or increase Of moro than 100 per cent in favor
Of the whites, upon smaller basis of population.
But how stands the case in Western Virgin
While the increase Of the white population exceeds
900 that of the slave population is less than
10000.
Between 1880 and 1910, the white population Of
Eastern Virginia actually decreased 5000, while
the slave population increased 2l,000 By the last
census, find that the slaves in this section have
only increased 1900, while the whites have in
creased e, 900.
Take all these facts together, the rapid increase
Of the white population in the West its great gain
in the East, and the very sensible decline Of tae
slave population comparatively, we see the practi
cal result Of MIR. Clay's system Of emancipation, in
the sloughing on OF slavery from the border slave
States Virginia is undergoing the process
White labor is coming in and supersedng slave
labor. The slaves are In process Of being sold of
TO the cotton plantations further South. And thus
Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri, will
transfer their slaves to the cotton States Eut what
will they do with the accumulation, if they are to
DO walled in upon every side! Here VIC have
another powerful provocative to southern confe-
ucracy. GA o MexIco. cubA
and Central America.
The Convention, after some FIVE months dis
eussicn, compromised the dispute between the East
ond the West, by fixing the number Of the House
Of Delegates at loO, giving the West from her
superiority according to the white basis, majority
Of fourteen; and by adopting FIFTY as the number Of
the Senate, giving the eastern section, the Old
Dominion proper, majority OF ten, from her claims
growing out Of the slave population aud taxable
p-operty-ln 1860 representation to De reapp,r-
toned and If the Legislature can't agree they ars
to submit the subject to the people.
MIR. Thomas j. Randolph Ia nephew Of Thomas
JeAerson) having voted for the compromise, and
being taken to task by his eastern constituents for
it, has given notice, that the 18th Of June he will
mise Of representation, WIN ch will probably bring
up again the merits Of the whole subject. This Is
question Of some Importance, as it may be driven
SO far rs 10 provoke the western section Of the State
10 break up the Convention; and possibly to the
sctting W Of new free State, called Western
Virginia.
From this statement Of the condition of Affairs in
the Old Dominion, it will be hat she has quito
enough TO attend TO ~ home and that South Carroll
ough: to sympathite with her, instead Of feeling
any disappoint nent in the refusal Of Virginia to
encourage her to the act OF secession. Virginia is
in Il ate Of transition from a slave state to free
state, or Of division into two Statcs-ono slavehold
ing and the other free. She has ceased to be the
leading slave state. Free white labor is here rs.
cunning the supremacy. Virginia. from tao re ,oil
and pressure Of the white population, is soughing
Alu tl. II ton
whose interests are inscparaoly blended with the
system, must lock elsewhere for advice. Her poll
ticians are also too busy with the presidency to
think Of the sbsurdity cf throwing away their
chances for the so 900 600 year. on mere re, olu-
ticnary experiments
In cur next we shall give some account Of visit
10 the capital ard the Convention, with, perhaps,
remark or two uron the fine arts, ~ well ne upon
the lions Of the state. w.
RICHMOND, Va. May q, 1851.
~ Virginia Constitutional Observation-Disclosures
Ct-lpmp,io~ o. GaS-S,ycimu of Srcech-
Prospects lf hnothu Maryland ASar.
After spending an hour or two in listening to The
debates IN the Virginia Constitutional Convention
or rather the convention elected to build new
consttution-we are more convinced than ever that
the making Of new constit lons is atedious and up
hill business Look Mt the trouble our reverend
fathers bad with the federal constitution which Mr..
Webster has appropriated n his exclusive proper.
~, though ''tis mine, It's his, and has been slave
90 thousands." Dr. Franklin at last had 10 bring
the convention TO fasting aud prayer before any
thing could be done. Look At the months Of hard
labor required TO accomplish the old constitution
ard The new constitution Of New York. But the
rtsult-uark the result All tho States have gone,
are going, into the work Of building consti-
;utions, more republ IAN, more ample, moro shir-
shape, ard close. up to the spirit Of tho age, than
the old constitutions. The States have outgrovn
their Cd brceches, 50 that Virgins, thought
by everybody. 20 be getting like John Rsndolph's
NLean, AMI long, and hank.
And moving on spindle shank"
has actually been getting Fat on toLa eco, and has
becysae TOO large for her o. i.tino pautaoons She
ends, nov constitutions being all the fashion, that
she Is sadly in want u u new constitution.
she has clecte n convention Of scme one hundred
and thirty ELK delegates, more or less, to make n
new fundamental law They find IL a tough Job.
AFTER five months expenditure Of gas on the mig
ger question:, between the eastern aud western
sections q the state, they have come 10 y tempo
rary compromise, giving 10 the Wet the Housc oy
fourteen majority, upon her White population, and
Tie senate 70 the last by ten jorlty, on account
81 is slaves and taxable property Thus the West
obtains majority Of four juint ballot, the State
having been, heretofore. entirely IN the hands Of
the a,eholdng section THIS is the practical com
mencement Of the revolution which Is utimstcly,
ard Mt 70 remote day, 70 change Virginia from a
slave state 70 a free state
IN eur last despatch We explained the contest and
the comIrcmise on the negro question, the farid
gain Of Western Virginia and the white popula-
tion over the Fastener old savcholdiag division Of
the Slnte. Let us, therefore, glance for moment
ut the p~Fo'ioHs of the convention. The fcw ei-
sc1nb Is good AS n body Of men, the asscinblage
presents very respectable appcaranee-psrticu-
feoll fIa
tains. Hon. John y. Mason, President, eastern
man, and late Secretary Of the Navy, must have
gained afty pound since leaving Washington. lie
cannot weigh much short Of three hundred pounds.
capital pleasant fellow Is the Judge, as we'll rs
on able. talented, aud educated man.
But where Is Wise Gone down to Accomsc.
After that four days speech against his own sec.
lion Of the state, he was compelled 70 return home
and 20 through a Of oysters and salt water
otherwise. Wise must have collapsed Mighty
strnnro. Tint nfier All his camnngns against John