Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-24

HSSSS 80 Was 'Ao"J " "SJotlCy Va Ohly IuTSSJ
l would ask my friend from Fauquier,
(Mr. Scott, If he would desire to carry
in this Convention constitution that
could not be adopted, were representa-
tion properly adjusted according to the
principles upon which the Convention was
called? / ask gentlemen's serious con-
sideration to this fact. The course pur-
sued by portion of my constituents since
the assembling of this body, has been fre-
quently referred to and consider it my
duty, as one oftheir humble representa-
tives, to notice briefly the remarks made
in reference to them. I take occasion to
more devoted to the interests of the State
than the portion 1, in part, represent. My
constituents are law-abiding, law-loY-
ing people. They send their resolutions
here not as threats, but claim the right,
as freemen, to send them for the govern
ment of their representatives, and to make
known to this body their wishes and de-!
sirss. - -.
: But cAndor requires me to say, that my
Constituents do feel deeply and intensely
upon this subject, They are most firmly
convinced, that by the adoption of the
mixed basis, they would be degraded /;
and they feel that it is duty incumbent
upon them, to use all the means within
their power to relieve themselves, and to
prevent the degradation into which they
are to be plunged, by the adoption of this
principle. What is the proposition under
consideration In October, we raised q
committee on the basis of representation,
composed of twelve members East and
twelve West of the Blue Ridge of noun
tAins. That committee being unable to
agree upon report, the members from
the East presented proposition A, as eng.
braeing their views. 1t is the pure mixed
basis, giving to property and wealth equal
political power with free white persons,
and accompanied with an apportionment
of representation in both houses of the
General Assembly, showing its injustice
without veil or covering. The members
from the West presented B, as containing
their views. The suffrage basis-that Of
equality-has been moved as substitute
for A, and the gentleman from FGuquier
{ hr Scott) has attempted to cover the
snormity of proposition A. by his substi-
tute. 1t is but thin covering; disguise
the mixed basis as you may, its aristo-
cratic and anti-republican feature will be
seen by the most common observer.
In the remarks which propose to offer
to the consideration of the committee, it
will be my purpose to show that the mix
ed basis, in any form in which it may be
presented, is contrary to republican prin-
ciples-is in direct violation of the great
political truths laid down in the bill of
rights, as understood by those who aided
in its adoption; that We seek to give that
instrument no new construction, but to
carry out the principles it contains that
have been recognized since the founda-
ton of the government that it is the slave
interest of the State, although in a deci-
ded minority, that is seeking to perpetu-
ate power in it's own hands-power which
that interest has long held, and which it
has exercised prcjudicially to the pros
perity of the State, and inimically to the
rights of the many and that representa-
ton in the House of Representatives of
the Congress of the United States, so
much relied upon in argument, is entitled
to no weight upon this question.
We now are forced to meet the que2-
ton in this enlightened age, in this demo
cratic republican commonwealth of ours,
whether representation in the legislative
department is to be apportioned according
to the free white population, or is to be
controlled and regulated by the property
of the country. 1t is beyond doubt a con-
If we are defeated in this great struggle
the advocates of freedom and equality
may we'll mourn and regret that in this
renowned commonwealth, the spirit of
free government has been checked, sig-
naly checked. Is it not remarkably
strange that the advocates of the mixed
basis, in argument before this honorable
committee, state that they adhere to the
bill of rights? Yes, even the gentleman
from Fauquier, (Mr. Scott, and my
friend from Loudoun, (Mr. Janney,) have
said that they will stand by the principles
of the bill of rights. The bill of rights,
then, is to be looked upon as our political
Bible, and if the mixed basis is not in ac-
cordance with its principles, understand
gentlemen yield the question; and if it
is necessary to carry out the principles of
the bill of rights, that the white or suf-
frage basis should be adopted, infer
from the remarks of gentlemen that they
are willing to yield it.
Is it necessary that should bring to
the attention and consideration of this
committee, all the great principles laid
down in that chart of liberty? shall
not do so further than to refer to some of
the first sections, as far as the sixth.
Il y
How is this instrument to be construed?
Are we to construe it as we expound all
other documents or writings, by what
appears upon its face, or are we to look at
the acts Of those who adopted it before
and after its adoption {? If we look to