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

NSAg 'ehN WV .litototy or the Common.
wealth of Virginia upon the subject of
representation, and the argument Is over
whelming in favor Of the position we oc-
cupy upon this floor.
This is the first time that it has become
necessary for this governmental majority
to assume the bold ground il now ASSUMES,
OF retaining the power in the hands ofthe
minority, In former contests, the qucs-
tion could be waived and the power re-
tanned. The question is now to be di-
rectly met, whether this great principle
is TO be Frustrated, or the power OF this
governmental majority, held b. the
Eastern portion of this Commonwealth,
is to be surrendered. That is the oues-
ton we are to determine, and that is the
question to which the attention of the
Commonwealth is now called and not
only this Commonwealth, but all who
love equality. 1t involves great prin-
cipie-a principle that should never be
yielded, for ii is liberty itself. was
astonlshed when referred to the fact
that the articles of confederation, which
were changed, / think by Congress in
1888. retained the suffrage basis and
adopted federal numbers as the rule of
contribution, and that every member
from Virginia voted for it. In reply to
the argument that has been urged over
and over again, attempted TO be drawn
from the provisions of the constitution of
the United States in reference to repre-
seutation, and to show how wholly diff
ferent ~. constitution is in its nature and
object from the constitution intended for
the government of a single State, I ask
the indulgence OF the committee while I
read some remarks made by Mr.. Madison
in the Convention of this State that rati-
fed the constitution of the United States.
He said "Give me leave to say some
thing of the nature Of the government,
and to show that it is safe and just to vest
it with the power of taxation. There are
number OF opinions but the principle
question is, whether it be federal or
consolidated government. In order to
Judge properly of the question before us,
we must consider it infinitely in all its
principal parts. l conceive myself that
it is OF mixed nature it is in manner
unprecedented VIC cannot find one ex-
press example in the experience of the
world. 1t stands by itself. In some re-
spec.s it is q government of federal ma
turc in others IL is of a consolidated ma
ture. Even if we attend to the manner
in which the constitution is inyestiga ed,
ratified aud made the act Of the people of
America, can say, Notwithstanding what
the honorable gentleman has alleged,
that this government is not completely
consolidated, nor is it entirely federal
X
Here we have the true character of the
federal government, given by one of all
others who best understood it, and he
tells you that there had been no other
government like that. 1t was a govern
ment OF itself, although there had been
in existence for many years governments
Of the several States of the confederacy,
and among them our constitution adopted
in 1910, and under which the affairs of
the State had been carried on to 1878, the
time that these remarks were made. l
regard this reference by honorable mem
bers TO the constitution of the United
States as entirely foreign to the question
now under consideration. The gentle
man from Pittsylvauia, (Mr. TREDwAY,)
referred to portion of the declaration of
independence and the constitution of the
federal government. We know that the
declaration of independence was adopted
in 1875, and that the constitution was
formed in 1888, moro than ten years after
the adoption of the declaration and it
should be borne in mind that the declara-
ton of independence was intended to as
sert the rights of the States as indepen
dent sovereignties. There being no con-
federation at the time Of the adoption of
the declaration of independence, State
soveroignties existed in their separate ca
pacities only,
Then this portion of the arguments out
of the question Does it not present the
question, on the part of gentlemen who
advocate the mixed basis, as holding on
to power disregsrding the great princi.
pies oE the bill! OF rights? They find it
necessary, in order to retain the power,
to adopt some rule by which it will re-
main where it is. Instead Of resorting di-
reCtly to the slaves, for the purpose of
keeping out of view that interest, and re-
tanning the power in the hands of those
that hold that interest and thereby con-
troll the affairs of the State, they adopt the
principle of population and taxation COM
bined. 1t was said by the gentleman from
Pittsylvania, (Mr, WHIrrLr,) and it was
conceded by eastern gentlemen in the last
Convention, that prina .facie the white
population was the true basis Of represen-
tation, but that circumstances might make
it necessary that that principle should be
departed from. Let US see if there is any
thing in the condition of the State that
requires departure from that great prin-
ciple What are the great interests of
the State l beg leave to call the atten-
ton of the committee to what conceive
to be among the great interests Of the
Commonwealth. look to the landed in,
terest as one of those great interests. 1
find by reference to the tables that the