New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-01
VIRGINIA COLONEL TON.

To he Edaor Of The n. Y. Tribune
SIR: Your correspondent A. w. L. needs the in
formation he asks for the character of the laws and
Constitution OF the State of Virginia. lie is no doubt
well acquainted with the old laws and Constitution of
tile State and they were, as he says, anything but
democratic republican. The people, under the old
order of things did not elect single State or County
officer, except the members of the Legislature. The
Governor and every other State, executive and judi
cal officer, was elected by the Legislature, while town
and county officers elected by the County Court,
composed of magistrates who constituted close cor
poration holding their Offices during life, and hlng
the vacancies in their own body. There was also q
property qualification, even Tor the electors oil the
legislature Under such order Of things the rights
of poor men would of course be in danger could
genuine democrat wonder at even worse abuses than
those complained Of by your correspondent.
But believe no State in this Union ever made so
great progress single year toward true democracy,
as was made by Virginia in 1851. BY her recent Con.
situon adopted in 1851, the property qualification
was entirely removed and from 10000 to 5O,0 700 new
men were admitted TO the right of suffrage. This
right is extended to all white citizens of the United
and one year in the county excepting paupers and
criminals The old Court systems, State and
county, were abolished All Judicial and ex-
ecutive officers are elected by the people. The
House of Delegates is apportioned upon the white
basis exclusively so that the Senate is the only por-
ton of the Government which is based in the slightest
degree upon property. And by this very Constitution
the question of putting the Senate on the white basis
is to be submitted to the voters in 1866 which will, OF
course be decided in favor of the people, and after
that date Virginia will be able to show as democratic
Constitution in all its features any other State IN
the Union. These very changes are now causing the
alarm TO the ancient arsocracy, and have Occasloned
the fear which l have heard expressed that there
would soon be insurrectOn of poor whites at the
polls demanding education for their children at the
public expense and perfect equality Of taxes and OF
all the burdens Of government
perfectly agree with A. w. I. when he says that
naturally " Virginia seems to Inc the loyelest land
ever saw after sundry thousand miles OF travel IN
" the United States aud in Europe. No one can
doubt the wonderful exodus Of the coored population
from the border Slave States Occasoned partly by the
agitation which recent discussions have created, part
" by the fears which have been excited, bat more by
the debts and taxes caused by the recent extensive
internal improvements and the great demand and high
prices for slaves in the country further South from
the constantly increasing price of cotton And since,
as Aristotle says " natHre abhors vacuum" what
can prevent the teeming and swaniDg millions of the
North and East attracted by the cheapness and fer.
ity Of the SOIL the delicious and healthy climate from
filling the valleys of Virginia with their arts aud
manufactures making neglected hillsides bloom in
penteous beauty, doting the country all over with
chO0l-houses--thOse necessary institutions Of free and
cultivated men-thereby qnadruping the value OF
every farm they shall occupy, and doubling the as
ses.Inent roll of their adopted State These the
into country new and strange TO them TO settle their
families and to lay their bones, desire and that
they will not be Hospitality received by those who are
oppressed with most unusual debt and taxation seems
Tsra Is ISL J. c. UNDERWOOD