Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-09
EAST" AND "THE WEST
OUR LIEUTENANT GOpERNOR.

yJReINIA-"THE EAST" AND "THE WEST"
OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Since the formation of the confederacy the Old Do
minion has been regarded with degree of respect
almost amounting to reverence by her sister Statea
not only Of the South, but Of the whole Union. On
the "tented field" and in the councils Of the nation,
she has ever been distinguished for the vaor wisdom
and patriotism of her In advieng and achiev-
Ing American Independence she was fret and fore
most and in preserving the liberty then attained she
has never been excelled if equaed, either in the
ardor or ability she has displayed. 1t her Henry
whose insprting eloquence in the cause Of freedom
awakened an electric thrill throughout the land,
and nerved the arms and hearts of the heroes Of
the revolution. 1t was her Washington, whose sword
broke the bonds Of British oppression. 1t was her
Jefferson, who framed the American magma chara-
the Declaration of Independence They were her SONS,
too who, like Franklin directing the lightning in its
course Instituted controlling counterpoise, safe.
guard and regulator to restrain the clements OF ber
ty from trenching upon the bounds OF oense to keep
within their spheres in harmony and in ORDER each and
all the several stsrs of the constslaonthe separate
States Of the Union-to confne the Federal govern
ment 10 s peculiar province, and to perpstuste the
confederacy by protecting the individual sovereign.
ties that compose it. We refer, of course, to that
great, conservative and indispensable Democratic
doctrine State-rights.
Virginia has been appropriately termed "the break.
water of fsnaticism." She is the "breakwate of fs.
naticism," because she always conforms closely to
the Constitution of the United States. Because she
sdheres rgdly to the true tenets Of the Democratic
faith. Because no apparent expediency, however
plausible, ever induces her to swerye in the least
from the pathway prescribed by those principles, to
which our government owes its existence, and with
out which no real republic can stand against the
gusts of popular prejudice and passion that must
inevitably Sometimes sweep over it.
Virginia did much towards originating this Union
and long her honor is not insuted and her rghts
not infringed. if possible, she will do more to pre-
serve it. Her present position is in keeping with hel
past history. While the howls of abolitionism are
heard from the North. and reckless menaces of dis
union break sadly upon the from the South; while
designing demsgogues and furious fanatics in one
section and angry mscontents and rash destruction
ists in the other are threatening dismemberment
the confederacy while the restraints of right ano
reason and constitutional law dehed and derdec
by bad men in the free States and the peace and pros
perity and power Of the country, are regarded toe
lightly by bold and gallant, but impetuous and vic
lent men in the slave States; while the Union trem
bling under the shock Of conflicting elements tha
threaten to to destroy it, and patriots in all parts
the country are excited and alarmed lest 'red battle
may stamp his FOOT the dividing line between thu
North and South VIRGINIA still stands unshaken, ant
,,ok olioaa apf
impregnable principles to which sbe has always 81
resolutely adhered. The Constitution rsi the Unol
next are the objects of her affection And as long q
the one is maintained no earthly power can drive he
from the other. Such s the attitude Of the Old Do
minion; and to claim for her than ordinary inau
enoe in the confederacy, is to make distinction be
tween her and her sister States which, we think, viii
be met with corroboraton rather than question by
each and all Of them.
We have been induced to this train Of reflection
not by any desire 10 indulge in pointess and pro
atless euogium upon our glorious old State; for sh
needs it mother history and her present position ar
the most eloquent commanders Of her merits an
proclsimers of her fame-but, by observing in tn
columns of one of our contemporaries Of the Virgni
press, indications of still lurking jealousy between
| \
have said on the part of Western journal toward
the East. The indications referred to are Furnished
iu the following paragraph from the Parkersbur
"Gazette:"
"Hov comes It that the President of the Senat
placed Eastern men at the head of all the standing
committees Of that body7 Was 1t merely the resul
the East with view to his own political preferment
Asne politicians will, doubtless, tax their inRenait
for rational explanation of the fragrant injustlc
that has here been perpetrsed but solid. senslbl
and substantial men will see 10 it ncontestbe proof
that those who loudest in their professions OF al
tschment to the West, are sometimes the first to de
sert her; aad, also. that Wsstern Lieutenant Go
vernon may be less worthy of confidence than al
| Eastern Governor"
To which the "News'' Of the same town replies
"There are nineteen standing Committees in tn
Senate of which the Charmen Of twelve are from tn
East, and of seren from the West. Among the sever
10 the Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation
the most important practically of all the Committees
of which George E. Deneale, Western white basi
man. is Chairman.
at is also charged that the East has majority o
one on epery committee. An investigation into thu
East has majority on eleven of them, while the Hes
| has a majority eight On the same Committee be
fore referred to, that Of Roads and Internal Navga
tion. the West has nine members and the East ha
| but sir."
"The relative proportion of representation in h
Senate has of course much to do with the formation
of Committees. The Senate is compoIed Of fttl
members, Of whom thirty from the East and bu
twenty from the West. 1t will therefore be seen tina
the West has fully as large proportion upon tn,
committees her numerical strength entities her TO-.
| Not intending to take part in the controversy be
tween the two journals. from which We quote, W
have omitted the harsh words applied by th
"News," to the statements of the "Gazette." Gu
object s simply to instance All evidence Of that lin
gering jealousy to which we have alluded, ant
which is 80 much to be deprecated both by "the East
and "tbe West" 1t is to be hoped, however, that tb
Parkersburg "Gazette in this respect does not repre-
sent the feelings and sentiments of its section of th
State. We have seen what Virginia was, and wha
she is-the most reliable, most conservative, mos
respected and most influential of all the States in tn,
Union Can she continue to occupy that proud position
IL her councils are to be divided by sectional Jealousy
Might not such a spirit lead from radical differ
ences on State policy to conflicting counses on Fed
eral polcy7 And is not unanimity in Virginia essen
| tial to a maintenance of that influence which she
now exercises among her sister States7 There is
moreover, another, and to some il may seem more
important and more practical consideration. Eastern
and Western Virginia are united in interests as they
are In territory. we have the wster.courses, the
bays and hsrbors and ports. They have rich ant
varied sources Of wealth and strength, which neet
only to be fully developed to benefit US, while ben
etting them Let all the contents of the granares Of
the West be brought to the waters of the East fol
transhipment, and it will be difficult to discriminate
between the respective profits accruing to each
| from The enterprise that will accomplish it,
"The East " is deeply interested in "the West" ant
the West" is alike interested in " the East" Lei
us ask then, if sslousies between them are not cal
culatsd TO retard The progress Of bothf
Governments are organized upon common interests
Society itself, in every form. is based upon oom
muni,y of advantages and sentiments and feelings
and if single States are to be embarrassed and i'm
aa=di