The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-02-12


ton upon Western Virginia, and age and
experience had only added to his know.
ledge and strengthened his convictions
He spoke of the early history Of tho
West, and traced its gradual increase
from colonial dependence on the East up
10 the Conventions of 1880, and thence
to that OF 1850, when it was discovered
that the West had an actual numerical
majority OF $4,000 white inhebitants.-
The great intellects of Western Virgi-
mia, such as Phillip Doddridge, were in
the Convention OF 1880; but with all their
efforts and threats Of dividing, they were
able 10 get nothing but slight enlarge.
ment of western representation; but to
effect this the Convention divided the
State into four districts, the Tide.Water,
Piedmont, Valley, AMI TranS,Allegany,
and appohioned the delegates so that the
East had sbout two thirds. In the Con-
vention of 1850 the West began to feel
bold, but they did not know their
strength and adjourned to await the re-,
turns Of the census. The census show.
ed that West of the Blue Ridge there
were Is, 600 majority OF white popula'
ton OF the State The Western Dele,
gates IN the Convention then declared
they would have equal representation
on the white basis. Going on the prin.
clp'e that one white man at least was
as gool as anot0er' Inc struggle was
long Dut al they would give us al least
vas 10 dlvlde the State again INTO these
four districts and give the popular
ofanch 0, Tue Les's'atlVe@rePFeseh'a'lon
on !he wn',e OASIS ""'ch gave US Ten
Majority ouI they reserved 'helr pow
er IN Inc senate ihefe 'hey gave the
iide water ana Piedmont districts ~
representatives ana assigned ~ TO the
whole west Whlch had hltoen thousend
majority OF I6e white population. We
are Ilying uhder that law aud 'nequ"ltY
To-day, or practically upto the time OF
ms [eOeII'on' ana when the rebellion is
put down. ana we remain attached TO
me East we go back again under That
Constitution and That inequality Not
only that Injustice but others, They
required exemption from taxation Tor all
negroes under l2 years OF ago. ami al
other property taxed at rltorem' Our
STATE debt was then about $4,000, 600,
but Immediately upon tfeir getting that
advantage 10 want into system of l'giS
lauon which IN ten years raised that debt
from $l2,OOO,OOO, TO S45, 100000. Tor
building railroads in the other part ofthe
State, but never apPropriOting dollar
Tor such purposes west Of the mountains
Before the war the State was wealthy
and able to pay such a debt, but now all
ITS wealth IN the East AID valley had
been devoured 10y the war, and there
was no thing leitto tax Then II peace
was restored tomorrow md found US
'lill connected with the East, this portion
Of the State north Of the Little Kanawha
nearly two congressional dis
lnrt", untouched by the war. the veal.
thlest portion OF the new State, worth
some hundreds o millions ofdullnr'. and
capable OF paying large a 1oun' Of tax
es' would have an enormous harhrn Of
taxation to bear He wooil like 10 see
a man IN the Northwest who un'er such
circumstances wanted to go blck 10 Eas-
Tern Virginia. In Eastern Virginia they
nave issued about $50 100000 OF scrip,
Tor wal debt receivable nj Rlchmor in
payment oil taxes. ltpeacc were Ger!or'
ed tomorrow and the recognized Gov
ernmsn' spread all over the Safe, how
would 1t be Suppose the Legislature
should refuse to meet that debt, it is the
GnIy KIND OF money the people of the
valley AMI East have got They oliet
II IN payment Of taxes, anil have no other
Mt 10 oiier' What are you going to
90! l! you refuse to receive it and as
sumo The debt creating 1t, tho very neN
LEGISLATURE will DC elected on that issue
ana VIII Do elected expressly to do what