The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-08-15
Isnrlr Lenlnnsy of the Wost.


orable political carcef, has lust written n
lengthy letter toa friend, Who is % figure
In the Philadelphia National Conventions,
the admirable tone Of which goes far TO
show the earnestncss and sincerity Of prom
inent Southern men, ~ having n pateFRal
feeling restored between North. and South
We make the following cxtract from tho
letter, purPosely 20 show NJ historical
fact-which the action of the New England
element Of Congress, especially in contest
ing ON the Tariff question, made prominent
that even before, the Constitution had
been perfected, there was q. green-eyed
jealousy entertained ~ the iossible great
ness and political power Of the yet undc-
yelopcd or even understood Great West,
On this point the eminent virginian
brings forward the following interesting
"reminiscences:
In looking back to the proceedings and
debates OF the Federal Convention, as had
Occasion to show in the second volume of
the Life Of Madison, recently published, IL
il seen with how much jealousy and alarm
the Eastern States contemplated the future
growth and power of the new States Of the
West. Mr.. GOuverneur Morris, though at
that time delegate of the State Of Penn
sylYania, was made the spokesman and in
terpreter of this Jealous feeling of the East
ern States. He said:
"He looked forward to that range Ofnew
States which would soon be formed In the
West. These States will know less Of the
public interest than the old will have an
interest in many respects, different in par
ticular, will be little scrupulous of inv )lv-
| Ing the country In wars, the burdens and
operations of which would fall chiefly on
the maratme States Among other OH
jections," he added, ut must be- apparent
they would not be able to furnish men,
equally enlightened, to share In the admin
istratiOn Of the common interests IL the
Western people get the power into their
hands, they will ruin the Atlantic inter-
ests.h Finally, he said, seeing the dangers
| from this quarter, lie should be Obliged To
vote for the vicious principle of equality in
the second branch, in order TO provide
some defense to the Northern States against
| it," and he also declared that "he thought
the rule Of representation in the first branch
ought to be so fixed as to secure to the At
lantic States the prevalence in the national
cOuncils.p
The hint was Immediately taken by Mr..
King and Mr.. Gerry, of Massachusetts, and
the latter, repeating tho alarm sounded by
MIR. Morris, and declaring that "if the West
ern States acquire power they will abuse
twill opprcss commerce, and draw our
wealth into the Western country" actually
submitted to the convention proposition
that, whatever might be the future popu-
lation of the new States of the West, 1.-The
total number of the representatives shall
heUer exceed the total number of the rep
resentatives Of the old States" This in
vidious attempt on the part of some of the
old States TO bind the infant Hercules of
the West In perpetual swaddling bands,
met with an indignant protest from others,
and especially from the Oldest of them all,
Virginia. Colonel Mason said $500.
The now States of the West must be
treated as equals, and subjected to no de-
grading determinations. They win have
the same pride and other passions which
we have, and will either not unite WITH or
speedily revolt from, the Union, If they are
not, III all respects, placed on an equal foot
ing with their brethren"
Mr.. Madison said: with regard tn the
Western States, am clear and firm in the
opinion that no unfavorable distinctions
are admissible, either in the point of justice
or policy"
The proposition of Mr.. Gerry and Mr..
King was rejected--Massachuse Con-
necticut, Maryland and Delaware voting
for IL, New Jersey, Virginia, North Caro-
lima, South Carolina. and Georgia against
it. and Pennsylvania divided.
The great principle of the equal right of
all the States to representation in the ma
tional councils by one and the same rule
was thus VIGOROUSLY and permanently es-
| tablished In the Constitution against all the
efforts and devices of sectional jealousy or
ambition to thwart and defeat 1t. What il
now the sweeping exclusion of ten States
OF the Union from n common representation
in the national councils but n reversal, by a
subordinate and brief authority, of the sI-