Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-12
To The People ofthe Commonwealth of V.rgi,Ia.
FELLow-CITIzENS,

FELLow-CITIzENs,
There is no political rn:xin,, whose
truth is more frci5!y i!i1st.ated by experience,
han one contained in the declaration Of rights of
Virginia, " That no free government, or the bless
ng ofhberty. can be preserved to any people, but
by frequent recurrence to fun,ia entail prnci-
pies" The entire neglect of this ayainable unax-
i'm, has produced crisis in the internal affairs Of
Virginia, whose novelty and importance demand the
earnest attention and consideration of every citizen
OF the State.
Forty years have elapsed since the aloptor of
constitution, which, though liable just anmadver-
sion in some important particulars, conferred on us
the Invaluable blessing OF free representative form
Of government. Although the right which the peo-
pie incidentally possess, to be equuHy represented.
very considerably infringed by that provision of
the constitution, which conferred On each of the
counties, however differing in SIZE and pnDuiaton,
the same W, ight in the most numerous branch of
the Legislature, no evil consequences were for
considerable time perceived 20 result from the in
fiingemcn; There existed then, comparatively, no
western population aud an lenty Of interests, in
the population east of the monntsins secured each
particular portion of it from oppression.
But this original Infringement ofthe right Of the
people to equal Representations aided BY course of
coHtuct in the Legislature. which has greatly increa-
sed the inequality, and still farther, by the operate
on of natural and accidental causes, has at length
produced state OF things, which. warranted
in saying, is an absolute mockery of the principles
offree government.
Permit u.s. fel!ow-ctzens, TO lay before yon a
brief detail OF facts, which will Slew that this
ton is scrupulolsly correct
In proportion population difiused itself over the
Western part oil the State, large counties frUul
time to time established by law, which, under TIE
provisions OF the constitution, were enhci to two
representatives each, and more, in the mot nu-
meruus branch OF the legislature. Some of these
counties. ia consequence Of their great extent and
fertility, aud the salubrity Of the climate, have 1T
tanned free population fine times greater than the
average free population OF all the counties in the
State, and more than t7yeHty times greater than
the free population Of the smallest couaty on tide
water-whie, on the Other hand, the population of
uaHy ofthe tlde-water c,upties. from the operation
ut various well-kncwn causes, has dwiadled away
in very remarkable dcgr e. IT representation
were equai;scd, AMI WsrwiciS county were taken
as the sta dartl by which the number OF renresen-
tatives from all other counties should be regulated
the counties Of loudoun AMI Frederick would be
entitled to orfy Te delegates each liza still fur
ther Illustration If this onstrous inequality ofrepre-
sentaticn be necessary 1t will be found in the TACT
that twenty couaies Ii lie water, containing only
So 4@3 white nhabitants, and twenty counties in the
upper country, containing 1928, have die same
representation in the house OF delegates
But if this inequality of representation affected
merely the relative weight of few counties, in the
government OF the State, It might be considered
matter of comparatively srnail mportauee.--Un-
fortunately, the evil is not thus limited in its extent
It prevails to such degree, That the government of
the commonwealth is actually in the hands of mi
nOrily ard, what is still pernicions the gen.
eral interests in the hands of minority inhsbtnr
particular section of the State forty-ine coun-
tirs adjacent TO each other, in the Eastern and
Southern sections OF the State, inclulng three of
the borOughs situate IN those counties, have majc
Tity Of the whole number of representatives the
most numerous branch ofthe Legislature; and Ill csc
couptes and borJughs contain only two hundred and
four thousand hundred and sixty-sx white IN
ha5taus, which is less than enc half of the popula
ton of the State by seveotytwo thousand one hun
dred and thirty-eight souls SO much for the in
| equality of representation in the house of dele
gates.
l. the Senate, it IS even more glaring.-The con-
stiiuon directs that the different counties shall be
| divided into twenty-four Districts from each of
| which senator shall be elected. by law of 1899
| the territory west OF the Blue Ridge of mountains
divided into four senatorial districts and SO it
remains at the present day. Without stopping in
qure whet er the division Of 1892 fair one, in
relation TO the then relative population Of the differ
| ent sections ofthe State, shall be satisfied with
| showing that it is grossly unequal. The coun-
try West Of the Blue Ridge has, in fact, not half
l the weight il is entitled 70 in the Senate Of the
State.
| The cnrr'ry Just rentonc1, congtisating sbout
three ftbs of the tcrritn-y of Virginia. contains
| white population Of two hundred and twelve thons-
\ and and thrty-six sons. The whole white popula-
| ion NJ Virginia being more than FIVE hundred
and fifty three thousand eight hundred and nine, it
]
| eut:tl,l tn nine Senators instead Of oltT
On the other hand, thirteen senatorial districts on
tidc-wster, which contain white population Of only
one hundred and sixty-two thousand seven hundred
and seventeen and therefore entitled to but Sc
rem senator's have actually thrteen-that is to say
| majority OF one branch Of the legislature, which
possesses negative all bills passed by the 9th
| r. And thus, the representatives. of one hundred
| nj sixty-two thousand OF the people can prevent
he passage ~ the st important law, though sdvo-
col ed by the representatives OF nearly four hundred
| Thousand.
Ofthe Mi teen senatorial districts on tile wster.
! eleze7 contain fewer white inhabitants eaeh than
the county Of Frederick and one OF the eleven
contains scarcely more than fourth Of the white
| populsii0D Of that county.
| To esp tbe climax Of Inequality, the white po-
pula,ion OF the smallest tide waor district is. IN
that Of tn largest mountain district as sNe 10 So.
| uenfesu end a hail.
| These results are derived from The census ii
1910 and it is matter OF perfect notorety, that
the population Ct Tire West hiss. since that time,
increased with greater rapidly tbaa that of the East
and South, indeed the latter have ucreascdat al.
The inequality Of representation is therefore NJ the
present day even greater than has been here eta
] ted.
Ifit be asked, why 81 grcss ard aasrant an me
| quality OF representation in the Senate has been
| suffered u exist 81 long Why = lav hes not been
passed, for new moielliag the Senatorial Districts
The answer isan obvious one. The representatives
Of minority NJ the people have thu who's powers
Of goysVsmeut N their hspds aoG they will consent