Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-09-07
D o Nj f S TIC.
JOU NAL
OFTHF PROCEEDINGS OF.a con-
VEWiI0h, BEGUN AND HFLD .qT
=. STAUsVfON, THE 1871 my OF
.iU.sUST IN THE rE.7R 1916.
Concluded faom our las,
] DUN N All,

{ Concluded jaom our las,
Mr.. Fitzhugh from the committee ap-
pointea under two resolutions yesterday a
dopted by the house to draft memorials, re-
porteda resolution and memorial as fol-
lows.
(RESOLYE)
Resolved, that the following memorial.
to be signed by the president, and attested
by the secretary, be presented to the Lee
gislature Of Virginia, as expressive of the
sense OF this convention on the subjects
therein contained.
; tMEMORlAL.)
Memorial offhe Staunton Convention to
the Legislature Of the State of Virginia.
The convention Of Delegates held at
Staunton in the month OF August eighteen
hundred 4 sixteen,tor the purpose of obtain
ing such amendments to tue Constitution
ct this commonwealth, as will secure to
the good people thereof, al the rights and
privileges to which they are by nature en-
titled; and of which they have been de-
priyed by the early adoption of principles,
which If not originally & radically wrong,
have become so by the subsequent {" opera
ton Of natural and accidental causes"
beg leave to lay before the Legislature Of
the state, such an exposition Of their grew
ances, as will establish at once, the certain
~ OF their existence, the extent of their
operation, and the necessity of their re-
moyaI. Passing over many lesser evils,
connected with and inseparable from the
existing constitution, they are satisfied, ON
the present occasion, to c0nfine their atten-
ton exclusively to one not doubling that
the same remedy which will be applied to
1t, will at the same time be extended to ev-
cry principle lin the constitution, inimicai
to the rights and happiness of an indepen-
dent people. No doctrine has received a
more universal assent, than that in re-
publican government the will OF the ma
jority should &c the law Of the land. And
yet IN a state, bnasting of the pure repub-
iican character Of its institutions, this first
and fundamental principle OF republican,
isn does not exist for Ito borrow the Ian
.guage Of 4 late eloquent appeal to the peo-
pie ct Virginia,) :" the government of the
commonwealth, is actually in the hands of a
minority anti what is still more pernici.
ous to the general interests, in the hands
CT minority, inhabitinga particular secti-
on ofthe state. Forty niue counties, adj
lacekt to each other IN the easterE and sou.
1Eern sections OF the state, including three
OF the Burroughs situated in these counties,
have ,uslOrily at the whole number of re-
personalities ~ the most numerous branch
OF the Legislature. And these counties
and borougfts contained, in 1910. only 2O4.
10 white inhabitants less than one half
the population OF the state by -, 1853 souls
An the other branch OF the Legislature
the inequality is still mare apparent. In
credible aas 1t may seem, it is nevertheless
fact, that while the country west of the
Blue Ridge, constituting three 6fths of the
territory ct he state, aud containing, ac-
cording 10 the census of 1910, white no
puiatiDn Of 1886 souls, has but four. in
stead OF nine senators to which 1t is enti-
tied thirteen Senatorial districts on tide
water. containing, accor ding 10 the same
census, a white population Of only l62,7I7,
have thirteen instead CT seven senators,
which would be their just proportion
These facts are respectfully submitted to
the Senate and House of Delegates of the
state OF Virginia, with the hope that they
cannot fail to produce an impression, fav-
oraille to the cause of republicanism, and
the Just rights Of so decided majority OF
the white population of the state. This
doHe, the convention look with confidence
to the Legislature for such aid rs they have
the power to grant. They know that the
means OF extending to them immediate re-
lief are not within the cover of the Leeis.
lature. they Therefore do not ask it.
,Ahey know that the several Counties are
entitled to two representatives on The floor
OF the House of Delegates SAID that a rlere
ieSisiatire act cannot prevent them from
exercising an acknowledged night. Each
Senatorial district toe, has a constitutional
claim 10 one Representative in. the Senate
ard 1t may well be questioned whether
there be power IN the l. GESTURE to alter
or no idSe tliiS ciainE Bat what cariI,ot be
done directly, what cannot be done by law.
may be indirectly accomplished THROUGH
the medium of legislative rccommendati-
on. And although the people caubot be
commanded to act facilities Tor acting NAV
De Afforded them tn a very great extent.
Ibehnneral Assembly then are respeetCulIy
requested to recommend 10 the Dconle of
the commonwealth, the election of con.
ventiob 10 alter and amend The defects of
the constitution. And in doing this Il is
confidently hoped that such priDcipIes of
representation will be adopted, and such
modes ot election prescribed, as will insure
TO every part tot the state, weight in the
Convention be assembled, proportiOned
to its white population. Thus, and TINS
on|ys can The excitements existing in the
state be allaYed, the great ends of RepubIi.
can government be attained, and the consti.
tuition. be placed ON a basis to insure its
own durability, rs well as the peace and
nannircss oil lingo lnr .uh.. 80 -.