Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-09-09
From the Richmond Enquirer.
AMENDMENT OF TIE CGNSy,.
TUITION

IRON the principles with W ich It sets ont
taxes or wealth, ought not to affect the
ratio OF Representation between the diff.
ierent sections OF the state. Represen
tatlon ought to be in proportion ouIy to no.
puintion nus, as we have already
said, as ar elementary pri ciple,
6 The foundation Of the L public, ;s
the will of the majority" "
This IS, iii TACT, the same rronosit;or
with that which is stated in several 81
onr state constitutions /: fo Instance. tbst
of Pennsylvania, $ all free governments
are foancd Oh the authority Of lie npn,
pie. '--Froa this proposition flows the
next: That $ it is the es ence of this
principle. that Representations should b,
apportioned as nearly as possible TO mum.
Der, "-ior it is essential that this appOr.
tioninent should be made, between tine
different parts Of the society; otherwise
the smaller sectioa !uisht ri The sr,ater
the minority in a less thriving section
might rule the mCjority in a more thrn,
ing section.
ro keep the representation, then, as
near as possible up to level with popa.
iation, the Sd proposition must be Kent
in view viz " to have a census regular.
ly to ascertain these humble S"
We must not only then make represen.
tations equa! nov, bat keep it so-by a
periodical census, which is the case IN
several of our sister states.
1t is, undoubtedly, at the same 6me
proper, where the principle taxes are
drawn from the lands, to have a regular
assessment of their value, that we nav
keep taxation up to a level with the ca.
paclties of the people to meet them.
These are the two principles which we
must not lose sight ot--lbey are the
land marks, by which we must shape our
measures IN the present crisis--it is lie
Si;ab!e, therefore, that the people should
consent to Il convention for introducing
these fundamental principles.
But it is the majority Of the people who
are to consent 20 the call of convention
And to give them the means Of expires
sing their options, the next Legislature
ught to direct the polls to be opened, as
has been so frequently asitated Tor p" COR
vention" or 3" no coEvention"-1his is
ali that the next Legislature are in strict.
ness bound to do.
Therefore, in petitioniug them to call
a convention, the convention OF Staunton
paye asked too much. The Legislature
uay ask the people whether they will
nave a convention, but not to call one.
We could wish, therefore, that the
friends Of political reterln would limit their
views to this object, that its friends in
Iiferent countries would change the daft
II The memorial adopted at Staunton, SO
as to conform it to these views and that
hey would then exert themselves TO cir.
cuIate this memorial among the people.
But let us return to the following H.
senious view of things as they are, which
us to make these remarks.
For the Enqairar.
As much has been said on The subject
Of inequality of representation iii tie Le-
gislature of Virginia, and as it has been
made fruitful source OF discomfort a.
,nong the people of the Western parts OF
he State. I have been induced to cy-
anime infinitely into the affair, and ascer-
tain how far their complaints are we'll
founded.
assume it as a sonnd maxim of poIitI-
,aI Jurisprudence, that Legislation and
Representation should be proportiOned
o the number OF SOILS governed or re-
presented, and to the quantum Of taxes
oaid towards the san" IT OF government,
because the two subj C are so intimate
y connected that no 20 erRment can eX'
st without them.
1t becomes necessary, then, that reg
erence should be had to some data, from
which our estimates are to be made. ana
assume the census taken in 1910, DY
authority Of the u. S. for population, ana
eturns of the commissioners OF the reye-
lue, for 1915, in the Auditors Office, ier
he Taves-The results will show wI'a
What degree of justice, lberaIlty ana
this cIaRor has been eA-
ited.
The whole population of the state n
$40, in Federal numbers, was VA"
# which number, there were OF irec
whites, 554,5s4, the rest slaves. as
here are presumed to be various interests
0 be represented in different sections
he state, viii lay it Oft in four graAa
ivisions, namely ;ali the counties lEO ~"
he sea-board to the head OF tide water "
ompose the first division, all the counilts
rom the head of tide water to the D'10