Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-14

VII iNNitNtb, 49, WINS ~
en- in the two legislative efforts before
mentioned and from the concurring
testimony of several Members of your
mnittee representing counties which
did not send deputies To the Siaunion
convention, who state the wishes of their
constituents 10 amend the Constitution,
your Committee cannot but he OF opIn-
on mat large majority Of tie qualified
electors OF the State are III favor OF amen
uihg the Constitution. Such, indeed,
%ouia nave been their opinion, ndepen-
u"nuf OF The Convention at StauniOn: but
tiat Assembly, Your Committee ihlnk,
has placed the subject beyond the reach
of doubt.
Yonr Committee having examined the
complaints OF the MemorialisiS, find that
OF the White Population of'Yirginia, agree
ably to the census os 1870, there are 1872
51S between tine coast and the head of
tide-water; 207 $50 between the latter and
The Bus-Ridge; 100. 259 between the
Blue-Ridge " the kllegiiany and 81 M
between the hliesiiany and the Western
frontier, whose actual share of legislative
power, compared with that TO which they
are justly entitled, according 10 the pres
eni number Of the General Assembly, is
exhibited in the following table:
30 counties below the head of tide
water-liavlng Oh Delegates-cnti-
lied IN Is.
81 counties east OF the Blue Ridge
having 40 Delegates, and entitled
10 rs.
II counties west of the Blue Ridge
having % Delegates, and entitled
to A.
10 counties west OF The Alleghanv-
4 4 -,
Thus, II appears that tl.c Country west
OF the Blue Ridge has not lis due weight
IN the Legislature of the Country and
that the two middle sections have n,ino
rity of votes, altho' they contain major
ny oineariy two-thirds the whole state.
ii we examine the counties Individually
winch compose these sections, the inius-
tee is still more fragrant as, while they
are each entitled TO two Delegates. sever
al OF them nave less than one-fi.th of the
population of others.
Ine senatorial Districts, COMPRISING So
vcral counties III each, do not admit of be-
ing accurately distributed into the same 4
classes as the Counties but, if the State
De dlvIded INTO two sections IT will be
found that the Eastern elects twenty mem
hers, while il is entitled 10 but fifteen: and
the Western elects but four, though II is
entitled 10 nine. Your Committee are a
ware that the distribution of the state in
TO Senatorial Districts, was made bv the
ordinary Legislature, and is not fixed by
the Cons titution-but, distribution hav-
ING been once adopted, it has been long
doubted, whether il be susceptible of
Change, without infringing some vested
constitutional right.-A representation so
unequal, so repugnant to the principles
winch we most fondly cherish, aud of
which we most proudly boast, seems well
ooJustify the complaints Of the memoir
aists, and to warrantthe General Assem-
ply IN lending that aid in procuring re-
ureSS which 1t is competent for them TO
give.
On this occasion, Policy seconds The
CLAIMS OF Justice, if any considerations
bus those OfJusiice can be required in an
appeal 10 the Legislature of Virginia.
The grievance complained OF is most
heavily ieit by a part ofthc country which
IS separated from the rest by a natural
barrier; the two sections, too, differing
somewhat from each other in habits and
manners, and not very closely connected
by the bonds OF commercial intercourse.
The present. injustice, which the progress
OF orr population westwardly every day
increases, must tend still furtherto alternate
the western from their eastern brethren. q
to lessen that united feeling and acton in
which consists the safety and strength of
aSiate. And, although itwere found 10
produce no other practical evil, the pres
emf lnvidious distinction must ever be the
fruitful parent of local jealousy and dis
content, and unlriendly TO the public hap
piness, which il is the favorite object of
all good governments to promote.
Justice, also, TO Tie eastern section of
The State, recommends the application of
the memorialsts The Inequality of the
LandTaX, by which the Lands of different
sections are taxed, not by the simple and
Just rule of their actual value, or annual
product, but according TO geographical
position, operates very iniuriously on orr
Eastern brethren. The undue burihen
OF taxation which they bear, being, gene
rally, but without reason, considered as
the price paid for their undue weight in
thisLeglslaturc, this anomaly in legislation
is not likely to he Temedled until the Con
siltutlon shall be amended. Your Com
mittee cannot but deprecate the policy
which fomenis local jealousies by politi-
cal distinctions, which is unjust TO the
purses of One-half The State, because it is
unjust TO tie civil rights ofthe other, and
which manIlesty tends to divide this Com
monwealth, into two hostile and distinct
parties.
Your Committee cannot bat think that
there should be 10 further delay in giving
redress to the grievances which nave been
mentioned. The causes of complaint,