Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-03-28

A.. L
w.. J.. Bah.
According to this new arrangement of the
iirst Class, The lower country loses two
members IA the Senate cfisls, aud the coun-
Try west OF me Elue Ridge gains two. IT Is TO
nator Tor one District in lSlS, and for Sena'
tor Tor anOIler District in the Second Class in
1879. the Counties OF Monroe, Greeuhncr
and BotctoUtt vcied for Senator IN lSIG,
who Is now a memner Of tire Third Glass.
They will vote for another Senator III 1918 IN
the First Glass
CLASS No. II. CLASS No. IL.
l. ise-oi-Wight Sur L. Sussex, Surry,
ry and Prince GEORGE Southampton. lsle-of.
Represented by Il. L. Wight, Prince George
Henley. and (ireensville.
Charlotte, Halifax 2. Charlotte. Haitian
and Prince Edward; and Prince Edward.
represented by JOiu,
fill.
3. Gloucester Mat 3. SpottsyIvania. O.
tieWS and MiddlescX :; rance Louisa and Ma
represented by Rich Olson, permanently "
ard Jones. Cuipcpper for ISL on
ly.
4. SpOttSylvania, o. 4. Loudoun g. Fair
range, Culpeper 81 Ma fax, permanently and
Olson represented by Fauquier TOR 1919 only
John w. Green.
5. L0udcuu * Fan J. Frederick & JEFF
quicr /; represented by fcrSon.
Cuthbert Powell
6. Frederick, Berke- 6. Hampshire Berke-
ley, Jefferson, hamp ley and Hardy.
shire and Hardy: re-
presented by a. H.
Powell.
In the year 1919 the lower country loses one
Senator, to wit the old District OF Gloucester.
Matthews and Midjlesex, which votes in 1917
win the Eastern Shore; and the Country west
OF Tie Blue Ridge gains one in 1919. The COun-
ties OF Sussex and Southampton voted in 1916
for Senator of tile Third Class ; in ISty they
VIII vote tor Senatorfin the Second Class,
i their old Senator, HIr. CargilI. still continuing
hN taI. 70
Fairfax. Culpepper aud Fauouier Will vote for
Senator III 1919 in different hi stricts in 1870
theS viii again vote for a Senat or.
GLASS No. Ill CLASS No. III.
j. Dinwiddie, South !. Washington, Lee
ampton and Sussex Scott, Russell s. Ta1e-
represented by Mr. we'll.
Cargii.
2. BOtetourt, Wash 9 Wvthe, Montgo-
ngton, Montgomery, merry, GraySon& Giles.
Grayson, Wythe Scott
Lee, Eusseil, Ta2ewell
Giles, Monroe, Green
brier. Ka1awl,a, Mason
and Cabeii; represen-
ted byF. Preston
3. Hanover and Ca 3. King William, X
folIne represented BY s. lneen Essex Ca
a. toomes. rolne and Hanover.
a. Essex, hlng Will 4. Fauquier * Cul-
am ana hing q Queen pepper.
represented by Tho:
C.. Hoomes.
s. Fairfax * Prince S Kanawha, Mason,
William; represented Cabeil. Randolph, Har-
by John Love. rison, Lewis * Wood.
g. Monongaiia, Har 9. Ohio, TYLER.
rison, Randolph, Tyler, Brooke * Monongalia.
Lewis, Ohio, Wood &
Brooke represented
by ]. Davidson.
In the year 1920 the lower country loses two
Senators, and the western country gains two.
The result of the whole arrangement is, that
the lower country instead ofhaving fourteen
members as heretofore, will only have eight
tt...ef
tween the Falls of the River and the Blue
Ridge, instead ofhaving six AS heretofore, will
have seven members and the western country
Instead of having four as heretofore, will have
nine members.
This law, MIR. Editor, is a good one, If il is
constitutional. 1t seams to me, however, very
much like an alteration in the fundamental
principles ofthe gov erament. First; the Con
sututiondifected that the Counties shall be laid
off into twenty four Districts. Who was 10 lay
them OFF, Surely the Convention itself, and
not the Legislature. ] say the Legislature
could do il, because the laying off tie Dis
tricts was an indispensable prerequisite TO the
existence ofthe Legislature. The Convention
was Obliged to lay them off, 10 carry into effect
the Constitution itself, and to give birth TO the
Legislature. IT was then conventional act,
and being once done, that part Of the Constitu-
ton was executed. Secondly: The division of
the Senate into -Four Glasses, shews that the
Convention intended that when an allotment
once made il should be unatera5le by tie
Legislature. ltcoHld not be intended that
any District should he entitled TO two votes in
the Senate. Yetit is impossible so TO change
the Districts as 10 prevent some Districts from
having double representation in tie Senate
for some part of a Senatorial term. The pre-
sent Law proves ii Thirdly. The Senator who
is voted for must be resident within his Dis
trict. Let us suppose case: The comfy of
Eliza beth City for the year 1917 is attached to
the Norfolk District; but in the year 1918
that County is struck off from the Nor
folk District, and is TO make a part of
the HepricO District. Suppose Il resident
Of Elizabeth City County should in the year
1917 he elected for the Norfolk District would
Norfolk District in the three succeeding wears
when he is resident of another DistrietS..
Fourthly: The Senate is to consist of twenty
four members according TO the Constitution
hut according TO this law it may consist ofOnIy
twenty-five or twenfy-thrce members. For
example The present Senator from the Dis
trict ofGoochland, Louisa and TIenrico, has
right to serve until April, 1919. He IL "a resi-
dent OF Cnorhland County. by the new law,
Goochland forms part the Albemarle Dis
trict. Suppose he should think proper TO be-
come Candidate for his new District, and
that the people should think proper TO elect
him rs they have right TO do. Then that
gentleman would represent for the year 1877
one old District, and one new one and cOnse-
quenfly there wond he only twenty three Sc
majors. The present Senator from the Dis |
trict of Fairfax and Prince William, is resi-. |
cent of Prince William County, and his term |
Of service does not expire till April. 1920. 49,
Prince William is by the new law attached 10 |
the lower Counties of the Northern Neck md |
votes for another Senator this Spring. Ii is |
possible that the people of THAT new District |
may choose to elect that gentleman and ifso, |
then h5 would for the years ISiT 10 and 10 |
represent two Districts and, commemorative