Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30

ne gentleman IRON NOriOlk has SAID
that the friends OF equal representation
have grouped the state into masses to
suit their own views. had the misfor-
tune, (sa;d MIR. Nd to hear but a small
part of the argument of my, friend from
Brooke, and TO lose the whole of that of
my friend from Berkeley, In consequence
OF temporary absence from NV seat
But the gentleman from Norfolk will have
too much candor, to complain ofthc com
parison which am about to make
Take, Tor example, the extensive valiies
between the Blue Ridge ami the Allegha-
ny Mountain, and compare them with
the country on tide water. The former,
with population of 1903 white ina-
bifan's, has, in the Senate, 4 representa-
ton OF two, and III this House q. % mem-
hers; while the country between the falls
OF our rivers and the sea board, with
white population of l22, 05s souls, sur
passing the former in numbers by but
1000 persons, has, in this House, q repre-
sentatioa of64, & in the Senate otl3 mem
bers. The proportion in this House, ex-
cecding two, and III the other, six 10 one.
This is not all exparte statement. have
not compared the little county OF War
wick with the populous county of Lon
dOun, nor the Senatorial district of Eliza
;,
tan.s, with that Of BotctOuri, Wythe, and
Monroe, containing 75, 369-but the low
lands boundedby the Ocean and the Bay.
and aved by tide water, with the great
valies of the Shenandoah and Potomac ri
yers. Suchis the result OF a reference to
the census of 1910.
But, (said MIR. Nd I hold in my hand
table, which had designed to offer TO
the House, which contains census OF
the population of the Commonwealth. for
the last seven and twenty wears. This
table evinces that this inequality, howe
yer great. III 1910, must have been since
augmented, and, deplorable as it is. is
vet Increasing Recurring to the first
five Iowand counties i'm this list, and
take them only brcause they are the first
in order, find that the first of them has
made, IN twenty Years, a very incOlsider-
able addition, both TO IFS black and white
population, while it is a melancholy fact,
that The residue have receded in the num-
Der of their freemen, as much as they
have advanced in the number of their
slaves the decleRsion of the one species
otpOpulatlon and the augmentation of
the other having proceeded, by regular
gradatons, through the returns Of 100.
1900 and 1910. Is this table correct. sir?
OF its truth Turn TO the east. and cast
your eve over the lowland country-Be-
hold those wasted and forsaken fields.
covered with broom-straw, and inter
sPersed here aud there, with cedar and
pine-nalIed hills iniersected with deep
gu'iieS-houseS tnmbling into ruins-lhe
temples of religion sinking with the hab-
tatlons ofman-no song of praise is heard
within them-tlie solitary bat nestles I'M
der their lofty ceilings-the holly grows
upon their wails-the &c fox looks out of
their" broken windows" Desolate and
forsahen is the land of cur forefathers
Where is the population of the lowlands?
Gone TO the mountains. Now, turn YOUR
view, (said Mr.. NJ TO the valley of which
have just spohen-The forest falls be-
meath the wood mans stroke-Cultiva-
ton spreads over the wales, and climbs
|. Tie mountains side, with sturdy and ac-
tive sinews. The white man does not
work by the side of the slave. This
country retains IFS own peOsle, and at
tracts to If, the robust and the sturdy
poor OF the adjacent states, VINO are not
ashamed TO IaDour, where 10 labor is the
lot Of all. Economy adds, every wear. a
new capital 20 It's past accumulation, and
industry advances with constantly acce-
lerated force. Here we find The very
bone, muscle and sinew of the State
crowded numbers equality of fortune,
and hardy habits. Sir, this disparity of
representation must increase under our
present Constitution, and we ought TO de
sire that it should
Shut the gentleman from Norfolk fri
nmphantly asks, whatpractical mischiefs
have resulted from these defects i'm the
theory ofour government. WouldI could
reply, there were none, sir. | will not.
(said Mr.. NJ recur to the views of this
subject, taken by the gentlemen from
Wythe and from Brooke, but call the at
iention ofthe House 10 facts which have
hitherto passed unregarded or unnoticed
in the present debate And first. sir
From whence arises the reference to what
is denomnaied the federal number of our
people, in the distribution of the TERRITORY
of the Commonwealth into congressional
districts ? When Virginia entered into
this Union, as an independent and sove-
reign State, she respected the co ordinate
dignity OF her sister States, and Welding
10 them, an MISREPRESENTATION with her.
sell, in the Senate of the u. S. shereceived.
in consideration thereof, an allowance of
representation, for three fifihs of her
slaves in the other branch Of the federal
gislature. The other siaye-holding
States ofthe south, possessed, as she was.
OF very extensive territory, and large
and incrcasingpopulation were animated
with a like spirit Of accommodation to-
wards the States of the north. Pennsvl-