The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-08-06

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men who are Inhabitants of tllher OF iie &c
large counties Yet, Mr.. Leigh says
+" There is a weight of aulhoHiy In ia .ar 81
I" the present constitution, which no mar
+" may lightly disregard There is Ger.
tainly a tceigM of authority exercised by d
minority of the people over a majority
undrr the s%anclion Of the present eonstitn.
ton, which 40 man who Is the friend o.
free government ought 10 disregard aud
If Mr.. Leigh can strw that there is either
equality, Justice, or good policy IN such a
state Of things, he will be under the neces.
sity Of f~ayoring the people of Virginia with
a Substitute, not only for the report of the
Richmond Cunmiitee, but for the exercise
of eommon sense.
Secondly That incalculiblc evils must
necessarily grow out Of the present system
of representation, the variety of country,
and the diversity Of character, adyeriedf6
by Mr.. Leigh, sufficiently demonstrate. II
the face Ofthe country were unifprm-if
the mountains of the ieest'-the 4" sands
and marshes Of the euSi," aud the fertile
wales Of the middle district, did not %consti-
TUE a variety Of character, and a vast di-
vereity Of interest, the representation Of
one section might with sound plausibilIty
be considered the representation of all,
aud the objections to the present inequality
would be- measurably removed. But 81
long rs the disposition and character OF
mau are formed aud diversified by the ope-
ration of physical and moral causes-so
long MS sclflove ~predominates in the hn-
man heart SO long will it he necessary
for the wedk To guard against the power
and influence %. 1.-THE strong, IN political at
fairs, in the social, as well as in the savage
state. The history OF our country, as well
as that of all other republics, incontestably
proves, that sectional prejudices ave easily
excited, nurtured and matured. These
feelings are not n%pfrtquently produced by
the extension ofsieglslative patronage 10
the most important systems Of intssoai i'm
prUyrnpm. The location OF a turnpike,
u canal, Il college, or the seat Of govern
ment, is at all times a fruitful subject of
party contention, and nnlrs. the power Of
representation be equally distributed among
the people, the views aud caprice5 Of a
particular section, viii be promoted, to the
exclusion of the general and lasting inter
e5ts Of the state. These considerations,
independent of a great variety of others,
which might be urged, did onI limits per.
~ w wv WV AIiiti
of bis country, that the present system of
representation is opposed to the public
wrai, dangerous in its tendency, and calls
imperiously for an immediate change. But
let us consider,
Thirdly. Whether n more equal system
of representation than the present he prac-
ticabIe ? 1t is readiIy admitted that 10 APP
portion representation according 10 popn-
lation under existing circumstances would
be the most difficult undertaking in the
whole plan of political reform. But surely
the advantages of republican institutions
have been vastly Overrattd, If, IN their
structure and organization, no system can
bo devised to secure IA more equal repre-
sentatiUn Than mt present exists in NiIgi-
MIA.
To a" the plan Of allowing Que rerresen-
+" tativc to the smallest county, and Il pro
" portionatt representation 10 ali the other
" couptics,' the objections urged in the
Substitute, independent Of a host Of others,
are unanswcrabIr. by this plan, the ratio
would be fixed at 1900, which would in
crease the number of delegates, according
to the present population 10 upwards Of
$50 n body too numerous for individual
or collective responsibility too unwleldy
for the purpose of wholesome legislation,
and too expensive to he SUI ported by a
free people.
But to the district system no serious
objections have been, or can be preferred.
In adopting II, there is not the smallest ne
ccssliy To infringe upon, or in any manner
10 change the established boundaries of any
of the %edSfcr1, t%CcStcrn, or midd1e counties.
Neither is II requisite that any parts of the
state should " endure the privation Of any
of their dear and vested rights" by car
ryinG the district system into operation,
several very grand and important . blects
would be attained The present unwic'dy
oumhcr of delegates would be diminished,
whilst their individual aud general respon-
sibility would he increased, the scale of re-.
presentation would be poised, a wider ex
tent given for the selection of the best Ia
lcuts, ana the whole business Of legislation
greatly facilitated. Take for example,
what Mr. Leigh calls "the golden number"
Let the state be laid of iuto one hundred
districts, III as equal a manner AS may be,
having regard To u proper medium between
population and territory, together with the
probable increase ct the tceSttrn population,
compared with the probable decreGSe of the
eastern and let one representative be chO-
sen from each district. This number would
unite convenience with dignity and rrspon-
sibllity, and secure the best talents of the
state. This would not interfere with the
limits of the counties, nOr destroy the con.
venItnt admInistrat alton of Justice and police.
The objection to the district system, on the
ground of its destroying that close and m
timate connexion which should always
subsist between the representative and his
constituents, is without force in its APP
pIication, or if it operates at all, it applies