Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-06-18
To be continued.
DO siESIIC.
FRoI TIE enquirer.

Remarks Of q Rcpu5iica:. Of '93, IL, answc, 10
~. Lejgh's Substitute; conc!micA.
2. The present inequality If representation in the
House of: Delegates, is ALSO in my opinion an evil
sufficient TO require the call of convention, for the
purpose of dcvising remedy. That such incquali-
ty exists, cannot be denied, aud is admitted on all
hands: hut Mr.. LEIGH insists, that no pracfical
inconvenience mischief arises from il -that al
though the Inhabitants of the small counties have in
many Instances, ten twenty times the political in
uencc possessed by the larger, this is no grievance
1t Is, aud must always be, difficult persuade by
dint Of ingenuity, men of that plain unsophistica
ted common sense, Which is possessed by the mss o
the people, that such is the fact. Then will obsti
natey entertain the opinion that unequal and I'M.
just laws must proceed from IN unequal aud unjust
system of representation 5 naturally as unplea-
SAINT waters must spring from an impure fountain
In like manner, in England, the crafty politicians oi
the Troy school, have long been cndcavorimg to de
monstratc by Ingenious arguments, that no actual
injury to any part of the community, results from
the great inequality of representation in parliament
but the rational friends of reform have never Dccn
and never be, convinced that they are wrong in
contending FOR it.
But, surely, IS great evil in itself that the svs-
TEN under wbich the laws are enacted is So coutr-
ved, rs necessarily to create discontcnts and pre,-
dices against them As long as that system CONT
nues the people, who feel that they have not their
due weight in the government, will be dissatisfied
why not then prevent these complaints, BIZ rcmnv-
ing tine cause OF dissatisfa cton ?IThaf mischief
ca" be produced, by cquaiizing the representation
as nearly as practicable Why not lay off the COM
mopwealth into districts of equal population for
'he election OF delegates upon the principle which
prevails IN electins members of Congress? great
advantage attending the representation by districts
instead OF counties, would be, that one of the most
important objections urged present, to the div-
Sion OF counties, (viz. the increase Of the number
rf Of
casioncdD would be done away. The inhabitants
of the large, thH,y settled counties in the western
country, would, of course, he speedily relieved in
great measure, from tho grievances they now labor
undcr:-thOse counties would be divided, and the
irpediments To- the increase of their poDHilliOH.
would no longer exist. 1t is highly probable, that.
II the inconvenience and dsfresscs nscparablcrom
the prescn mt arrangement, removed many useful
citizens of nofthctn states, would be induced 20 set
tie IN the conutIes of Virginia bayonl the noun
tains, (Wcre mt fer Sldres are found y 70 cultivate
those extensive regions, "a great part Of which snoy
wiiuefn'Ss;) and thereby TO augment the rcsour-
IS ana political weight Of the CONFERENCE.-The
= us scheme says MIR. LEIGH, would Involve that
z" hdrsncst OF all operations, the tearing away of
vc'tci rights long enjoyed, and cousi tered by the
people as tnair inpgescriptiblc birthrislt But
ior my part, cannot perceive that the rght Of the
fninptants Of the county Of iVarVick to an unfair
proportion OF the national sovcreianivtD cxcrc,sg in
&C. species OF LgraaaH (of all urj tat and une-
iia privileges are iyraun sl,) over the county of
boAd1"n' ought to DC rcga led rs rested rjgj,i TOO
sacred 10 be invaded or P1r of their bjrit-rieif