Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-06-04


ion; an evil sufficient to require the call of q
Convention, for the purpose Of devising rem.
edy.-That such inequality exists, cannot be
denied, and is admitted on all hands: but Mr.
LEIGH insists, that no practical Inconvenience
or mischief arises from ii that, altho' the
Inhabitants of the small counties, have, in una
ny instances, ten or twenty times the political
influence, possessed by the larger, this is no
grievance lit is, aud must always be, diff
cult to persuade by dint of ingenuity, men uI
that plain, unsophstcated common sense
which is POSSESSED by the mass Of the people,
that such IS the fact. They will obstinat.ly
onterian the opinion that unequal and unjust
laws must proceed from an unequal and I'M
just system Misrepresentation as'naturally as
unpleasant waters must spring from an impure
fountain. In like manner, in England, the
crafty politicians of the Tory school, have hong
been endeavor,ng to demonstrate by ingenious
arguments, that no actual injury to any part
OF the community, results from the great iu-
equality of representation in Parliament, but
the rational friends of reform have never been,
aud never can be, convinced that they are
wrong in contending foI it.
Bnt. surely, II is great evil in itself, that
the system under which the laws are enacted.
is so contri'ed, as necessarily To create discon-
tents and prejudices. ssainsi them. As long
as that system continues, the people, who feel
that they have not their due weight 10 the
government, will be dissatisfied Why not
then prevent these complaints, by removing
the cause of dissatisfaction ?-WhGf niSchief
can be produced, by equalizing the representa-
ton as nearly as practicablc9 WHY NOT la,
OF the Commonwealth into districts of equal
population, for the election of delegates, upon
the principle which prevails in electing nnem-
bers OF Congress ? A great d,antage attend
ing the representation BY districts, instead of
counties, would be, that one of the most i'm
porlant objections, urged at present, to the
division Of counties, (,z the increase Of the
number Of members of the HOUSE of Dele
gates, thereby occasoned,) would be done u
way. Me inhabitants of the large thinly set
Tied counties 10 the western country, would,
OF course. be- speedily relieved, in great mea-
sure, from the grievances they now labor I'M
der Those counties would be divided, and
the impedimen;s to the increase Of their popu-
latson woud 40 longer exist. IL is highly
probable, that, If The inconyeniences and dis
iresses inscparab!e from the present arrange
inent. were removed, many useful citizens of
the northern states, would be induced To set
tie in the counties of Virginia beyond the
mountains, (tchere but Jtto siares are found :,
to cultivate those extensive regions, Ia great
part of which is now wilderness y aud there
by to augment The resources and political
weight of the the commonwealth. " This
scheme, says Mr.. Leigh, would nvolyr that
9 harshest OF all operations, the fearing away
"of vested tights long enjoyed, and considered
by HE people as their imprescrip,ibie birth
right But, for my part, cannot perceive
that the right of the inhabitants of the county
Of Waneick, 10 an unfair proportion of the
natural sovereignty, 10 exercise, in fact, "a spe-
Sies Of tyranny, (for all unjust aud lipeqna,
privileges are ,yranncai,) over the county of
2-oudoun, ought TO be regarded as a rested rrghi,
200 sacred To be invaded, or a part Of their
oirih-rieM. Are the ciizens Of the smaU cuuD-
ties, beings of a different nature, possessing, by
right diuine, or by prescription, superior rights
to those of the large?
Bat il is said, that, I" in the state represen-
ta.ion il is essential that there should be- n
close and Intimate connerioa between I'll.
representative and bis constituency; aud
therefore, that the existing principle of con-
gress'onat representation, cannot with prOprie
ty he applied to the representation Of the peo.
pie of Virginia in the state legislature The
farce ofthis argument, is not discerned for
assur"dly, the districts might be- SO laid of A.
10 render the representative of each Sufic;enili
acquainted with its iocalinteresls for all prac'
teal useful purposes That he could moi
personally know all his constituents, is readily
conceded but such personal knowledge j.
not desirable nor Is IL attainable, even under
the present system Of representation by couu.
ties without great sacrifice of time and trou.
bic by the delegate without his cultiyatng
on his part, cringing popularity hunting
temper, very unfavourable To- the correct and
impartial performance Of duty rs a legislator
Let il be- admitted that delegate represent.
ing county IS personally acquainted with /;
Or L.. r l..
delegate from district. The conseaurnc.
must h", bat his personal predictions MAJ
The more frequently bias his vote, To the pri
rdfe advantage Of Individuals. IN opposition te
the general interests of The community. /
ca"nof to denied, that large portion of tina
particular personal legislation, " bich is A dis
grace to our statute book, and which imnro
perry consumes much of the time of tb,
General Assembly, proceeds from the encour
ag"meni afforded. by this very crc umsiance
To persons applying for unjus exemption.
from the effect of general laws, or exhibiting
Unreasonable claims for indulgence, or for tn,
acquisition Of pirate emolument, to the injury
of the public treasury.
With respect TO the principle Of regardine
me federal number, in establishing the rati,
OF representation it ought to be remember
ed, that no0, COMPATIBILITY noU is the time
when, most probably, thai principle would b,
the rule by which the convention would be
governed ; for, if convention should AZ hi
time be- called, the SLAVE holding part Of til,
state, would have decided preponderanc,
IN that body
The number sf members in the House n
Delegates, might conveniently be reduced. A.,
least one hdy; by which operation the *
PenSt of every session wsnld he diminished i
fkdt proportion, eren jrthe length oftime shout
be The same as heretofore. This srraugemp n
might also be- made IN manner better adapi