Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-20

iupossiplity OF perlect eluaiity. Ia any stNem VI
representation that can be devised For this
purpose, will obliterate the partition Of the sta,e
into counties, and place the representation the
footing of numbers. lu January 1927, the state
is divided into districts, each having precisely the
same number of inhabitants: From the spirit Of e
migration; from the expressions OF the tariff
from disease, from the poverty of the land, and
other causes, know tina, The population OF some
districts would not Increase az rapidly as Others;
therefore, AT the end of the frs, year, the first
month, there might be more persons IL cne district
than in another. 10 preserve this System In It's
| umos, purify, the legislature must be kept per
reually in session, and in II there would
| be changes between the different readings oil bill
Il is presumed that only III every five or ten
years, that the districts would be reorganzed, and
of course, the inequalities would be continually in
crcasing 20 that, il would be utterly nugatory to
attempt that degree OF excellence 10 practice, of
| which the theory parakes. The only object OF
the principle is TO give The majority OF the people,
rig to rule the minority; and if the represen-
ta,ive basis which have indicated, guarantees
this right, i, does all that the principle requires
| I am apprised that hasty view of this sub
ject my projet only htown out to meet the effort
made by the gentleman, TO arouse vindictive pas
81 his aid, AID to shew, that Delegate may
| be elected in each county the basis OF nun-
bers, may induce the opinion, tina. the representa-
| ion would be essentially county representa-
! tion This conclusion, ! think, is rebn,ed by
| sye, l am persuaded ibs, the observations have
! Just made, in conjunction with the fact, thu,
! the small counties will then have minority OF
Delegates this faodr, must satisfy every gentle
man, that territorial representation will no longer
| exist; that the majority of this house, deriving
their power by the exercise of county rights, will
| then be in minority. do not believe that the
House vii! agree with the gentleman, although
| they may discern slight defects in its The
oreic application, (when they reflect on the
imrerfections of all human institutions, and that
man cannot s;,bsist in society without reciprocal
concession;) that under the exis ing state Of things
/ " have abandoned in practice, what have con-
| tended for in theory in the plan suggested. -
The assertion made by the member that " e
quail representation iDas false as theory" is
directly in conflict with every principle known
| or acknowledged in this country, and is
passed, by any thing have ever heard before.
did not imagine that any man would make such
| a decar alton; but not surprised at il when
1t Is remembered, that he followed it up by cha -
ging the friends OF the bill in your hands with
seeking some " political advantage do not
know with wha language TO meet this attack up
on the motives OF the conventioniss, unless say,
that IN the effort to vindica,e their natural and
unalienable rights from further violation, ,hey
were denounced by the same representative who
dared assert, that " equal representation cas
false as a theory"
| The same membe: says, " no matter irhere
UUScfeI a
Hfe." Ii 20, why does he advocate so strenuousl,
county representation? why does he so veheu. emit
| ~ repudiate the idea OF 0nldig amazing the re-
presentation Of Elizabeth city and Warrick?
Let the gentleman reconcile this palpable incon-
sisiency, above all fi be no matter where the De-
iesate comes from, lei the msjoriy of the people e.
J iect majority OF the members oil the ii. of ID , hen
our principle and his eapediency will meei hand
In hand But, sir, his Will not do for the gentle
man, although he says, no mailer tphere the
Delegate comes frOns.'' His ingenuity has been
employed in the difficult task OF enforcing upon
the members of this House, only the ex pedien-
cy. but the necessity of preserving county repre-
sentdfson as such; and IS he besl assurance that
| this geographical principle or power will be pre-
served. his amendments prescribe, that the Con
veniion " shall consist Of enc Delegate from
each county, yet, lie says that " all Wu
| OeGDected qdkc. This l take TO be one OF
Inc best arguments in support of equal representa-
talon However, as it is intended 10 bolster up
me present unequal and unjust system, ! will ,in-
oefiake 10 point out some cases, which will prove
That all are not effected alike. For instance in
pursuance OF your general system of education,
you could not erect and endow academies by a
vote OF this House the population of the small
coun'ies would mol support them, and the injustice
OF locating one in each county, would be too slar
ing TO be tolerated There are a. least 30 cou tiles
\'no'e IN which large majority of the people
reside) IN want CT aid from the state: but ina
"u'h as each cannot be served with an Academy
all the small counties oppose it, and none GET
Them. Your general laVs, from the more extend
ed surface and greater number of persons on which
'hey act IN The large counties, soon disclose their
eood or III effects; and it they should do harm rather
than the good conlen plated, there is not one case
In hlty IN which the law will be repealed, owing
10 tie tact, that II has had any effect ON the
people OF The small counties; and therefore they
are satisfied and VIII noi repeal IL. have known
an instance, In which amendment to a law
has been opposed in this Touse on no other ground
than that The existing law was necessary 10 the lit
lie coun lee.
Alter the declaration that it was of no conse-
qnence where The Delegate came from, all will
be affected alike" i did not expect the gentle-
man would attempt TO disprove the correctness of
his own principle; but, sir, he has done so. He
says, that r" county representation is recesSorU
J0r ioedl interests but moment before, and
- AT tcOuid be affected diike;" now partial egis-
aiion is necessary focal interests arc TO be presery
ed at the price OF the public veal. In eucidstion
oil the necessity Of county Representations the gen.
ueman says, that " the turnpike in Fauquer will
he supported by hose efested' agree will be
supported by those nteIe-tei; but, wherefore
because they want it? Yet, Warwick with
~ h OF the population, knowing nothing OF the
value OF this road, will vote against H. While up
on this subject of local interest let US SUPPOSE
that the larger part of the people have an interest
peculiar TO them BY all the laws which govern
Republican people, that interest ought to predom-
mate; and, sir, 1t the petty interests Of county
ought 10 be represented, the genieman's argument
u 1t prove any thing, proves that The Interests OF
the major part Of he community ought to lie re
presented. This interest is not represented as it
should be this foor and il has the same rlance
cf hpi oil flat.