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

votes and certify them: IL it matter of doubt,
tha, these duties can be better performed 10y the
officers of the commonwealth, than by those ap-
pointed by public meetings? is il doubted that
there will be more harmony, more system, and
more certainly. in the conduct and issue of these
deliber atoms, under officers already acquainted
with their duties, than under the guidance OF
those, appointed by tumultuous assemblies! And
if ocer- be selected at these meetings, those per-
scus W i'll be chosen. who are Psriizsn advocates
of The PRINCIPLES and policy of the majority. Then,
sir there is the additional motive for the inserpo-
sition of the Leg satute; the officers of the state,
will be free from the impulse given TO the pas
sions of those who have been elected by the pee
pie, and will have hanging over their heads. the
penalti es you denounce against them il they do
not perform their duty. These penalties canno,
be inflicted in these meetings; the officers will
know 1t, and. ii they choose, may Withhold or
destroy the only evidence of the will of the peo-
pie. To owe the probability of these occur
rences, they have sent their petitions here, and
not has just been said, to procure the question
to be submitted TO them.
The same member, Mr.. Upsbur,) further
says, that "the Convention should consist of
one delegaIe from each county" That this
rule would tubvert every just principle oil
representation, am persuaded no man deny.
Surely, If the six hundred nha btauts OF Warwick
were present in a great elementary Convention OF
the people, no will have the bo,dness To
say, that their weight should be equal to that OF
sixteen thousand from Shenandoah. / mus, as
sumo, that they would claim only influence,
prCportoned TO their relative numbers: this ratio
exists Ill state OF nature, and cannot lie disturb
c,l, but by consent conquest The inhabitants of
Warwick, will not presume, attempt TO trace their
| right 10 thirty times the power OF the same num-
Der OF persons coming from other parts of the
state, to either of these sources
| The same ratio which would exist, in pure
Convention of the people, between the citizens
OF this county and those from any o'her county,
or he VIII lie tody, should be pursued in fixing
representation here. Does the gentleman saw
or can he say, il should not be? If this doctrine
o the equality OF all persons in Convention, be
orthodox in this county; let Us unite to destroy
that species oil representation in this House, which
was founded in accident, which contrayenes
this principle, and is perpeiua,ed by MAORI
| ~ OF the members of this body, representing
minority of the people of this State But,
Sir, holder doctrine than this las been LAID
| down by The same member He openly ayow,
that equal representation is false as q Me1rv"
What, Is II wrong for the born and resi- ling in
Que part OF the commonwealth possessing the
| same interests, equal intelligence, and the. same
| patriotic feeling with hin, v hose birth place or
| residence u IN another part of the state? Is il
wrong ask, Tor this citizen, exercise the same
degree OF agency in the manage of the affairs
oil Government, that he does, no is his next door
neighbour, or who may reside hundred miles
Oil! Sir,t great principles Of liberty proclaimed
to the world, by our august fathers Of the Revo-
| luton; the principles which every patriot this day
acknow Lodges and will defend to the last moment
OF his existence; the principles p.omulged in the
Bil! ct Rights, are true or false. If they he
true, you mast consign The doctrine Just adyarccd
along with the amendments, TO Tie peculiar keen.
| ing of their adv oca,es.
When !, yes erday, delivered my sentiments in
Pposri"n TO the views OF my end from Amelia,
(Mr. stated. that felt an assur ance that there
was no occasion for alarm on the SUBJECT of wlst
mas befn termed, county representation; that the
prhciFie OF Tepr. CITATION upon the basi- of popu
ia'ion, might be reserved, and yet almost all The
counties, II noi every one, would have repre-
sentative The basis stated wes this. lie, every
county, having population of thousand, be
entitled, tor such nurabcr, to one Delegate; and
every county, having en- excess of thousand
ever the thousand, should be entitled o one
| addi'' ona Dei"sA'o to every excess OF thou.
sand 10 this plan for the apportionmeni of ,en,e-
sep'aion, submitted with 10 other Object than to
shew, thdt both friends and foes Of county reore
| sentaiion might be accommodated by the call Of
nEeaton, The gentleman A!r. II. has objected
that II would make The House o. Deleg ties az NUM-.
fcus a the House OF Commons. This objection car
not be made TO il is not 10 be pre.umpd ,b,,
the number OF the House OF Delegates would not
he limited This principle W ouli operate asin the
fiouse OF Representatives; some times the basis
would consI OF one humber, and some.ime- of
another; 10 be regulated by the census and accor
o!lS 10 me necessities Of particular districts of he
state. 10 suppose, that there would not be a liz.
imitation OF the number of the House of Delegates
would tie, to suppose an overnight III the Conyen
uon, bich we have right 10 presume The
same gentleman has also said, that in this plan
baye abandoned in practice, what have conien, led
Tor IN theorJ-that the principle of county repre-
seniation is Conceded by Inc. Let me examine
the correctness OF The conclusion which the yen-
tlemsn has come TO- beg leave TO remark here
that n" principle whliever, lie carried into
complete effect perfection canhO be- attained either
in the application or in It's practical operation.
The diversified wants, interests, localities and
avoca'ioDs OF man, forbid The idea 1t Is impossi
bic! But, sir, this is not good reason why we
should not approach 1t az nearly as o e can Ietl
Us see now, wbeth'r the practical effects of this
plan OF representation, will co flict with y la,
have said was the true theory Let US see, whe-
thef y nave abandoned In practice, what have
commended Tor in theory! Suppo.e each county in
the state TO have a population Of not less than
one thousand souls, and that this number shall
eniitle each 10 send one representative; there
VIII then be one hundred and FIVE members Suc
pose, again, ih the number OF inhabitants adonted
as the next representative basis be ten ihop.and
and that there are forty of the largest coun;ie-
having population, each OF eleven thousand.
every county IN the slate has repr esentatjyr for
5 thousand, which, in that respect. ,Iaces
each on the same footing: bur. forty of these coun
ties have eleven thousand inhabitants. and will
therefore, be entitled, each 10 one additional Dele
gate; which will give m ,joriiy Of the peopIs.
majority OF forty Delegates in this House =
wen, what would the true principle accomplish
il applied in its extended meaning5 Nofbinc
more than 10 place the government in the hand.
Of the majority. Does not the plan have sub
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