Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-02-09
Total of whites AMI , s Of colored,
2@0,549

+ are 277,225
Total of whites and , 8 of colored, ESQ, SAG
| !! S"0,5i9 souls have Old delegates then Ell, 800
Ought 10 have G8 delegates. and fraction, nearly
less than AT present, aud $4,000 ought I, have ll5
ueiesates and tac,iun nearly IL than at pre-
| sent
Ii the white population alone is taken as the basis of
representation. then nj the follow ing results.
IL o03 32i souls have Ii ieleg ihen 23 238 ought
To nave w delegates and fraction, making gain OF
"earIy 10 delegates rnavOr Of the Aud $50, O86
ought TO have l "a and fraction, making loss of
nearly 10 delegates To The East. 1.s last ejaculation
IS founded upon abstract white population, and the
Idea OF taxation is rot included Taxation and repre-
scn.ation cannot be rightfuy scparated-the same
rule, III strict ise, sh"rll hc applied to both. If
our western brethren clam Iep escntaiion upon alb
slIac numbers, exclusive o! property
;sen they onl To contribute to the support of Gov
ennen according 10 the saiEe rule. When gentle
men club III, for FEAST each pays tgut part,
ana no enGnry Is made as 10 relative pecunat ability.
No gentleman woui, plead poverty in such case; he
womb he restrained by an honorable feeling Of Pride.
Let us TAX" The amount q revenue paid for the support
Of Government dining the current year, which is
S3ll Ai2. rejecting fractions.
Nnw il COS 32l whre souls pay 81 ~ .4fe. then ac-
corling L" i''s gen'rrf doctrine OF equality 253 2s3
ought :" pay Sii3 ,3'6, which sum is SOL 500
than the west ut present contributes and $50 O36
s!onld ccnlri;nc SlG9 2G, which sum is 81 500 less
than the Last pays Al present Are western friends
wiling 'o pay Tie Of a?l5OO for 10 additional
members III the ilouAe III Dclegato.e Taking the
Whale population tie basis of Representations and
ien TN slight gain which, is produced in of the
west, would he confined Valley of Virginia and
lie country lying vest o iie Allegheny Mountains
would greatly lose. do not sir, implicitly RELY upon
any one OF these caicna. roBs furnishing unexcep-
t'onahe basis of representation; hut have introduced
frhhneiic in orr to retue the arithmetic of others
%" the subject of the ratio of representation, beg
leave 10 refer gentlemen the 5ith Mo- OF the Fedc.
ralst written by Jane Madison.
strongly incline 10 the opinion, that the present
Constitution OF the General Assembly is most wisely
adapted TO full ard fair representation Of the opinions
o. the people, not only upon questions involving great
principles and OF general concern, but likewise upop
all matters OF mes ely local interest.
We are told however that the House OF Delegates is
i too nun.eroIs All representative assemblies OUGHT
iny and fairly To reflect the WISHES OF the people,
he more numerous therefore, the body
the greater the probability that il wli be faithful
exponent OF popular feeling; and there hui two
considerations which should limit its extent. The
hndl should not be large as TO be proi,ciye of
confusion and disorder in IFS PROC eedngs create
al expense onerous 10 the constituents, and transcend.
ing the reasonable bounds OF economy Sinai! m.
hIes may, by possibility, become subjected TO the
control and 'a1ss."nzt If designing political leaders
line House OF Delegates tesicd by these co.sidela
'''ns cannot be esice'ntd So large TO justify the
Ferse aid haIaId Of Calling a Conv cnton. Tie ar
rangenen OF the Executive las also witl scine been
deemed Objectionable
This is feature oil the Constitution " i,h which
would not willingly part. AT the time Of establishing
our Government there praiseworihy aversion
to accommodating power i'll The hands OF "A single in
dv'dual. The trainers Of our Constitution were &C
mated by an adherence oil the appearance Of
Monarchy, and BY ardent desire for new and
opposite form OF Government. The Romans in
moment Of righteous Indignation expelled the proud
TarGTin, and TO. k solemn oath against the name OF
hng. H. ~ ti'is hour Of viruous resentment at the
gross abuses of Royalty. they had sworn never 10
tolerate The fo OF Government instead Of ONLY
VowiaS their abhorrence Ut the Of the Ruler
hgh' 10 a'er times have served to rescue them from
Imperial Despo,ism. Thee are good and substantial
reasons IN favor oi al Executive Council but there
existed 10 other, | would preserve il as a perpetual
testimony OF oar 'nviDcbe hatred to every sembance
| of hiouaIC hicai system.
i Most OF the objections 10 the Constitution admit o.
a sound and rational defence. Many of the abuses
and nconveD'ences which subiec, Of complaint
are within The reach OF Legislative remedies.
| bnt, Sir we have DOT time 10 enter Bo detailed
ylndcation OF all The provisions of the Constitu ton
The mass of The People will scrutinize it With
hypercrcai nicely; they will not reduce il to the
standard OF arithmetic and legci they will decide It's
merits in the aggregate. We know that for fifty
years they have been free and happy Learning and
virtue have been generally iosered: Virginia has
acquired, under The present order OF things, moral
character and moral influence, the admiration Of our
conederai.' Republics, and the wonder Of the world
And what are the grievances for which redress s
so eagerly sought? They have totally escaped my
discernment That there general actual oppres
sion IS established BY The fact that the Cony eutioniss
do not their complaints and differ still more
IN their proposed remedies But if things are not
exactly we would have iheD--if indeed there are
few inequalities and few haidsI.ips. is il prudent IN
the attempt to obyiate these, leopard ali po-
cal blessings Is tie part wisdom 10 dash from
orr lips Tie whole cup of sweetness, because few
bitter Drops have been iDetminged. Not one has
any issuance OF obtaining the alterations which he
most desires, whilst ali incur the hazard oil losing those
| provisions which each most highly prizes.
Nh Speaker have cndcavors@ rom solemn coryic
inn OF duty 10 expose the objectionable principles
Sdn this bill. have r"d'ayo'cd to make it appear that
neither want OF validity in the Constitution, the peculiar
time Of ITS formation, which contains,
can Justify the Legislature IN ma king this effort secure
alteration. The of duty has operated upon MY
\ mind III proposing the awcndnent which have done.
And here enter protest against This doctrine that the
enemies of nil nave right assist in perfectng its de-
tails deny the right Conycnonist 10 exclusive Ie-
gsation on this subject. proclaim it be both illiber-
al and unjust TO view every proposition coming from the
friends Of the constitution with jealousy. The supporters
the form of Government interests md pri-