Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1828-12-29

L.. -. ''' "S"iiisihS Il Ccnvcntion. We arc
happy TO say that tic Indications in favor of its
Sno''h passage are more fat;ering than some days
Esso. f4 4aI- -
among ,hcvarous plans for organizing It, one recent
~ started, seems to be gaining ground on the others
aisto classify the Counties and Borouchs aecor,;,,,
tnes population, aud give TO each in the Conyen
non That relative representation to which it's pop,,la
'ion cniiticsit. Thus all counties under 5000
us may be agreed, shall be entitled TO one De,egata-
al between and 10000 to Gall between 10 and
$4,000 to S--all between Is and 20 900 to fall oycr
10000 TO s. ''' ~ -
mo argumensin favor of this plan are many In tho
hrst place 1t Is not obnoxious to the peculiar obcc
ions winch may be- and urged, against the three
other plans spggestedequal county representation,
senatorial and congressional districts Not to the
first ofthesc because although by it, every county is
Immediately represented, its representation bears
just, or nearly just proportion to its relative popua
ton 1t IS not obnoxious to the objection urged a.
gsist the senatorial district plans, that il renders it
necessary to go back to the census of 1870 for ou
dation; since when it is known, the population has
greatly incr eosed and varied in its relative senatorial
strength 1t is free from the odium attaching with
many TO the congressional district scheme by which
negroes would be represented in the Convention.
While If is exempt from al t!iese peculiar objections
10 the three schemes mentioned it seems to us to unite
in It's favor all the arguments which have been urpcd
in favor of each of them. We should imagine that
The little counties would favor it. as it secures 10 each
and al ofthem alocal representation in the Conven
ton If either the congressional or senatorial DIS
trct mode is adopted, the little counties could not
pect this advantage for their voices would be neccs
sary dfowned by the superior strength of their lar
ger neShbors. Equal county representation is so ub
surdy unequal, that even they unjust enough to
organize Convention on that plan, we have no idea
that the large counties of the State would consent 70
enforce the law Equal county representation 10
therefore mpracticable and this being set aside the
small counties would next prefer the plan which gives
even to Warwick one Delegate, and which stiIl pre
serves to many of them, unequal relative weinht
III the Convention. The large counties we should
suppose would embrace 1t, because gives them sub
s'antaly just and proper weight in the Convention
Which way socver this scheme is considered it
presents we think, advantages and fewer obiec
tons than any other. Those who contend for slave
representation cannot to it. because they obtain
oy IT. from the greater number of small counties in the
East representation for their slaves The concession
IS obtained without the necessity Of urging principle
odious to many of their fellow-citizen We have
heard but one objection to IT, and that so far from being
an objection IN our view, is decided recommenda
tion-we mean the great numbers which il will brine
into the convention, say 200. convention of 2oo w
not too numerous to represent so great people occu
pying SO immense extent of country, and with so
many distinct and conflicting interests For the bnsi
ness of ordinary legislation, assembly of 22o NAV
be inconvenently large; but convention is not an
ordinary legislature It's duties do not annually recur
but once completed, an end probably for pone
ratlons Where the purpose is the selection Of go-
vernment for the present and future generations eve
ry class, interest, all the feelings and even the
preudices Of the community ought to be represented
We would have farmers, mechanics and merchants
as well as lawyers and politicians members Of the con-
.veniion. It's numbers confined to less than hun
dred is proposed and the delegation would be mo-
nopolzed by few distinguished lawyers or politicians
rnen necessarily become arstocratc in some de0ree
from their elevated rank in society aid no onper feel
ing IN common with the great body of the people.
The back benches IN the convention ought to be filed
as well as those in front of the speakersome listeners
as well as some speakers ought to be terc-soine who
vote upon common sense principles and daily feeling
as well as theorists, and meaphysicans. soyes and
Bentham have oxcmplifed the folly of closet constitu
ton writing. FIVE have such men 70 bring forward
thcories,wc ought TO have plain representation to
Judge them by the touch stone Of common sense.
The New York American in noticing the subject
Of tho Virginia Convention, says.
One great object Of contention in that state is
TINT tho lower OF river countless where slaves arc
most numerous, arc represented in the State Leois
ature III The ratio Of federal nufnbers-that ig bv
counting throo-fflhs Of the slaves-in couseouenec
o. winch, the back countless where slaves arc com
paratyey few, and white fec,nen more hgn,oro,,,
nave smaller representation than these lower cour,.
ties" 00U''
bhlsis erroneous. The present system Of county
representation has no reference whatsoever to popu
lation, black OF white. II is governed by county
lines, Every county has the same representation in