The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1828-12-22
THE VIafGINIAN.
LYNCHBURG. DEC. 22. 1928.
GOVERNMENTAL

In the din of the Presidential contest, this VI
tally important question had been almost entire.
ly overlooked. II may have happened, that. re. |
posing u generous reliance on The Justice and
honor Of the memhrrs OF the Legislature, from
An,i-Convsnton districts OF the country, who
had seen by what triumphant majority of free
holders the call for amendment 10 ,he const-
tuition was made, the friends OF the measure
deemed no preparatory steps necessary TO Sc
cure concert Of action among Themselves, or 10
ponen's. II was believed that there would he
some difficulty in fixing the basis of representa-
tion in the Convention. Int il was hoped that a
sense of what was due to the voice of The people
10 Justice, and to themselves, would have indu-
ced the members of the Legislature. to appor
lion it with an eve 10 population and taxation.
We begin to fear that all these powerful induce
ments will be disregsIded. and that avery eiTurl
which ingenious cunning can devise, vii bs re
sorted 10, 10 defeat the princlpal object of the
friends Of reform. Differing, as they do, upon
almost every other proposed alteration IN the
ooustitu ion. they oil agree in ttis--,hsi thu in
equality OF representation in he House of Dele
gates is an evil which must be correct.d.--And
how is il TO he done, il tho same rule is adhered
10 in choosing delegates TO the Convention
which governs Our elections for members of the
House of Delegates We had much better have
no Conv enton than to have one SO constituted.
II would be the means Of stnppng every effort at
reform for year, TO comc--lt would hold the
word OF pronise TO the ear but break II to the
bope"-We should HAYES Convention, it is true,
but from such a Convention, whit could we
expect Could We hope thai it would re-
| commend the amalgamation of some half
dozen of the half unpeopled counties IN
the Eastern section of the State. to equalize
their influence la the administration Of the gov
eminent No. They have got the power and
when was there ever known Al instance of its
voluntary surrender, by any body of msn : II,
indeed this power had been juiieiously eIeros.
ed-if the State Rad 1ourished under their rule
-ifinternal improvements had been carried on
! with energy-if primary educat ion hal been
promotea-and If Other great interests ofthp Com
| manwealih which look for their impulse and
their fostering aid 10 Legislative care, had pros
pered, We might have been conien. TO have
borne The grievance. We should not, possibly,
have auarreed Tor an abstract right, the loss
OF which had been productive of no incsnys.
nience. But whsh, as Is the case, we see every
thing going to wreck lmportant works stop
ned when hslf-comple,ed--tn funds appro
pra;ed TO PRIMARY schools, squandered or peck
eed BY Irresponsible commissloaerS-and our
population decreasing every day, naderth OPP
Grafton of system Of ,nisrule. II IS time thai
some effort should be made. not ony tn recover
the ground we have lost, but to march onward
in the path pointed out to Us oy the example OF
our sister states.
We csnnot assent to the position assumed by
a writer in the i,1quirer, that the General AZ
ssmblv has no right to leg islate upon tins SUD
iect." When the people expressed the" opn'o"
NJ the polls il was done with direct intention 10
give to the Legislature such information OF 'hs
safe ofpartirs as would enable them to act.
Such was the objrc, ofthe law which authorized
the sense of the people TO be ,aken-and 1t was
the understanding, and therefore the assent, OF
every man, at the time of voting, that the Le-
eislature, at its present session, shoald pro.
coed to adopt measures for its organization
II was. at the same time, presumed that
these measures would be based upon just
and equitable prncipes--and. that, conse.
quently, no man would hav. the hardwood
20 contend that the small counties, which nun.
voice in that body with hose counties which
contain from $40 TO 1900 freehoders Nor
was it believed that an effort would be made to
do that by chicanery aud cunning which no
man had the eflrontery to propose to do openly
and fairly-lor, if the representation shall be
regulated by Conversational districts. It will be
no less unjust and unequal than if 1t we're by
counties, the Congressional districts being SO ar
rang ed that the 1nii- Convention counties would
inevitably have a majority in the Convention
Believing that the measure, under such an or
ganzaion would be futile and unprodachse OF
any coed consequences-iha' itwouid he an ea-
pense to the State for emphaticaly .1ih!ng-
and that the crying evil OF unequal Representa-
lion being left untouched, as i, would he, the
peopIe would be still dissatisfied, and would
soon call for another Convention, VIC should nn-
hesttslimsly, five had a voice OH the passage OF
A bill which did not took immediately 10 the !
oorrection of this ey il, give it decided negative
The lrends Of the measure must not pernt
TO be out-gcneraed by their oppo-
nep,s. II the enemies Of the bill encdmber At
with such provisions AS Will be calculated TO de
fept ON, of ts leading objects. those who are in
IL yor of reform should vote II dG"n anu their ,
s,,,.,tion tIp;r c,i,sp