Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-13


Some attention ought, therefore, 10 be paid 10 prop
crty, IN the chocn OF those lansis.s' 49, -
II had becn ny most unseigned wish, said Mr.. d. !
to avoid the discussion of questions here which more
properly bctoug to the approaching nventon. IL
was most ardently desired by me- that the ordinary
Legislature should not undertake To establish the ba
sis OF representation for the new government; and by
hasty and prejudcia decision attempt 10 impose a
rule OF action on those who my selected 20 frame
IT. But sir tho pertnacious and untirlug effort, which
has been used, from the the discuss
sion OF this subject in the other branch ofthe lcgsa
nrc up TO the present time, to enforce and maintain
the opinion, that white population the only true ba
Sis OF representation, has reduced to selection
between the acrnativ 3 ut silent acquieiccncc,
Instance by argument TO avoid the former mputa-
ton have ventured freely to express my dissent
Dsnclincd TO embark in this debate have neycrthc-
less deemed it my duty, not to permit the principles
OF my adversarirs to pass uncontrovcrted The views
which have presented in opposition to others not
pretended to be iniaibly correct, is 1t desired
that they should be acknowledged aud incorporated
In the bill to organize convention 1.-THE Senate is
awakened to the vital Importance of this subject, aud
convinced ofthc umpoicy of attempting to tramimel
the proceedings of the convention by previous legsa
tive divisions, my object is fully attained.
In accordance with this idea, shall give my vote
Tor so much of the amendment proposed by the gen.
teman from Orange (Mr. Dadc) as provides tor the
election OF an equal number of members from each
i senatorial district as established bv law This
plan, do sincerely believe, will bring together bo-
dy OF able and impartial who will fairly and hon
contested Opinions concerning the
ratio of representation, anu in their decision viii be
actuatcd by the patriotic desire of rendering equal
justice to every part of the community. This plan
receives my support also, because its adoption
b" construed into preference, by the legislature of
any proposed system OF representation The bill
LOT 13lG-l7 equalizing the senatorial districts am
aware has been confidently produced to prove that the
principle OF white population has been coded by the &C.
enora assembly lfthiS act could now be quoted fairly
to prove any thing it would prove directly the reverse
Think you sir, that this bill could ever have grown
into law, had 1t not, addition to the equalization
of the Senate, borue its face the conciliatinp fa
ture of equality of taXation' IL cannot be regarded
as settling conclusively any abstract principle. IL
was compromises boon granted TO quiet, for the
time, the wish for convention. The inequality in
Fl tho House of Delegates with all the other subjects
OF complaint was abandoned, and left uncorrectcd in
consider ton of this arrangement, equazing the rep
resentation in the Senate, and the land tax.
1t Is affirmed that the appointment OF representa-
ton according to white population las been
the great object of REFORM and that the vote of last
spring is Internationally decisive OF its adopton.-
In all innovations on established governments, differ
ences Of opinion will exist, to the point to which
they shall be carried to the objects be accom-
plished, and to the means to be employed, whilst
there may be perfect concurrence in the proprietv
Recommending reform. The general question of
Convention propounded 10 the voters last sprnr uni
ted all, who epertane the least objection to the ex
lstIDg constitution. Some were soicous for an al
teration III the arrangement OF the judciary;--some
we're for the abolition of the Council of State; many
REDUCTION IN tlc house DeIoIatSS, Whilst
their plans for eifectIng IL variunt;-cvery man.
who wished to alter eXpunge any one article OF
who desired the introduction of any provision
was induced 10 Join III the general call for Convention
Under these circumstances it b. Justly altered
that the maj ority have designated any one specific
object of reform, The aggregate vote OF last sprin
prescntsa compound mass of Jarring and conlictin1
opinions, aud method OF political ANALYSIS Lno,v1
20 this Legislature discover which conprizes
the greater number OF voters. The accomplish
OF such discovery IS practicable as would have
been the ascertanmcnt olthc principal ingredients in
Medeas kettle by the application OF chemical tests
All that ought to be inferred by this Generoi
Assembly is that majority of those who have voted
at all, have expressed the desire that Convention
should assemble for the purpose Of proposn amend
Tnents to the Constitution.
Reference has been made to the journal and pro
ccedngs oil the Staunon Convention in confirmation
OF the assertion that the equalization of representa-
ton, according the white population is object in
winch all the reiormers concur And is the General
Assembly of Virginia To receive the resolve of such
Convention proof of public opimOn?-The Staun-
ton Convention 1t is admitted, composed of men
of worth AMI talents from different portions of the
Commonwealth; but SIR, it is no better index of poou
lar feeling than was the Adams Convention which
formally assembled IN The metropolis dur1n the last
winter. This assembly consisted o. citizens combi-
ming great Responsibility and distinguished talents:
they protested 20 represent constituents in every sec
ton of the State; they left their homes at an ince-
ment season to support the OF civil liberty a.
ganst the spirit of military ACKNOWLEDGEMENT; and yet
after all ibis pa geanry the result ofthe last Dresiien
tal election disclosed the fact that he AntJuckson
Convention embodied the wishes Of a very small
minority i'll this Ancient Dominion. Neither the
compound vote of last spring, the journal of the
re!Urmers heretofore convened in the town of Stauu
ton, is sufficient TO establish the desired position As
little aid is to be acquired in It's support b. referring
TO the proceedings OF the General Assembly. Some. !
tune in January 1900, resolution submitted de-
carng it eXPedicnt 10 call Convention for the pur
pose Of equaizing representation upon the basis of
white population. THIS proposition was negatyed bv
the distinguished House Of delegates which had
but just adopted Madisons celebrated report. The
journal Of the day DOES not furnish the state of
the vote but have been informed think sir that
the majority was considerable. The same fate has |
uniformly attended the introduction Of this PROPOSE
ton, in one other branch ofthe Legislature Tho
advocates oConycniion have invariably failed in pr,
curing tic passage of bill specifying this or that
particular object Of rclOrIn. Every effort 1iscarred
until the scheme Of propoundfpg the question pcn-