Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-17
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION

IN COMMITTEE IF the % hole, Jansia,u 10.
MR. RUTHERFORD saic, that previous TO the
commencement of the present debate he had laid
upon the table for consideration, an amendment TO
the hrst section OF tie bill, proposing representa-
uoh IN the convention upon The compound basis OF
| free white population and taxation. That amend.
inent having been In the possession OF the House
II was unnecessary TO alluic its details at thai
time AS il had been decided no, to be in order 70
submit any other amendment until he substitute
10 to, ri al bill sho ID be dis osed Of he wond
avail himself of III opinion just expressed by the
Char, 70 comment upo his contemplated amend
me Il BY way OF argument while stating his OBJ
lection both the bill and substllute under con-
81 eTat n. Dir. K. said, that the peculiar relation
IN which he stood towards those whom he had the
honor 10 represent required of him some explana.
on OF the motives which would induce him 10 Of
Ter his amendment, and OF the votes he should
give on the present occasion:- and he hoped tina
the Importance OF the subject, independent of his
own situation, would be deemed sufficient apollo
gy Tor The trespas might commit, upon the
CO Tte-y and indulgence OF the Coinmittee-He
hal reason to believe, that he differed in opinion
WIN majority OF his constituents, upon the sub.
yect under consideration. He had no; only been
IN favour oil Convention, but had uniformly adj
Vocated its organization upon the most liberal prin-
c'P!es lie had ever been of opinion, that an t.
quar- apportionment OF political power among the
Tree white population Of the Coinmonw cath, was
essential TO the constitution of a pure democracy
ANA accordingly, while member OF the tate
otaunton Convention, he had (as one OF the dele
gates OF the friends of rform) voted III favour of
an extension OF the right OF suffrage, and of an e.
quar- epPortonmcnt OF representation among tb
Tree chite inhabitants of the State. Such wer.
hl' opinions at that time; nor, had he as yet seen
any cause TO change them-On the coi.,Tary his
Observation, experience, and reflection, h ID tend
cd 10 confirm him in opinions early lmbibrd, IN
sanctioned by our Bill OF Rights. Under such cir
cumstances, he conceived it incumbent upon him
TO make some explanation of the course he was a.
bout to pursue lie had reason TO believe, that
although the friends and enemic> of . Convention
III this City were very nearly balanced, a majority
would be found hostile TO the organization of a
convention, upon the single basis of free white DO
Pu atom. Serious apprehensons were entertained
In ms secioh oil the country, tina any apporiion
ncnt OF rtprescnt ion upon such basis, would
Jeopdrdize the value of our slave property from its
iidDHlty 10 undue taxation, should the own, r.
lhefeol ever constitute minority OF the free
Whie population. II appeared TO be tn opinion of
many, that the basis of future representation in the
Legislature, would depend materially upon tIe
principle on which the Convention itself would be
organized IL was a question therefore of much
Importance, and upon which public sensbity was
much excited. The sum derived from taxation
upon slaves, constituting 50 large an ite in the
public reyenue;-the property itself being al all
times visible, tangible, and nient for taxation
MS owners appeared 70 be exceedingly sensitive al
the bare possibility Of the apprehended contingen-
constituents, whether we'll founded or not, would
dictate his course on the present occasion. For
his own part he entertained no such fears He
was unwilling TO believe, that any one portion of
tTginiaie ll disposed TO Cypress by taxaton or o
iherwise, any other portion OF the Commonwealth
lie had never discovered any such inclination
AS Frginian, proud Of the lofty character of bis
countrymen, he was at all times willing TO con.
hde IN their justice, their berality, and intep-
rity.
If, however, such disposition should unrortu
nately exist, he did not believe that any lust an
porhonment Of representation among the free
white population, would afford any reasonable
ground for the aPprehendsd evil. He had exam
ined the last census with much attention, 10 as
certain the proportions in which the slaves are dis
tributed throughout the different sections Of the
State, and the result OF his examination had salts
he'd him that so large a portion Of that po-
pulauon Is located in those sections Of the State
whose POLITICAL weight would be augmented by
apportioning representation upon the basis of white
population. as 10 afford no just grounds for sppre-
hension upon the subject. According 20 the last