Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-24

proAimsted more nearly than any CHER, 10 the
principles Of all these conflicting parties Mr.
Braxton, he aid, had declared that il he lost the
county plan. he would 20 for federal numbers hy
congressional districts. Now, Mr.. Gordon said,
ne would tell that gentleman ii he made the cal
cuia'ion' he wouh, find, that his particular sec
uon oil country would have eieren more members
III convention, than by tho basis OF federal mum.
bers, and HJtee'i more Than on the basis Of white
population. Ii the gentleman opposed his amend
ineni merely because IL did not exactly come up
10 his IDEAS then had we arrived at that state OF
things which required that the opinions of one, or
OF a ew individuals, shou'd govern all of Us. Ills
roposi,ion. he insisted, Was the olive branch OF
peace and good will. IL secured member to
each county, and 3S additional members to the
several counties according to their white popula-
non. INC experiences OF forty years Of free go
vernment, was equal 10 all the theories IN the
world and that experience ought TO have some
Influence with Us.
hIr. Christian Of C. City, opposed the amend.
inent because he thought il contained the very
principle against which the Eastern counties had
oeen con'ending; that the Rcprcscniicn should be
based upon white population alone. The scope
aEu onJec', the terms of the amendment asserted
this principle. He warned the members from the
west VINO had acted with ;ho,e from the East to
beware OF their fate. If they sustained this propo-
sHion. here would be another proposition made
III t.l5 one succeeded. Either the
county system on federal plumbers would succeed
in the end, and gentlemen must chuse between
them.
Mr.. Fiizhugh of Fsirfax, regretted that his
health had been such as to keep him from the
House for several days, and especially since he
understood that single vote Oh the day before
would have been material. He said he would
vote Tor the present proposition, because il was
based on the principle pointed out by the member
from c. City (Mr. Christian.) That basis of white
hp enfI tuao ff.n fr,t..
amendment ne said did, bring to all the rights
we ought to ask, to tie mand, and TO have; but it
brought us nearer than the county plan. OF the
propositions then Under considerations he ho;ip n.
me adVocates OF Tree white representation should
prefer this. The doctrine of the vested rights Of
the counties, re thought Mr.. Braxton would find
untenable. The Constitution had not declared
that the counties and boroughs should be equally
represented, for IL gave 20 the counties, two, and
the boroughs only member. Ii the princi,le
o. representation laid down in the Constitution be
binding, why did gentlemen in their county sys-
ten violate II so far as TO give full representation
10 the boroughs end only half tho Constitutional
representation to the counties. Upon their own
principles they were inconsistent. But the doc
rines OF representation 10 which gentlemen look.
ed, rs established by the constitution related 10
the representation in the legislature, and not in a
convention. What was there 10 prevent the le-
gislature IRON appointing certain number Of in
divdnais from the different parts of the State and
requiring them to frame a new Constitution.
10 be submitted 10 the ratification or rejection o,
the people: And If that Constitution was arprov
ed,wouid II not be VALID Mr. +. said he would not
support Mr.. Gordcn'S il he could get 4 propostion
nearer 10 his own principle The West he thought.
need not be aiarined Other'propositions would vet
be offered more acceptable than CongressinnaI
DISTRICTS II the West had been united there
would now be no difficulty, the true pr;ncinlo
would nave been settled some t1e'ago; the basis of
Senatorial districts would have been adopted.
Mr.. Watts called for the ayes and noes.
Mr. A'ien, oil Preston, said, that he did hone
Notwithstanding the aiIDoniiion Of the gentleman
from Charles City, (Alr Christian) that the advo.
Gates OF the proposition last submitted 10 the House
had no Interior views, brought out as stra,aeen.
by the combined friends of the congressjoraI and
senatorial district systems, to dis,ract those who
preferred the county plan to either, (not because
'hey mated II less, but the others morc) by holding
cut proposition, whch some OF them land he for
one) thought more just than the county system
10 be no sooner adopted, than to- give its place
10 one oil the district plans, by those who were
now It's supporters. III it were brought forward
IN good fdth and those were lis real friends ~ no
now voted for 1t, he was willing (as manifested by
ms vote oil yesterday TO join heartily with them
I'D It's supports but, ii Its object was only 10 conouer
the county plan, and then be shuffled ont nv lie
own supporters, 10 give success TO either of the
district plans, he would oppose it vehenently: for.
he ,hought no situation could justify a resort TO
such stratagem
he SAID l; was well known TO every member Of
the spirit of liberal compromise on every Other Ian
IMAM mat oi congressional districts, and on that
SUBJECT. he would be unyieldinc; vet much as he
deprecated II, he was strongly threatened with j.:
he would make choice oil either proposition now
ne'oFe me House, In order TO avoid il. But, the
disappointed friends &c the county measure saw i,
defeated, they will fall into the congressional dis
lrct ranks, and route the successful party, while
the friends oil the last proposition make the same
threat IN the event OF a defeat: Thus if we sh,p
Charyhtiis, we strike on Scyilla, and'in avoiding
uie latter, we strike on The former; and thus on
me ofdch rock, make shpwreck of every other
plan.
III we were now 70 adhere pertinacioIsly 10 the
county system, we could avert the calamity; but.
believing the latter proposition TO ne more lust we
are willing 10 yield the property TO the rightfu,
owner, from whom il has been long withheld
Which proves, when received, 10 be the word OF
death, with which the owner strikes offthc head
OF his restorer.
lie said, he should pursue the course which he
thought justice dictated, and then, if the sword
was drawn, he would smile at the ungratefui as
sassin.
Mr. Goode did not doubt but tina, every ren-
lenan had made up his mind on the ultimate vote
nc was to give. All, he presumed had their first
ana second choice among the propo i,ions 10 be
acted on; and nc did not presume, that any areu
neht would make the least change in the votes OF
members. lie could not help Offering his re-
spcctu thanks TO Mr. Gordon. for the iniluanc.
he had awarded to Meckepburg For MIR G
ne had the utmost respect, and felt proud ,lat ne
possessed the personal confidence and esteem Of
that gentleman. In the name then Of his county
ana oil himself, he thanked the gentleman for the
justice that had been done TO Mecklcnburr Hut
Notwithstanding all this, Mr. G. said he lei, tf,i
he was bouud To his friends, with whom he haI
n'herto oeen acting, to reject the proposition OF
Mr. Gordon lie would not characterize tba,
proposition by any harsh term, but he would say,