Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-19
VOL. XVI. NO. rs.

vious, though subordinate interest not leaving
the paramount interests Of society unguarded-tbat I'm
surfendoring the power to the minority we arc not
abandoning tho principle, that the will of the people Is
sovereign, and acknowledging that the question OF self
COVE rnncnt must be decided against fb, liberties of
mankind.
With these views of the rights of the majority. and
OF the test OF expectancy to which every measure OF
reform must he subjected, let proceed TO the oucs
ton before the committee. The people who odopte,,
the present Constitution, with declaration ON its face
OF their right to refors it, having lived under it for
more than fifty years, have thought it required aera
ton and have deputed enquire and report 10 them
what amendments, il any, ought to be made The Sc
ect Commute have reported resolution, declaring
ha in the apporonment Of representation i'm the House
OF Delegates, regard should be had the white popu
tation exclusively" The gentleman from Cupeper
has proposed so to amend this resolution TO place the
basis o representation, the white population sim
ply but on the white population aud taxation combn-
cdahd the question is upon the adoption of the pro
posed amendment. Ia considering this question, we
must not be deceived by tire literal import of the two
propositions, and beg permission to explain my under
| standing of each.
When tire resolution of the Select Committee recrs ,s
to the white population serclt,sipeIu" do not undar.
stand THAI in tho practical application of this rule there
Is to be rigid adherence to- its terms..I do no, nm
uer,and that TIVE Commonwealth is to be laid off into
election DISTRICTS containing precise EQUALITY of vb;,c
inhabitants, and entitled equal number of deIo
gates understand this word ''erctusipelv" in that
sense, which would refer us to the white population in
exclusion of the black population; exclusion of nro
perry and taNes-no in exclusion of all regard TO conn
y mitso all regard TO the interests the convenience
ancient naoits ana customs OF tho oh;oct
in applying the rule, would be TO Law off the STATE ;n
given number of districts, composed of contguo,s
counties, having interests nearly identical as noSshI
-osve 10 each oil these districts number ofdelegatcs
in proportion to its white population and TO- distribute h,,
delegates, in each district among the several counties
therein, so as TO give to each county i'm the d;strc,
at least one member, if the number of members
were equal to the number of the counties To il.
lustrate:-Suppose the State divided into four dis
ricts by the lines of the Allegheny the Blue Ridge and
the mead oil tide water,-and suppose the House of
na rom Inf
| ty members. Then upon the basis of the white nor-
uation' according to The auditors estimate of its pre-
sent numbers the trans. Allegheny district, would be
entitled TO about 80 memberships Valley district 10
1.-THE middle district 10 35-and the eastern IN 90
The ~ trans Allegheny members would be distributed
among ITS ~ counties SO as to give each; and
assign tine surplus six 10 the six larger counties In
like manner the 24Valley members would be dstri-
buted among its IL countless and the 50 members for
me midland district among its 20 counties. The 29
members for the eastern district would not suppIv ono
to each Of its thirtysx counties and four and
therefore in that district county or borouoh wou
nave more Than one and some OF the smaller CO untie
must form together election districts for single mem
bers.-By such an arrangement as this tboupb zach
county would not have its exact propor,ion in tho
rssenta'on each large district woud-and Ia order 10
give TO each local interest In the commonwealth lis
just weight in the Legislature you have only To- take
care, that in iiying out your large districts YOU en-
brace IN mem respectively only those counties whose
iateress are essentially the same. This being done
the spirit ola just equality would be observed whilst
the regard had to county limits would soften the as
Ps'"es oi 'ne reform, and be attended with MANY
Advantages which it would be out of place here TO re-
count.
Again, the resolution OF the committee, in referring
90 me wh.e population exclusively, literally imports
mat the whole numher OF white persons In the
districts shall give the ratio of i
was Intended to be the practical operation of the rnIe
Du' 'hiss na' IN The spirit OF the doctrine for which
we contend we dot not insist that each white per.
son. male and female infant and adult, whether ent
ued to the right Of suffrage or is entitled to equal
REPRESENTATIONS No:-our doctrine is. that each person
n nHrau 81 u
sovereignty !. entitled 10 equal political mower AMI
therefore TO equal representations We esnousa ,he
principle OF the resolution offered by the gentleman from
Norfolk Ont Taylm,) though we do not adopt lie ma
hematical precision We have advocated the b,sis If
white population instead Of qua fled voters, because
me former gives more certain and convenient rule
and because was believed, that il was substantial
ly equivalent in effect. But examination and reosc
zion lead me to believe that there NAV be- and nossi
oy u.s. mate,a' difference, in the effect Of the two
rues,-that The number of white persons in the df
erent districts would not be fair index Of the num-
Der OF quahhed voers,-aDd that the basis of onaI6
ed voters would ne more favorable 70 the eastern
part OF the State, than the basis of white nonni,tn
IF there he any gentleman on tbi. or The our
side OF the House. who prefers as the basis of renre
sen'aoh, 'ne quained voters, rather than the white
populate on who thinks that the superior Justice Of he
former. couneryails the greater convenience and cor
tainty OF the latter, am prepared to 90 with him
sno eve my support. will not press The principle
Tor which contend beyond its reason and Justice r.,
advocating them the basis OF white population must
be understood as maintaining the right OF the ouaed
voters 70 snare equally the power OF the sn
and as pressing Their claims. TO a precise natbe
NAUTICAL equality, bat to rational practical eou,l;,y
assuring to every local interest as can be- he d1e
weight and just protection.
| The proposition TO amend which Offers tho ba.;s 30
population and tsxaton combined not very de6niIe
in its terms. bu, ne explained by its mover s ver, ;
teihgIb'e IL does not propose TO compound The mum
Der oi dollars paid Tor taxes IN each district with The
number OF white persons therein and thence derive H.
RUE Tor appor'onmen proposes compound the
ratios OF taxation and number ibu,--to give ono b,Ir
the delegates, according to the ratio of taxes paid and
the other half according to the ratio OF white
or thus take Tor each district the proportional be-
tween the number II wonh he entitled 10 according n,
The ratio oi white pcrsons, and the number Il ,yould
he entitled to according 10 the ratio ofaSes paid To
luslrate,-Ihs trans Allegheny dsirict, would be en-
t;led--on the basis Of white population to Son the
basis Of taxes to lion the compound basis 10 2I %
The Valley, on white population 24-tsxes--IO--com.
pound basis I'll e Middle district, white popuIa-
ton 35-taxes 9S-compound ~. Eastern district ON
white population 29-iages 4l-compound 3d.
The proposition to amend s liable 10 other ohiertion
for want of precision but cSndouT REQUIRES ne n, co.,
pose, that they will be obviated, when the pronosdr
cared out into s details, and therefore they need nor
be now pointed out.
With these explanation, the question beforo ~
Committee may he thus sated:Shall the power Of tbe
government be appOrioned among lite dis,ric,. aeoJ
ing 10 the simple ratio OF those who par,ake If The o
eregDty the qualified voters, liz each;--or sbaIIitb be
spFOroned according TO the combined ratio of white
persons and taxes!
Those who advocate the simple ratio endeavour To-
nsntan upon principle, to deduce II from the fun
ddne"Iai doctrines Of government and TO vim
Gieete u upon considerations Of sound political exped
eueY.