Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-10
VIRGINIA COW ENTION.
SATURDAY, Dec. 5.


commute appointed TO obtain suitable acconnoda-
i,ons for the sitting OF the Convention The sub
apce OF their remarks and the measures adopted in
reference TO the report have already been published
On the motion of Mr.. POWELL, the Convention
solved itself mo Committee of the Whole, Mr.. p.
i. BARBOUR III the chair.
The proposition o! the gentleman from Northamp-
ton Mr.. Upshur) being before the Committee yes
tcrdny, az the hour OF adjournment, was taken up for
consideration.
MIR. GoRnoN moved an amendment ther,o: which
has becl published III the sketch given of the pro-
CeeGings.
Mr. PowErI. said if the proposition of the rente-
uar from Albemarle rejected, he should propose
On amendment, which he read and which went, in
substance TO give to the Senate, the power to amend
revenue bills: with Provso, that in case of dsa-
grecmcnt between the two Houses on such bill the
revenue enacted for the previous year. should con-
tiuuc.
Mr.. MoRRIs said he hoped the proposition of the
gentleman !rom Abemarle would prevail. All agreed
iha 1t was the inequality of representation which led
TO this Convention. This was the primary consider
alton flr which we were assembled and TO establish
rule to remedy the present, and guard against FL
ture inequality IN Representative. He was satisfied
that Us the Convention was now situated we could
not agree on any principle of satisfactory rc-appor
tionment OF representation. five cannot apply a re
medy To future times, we must to existing evils
Should we not cndeayor TO remove the evils which
grow out oiths inequality? He had been early taught
and he was still determined 20 follow the lesson that
when he not able do all possible GOOD he would
endeavor TO do what practicable The rule fo-
future apportonment OF repre- could not be
carried Ia this Committee by large majority. But
since hat cannot be effected, let us do ali the good in
orpower. and try to decide upon an cquItabc appor-
tonment ofrcpresentation Could not this be done b
askedwlthout resorting to gcneraitess Take the two
propositions which gentlemen on both sides have
submitted, and there Will not be found difference of
three members. Take the qualified voters on tho
one side, and the compound basis on the other. and
the result would not be difference Of Two Is it pos
slOle that we cannot see how great good w. have
thus achieved for the state without reference TO f
ture considerations But it has been said that tho
omsslof1 of such a rule of future aDportionrnent
would tend only TO invite another Convention
lie did not concur in this opinions the eynerionca
OF the people with respecl to the present Convention
would MAKE them cautious how they would assem-
to the call of another Convention. Il would no,
take place IN short time. But if be necessary 10
can another Convention let them settle the question
OF future apportionment of representation If the
proposition OF the gentleman from Albpnarlo pre
vail, we can agree upon rule of future apportion-
ment. lie promised for himself to agree TO any rule
whlch would appear satisfactory to him. relative to
future aPportlonment, and if no other nertleman
would propose such rule, he said he would
lie protested himself favorable to the federal nurn
Der Us the basis of representations as it had been
Ned upon by our toreiathers, the true medium be-
tween the ratios Of population and taxation and rs II
was adapted TO tranqu1c the country Rut y,o
were told that the adoption Of such n rule would in
lusc arisHcracy into the government of the country
lie appealed from the apprentices OF the law land
lie meant the term III dsrespcct) to the princles
aud virtues of these mon WHOM, he hoIn,o5
had fought for the freedom of their country lie
would ask whether gentlemen believed that such men
would sanction any proposition, the tendency ofwhch
was to produce aristocracyin its Constitution He /
never could be made 10 believe that thew were the .
friends of aristocracy lie did not mean TO maintain
the character of the gentleman from Loudoun of the
gentleman from Orange, or the gentleman from
Richmond, by arguing that they would not maintain
a proposition to introduce arstocracy into the Gov |
eminent. lie willing to agree 10 any rule of ap-
porionment. and 10 leave TO future times to adapt
IT, the circumstances Of the country may direct.
lie did not agree with gentlemen who stated that a
different organization of the Senate and OF the House
of Delegates, would produce security for us He be
leved it would afford no security that eifcctual
security, without which the southeast Of Virginia
would not be satisfied. He opposed TO such or
ganizaon because it would constantly excite divi-
sons in the State, and forever keep up conflicting
interests lie not willing organizing the gov
crnmcnt on one representation Of the East, and on
another Of the West, TO prevent the vessel of the
State from arriving at the harbour Of the public
good
lie knew there were many elementary wr-
tiers on the necessity Of checks and balances
In Government like that of Great Britain where
the source Of power not in the people, but in
Monarch claiming II by divine right and hereditary
descent, they might be necessary and were certainly
operative; but in Government like ours none of the
arguments IN their favour applied. The true check
This principle would be met by placing the power
OF Legislation in TWO different brancncs-without
making the two Houses antagonists. The Constitu-
ton provided Legislative, Executive and Judicial
Department, not that they might oppose each other,
but act IN harmony u not the duty OF the Ixc
cutiye 10 oppose The execution ofthe Legislative
will but 70 comply with it; was it tho province
Of The judiciary TO give an Interpretation 10 the laws
opposite 10 the purpose for which they were enacted,
but conioumabc 10 j. tn support O. tie general
views he had given, be referred o. tie authority Of
the late Mr.. Taylor Of Caroline. lie appealed also
to what Mr. Johnson had admitted on Tic subject
ofa want ofhormoniOIs action between tWo branches
Of the Legislature constituted in so different q man
ner as was proposed and his personal preference Of
Mr.. Upshurs plan O.. compromise 10 that u Mr..
Cooke. lie concluded b. expressing Ills determine
ton to vote Tor Mr.. Gordou's Amendment rcscr-
ving himself as to Us details. which Lr had no. CO.
ahmed
Mr.STArAEp cgprassodh.. yioy. o. tho pta,oeiiio,
with that just expressed and bis docinratlo to vote
for il. II corrcspondcd with proposition mention
ed By himself to The Committee three weeks since
lie did not moan ~ pledge himself 10 i the details
uio no horn q