Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-22
THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY ~, 1879.

YESTERDAY
brought to a close, and the question successfully
taken the various plans proposed for organizing
the convention.
By reference to the Legislative head, it will be seer
that Mr.. Ftzhugh's, Mr. Doddridge's, Mr. NELSON'S
Mr.. Rutherfoord's and Mr.. Znn's plan, was each
negatived by decisive majority.
BY tlrese successive votes propositions suggest
ing every variety reorganization il is evident that the
House of Delegates resolved to have equal coun-
~ representation, and nothing Csc The opponents
of convention, possessing from the superior number
of small counties, the strength the floor of the
House of Delegates, have determined that the con-
vention shall be so organized to in it, a
county majority, in contradistincon majority ofthe
people; and thus necessarily to defeat, that equalz-
ing of representation the desire of which has prin-
cipaly contributed to the call of convention And
the small counties have all along been opposed TO
any convention, reform the same organization
gives to them the absolute power of arresting, or
limiting it to such triing and immaterial subjects us
the counties and not the people prefer.
BY the vote Of yesterday, is apparent that that is
about to be realized, which we some time age pre-
dicted: namely, that the convention will be passed
by its enemies. and rejected by its friends for we take
it for 81 anted, that the real friends of the convention
win reject with Indignation, bill upon county repre-
sentaton, which keeping the word of promise to the
car, breaks it TO the hope.
The little interest that we havc--our associations
and relations. all in this quarter of the State and
we may at least be supposed disinterested when ns
citizens OF the commonwealth, we raise our voice
against the monstrous injustice of placing conven-
uon:W iiamsburg on an equal footing with Richmond
and Warwick with Loudoun, Frederick Shenandoah
Bedford and Pittsylvania. To give one man ON the
Chesapeake equal political power with t,oenty in a
less favored part of the commonwealth new spe-
cies OF Repubicansn unhcard of of Virginia and
neither better nor worse than putting Old Sarum on
an equality with Liverpool 1t is the rotten borough
system OF England, against which the friends of re-
form IN that country have struggled unremittnrly
with the arstocracy for the last hundred years with
this only difference, that system substitutes coun
Be- ties for boroughs.
Hthls oii shall finally pass, viii any then, have
the hardihood to deny that Virginia is ruled by an
aristocracy? Willany man have the hardihoood to
deny that the political power of the Commonv eath
Is III the hands of minority, who have substituted
majority of eouaies for majority of the people, and
that this power cannot be wrested from them but bv
force and revolution. What is an aristocracy but
the few governing the many? And can any man saw
that Virginia Is not now, and has not always been
governed by minority Of her people, residing in
majority of the counties.
How this result has been brought about we will
not now stop to enquire; but when the proper time ar
riyes, we shall freely declare to the people, our opin
ions Of the causes which have produced it. AS q
stedfast friend of convention, and one who cs-
pousng 1t at Its most desperate need have continued
faithful through good and evil report we may be per-
mted to express that the great ends ex-
pected from it, have been put in jeopardy by its ends
An important question remains VIII the people ac-
'scept convention upon the Indicated Will the
great majority who called it, permit unjust and nol-
cradle conditions to be dictated to them BY the mi
norlty who happen to have the power Of prescribing
eernR VIII Loudoun, Shenandoah, Frederick Cul-
pepper, Fauquier, Augusta, Pittsylvania 90 into con-
ventlon Of equal terms with Warwick and there have
form ofgovernmen dictated to them and after ares
BY those who have no legitimate power to do it7
These are great questions which the people will
answer. We 10 not doubt hoto they will be answer
ed.
Another generous but unsuccessful effort was ves-
terday made in behalf of the non-freehoIders L. if
not time for this despsed and degraded class. to be
looking to their rghts' Is it not enough that under
the existing Government, they have been disfranchi
sod; but must they on original question of govern
ment, in which their natural rights revert with full
force, be denied the great inaenabe and indefeas-
Die privilege Of Republican man. of participating in
he formation Of the government under which he and
his children arc to live,
Friends of convention! Non frccholdcrs! Call pri
Igary meetings Of the people, and guard vour rgbte
We are unable to-day, TO give the ayes and noes
on Messrs Rutherfoords and Znn's projets.
General ASSEMBLY.