Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-25
valky.
Midland,

Easern, te IA ts
placing majority in the hands Of the country, east oil
the Blue Ridge, of 81, while the basis Of white popua-
ton denied TO that country majority larger than s.
Ii proposed Senate OF 81 members distributing 10 ives,
OF the Blue Ridge and 10 east of that range OF moun-
tains-while the present superintendent Of that body,
enarging to ~ members, gives representation equal
No IL aud 20 He said that contrasting this scheme with
the results oil white population in the House of Dele
gaes and the present condition of the Senate il sacr-
hoes IL Delegates in the West and yields addition
al Senator to that District Should the future Senate be
composed, with reference 10 Federal numbers the rela
tive apporonment of that body, he said would under
COMO sensible change, he had found upon computa-
ton that the West would be entitled 10 III So Senators
IN the present state Of the population Mr. s. proceed
ed to remark upon the effect of the proposed apporon-
ments, upon the District ofthc Allegheny mountains
That country he said, was divided into 26 counties,
now sending 52 Delegates to House composed of 2ll
members, equal to 81 i'm House composed of I2S mem.
bers, that now sent LIZ Senator'S nearly equal to g.
in Senate OF 33-and what were the induce ments he
asked Tor gentlemen representing that country, 10 re-
duce It's present inirencc, in the House OF Delegates
without any acquisition i'm the Senate; q sacrifice not
called Tor IN support of any principle connected with
representative government but the contrary avowed-
iy supported on the ground, that was founded on
no principle whatever, except the equitable notions
| oil ITS auho' IT. said he, the western delegation
can be justified, in accepting present apporton
so and UNJUST i'm relation to their constitute
tna' Justhca'ion must be found in the saluary opera
uons oil future rule OF superintendent. Tho gentle.
man from Abemarle, he said, hal given them none 10
appeal TO; that presented by the gentleman from
Northampton, mr. Upshur) as il stands now amen.
ded, by the Committee Of the whole was alone press.
ed upon the acceptance Of the West by either gentle
men.
He said It came to us recommended, by the votes
anu advice OF the most revered and respected mem
bers OF the house. Ii urged measure of con.
Citation and compromise, that called for equal
concession OF the different grounds sustained here that
Wills one side had commended for taxation and popula-
ton combined, federal numbers a. its equivalent,
the other had insisted white population alone as the
true basis OF government. That taking those two as
The extreme rules, their combination, and the average
OF both, ought to be occupied the middle ground
That here equal, and only equal sacrifices of opinion
were made the alt of concord So strong wa. thi,
appeal so ably was enforced by the highest reasoning
powers Of this country that he said he had been for
some time lin elaboration as to the vote which he
ought to give. An examination of the whole ground
aud comparison OF the elements Of the conces re
quired, had been necessary TO convince him Of the
unequal, and consequently unjust abandonment which
wa, asked at his hands.
| The principle affirmed side, was, that the
people were capable OF government, and GU ght to
participate equally in its formation and that majority
onghtto give the direction OF its action o. TN. other
side il was cOntended that portion of the people
ought 10 hold an increased Influence in the formation
ana direction OF government, either in proportion TO the
lakes paid by the different quarters Of the State or 10
the number Of slaves held in the different horizons of
the Commonwealth, by the application of which rule
minority OF the people from the advencious circmstan
ces OF wealth situation might, and probably would
have the government in their hands, and exercise il
independent OF, and uncontrouled by the majority-
| lie desired that tie proposed accommodation attained
ddle ground, aud insisted that it only Increased the
numbers oil the minority TO whom il proposed 10 con
hide the government and illustrated the eff ct of the
proposed compromise Of the question of future appor
tiormsnts by supposng 100000 free white citizens
TO reside ives: OF IN. Blue ridge, and 100000 east Of
that ridge. He said the slave population in the east
exceeded that ct the west 3i6772 and il three tenh
were introduced into the body polite il would give an
nsress- oil political units to the Of 40 Oo,whhe
aII nj Uh Inh f.vn
western men, as long as hrir relative state of the po
pulafion remained and this perncous element of wv
err continued. lsniluence would not he said be linn
eu 10 me conron oil the action Of the majority, when
that action might be at variance with the nere ats or
wishes OF the minority, but would pi ace the entire
aw-makins mower in the hands of the minority to be
exercised ind pend INT Of the majority, aud
by their unanimous wishes and entire inter e.ts
With this view of the subject he said he never could
consent to the proposed measure of compromise he
never could afrn principle that denied the people
OF virginia The capacity ef selfgovernment, and from
which resulted the republican rule, that the interests
oil Tciey could only be confiIed to a majority Of it,
MEMBER He thought that il was as fully obiectonal
TO give one part OF the state increased political power
over another, by reason Of its wealth. as il would be
TO give the inhabitants of the same county neua por-
tons OF political power in consequence OF the disparity
OF their fortunes. On turning his mind TO what would
be an equal concession by the rival parties he called
to his recollection what had been affirmed by dis,in.
gnshsd gentlemen in the past debate (Mr Giles and
Mr.. T. +. Barhour) by those gentlemen the right of
the majority, 10 give the direction Of the government
was dernded they then only contended, that the rights
OF the minority ought to he respected in all Just gov
vernmens, and that sufficient portion of political pow
er TO be exercised by the minority TO stay the action
oil the majority when not directed by the interest of
ala rule 50 just in itself salutary in practice
readily met with his assem-; he was esrous of carry.
ing into effect by restrictions the Legislative pow
ers OF the Government. He had supposed that res.
training clauses would amply protect property in all
It's various relations, az the freedom OF the free
dom OF the press; AMI the great shield OF civil liberty
the writ OF Hdbeds Corpus; but earnest, and so
pervading seemed the fears Of the E,stern gentlemen
That he had at length the conclusion Of giving
hem security on their own principles Of confronting
power by power. Upon this hyp thssi,, he had con-
sented to give in connection with the house of dele
gates flowing from white population senate basel on
Federal Numbers In doing 20, he had satisfi I'll him
self that the fears If the Ea.t whether real or irnag
nary, must be buried in branch OF the government
flowing in an eminent degree directly from themselves,
charged win their peculiar interests and safety, and
Immediately responsible 10 eastern constituents This
principle OF security and Of compromise had the further
Recommendation OF calling into existence the LegisIa
i've part oil the government from rival Gle nsnts
10 The people gave the popular branch; 10 the slave
holders II gave The supervising and confronting body
u equally denied the powers Of the government nun
beers alone to the wealth Of the country in the hands
Of its holders
To this principle Of compromise he yielded his full
assent, not because the safety Of any part Of the
try required ino because the just principles of repre-
sentative government demanded IL but the price OF
concord, harmony and the future transuilty of the
state.
Beyond this he could not go other further sacr-
hoes oil the just rights OF his constituents he could not
make III should be the pleasure Of gentlemen TO
force upon them the cruel and CALLING yoke with which
they were threatened. he took leave TO assure them
that the polls would show its indignant rejection.
The .,.t.l of Al.