Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-27

tiles III Its provisions which can be corrected he had
0nered SO much OF his amendment as applies TO the
ulstrlputon OF the Delegates among the counties and
corporations to put the bill in its most perfect aud
deiensloie shape, to prevent other gentlemen from
condemning Its principles for small errors in It's de-
tails and thereby advance their propositions.
Inc OIL Will give the section OF country south of the
James River about its proper number OF DELEGATES
according to the last census and the country west Of
the Ridge viii have very nearly its proper number:
But the country from the Ridge down to tide.yaicr
north of Jane River, will lack three DcleGates
while the country from thence to the sea board will
have four too many By transferring three of the
Delegates from this last section OF COUNTRY to that
between Underwater and the Ridge and one to tie
west the three great natural divisions of the State
would be equally enough balanced in power accord
ing to their free white population: But such change
cannot be made without deprvng several counties of
their Delegates.-This is not necessary. Perfect
equality 1t is true cannot be attained by system of
county representation. but it be nearly attain
ed by such system, by Districts; and sufficiently
SO for all practical purposes.
by the amendment he had proposed twelve Dele
gates arc added TO the LAT, provided for in the bill
making in the whole number $50. These DeIerates
are distributed among the Districts, having by the
Dill the largest unrepresanted fractions, and are TO
DC elected by the counties having the largest frac-
lions, also unrepresented. Each District will have
number OF Delegates bearing to the whole number in
convention, the same proportion that the free white
population OF each District, bears to the free white
population of the whole State; and the electors of
OF its own Delegate Delegates, without regard to
residence except that 1t must be in the State. The
small counties will have one Delegate each, and the
larger counties more according to their population.
inns Will be fair compromise, although there seems
to be some inequality; yet while gives to the LARGE
counties equal power, 1t secures 70 the small ones
certain representation.
Mr. nj. said, his amendmeH. was proposed with
view to just and equal distribution of power in every
section of the State and of the additional dclenatcs
three to be elected by the pcope south Of James
River above tide water, and below: six west of the
Blue Ridge: three above tide water north of james
River, making the 12 aud one delegate to be trans
ferred from the country below tide, up towards the
ridge on the same side. BY this arrangement the
country west of the Blue Ridge will have it's proper
number of delegates according to the last census; with
small surplus of populations and the country east of
the Ridge will have its equal number of do. rates
but lacking small fraction of population The only
inequality of consequence in whole state will be
found In this district, (Richmond &C. and one adoin-
ing, (Hnnover &C. but as these districts have the
same common interest, and will act together 10 iniu
ry can result from the small inequality between them
1t Is true the whole country north of James River and
below the head of tide will have one delerae
TOO nany-ths results from the fact, that this dis
rlct has rsore small counties IN ii, than any other one
IN the state-but the lost fractions ofpopulaton which
makes the representative for this one delegate are
scattered over the whole state and no part can have
much ground ofcomplant,
Afr. III. said by his amendment tile cast will bave
% delegates and the west 81 making majority in
favor of the former of 25, being the same minority
there would be by the bill.
Mr. M said that by tbs amendment of the gentle
man from Orange. the east would have co 1slcUntes
and the west So, making the majority 81 in favour of
the east. He SAID that sore senatorial districts nv
the census Of $40 had doubled the free white popa
ton OF others: and that by that census accord
ing tothe senatorial district system there would no an
unrepresented population in the west of oar that
by adding to that number the increase in the west
exceeding that OF the lest .horc would be at least nm
unreprcsencd free white population of so ,750 while
the east you'd lack free white population according
to The ratio of representation of 28,272. By the en
tlomans amendment, if adopted the east will have
about 4 delegates too many. and the west about 4
too few, making difference in the majority of g.
while the east by the census of 1920 ia entitled m
majority OF about l6 Delegates in the whole number
of o. This majority would be much less ACCORDING
to present population; but that can oay be ascer-
toned by analogy 10 the increase between 1910 and
1920, the western members do not, (although they
might with great plausibility) claim it. They claim
what cannot be disputed in point of fact and What they
believe 10 he right and they unwilling to accent
ofany thing less. Hero Mr.. ~. made several ey
plantations from his table of calculations to shew the
inequalities Of Gen. Osdc's amendment.l
The gentleman has asked If western rcferrnorz ,v
pect to concede nothing: MIR. ". you'd answer
unhestatingy, that he would weld nothing; that his
sections Of the State must stand upon an equality with
other section OF the State In tho conventions moth
ing that he would do, should deprecia;e its RIGHTS
he had DO authority to couccdo am thinnVFIis
constituents asked nothing from any section of the
commonwealth, and nust be losers at least for the
present, under any arrangement that can be effected
Mr. VI. said, that several counties in his district
which had enjoyed more power than their population
entitled them 50, have forward With niaonani-
nifty and disncFestcdncss and declared their willing
ness TO yield up their undue power for the common
good of the whole community. If We ask YOU to !
yield mp any thing you Justly entitled to, shall
we not be told that We have no right to ask IT. Few
men are willing &c rc!nqaish power which they have
long enjoyed, bnt when the voice OF the community
has declared that change must be made all have
yielded to this expression Of the public will, and are
ready to unite in aordng facilities for The people to
meet in convention. In doing this, however, every
portion othc state seem sdcsiTous not only to retain
the influence 1t now possesses in the government |
buttosccure to itself all that nc obtained so
pease the pcopcin their present demand for change
it is by no means the object of every section to o
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