Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-03-23
CONVENTION,
Speech of Mr. J. c. C1BELL in The Senate, Oh
the motion 10 graduate the Representation IN
Contention, By Senatorial Districts


Convention. by Stnaioriai DISTRICTS.
Mr.. CABELL saia TIM 'hc rabeci had IN.
dergone an ample discussion, and he did n0t
suppose tina, II was IN his power TO influence tht
| dhcl.ioh ofihs Senate But he f4li il due 10
| himself aud 10 his constituents, TO explain the
grounds Of tie vote he was ab tat 10 give The
debut. had assumed n vide aud discmsiyo chm.
racter, and various questions seemed in its pro
grrss. to elicit sirong emotions aud 10 perpiex
the minds OF members. But IL required no M
usual discernment 10 percrive the master ques.
| ton, tina, was the real source oi difficulty aud
| Influenced every other question. II was not
the range of selection, important ms that otJsct
was 10 the character OF the Convention II was
uoi the extension of the right of suffrage, great
| as that subject was IN all its bearings, The
point oil cal embarrassment waa the nj lus
neni oil th. ,a,i6 OF representation IN Consbn.
,iini aud he effect of thai ratio, upon the IN.
,u,e,puhicaI power of the eastern and ~es,eso
see loi's Of the Conmonwenth.
The amendment proposed by the mcmber
from Chesterfield had for Us principal Object, 10
substitute IN the place OF The system Of gradn
ated county Representation pr opposed Ia the ORR
gal hi l. that 81 equal repre- .en'nion irom the
prelen, Senatorial districts Of the State. The
amendment TO thu amendment suggested by the
mtmber from HHrson1 WENT 10 graduate the
repre- senta,on from these districts. on the bssfs
of the white population OF the State, a. sliewn
by the federal crnsus oi 1890. The amendment
OF the member from Harrison, Mr., c thought,
after giving H. the SUBJECT much reflection,
oueh, not 10 prevail Whatever nny have been
his opposition ~ n Convention, nov & nj n ma
iu,ty OF his constituents, md INA iori,y OF the
De lule of the State called Tor the me,sure, he
had G afiie 10 the seat of government firmly de
n. tep linn
81 10 carry their wish, 3 INTO effect. He had
forcseen IN, conflict ol interests an the angry
Cc,Iues tlnt would are from the DISCUSSION of
the subject now under the consideration Of the
Senate aud N. had never known an occasion
on which Ihe,e was greater necessity fOr the es.
efcise OF y Spith oi mutual dcieiencr and con-
Crssion Prompted Ivy Tho spnit Of concla-
ton. he had uniil sc,y recently. ieit dgpo'ed Ia
way. all objection connected with the peculiar
situation of the east, aud 10 vote fof organizing
the Convention on the sole basis OF the white
population ofiht State Bot the question now ms
s,,,ne,i a ncwtspa1t. The single stand I'd ofthr
white nopu alton wa, nov brought To- ward a. UT
ed with Vehement zeal. as measure Wh ich The
w.st had a right 90 demand and the eat could
no, with iu>,ca refuse. Upon THIS ground. Mr.
c. As not prepared TO make the concession re.
ouirrd On the contrary, viewing he subjec
in tho light IN winch il prosrG'ed itself TO his
miod he was compelled TO say. that IL involved
n mol delicate question pn which he felt II his
duty 10 avoid II possible, any premature COM
mi,,ren,, aud TO leave Tor ndj nstnent IN u more
appropriate place, IN the Convention about TO
be formed where done lar was very suro that
his constituents wished aud expected Il to DO
brought into discussion.
In order 20 ascertain with precifon the bear-
ing Of the various schemes Of representation
Al. ii A. Al.
mendmenis under consideration il would he ex!
pedicni 10 FIX Upon common maximum to the
amount of representation IN Convention, aud To
re- fer all the plans 10 IT, as n standard 0i com.
paraon. The original bill proposed a Conyen.
ton of al meni,.rs. The amendment reduced
fhe number 10 90 And the amen lment 10 the
amendment called for body Of 100. For his
own part be preferred the smallest number
,ncnt,oned: fnd be would select that ms the
inca sure of comparison To ascertain the ap-
poriionmont Of Representation IN Convention
| Of 90 nnmbers based on white population, as
presented by the federal census OF 1870, Nj. &.
| said he had ayailed himself OF a calcn alton
made Nv n member of the other house Of As
/ sembl, who represented n county situated be-
! yond the Blue Ridge of mountains. The state.
m,ni atpeared TO he drawn ~ with great care,
and as lar as he could perceive, way entirely
! accurate Whatever objection might be made
| to his scheme, on the ground Of transfer by
Ieatslntion Of ffac ions from district 60 district
/ ia order % effect repre- eniation OF tile whole
people, il sc, med 10 do justice, upon The assun.
cd basig, to every portion OF tho State In like
manner. in order TO ascertain HE proper ap.
| portionment on u combined basis Of taxation
| and population he would refer 10 n statement
made Nv another member Of the House Of Dele
rates, representing coao'y on tie ehsiern ide
OF the Ridge.
WIN the aids referred to md thu materials on
the table aF the Senate, Mr.. &. ~ae enabled 10
state the ctfe cts OF the different plans Of repre-
scn,aton on the political situation oi tho eastern
and western parts Of the STATE.
In "A Convention of 80 members, the country
eas of the Blue Ridge would have a majority 1s
follows
On the scale OF graduated county rep
resenlaion q presented IA the bill from
the House OF Delegaift, 30
On the proportion G1ed IL tie amend
neut TO the amendment, of representa-.
ton by Senatorial districts, Oh tue bats
OF white population. lo
On the plan Of equal representation
from the Senatorial districts, as suggest
ed by the amendment oil the Senator
from Chesterfield, "a
On the scheme of equal coGuty repre-.
seutation. 80
| On the combined bnsis Of taEsiior and repre-
| sentation.
This table of results, shews conclusiyely tina,
| the Whole amount Of the difference, between
the two proposed plans Of representation by
| Senatorial districts. is only eisht members, iht
esgtern MAJORITY, being ii the one case. twenty
| four, in tie other sixteea SO far as numbers
entered into the question, an increase 80 dImln-
ution of eight members, constituted the Whole
ground OF sepai alton An eastern maj GRITTY es
s,ing in either case, the difference, Mr.. c. had
hoped would be surrendered by the western del
egation. If this should be insisted N, he would
respectfully ask the representatives of the west
whether they viii have yielded any thing TO ths