Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-05
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VIRGINIA CS,NV E!STRON.
MONDAY, Nov. 50.

tTTO CIlUVc
so'ao of The diliici'irs which had hitherto met
evcry step His object was to have it referred and
PeAtcd He ben reed his pla. us follows
feeso!"ed, That the House of legntrs shall con.
s:si OF ono hundred and twenty meniLers. of whith
teTc shall b. chosen for the First District, Dis
trict west OF the Allegheny mountain, 90
For the Second pis'rc District OF the Valley, Z,
Dor tie Third District, District between the
Blue Ridge AMI the h I'D Of tdc-wa,er, 80
For the Fourth District, Dia,rict bc,wcccn the
heatf OF tld. wa O., and the ocean, 81
Resoired. That the Senate shall consist OF thirty
wembcrs, of which there shall be chosen for the
First District. aforesaid. I
EoF tbn Second District, aforesaid, G
For The Third District, aforesaid Q
For the Fourth DisriC- atoi esuid. q
Rcs'tued, That III, L g:.lature shall have power.
TO re arrange the representation in both Houses Of
the General Assembly, once in every years upon
inr average OF the following RAJ VIZ: list, OF
white population: Cd, OF white population AMI taxa
,ion conbncd Sd Of the Federal Numbers
Provided: that the number of the House of Dele
gates shall never exceed l60, nor the number ii the
Senate, 10.
In coming to the conclusions lie had thus present
cd he had looked back to the of argument,
indicating the views OF those parties, pressing
the compound basis of numbers and taxation, others
the simple white basis, and third the federal
beers. He thought MOI hing to be gained by ar
raging parties against each other; AMI nnless meet
on ground of compromise, she effect ofuur
will be tn disgust the peopls much pre-
&ent them from accepting the Constitution. He
thought ought to IN each other s. each cannot
obtain what he woudhe must eudcayor take the best
he obtain lie tc ok view of til, basis Oil winch
he had grounded his proposition Hc had carefully
nbstaneG from introducing unm!Xed taxation. He
had given the West the advantage Of the increLsa
Of the population, and the advantage OF that increase
III conneNlon with taxation. tic thought his scheme
cnncesed more than had vet been conceded He did
not know what plans other gentlemen may have in
contemplation. The number of white population is
increasing rapidly in the West aud we are also told
that slaves increasing there; consequently the
West will have taxable SUBJECTS, md his pro-
position would give to Inc West the power whenever
the taxable subjects should be- such us will warrant
1t. He did not know of any basis of power which
will immediately transfer the power to the Vest
Tine must be allowed for the transfer His scheme
contemplated such transfer, whenever the clements
of power shall be found in the West in sufficient
abundance to justify 1t. lie wished gentlemen
consider his plan to compare it with the tables, and
come to such conclusion will enable them TO ro
home and satisfy the people that each party has
coded just much as the other parties had conc ed
ed and not step beyond. He did not know who h
his plan may not transfer the power to the West
year; he did not know that it could in fifty
years. lie moved the reference o! his resolutions to
the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. LEIGH, in pursuance of notice he had given
n former day, presented plan on the principle of
compromise. He then read his plan as follows;
That representation in the House Of Delegates be
apportioned follows:
The tvventy-six counties living west Of the Ale
ghany shall have twenty SIX Delegates;
The fourteen Counties lying between the Allegheny
and Blue Ridge shall have tWenty-three Delegates
Tie twenty -nine cauntIes lying east of the Blue
Ridge and above tidc-water shall have forty two
Delegates;
And the thirty-six counties and four towns lying
on tidc-wate snail have thirty five Delegates.
No more new counties shall ever be formed of the
territory lying east of the Blue Ridge of mountains
but the Legislature may in its discretion, from time
10 time, majority of the whole number of both
Houses concurring. whensoever tue Increase OF the
population of the country west OF the Blue Ridge,
and the convenient administration OF justice
"
ceeding eight, out of the territory west OF the Blue
Ridge, and whenever any such new county shall be
formed an additional Delegate shall be allowed to
the country west of the Blue Ridge.
And the Legislature, having regard to the relative
state of the population of the respective counties
cities and towns and threeffihs Of both Houses al
ways concurTing, may, at any time, form two or
more contiguous counties into district for the
election OF one Delegate; and may allow one or
more additional Delegates to any county, city, town
or district, so that shall be allowed more
tiiuH four Delegates and may reduce the number OF
Delegates which may shall be allowed TO any
coutny, city town, to which more than ono Dele
gate may in the FIRST instance be allowed. so that
each be allowed at least ones Provided, that the
number OF the House of Delegates shall never exceed
one hundred and fifty.
lie moved the reference of the resolutions TO the
Committee of the Whole. He said his plan was to
decide accurately possible the difference be-
treen the results Of the white basis exclusively. and
of white population aud taxation He was willing
4, 90 thus far for the sake of peace.
The two propositions were ordered 70 be printed.
Mr.. COOKE said that at the request OF many gen
tlemen from the middle and western districts, and
actuatcd by feelings similar to those protested by
the gentlemen from Chesterfield and Northampton
(Nessrs Leigh and Upshur,) he begged leave To
submit to the convention series ofproposltions con-
tanning what he considered to be, emphatlcaiiy, o
compromise bnsis Of representation.
lie then read to the house as follows:
Resolved That IN the orion Of this committee the Iesisa
tive Department Of the Government Of this Commonwealth
should consist Of Senate containing hiry-sx ami sioos'
Of Delegates containing hundred and twenty members
That the principle Of representation 10 the House OF Dce
gates should be the equal nearly may be
Of the free white people every part of the Commonwealth
Fhat the principle Of representation III the Senate should h
tie equal representation nearly maybe of all free
taken ion with tnreehhs Of all other persons,
every part Of the CommoDwealh; other words the e1ua
representation throughout the Commonwealth, i'ni
iarlv called "Fcderal numbers 4"