Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-22

demonstrated: According to the Auditors estimate,
the whole white population, amounts u 6s2 26i-of
gentleman from Albsmsrle proposes On House Of l27
members. The number 10 which the West entitled
by their population Is thus proved:
Whole white population 6s22si-enti,lsd 10 men,
bers l2T
To what number the wesn
First, whole West. 2,26l, ,0l6nS9 1921, 1873
ss2, 2sl
or which 80 members, and In half the Valley and
trans Allegheny country entitled follows, viz
lt. Valley, $50. 26I:l27:l3s, l24l25H
West Of Allegheny, 6S2. 26ll27:lsl, 3s4i33T
So far have calculated by the estimate Of tho Au-
ditor. II population had not relatively changed tho
gentemans amendment Is not far from what IL right.
BY the Census Of 1920, we entitled to SO mem.
bers and fraction, and the East to 70 and fraction.
This would give the East majority to the East Of 20
members. but the gentleman from Albemarle turning
these fractions TO the best account, takes them all TO
the East and makes out OF them unit, and thus
gives the East majority OF twenty-one members.
Mr. President-When we stood on the whole basis
In this House 40 to Al members represented 402
thousand. and you $50 thousand white people. This
great majority was very encouraging. admit Il 10
now considerably le.sened having lest part Of the Al
besarle delegat The majority |, yet great enough
to be respected My friend from Albemare ovcrlooks
all changes Of population since 1920 because we have
no official tabulsrs Of il since henin doi,v this the
gentleman takes from the West q members TO which
they are now entitled, and adds that number to tho
East, which makes difference OF Is members. Then
taking to the East s rightfui majority Of membe,s
according TO present population, and making ju-
dicious application OF fractions, he adds more meme
bers and thus acquires his joriiy OF 81 members
The power thus to be conferred on the East by Ia
king from the West IL members, and adding them
to the East, is immense. Is irresistible. But then Il
Is not prosssedy taken slave other property re-
presentation, and therefore Il be voted for by those
whose conferences will not permit them to sustain =
property basis Of any kind On what basis then does
the gentleman from Abemarle rest his apportonmenil
Certainly not the present white basis which had
thought we both came hero to maintain. But IL /,
said TO be founded the white basis Of lS20 and that
we have no regular table Of population since. This,
MIR. President, might do il ignorant OF the
fact The gentleman takes power from us to give it
to the East This is Tot done on the mixed, federal,
or any other bases, of property whatever; but il is
done-It is power that is taken, and power after ALL
is poocr, and is the very thing demanded by the East.
by every basis they have proposed.
The gentleman from Chesterfield. and his friends,
admonshed us, very early in this debate that interest
Is tyrant passion not to be controlled n political trans
actions by all the restraints of power religion duty
or even of oaths and that indeed, there was no s-cu
riy against its influence but in the possession of pow
er to resist IT, Our present struggle has shewn that
there is TOO much truth in this lesson, at least where
perpetual power is the object in view.
knowing well the late increase of Western, over
Eastern population foresaw last winter the prepretv
Of of it to be laid before this Convention L
had the honor TO offer for il in the late House
Of Delegates That measure was supported by those,
who believe, represented majority Of the people
IL was rejected, but by whom, msjority,gh repre-
presented a minority, and who would not permit en-
ofcia, table 70 he laid before this body They had the
power 10 shut out this light, and they exercised IT, be-
cause they had IT, and because il suited their pnrpo
sos TO conceal the truth from our eyes The conso-
quence is that when complain OF the inequality of +
The proposed superintendent, must rely on the pre-.
e,t state Of population and the Auditors state emf
Of its probable condition. But although this Is RELYING
or an estimate. think will satisfy every man who
under Glands the run OF three, that this estimate NAV
be relied on as sufficiently accurate tor the present pur
pose. viii assume il as fact that those pa wing a ,
tax on land. property, bore about the same ratio
TO the whole white population in 1TsO; 1900. 1910 and
500 that they did in 1929 In each OF these years.
there was census OF population taken, and in each,
the Auditors Office will shew the numbers of persons
paying land tax, ard the number paying property
az. The property tax hook, ]. the safest document,
berausc those paying that tax residents What diff
hcu'y is there in ascertaning what ratio the numbers
OF those paying property tax in any county. bore to
the white population Of the county in 100, in
1900, 1910 an 1902 And as;he Auditor possesses the
tax books lar 1929 what danger is there OF falling into
any great error by assuming thst the taxpayers Of
1872 bear the same proportion TO the present white
population that they did, in the several years when,a
censns was taken! have tried this the tables of Sc
veraI counties, and there is difficulty in H. There
i'a diihcal'y not in arriving at a knowledge of the
Tact, Int in The proof When we assert that which,
every man may know to a reasonable certainty. IL he
will. we cannot matain ourasserton by record nrooc
trust have proved satisfactorily, that the plan. of
the gentleman from Ahema,e, Is to create an House
Of Deiegaes OF l27 members. and in which the East IL
TO have majority OF 81 being H. or at the yeryIea
thirteen more than The East entitled 10 by any fair
principle: An House Of Delegates in which the East
Is TO possess uncomfortable power in the first instance
10 such an House Of Delegates IL it, that the gentle
man from Frederick proposes give powor 10 appor
ton representation, after 1910 or lS4I without COM
pelng them TO observe any particular ratio principle,
or basis.
VIII such an House of Delegates part with their
power! Does my friend hope, much less believe I,--
before we ran believe these people will mpair their
own authority willingly, must absolutely forget,
wha' happened so shod time ago as Iast winter and
au mar we behold here every day. with our own eyes
lhi1 wosld be perpetuating power to he sure: but
men VIII he an unequal and oppressive power and il
wou' only differ in degree from that just view propo..
ca ny The gentleman from c. esterell whose nan If
power, present and future, has just been rriec,ed
me gertlemlu from Albemafle. proposes an HOUSE
on Delegates OF l27 members, SO Of whom are In b..
west Of The Blue Ridge, and Of these 49, nine
are to he West Of the hHeghany and 81 in The V,Iev
The gentleman from Chesterfield proro.ed IN. ,yboIs
numbrr OF the House Of Delegate. TO be I39-,hati.,
20 ahd 70 me number OF The gentleman from
" VI these he rinposed to give ~ the cour ~ Wat.
OF we A'rghanv y. making their nu,nbar 32-ejyng
10 the Valley nothing in addition. Now in bis ptoro,,
ed House OF Delegates OF I39 members the 32 he nm
poses ior The extreme West. bears the same resriye
proportion TO 1879, as the number 90 did 10 the obtr
whole number 1877 The difference then bs,ve.na
me two plans was precisely bi' The gentleman from
AIbemarle, would commence with SO West and IL 4,
Ea''; and the gentleman from Chesterfield with 56,
west and 81 Eas-gving TO the East al the commence
ment, majority of ~. instead Of 81.
But, the gentleman from Chesterfield allows 10 n,
counties TO he created in the West and on that account,
o additional membersto be granted to the West Even
This he refers to the discretion Of the powers that be
70 be exercised by majority Of the m mbers of each,
House.-By his scheme, this whole power might he
exhausted, by one legislative OF the FIRST Isyisa.
.Ie unher the new Constitution. Suppose, then, the