Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-12-11
THE ADVOCATE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, FRIDAY DecEMpER II. 1870
THE CONVENTION

''i's harrasins question, which has 8, lo,r y.
'uP'ed the deliberations of the Convention IN,
which, imposing f'r talent aud venerable e,
wisdom as that body is, has elected s,,n. hs,
among It's members, and agita,ed in no inconsid
e'ao'e degree the whole community, is at lena,i
settled IN committee of the whole. Tn, r.,,I,,
''on on which the basis is fiDay se,tlcd w,o ;,
tr"duced by GEN GORDON. as subs,,,,o r.. A..
cPS"'r scheme, was carried by majority o
''N' ana " us follows" Resolved that the rc,rc
Sc"'at'"n OF the Senate and House of the Deli,
gates OF Virginia, shall be opportioned a. IN,
lows: ''
i"ere snail he thirteen Senators West Of th,
Blue Ridge of mountains.
Ihere shall be in the House of Dcl.g,,os To-
members, Of whon 81 shall be elected fio,, ,h.
o's'r'ct West of the Allegheny Mountain: o
r''" .he valley between the Allegheny and IN,
Duo Ridge As from the Blue Ridge to the bc,,
1t Tide water and "a thence below"
TO tins resolution the following amcndme n,
IN" pt"Viso' on motion Of Mr.. Upshur, were nm
pended aud enter into and make a mart of Oh
Sche'nc on which the basis of representation i.
l" be founded, thus making provision far Iu;,
ing the numbers of which the general AssembI
s"'' consist; and t'r adapting the basis to tn,
var ing population of the Commonwealth.
Resolved that the Legislature shall b,vo nam,
or TO rc-nrrange the representation in bo,,,
houses OF the general Assembly oncc in every
years. upon faiT average of the following "a.
los VIZ LIST OF white population; Cd. off.dsr,i
numbers-Provided that the number of rho
House of Delegates shall never exceed mar
the number of the Senate
This vcxed and vcxiny question is thus sc,tl.d
on middle gronnd, to attain which b,,b M r,;.-
nave yielded something and have advanced to
meet each other from these extreme positions
which, it both were to pcrsevere obstina,eIv in
maintaining, it is obvious that no,hino y,niJ,.
accomplished. The concession is. in all fair.
ness, due from each TO the other tina, both ware
e'iua"y CONSCIENTIOUS in asserting the principles
on which their espective schemes were fund
I'd; auo me call oil either upon the either 10 sur
render his entire ground, and tn take his stand
upon the position of his antagonist, was i'm the
last degree unreasonable. While the contest
therefore was between the two extremes, it was
to be expected tina: they would be maintained
i've advocates could command. They have been
so maintained. The hall of the House of Dele.
gates has been, for upwards Of nine weeks, an
arena for the combats of giants. While it is
an omeh of the best auguiy to the final adjust.
ment on grounds which tho people will be dis.
posed to adopt, of the various and important
questions which are still in reserve for the wiz
dom p,o1 Sc o., A,
.h's the n.ost important and interesting of all
mas aroused to little irritation and elected SO
little heat; there is no Virginian to whatsys,
party IN this contest he may belong, Tros Ty
Tiusue, who will not be proud Of the talent which
the occasion has called forth.
The Convention has been in session UPWARDS
oil nine weeks, and have, yet done little else
than debate the various propositions that have
been presented on the basis Of representation
IN the Judiciary department tn have decided
VI committee of tho whole, that the court O,
Appeals and the county courts shall be recoo.
n'zed as constitutional tribunals. In tho Ersc
"'ive department, that the Executive council
W It's present organization shall be abolished
ana the Governor elected by int vote Of boil
Houses and a proposition for a popular election
OF Tie sheriHs has been rejected 10 the Legis
auVe department, that all elections by the 10
g'siature shall be ripa roee, and the basis o.
representation has been a, length adjusted -
ms bow of Ulysesses a, length strung, W,
trust Sat TIE steps &C the Convention will b,
more rapid ovr tho ground tina, yol lies befor,
'''em' and that they will present To the adoplio,
81 the people constitution in which though n
one peIbiP' may see embodied every thing h
"'ght desire To see, yet enough of what is yaIu
sole * precious will be contained to ensure 70
caption by largs majority So mote il be. 70
ourselves the basis # representation being a,
r'nged AL Is, we think IL scarcely pnssibIs ,,a
any ~ the principles that yet remain 20 be al
l"'lsS ca" be 80 modified IS To induce US to ,,
Get g.