Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-12-16
number of Delegates and Senators to the
four districts of the State, as follows:

Tide W ater, 81 B
! II also allows a reorganization of the
representation hereafter, upon the same
principles, and an increase Of members
not exceeding 100 Delegates and 40 Sen
alors.
The5th inst. was day of decision. The
aristocracy put forth its strength, and the
principle that the majority shall govern,
was laid PROSTATE. The Wing Of the 9Th
I gives the following detail of the proceed
ings Of that eventful day -
/ tn It's motion Of Mr.. Powell the convention
then resolved itself into Committee of the whole.
! Mr. P. P Barbour in the chair, and Mr.. Upshur's
amendment yesterday offered, being under con-
sideration Mr.. Gordon moved a further amend
/ ment, which in It's modified form, proposed 10
limit the number of Delegates to l27 aPpOrOned
thus-29to the Western dstrct-s4 TO the 2nd
or valley iisuict-40to the 3rd or middle district
and 81 e the 4th or tide water dlstrict-and the
/ Senate to32-I3 Of whom, 10 represent the West,
and the remaining 19 TO represent the East. Mr..
/ Morris addressed the Committee at considerable
! length in support Of Mr.. Gordon's proposition.
( Mr.. Stangd professed his readiness when looking
to principe alone TO support either proposition.
/ Mr.. Coolu spoke against the proposition OF Mr..
/ Gordon, aid expressed his preference OF that made
4 by Mr.. UEshur, Oh the ground that the former
eontainednO provision for the future apportiOn-
nent of representation, and as tending only to
excite andsetate the public mind hereafter. Mr.
! Gordon relied that be was willing to accede TO
any such revision, oft should be hereafter Of
fered--hisonly object was to settle the principle
now and b enter into the details al a future period
Mr.. Upshlr stated that the proposition in question
was merelr a substitute for what he offered, and
he would therefore, vote for it, especially as after
its 5passageit was in the power Of any gentleman
ID submit aprovison of the nature referred TO by
Mr.. Cooke Mr. Doddridge submitted PROPOSE
ton in substance as follows:
/ WAfter he next census to be taken under the
laws ofthe United States, and at least, in every
tan wears thereafter there shall be new appoint
ment of REPRESENTATION in both Houses of the
General Assembly on the following basis, viz: In
the House IF Delegates on the basis OF white
population and in the Senate on that OF the feder-
! al numbers--Such enumeratlons to be taken, under
the laws Of this State, or OF the United States
according to the discretion ofthe General Assem-
! bly-and whenever a new apporiionment Of re-
! presentation shall be made, there SHAH be new
assessment Of taxes on real property
! lie said he was opposed 70 the proposition Of
the gentleman from Albemarle, and stated he was
unwilling that the question should be taken with
out containing a scheme for the future reapporon-
ment Of represGntatlon--and that the decision Of
! il would enable him to determine whether he
woold contnno any longer as member OF the
body. Here pretty warm conversation took
place between Mr., Leigh, Mr.. Doddridge and Mr.
! Randolph. in which the two last named gentle
men declared their determination not TO yield one
steD more in the way Of concession. Mr.. Scott
and Mr.. Powell next addressed the committee
| They were followed by Mr.. Randolph and Mr.
Johnson, between whom some sharp shooting
] took place, Of rather an acrimonious character,
when Mr.. Madison arose, and pressed on the COM
mittee in the most parental and concIliatory man
ner the uecgssity of mutual ferbearance and COM
promise, by the practice Of which, be said, he
would not as vet despair of an anncable ADJUST
! ment of the existing difficulties.
/ The question was then taken on the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Doddridge, and negatived--
/ Ayes A, Noes AZ.
The question on the amendment proposed by
Mr. Upshur was then put and carried in the
affirmative.
Mr. Upshur then submitted the following
proposition as an amendment Of the resolution
which he proposed.
g Rssol5cd, That the Legislature shall have
power to re-arrange the representation in both
/ Houses of the General Assembly, once in every
! years, upon a fair average Of the following
ratios, viz. lst, Of white population %, Of the
! federal numbers
Mr Thompson then moved the following
amendmenttO the original proposition.
Resoloed, That in the year the Legisla-
ture shall provide by law for taking census OF
the population of the State and for a new assess
ment of It's lands and at the next succeeding ses-
siun after the census shall be taken, and the assess
ment made the Legislature shall by law submit 10
the qualified voters the decision Of the question OF
the basis Of representation IN both Houses Of the
Legislature if amajorty concur in favor Of any
particular basis the Legislature shall at their next
succeeding session apportion the l26 delegates
and 80 senators according TO such basis and shall
provide by law for all future appointments upon
such basis, and for all future assessments: but
should the majority fail 10 concur in any one basis
the Legislature shall adopt the compound basis Of
white population, taxation and federal numbers,
IN one only. or both branches Of the Legislature
as to them shall seem expedlent; and the law so
to be enacted for appoTtionmeut Of representation
and for future assessment, shall become, and for.
ever thereafter be part Of this Constitution.
The question on the amendmeet was then put
and carried In the negative-ayes "a, noes 50.
Mr.. Campbell moved another amendment, as
follows
Res0Loed, That when the amended Constitution
shall be submitted to the people, the following
question BY way of amendment shall be proposed
to the people for final settlement Of the principle
of the spportionment Of representation, viz-Shall
the basis Of representation in both branches Of the
Legislature be white population exclusively
This amendment was negatlyed.
Dir. Clayton proposed another amendment, as
follows:
Rssolosd, Thatthe Legislature shall in the wear
make provision tor the organization Of a
( Convention representing equally or nearly as may
be the qualified voters of the Commonwealth
who shall re-apportion the representation in both
Houses Of the General Assembly upon such basis
as they shall think best, and make provision f0l