Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-12

thority of Congress aid the several States la the
struction of works Of Internal Improvement. State
fund.- for roads and canals been already created and
was in successful operation. How, then, can be
didy maintained that tho efforts steadily prosecuted
to amend tho Constitution of Virginia. by Convention
| sprung from those impctmens which this Common
wealth has since thrown in the path of Internal Inn
provemcnt, whether by Withholding from that object
her own resources, restraining the application Of those
Of the Union!
IL. would. said Mr.. NJ. proce-i one step farther:
and To retu'e this charge. very briefly state few o.
the reasons which prompted the iruitless effort OBJ
tain a Convention in 1915, and which have, since
been pore successfully urged. Among the most prom
resentaton, which has given riss to this debate, aud
which shocks every feeling of political Justice, that
no argum mt has yet been heard in its vintcaton
Another grievance, then. asso pressing the public
consideration. tie overgrown aud disproporonats
numbers OF the House OF ID ,legates.
When our forcathers penned the present Constu-
lion, there were about lao members in that House,
aud they chose twenty-four suitable proportion
Tor the number of the Senate: toiy designed only
to revise the acts OF the popular branch of the Lg.a
tnre, but to constitute check the possible amb-
ton of its leaders. But while the Senate, by the
s,i,u,iona mi,aon OF its numbers, has been saioni
ry, the House Of Delegates has been extended, from
time to ,ims, by the multiplication of countless 2I4
More than seventy -mbers have been thus added TO
the numbers of the Legislature, during a period in
which the territory of the Commonwealth has been
greatly reduced For, from the county Of Illinois,
wres,ed tFo G-sa Britain in 1870, by the forces CT
the Commonwealth under the command of the gallant
Clrk'. and coded in 1854, to the u States, no less
than three States to the east and TO the west OF the
Mississippi. have arisen. The county OF Youghioga.
nia, represented this floor supplies less
han eight counties To Western Pennsylvania, TX
lucky ha' been erected into separate State; and along
our southern border. North Carolina has slip of eur
former territory. be ginning at a point the Atlantic,
and gradually widening towards the Cumberland noun
tain.
While a reduction Of the sphere Of egi.la,ion recon-
included correspondent limitation OF the numbers OF
the legislative body, the progressive augmentation oil
its annual expenditure merited regard. In 1910. 'hs
entire cost Of this Department OF the Government al
exceed dollars "A Ell liz
edup to more than twice that sum-.
To restore the original proportion between the two
branches Of the General Assembly, and to prevent a
still farther augmentation OF the number of he House
OF Delegates MEASURE required by no state necessity
and forbid by ,us regard 10 economy, always H.
the scope OF that constitutional reform contemplated by
the friends Of a Convention.
, The abolition al the Council Of Sta'e another OF
their objects. Economy condemned this worse thai,
useless appeniage TO the Executive which, in destroy
ing is unity, impaired both its vgor ami responsibility
feeble chief magistrate i. the tool OF This Council
while to an able aud unprincpled Governor they
bu, cloak.
The friend. Of Convention with but few if any ex.
ccpon< had another and more aggravated cause COM
paint IL there ,nen''er of this body, who thinks
that the right OF suffrage now rests proper basis
Who would not i;disposei to restrict its exercise
freehold Ialiica alton, substitute for quantity, vau
atom o the land required To confer a vote Should ,
freshoier be allowed TO exercise the right efsuH
fifty OF land situated upon the summit Of bar
: rem mountain, whsre the would not build he
nest while this ,igh is withheld from the proprietor @
farm Of ~ acres in some friie valley, which will
2 NJ
lars? la Of the most hourisling townships OF Con
necticui, territory OF more than twenty ~ iare-mie
Il there /. not harm exceeding twenty five acres in Iii
meusiGns tie minimum estate which the present Con
, sIimiion annexes to the right Of suffrage, without
gard TO lis value.
Are ia N, Mr.. Chairman, with iht Sc apologies 70
a Convention, 10 he regarded coming here in IT,
>, pro ccuon Of schemes of narrow AL sordd spccus
i TOM My not pronounce surh chargeto he la
offspring ." prejudice anu say hS' II Is repealed ny III
history Of The proceedings which have led 10 this Co.
!, ventiun?
There is yet another Of analogous birth which renal
}, TO BE- related before proceed with my enquiry into III
&c expediency OF the prop cd Amendment oil the gentle
of man from CuIpeper
II has more tan insinuated that by the trans
y fer OF political power from the Etscrn We.terr
~ portion OF the Commonwealth the friends Of Conven
d ton design Il shIk; the ac,n lancy Of certain p,!ica
docrines, supposed to he essential h the rights of hi
as Commorw dlh, as member of the Union.
j! Ibis transfer ia required by Political Justice. how
: poor compliment does This nsnua ion pay The RICH:
&c which II thus seck- To defcnI
=. But Of the members of the Virgin, deieg CATION il
Congress residing to the Yves, cf HE Blue Ridge, hoy
is few arc there who differ from maj,y oil The peop
< OF The State, in constituting the constitution of tbs
States, to say nothing OF The gentlemen this floor
4 IRON The e3un'ies fellow the 'noonain who are ak
e advocates lor the s:rctest rcion insru
" m'h'' ana lo' thorough amendment OF our conttu
OF ion oil Stale go".r iIneni?
Z: His venerable colleague, sail Mr. NJ, hal success
niy repced Other pre- j1crs which If utterly I'm
iounded might prove Oh fatal influence the Object
- The Convention, and he 10 The considerable
E oil The real proposition before tbs Committee.
r The resolution OF the Legislative Committee promo.
IN es 10 make tie white popul alton OF the Commonwealth
exclusively the basis of the apporonmon of rep-cssn
in TALON III the House OF Delegates. /, il moved by tn
member from Culpeper, TO rest such app1rionmcni o
is white population and taxa ion combined. After In
most dhorions attention 10 all the arguments as well G
l. HE mover OF this amendment, of hr gentlemen VIII
had sustained him, Mr.. M said he was nj loss IN kno,
how this combination be eectel-iu what u.
& portions population aud 1ton be com lined
ne IL that Of riect equality, then what description 9
h. taxes were to be balanced against the ris Its of IL
'e ifecmen OF fifgi? Shall OF the com pounds
he determined by taxing oil " pop rty Of every ci iZr
NJ visible and invisible? To This, almost nSupcrabr oh
10 cios might he urged OF which had f,rci
III NY pointed oui, by HE mbcr from Northampton
r. (hr Up-iur) IL visi!c property, ony shall he TAX
I'll co. Is aH thh man pOss 90 be he nded
to movable ard inInoveahI II description on e. O
re porii" only ct eacs, which, or what part. and
TO whdt rule o. raiooi numbers. qis;y vaIue? l.
d. practicable 70 form this combined basis, impart
n IT, The simplicity, the stability, say no hing of Il. in
H. luton OF Government, d., signed he perpetual 70
The ground work Of the repre- ,eniaon o: IN ope!
40 The aulo~ OF The propo.ed amendment. since he de-
ly signed TO give to property. certain practicable weigh,
of IN the g1verrm mt would more re ably accptiI sis
purpose by continuing s measure wealth for taxa
ne icn Tie thing taxed Tor the itself. This change a
us me h"is Of representation, in tcrus would not ate
NJ me principles which i's Justice and proprisy rest
ana both parties would by such conversinn he enable
co better TO comprehend The precise end, well as u,
o. practcabity oil The propossd amendment.
NJ foT 'he sake oil my own argument al least purpos
IN making Tins substitution OF wealth Itself Tor that hie
IT, Is its measure in any equal system OF taxation wea
ht hc badt OF representation! IL il PROMO ed indeed