Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-19
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sting and respectable sssemblage which is
Engaged revising the Cou,tu ion OF this Common
wealth The etiug OF the people, by their tepresen
tatives for the purposes oil remodelug their govern
meut never he viewed with Indifference by Ameri-
cans but the spectacle deserves additional interest on
the present occasion, from the high rank which Virgil
mia holds in the esmatio OF her sister staesi from the
character OF the individuals who compose the Convcn
ton; aud the lively sensiby excited in The state, by
the struggles between parties not merely Tor specus
tive theories, hut Tor what they respectively claim az
political rights, and feel 10 be political pocer Aud
withoat some such explanation about TO fur
nsh the proceedings and debates OF the Convention
would not be thoroughly understood by the distant rea
der.
The existing Constitution OF Virginia has The honor Of
being the 6r-t which was made in America, with a
view 30 final separation from Great Britain. IL was
prior, by few DAYS, to the Declaration Of indie
penience. That OF South Carolina Indeed formed
before il, but was meant to be temporary and conem
plated a restoration OF British authority. This Constiu
ton enacted by body chosen for the purposes Of
ordinary and exuaO' binary legislation, in OF
mergency, but, according TO Mr.. Jefferson, at time
when Independence was not contemplated by the vo-
tiers. The instrument IL remarkable for its brevity, II
containing but nineteen articles.
Alter peace restor ed TO the country, II not be-
fore, there suorg manifestations OF discomfort
with this Constitutions and attempts TO call Conven-
ton fer revising it, have increased in frequency and
strength, until that OF 1927 which succeeded the
present occasion The chief causes Of complaint were
that gave the small counties the weight in the
legislature as the large onesevery county sending
members the House Of Delegates-and that il too
much restricted The right Of suffrage, in conhning it to
ireehol,l.rs. tA MAJ.
support of Amos, many individuals these, but they
deemed TO be OF minor Importance, and the ques.
ton of Convention or no Conve ntion, mainly hinged
in the legislature, aud out oil ii, the two that have
been mentioned.
The first legislative act, in favor of revision of the
Constitution, passed in the session of l727s. BY
this the the freeholders throu the
directed be taken at the regular election in the
following spring, whether they in favor against
Convention, and the votes TO be returned to the
ceedng legislature. About forty thousand freebooter,
appear 20 have voted the question: of which number
there majority of upwards OF six thousand in favor
Of a Convention
As this expression of the popular will render.
ed revision of the Constitution longer doubtful and
correction Of the present inequalities in the represen
tation anticipated, question arose, which
excited, and continues u excite interest than any
other; aud that was, whether representation should be
basis, compounded, according 10 some of free persons
and siuUS. and according to Others of persons pro-
pe'fy This question its importance, and proba.
bly, its origin, to the following local circumstances:
The state Of Virginia is divided by the Blue Ridge
into two not unequal portions, TO white popuia
lion, but differing widely to the number OF their
slaves. According TO the OF 1920, about
twel'ths (3iSs73) OF the white population in the
eastern division, and above hve.twchs (25i ,20S) in
the western But population increases faster in the
western counties thin in the eastern, the latter proba-
bly, does not exceed the former, than in the
proportion of five four. But Of the slaves the
division contained little than one-tenth (43
Isl at the last census) and the eastern, nine
(3sl ,997
1t follows therefore, that il, in the apporionmen of
delegates or representatives, the whole number of
slaves counted, the eastern district would thereby
nearly double lis representation; if only three -fhs
We're counted, as in the General Government, they
would gain accession Of nearly sixty per CEN;
whereas, il the white population alone counted
the proportion OF delegates allotted to the dis
trrt would greatly fall short of that allotted to the
eastern, at this time, and in ten, at most twenty
year., would exceed il.
These two great divisions Of The State have the same
relative Interests, though TO the extent in the
question OF the compound basis Of numbers and pr0Dey
~, population and fdrdti0n For the revenue of the
Safe is raised principally by lands and slaves
and as the eastern division only has nine tenths OF
The slaves, but its lands too from having reaer
cess 10 market are more profitable, and consequently
rated higher, IL pays much larger proportion Of the
taHSs than the rn The difference il vet greater
in personal property than real and il the present spe
cihc taxes were exchanged for 0d rGlorem or
property incomes the paid by the eastern d
vision would he still larger than il is at present
These districts not only thus differ in their liability to
taxation, ard in their capacity to bear it, but also in
their temptation to resort,to III and unfprunstely the
district which has most occasion for the public revenue
is the least able 10 supply it. The district be-
ing very mountanou. aud distant from market, its in
habitants would be greatly benefited by canals and ar
ttical roads, while in the eastern DIVISION in which the
coufiry is level, and is every where int rseced by
na'igable rivers and creeks, the people have
sion for them.
The effect of these conflicting interests is heightened
by the unseen and unconscious influence of other di-
v"rsiiie which separate the people of the districts
quite "a much the geographical line that has been
mentioned For, although, TO stranger the inhabi-
tans of this Stale may appear 10 be more homoqe ne
population than is TO he found in most of the state.
yet TO the more discriminating eve OF one of them.
selves the people of and Virginia diff
fer FAR more from another than either do from
tie people in the contiguous districts OF North Car
Glina Maryland The Inhabitants of eastern Vir.
ginia are partly maritime and commercial, az well
agricultural Those of the west are almost ALI
either farmers grazers Even in their agriculture
there IL considerable diversity Cotton and tobacco
cultivated almost exclusively in the eastern dis.
tric and hemp in tho In the west the Pres.
byterian religion PREVAILS in the east it shares the pop
ular favor with three other sects and scarcely has n
iull share. There il even difference of dialect i'm the
two dvisiOns in consequence of most OF the western
Nirgnians being OF Irish German extraction lille
most OF the eastern descended from the English
These diversies, however inconshlerable thew NAV
appear 10 phiosop!ic nind tended 10 agarayate the
iehlousy produced by difference Of interests and fl
nay 10 make the people of le east and the west en-
terrain widely different views Of political rgrt and
pediency Their feelings, il must be confessed were
but too faithfully reflected by their representatives. in
the last legislature.
# should however, he remarked that these feelings
prevailed very unequay in the two great divisions of
the state. In eastern Virginia there were conspicuou.
individuals, and whole counties that on the two
great questions of equality Of representation and the
right of suffrage, sided with the west and with whom
subsequently, party sympahies have prevailed over To-
col, and in some cases, against their interests
whilst in the western district there entire unanio.
iY. With this accession Of Strength the two parties
were nearly balanced In the legislature.
In that body, the eastern members with The excpp-
lion Just menoned) insisted that in laying off The state
into districts Tor sending members TO the Convention
the slave population, al least part of H. should he
couned slaves being persons well property The
II