Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-14

Nv the combined ratio, " IS Z" IL.
" hitc population, So 9 Ca
Ia making these calculations. we disregard small
fractions, and convert large into citizens, that
we may give the results IN white numbers.
By tins method ofcslculsting the effect ofthe two
propositions IL would appear, that, adopting the
pound basis, Tie West would lose and the East
gam two pleplberS out OF one hundred and twenty,
and tha1, adopting the simple basis, tho West would
gain and the East lose eleven. But If instead of
taking the whole number of white persons, as the
basis, you take such only as qualified to vote,
there To believe that the result would be
maj crialiy varied We have no means OF ascertain.
ing the number Of qualified voters,--thero Is no re.
cord of them any whore, and We have certainly 10
ddtG from which we would estimate them accurate
ly.-But we may approximate them perhaps sufhsi-
emily near, to answer the purpose of illustration
by estimates from such data as we have.
Until came INTO thus Convention Mr. Cha'rman
had haoltuaily considered representation appor
TONED according 10 the whole number OF white peo-
pie IN the different districts, and one spportioncd
according TO the qualified voters in each, "a
substantially equivalents Il had supposed that
the ratio OF the one. would be fair index OF the ratio
of the other had never carefully examined the sub
Jee'' NV duties IN the Legislative Committee, called
nv a''ehuon To 1t, and induced To duubt the cor.
rectness OF my former expressions. The able arpu
men' OF the gentleman from Chesterfield rivited NV
a'eh'oh 20 H. and induced me To think that those
expressions were probably wrong. There is much
we'ght due to the consideration that thos. WIN per
form menia services the day abourcrs the
of land which they do not own. ar. in III. r.stsrn
DISTRICTS principally slaves, while those who nerForm
similar functions, in the Western Districts are ch;eav
white perSons and this consideration ,.rJs o. ,L1
conclusion, that the ratio of qualified voters IN IN.
whole white population, would be greater in the East
'nah III the west have appealed to the only docu.
ments IN nay power, to test this concuson I;s..
OF persons charged with taxes furnished ms he tb-
AUDITOR Tie has furnished two Iis,s,-the one of the
number OF persons IN each county and respective town
charged with any taX on Sovn lot or mari of town
NOT lsSef i,aDc =
other, ot the number charged with any tax on other
property Now, although each of these lists contains
male ana temae, Young and old, black and white
without discrimination, aud therefore must inform n,
correctly OF the actual number of adult white males
upon either let have thought that probably they
would not very tar mislead us, il we regard them az
index q" the relative number of adult hi,e males in
QualIhe If we take I'm. list of toes ch,e5
WIN taxes on land OF giving the ratio Of freehold voters and
ne ounce as giving the ratio OF voters, when the right Of
suffrage shall be extended hOusckeepcr who nay revere
power ui the districts would stand thus
According 10 the land s-st 27-2nd 2o-3d g7-A,b sc
TIE property l.st--ls,, 29-2nd, 2I-3d 39-ih, "a
According 10 the frst-West 47-East ~
According to the secoud-West 5U--East 10
Thus, according the favorable of these estimates
he W est would gam and the East members house
OF AN hundred and twenty and majority the Eastern
SIDE Of the Blue Ridge would remain twenty
neSe statements shew that although upon any
OASIS oil representation which vet suggested large
lon OF power VIII press from ue tide distract those
.
Eastern to the Western side OF the Blue Ridge and that upon
ule pTiHcpss for which contend, If pass al all It must
pa d. distant day slowly gradually safely-unaccompa
e " e rangers which have becn apprehenGei they
serve 70 show 10 calm rejection, depending
e present contest not great the prize
NdIude ue loss to be sustained DREADFUL been
pictured TO unagnaons may have occasion again To
refer to them III illustration my views
In taking leave present OF thCsc cacu7,,ons which
nave introduced as CORRECTNESS o. the
other sde cannu orbsar renarus on the seeming ncons
ency OF gentlemen who losing occasion TO throw risue
on hunDefs and political arithmetic aayed them against
US 10 most formidable Phaanx drawn from them
their strength aud expressive arguments have no
doubt that the tables Of population and iaye which have zone
o ~ ina pc, wtn the aTnhmutcal calculations OF gentle
men, side which hay. sccompan ed tnr and
he neences OF change OF power danger oppressive
laHa nave been the principal of the great excitement
IN We pno!c mind, and Of tue slarn felt Eas-
'rin Ns'''cls 81 the Commonwealth excitement alarm
whcn have already done mischief and threaten 10 DO more-
"hch nave already through the iustumeuaity instruc
IONS deprived an honorable seat OF floor
80 "l'y son coiouno the councils of this Convention.
mean not al all 10 neTpOse district and its dele
sa-i' not for inquire the causes winch lead TO
@ S,'h ano lhe consequent ressnatloni-but
yer oi us enon, harmony and profitable
So % Us IaOofs-as citizen Of the commonwealth, deeply
- :" I' "eHafe cannot but lament, the example,
"nh followed generally deprive this assembly OF ITS
ae'efaye character, and deprive Of all power effect
purposes Ter which appointed Wh,le we are sitting
mere celebrating the great Of the State canddy
comparing our opinions, endeayonng dscordant
seWs ADJUST conflicting claims secure every gb and uroet
every interest," ambiguous scattered among the
people, scraps iom newspapers shgds Of arguments 10 be
ci;coi4;e Ell among tlen-n moment of ,,,,1.s a,i,s,
tey are 10 Do collected al the musings nusler grounds
~ s dVens anh efVss roads 10 form specific inspections tor
'ne aaes on the most delicate and difficult Of all the Sub.
Js ~ ueH deliberauon-hu depryug them OF the power
o. making or receiving CONCESSIONS ADD putting an end 70 all
iufhef COns1lat Can any cOndeTate man be blind 10
ne coHiusOn aud tchl which such measures must tend,
10 10Y "noef'iand me- SIR % questioning the gn OF the
stueni 10 instruct his representatives his reSafd az upe d
seuIsn opclf"es OF our gnyeurneH winch cheer
Ny subscribe But surely cannot be mistaken in suppasmg
aI There never unfit occasion for exercising IL Than
mat on which the people have endeayored put IN re6uon
e experience, the wisdom, and prudence the State not 10
sae ia" Dt ~ propose for the consideration Of people
themselves amendments Their fundamental law n THIS ex-
''npe - 70 BE- followed bad not better return home
'"fe ~ e people hctusl they conhded 10 U.s. tell them
mat al nope o amending their Constitution is perfectly iu.
Wy tAa' he solemn declaration Of tie right Of the majority
% Is''m Is indeed visionary theory since II IS utterly IN
pHlaNe Tor TIE people 20 exercise hls right without the aid
representatives, ami since these representatives cauno be
s'n 'en 10 confer together aud propose amendmcnts'
peg pardon Or tbs dgIessOn, and WI return u the question
o'os TIE Commhee-whcthef the compound or simple bas,
shall be- preferred.
~ d Deen urged as an objection 10 he report Of the Select
y'nmer That Purposes ~ introduce something new into
tns constitution. " certainly new o. the American
pn'e' 10 apPodon representation according 20 the ratio o