Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-15

with one from James City, /" the metropolis OF
The country" And, by the same act, II was declared.
that every county which should lay out huudr-
Of land, aud people 1t with hundred uhabis
persons should have the privilege Of sending an adj
litional Burgess. 10y
BY adverting to the reei,s, Of tina, act. you will find
tha, the assigned for the reduction AMI equaza
ton Of the representation OF the counties, the er
pense Of maintaining the great number If Bnrgessc.
sent from the counties and parishes t"Whcreas, the
charge OF as.emblies Ia much increased by the great
number of B,rgpsses," SC.
Thus you perceive sir that the principle OF repre.ea
,aon in Virginia II il deserves the name of princ
pie, received its 6na consummstion, s last hnsh from
Colonial Legislature OF uneitered tobacco planters in
1861. The Constitution Of Virginia, which is graveiy
declared this floor. TO have been the work OF
,he sages and patriots Of l176. aciua and
finished in 1861 audi since been modified in
this great and leading feature Of the representation Of
the people. This admirable regulation equal re-
OF the counties, which Il recommended TO
love and vcnerston, the work Of glorious an
cesors in l776 was, in fact. pary colonial regulation
Ia device to save money-a matter OF pounds, shil-
'ings and pence
II IL true that the men Of re did not alter H. And
rhy did thew not alter i Simply because they could not
The infan; Commouwe ai'h was engaged. as had oc.
cason TO remark in former debate, in war, in which
It's very existence at s;aks-in which requr
ed the united direct of all interests and Of its whole
strength. against foreign enemy The sagss and pat.
riots who composed the Convention OF 1876 were wise
and practical men. What extreme foy what absolute
insanity, would II have been, when hostile squadfons
riding at anchor in Hampton Roads, to say the
smaller counties exposed by their position the full
operation OF all the seductons and all the threats of the
enemy. "you must surrender part Of the pocer uou
haze enjoyed under the kingly government for ITO
gears" Sir, the members Of the Convention of 76 had
too much good .ense-too much practical wisdom-to
attempt 40 mad and III timed reform. They sad.
what they obliged 10 say, that the representation
OF the counties should remain as il was
Thus, sir II appears, that the idea OF the gentleman
from Norfolk that the representation Of interests in
erests conradisinguished from the representation of
numbers has been from the first settlement Of the CO.
lony the theory Of government: ha, foundation
in hstoy-and that The statement OF facts which he has
made TO support his theory is altogether erroneous
That the act Of 1861, which established the equal
presentation Of the countie considered at this day
the highest stretch Of political sagacity far from av-
ing been intended establish the principle that inter.
esfs and not numbers should b. thereafter represented
or any principle, mere fiscal regulation, OF which
penuriosness and not political wisdom the author
y nd source
In fact, sir, since the ordinance Of 1921 principle
OF representations deserving the Of principle, has
ever been acted on We assembled here to declare
what the principle Of representation ought to be- and
shall be, In all time tocoms.
The question what's the true principle, is which
have here ofore discussed and shall not now touch
The gentleman from Norfolk says that the true princ
pie by which to regulate the apporonment Of political
power the OF all the different interests
II societyds interests. The Bill OF Rights declares
that the true principle ia the equal representation of the
peOpf. MN content 10 rest tne question OH the rela-
tive weight Of the two authorities.
r-.. NOTES.
az See Hcniug's Statutes Large vol. I, page no.
10y See IIenne's Statutes Large vol. 1, page 22i
(3) See IIenngs Statutes Large, vol. I, page 800
See Hennss Statutes at Large, VOL l. ALL 49, and
(5l See Hening's Statutes Large, vol. Q, page 90
Mr. LEIGH said, that reference having been made
10 Colonial Government to dsprove the statement of
The gentleman from Norfolk, he would read extract
rom the history Of that government, for the accuracy
If which he would vonch, as he took great pains to
fasrl ..I. 81.
appeude@ IN ,t.~ pavissd Code lst Volume PAGE as
1t appeared, he said. that Bacon, a rebel, was
the first who adopted hs notion of universal suffrage
in the country, and that he had il from the soldiers of
Cromwels srmv.
He stated that the substance Of the note which he
had read, confirmed in its accuracy 0y the late
Judge Roane. and said few words to the OF
dividing the State into plantations districts aud hun.
ireds, all founded that principle Of interest which
The gentleman from Norfolk had alluded to. II tina,
principle was not avowed, there could be doubt that
L was the principle.
Again, he stated that the College of William and
Mary allowed a representative until the COM
nencement Of the revolution Ii was represented in
he Convention Of lT75. Whv was this, but that the
principle Of the interests Of different branches was act
ID on in the apportionment of representation HIRE
was representation Of the learning of this College,
which had been until lately most usefuI institution
md he hoped might become 30 again. He considered
hat the gentleman from Norfolk had been fully sus.
ained in his statements and views.
Mr.. COOKE said that he had not learned the cons,i.
utional history Of Virginia from tn. notes 10 the Re-
rised Code, but from the documentary and legislative
records set forth at length in " Henings Statutes al
Large" am, nevertheless, thankful. said he, to the
gentleman from Chesterfield, (Mr. LEIGH) for read
inc the long and elaborate note from the Revised
Code, which has refreshed my recollection of sunrv
particulars which pretermitted in the sketch that
gave OF the history OF representation in Virginia be-
cause did not consder them precisely Z" gerinape to
The matter under consideration. / am vet to learn
however, in what point or particular have missta'rd
In Il g.c
md repeat that the ordinance or 1921 recognized the
rec inhnbitdnfs OF the colony the basis Of repre
senation; have heard nothing incon sisent with hs!
statement in the history that has been read by the gen.
loman from Chesterfield.
| thank him, however. for calling the attention Of
ne Committee 10 the history OF suffrage in Virginia
IL think that history repete with valuable and inter.
,sting facts. The learned gentleman Sir has ventur.
ID to say to this Committee that the idea Of universal
outrage heard in Virginia. till il was started
n England by those crazy enthusiasts the ngifa.
tors in the time Of Cromwell; and that IL through
hem introduced into the colony. I confess that
heard this statement made with no smal surprise.
What IL the meaning, Sir, Of the phrase universal
suffrage, commonly used and understood by intslli.
gent men? Does n mean right Of suffrage belong
ng TO, and exercised by, all the men. all ths women,
md all the Oh iliren of a community? Such an alb
urdity never entered into the heai-even Of" n re.
ormer." however g. hardened his heart might haze
'ecome by experimenting the rights Of man to as
certain hotc large dose Of French prineipfes mi ght
be administered WithoiH causing their destruction"
IL means right Of suffrage exercised by all the free
men OF community And precisely 10 thi, extent was
he right exercised in the colony Of Virginia from the
year 1921 ill the year 1855 The ordinance Of 1921
secured the right Of suffrage 10 all the free inhabt
,nts" OF the colony. And defy the gentleman fiom
Chesterfield, with all his constitutional iors to show
~ reference TO the Legislative history Of the colony
hat II wa taken awav, or even assalcd, before the
rassage Of the act Of 1855 In that year an act was
passed declaring, that all housekespers, whether