Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-29
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION.

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION.
speech oil MIR. FITZHUGH, OF Fairfax, on his pro-
position to amend the amendment of the Commit
tee of the Whole, by giving to each Senatorial
district representation proportioned TO it, popu-
lation in 1920.
Mr.. SPEAKER From the first Introduction of
TINS subject into the House, have felt no other
socitude in relation to 1t, than that il should be adj
Justed on fair & honorable terms calculated to con-
ciate as far as possible the good feelings OF every
portion OF the House, and to effect the great OBJ
Jects OF political reform, unquestonably desired by
the majority Of the people. 1t was under the in.
fiuence Of this feeling, that announced at very
early period, my intention to avail myself of the
rst favorable opportunity to propose to the House.
the substitution OF the Senatorial Districts of 1877
as election Districts to the Convention, in lieu OF
either the Congressional Districts advocated by
the gentlemen OF the East, or the districts based
on the free white population of 1920, offered us
from the West. l did think, and still think that
the senatorial Districts OF 1T presented ground
,or ialr anu honorable compromse-for equal and
reciprocal. concession. The West, in coming TO
IT, would give up that portion OF its representation
which Is claimed for its increase of population since
1910; and the East would abandon not only an a.
quai portion OF its property representation, but.
what perhaps is OF more importance the odious
iorm-(odious, mean, to the West)-in which it's
demand Tor property representation has hitherto
been urged
sincerely ianeLt, sir, that the state of thnps
is such, TO forbid the execution of nv ORIGINAL
intention. But it must be obvious to ALL who have
a'tentively observed the progress Of events both
WITHIN and beyond these walls that no proposition
based In spirit OF compromise and looking to a
cohciiauon oil parties, could now obtain an atten-
1--WE nearing from this House. Indeed, We sir
from the middle country, who have hitherto sought
TO maintain the most friendly relations with both
parues, who have purposeiy kept ourselves aloof
rom the angry conflicts of the last week, IN the
nope oil being eventually received by ALL as fair and
impartial mediators, now find ourselves i'm the
awkward condition Of those, who i'm the Kindness
oil their hearts, have intertered 10 reconcile the
differences between man and wife. The broom.
SUCK ana the longs are elevated against US and we
are constrained TO give up our. efforts TO reconcile
others, IN order to ourselves from the deadly
dow that has been aimed at our own bea,,. :
wen, sur be 1t so II we must assume the attitude
OIL self-deience we will at least endeayour To sus
tam ourselves with zeal and fidelity worthy of
the occasion-and, II we are finally TO fall we Shall
nope TO fall with reason and justice by our side.
yielding only to the irresistible force of uneouai
representation on this floor.
Inc Dill on your table proposes to oaganize a
convention oil ITO members, elected in equal num-
Ders IRON each Congressional district: while the
amendment OF the Committee of the Whole pro
poses in lieu of this, call, the people but the
counties and boroughs of the Commonwealth into
Convention, and to give to each of them an eo,,aj
representation. Ii thus anne ndment should nrev.iI
lis effect will be, TO give to Williamsburg having
only 5o4 white inhabitants, and paying an annual
tax oil S905, an equal weight with the Civ of Rich
mond, having 6,i45 white inhabitants and paving
d tax oil SiS,oI3; Warwick, York, and James CT.
w. averaging little more than 200 white inhabi-
tants each, and paying, together, less than $4,000
taxes, Will give precisely the same vote in Con-
vention with Shenandoah, Frederick, g. Loudoun
each having white population exceeding 10 900
and contributing together to the public revenue
very nearly 900 per annum. The c ounties
composing eight OF the Eastern Senatorial districts
having white population OF l75, yO9, & paving an
annual tax OF $l32, l60, will elect AZ members
10 the convention, while those of the eight middle
districts, lying on each side the Blue Ridge viii
send only twenty-five members although their
white population amounts to 226 266 and their Iax
es to Sill, 030.
am aware that these mere sectional ine
qualities, and might possibly exist without very
seriously affecting any general results, but 1 beg
leave 10 call the attention of the House 10 two 9TH
Ell views OF this subject, exhibiting the extraorJi
nary anomaly OF republican people assembled in
Convention, Tor the purpose of altering their COLI
s.uon' unoei circumstances, giving to feeble
minority decided controul over all their operafi
ons Eleven Senatorial Dist riots in the East Iviny
contguousiy, and having, in relation 10 some Of
the most important questions to be settled the
same interests and the same views, will be repre-
sented In Convention by a majority of voices and
yet their population will be less than the remain
ing white population OF the State by upwards of
100000: Again, SO Of the smallest counties and
Two oil the smallest boroughs, having a ponuiation
oil only $4,000, out Of the 603 900 white inhahi
lants Oh Inc whole State, and contributing conside
rabiy less than e-third of the public revenue
VIII nevertheless have majority OF votes in that
10y "t!J9e unsi-tae !. WIZ Ut 10 eide the all
important esIion OF equaiiZing presentation nm
der the future Government.
VIII not stop TO inquire into the Justice OF this
arrangement; for, whatever else NAV have beer
SAID In Its favour, none Of its most Jealous advo
Ca.es nave Ventured, l believe, to cothe II with
this attribute. But, will ask if the call of such
convention will be a faithful discharge of the o.
bhgauon imposed upon you by the late decree of
tife people. However we may differ in relation IN
'he wishes oil the people, OH specific points-hoyy
ever we may assert or deny that, IN declaring for
convention, they contemplated either this or that
particular chapge-we must all agree, that when
majority OF the Commonwealth united in nro
nouLciDg their present Government :. inadeoIate
ana contrary to the purposes for which il was Gre,
ated they never could have intended TO transit,
10 minority OF themselves, the power of prescrib
ing tne alterations TO be effected-and limited in
aeeu, must be bis ideas OF public duty who thinks
us obligations discharged by simple adherence 70
he ie''er' Wilhout any reference whatever 10 the
sPin' OF law; and indeed, in direct violation of
he very opjects which the law CONTEMPLATED
But, to me, it has always appeared. that tbe
constitution itself prescribes TO ia the oni,,
true and legitimate rule of action on this snbeci |
ne Dill oil hlghts-ceTtainly as obligatory az ,nv
other part OF the Constitution-declares thai
whenever any government shall be found mad. |
equa'e or contrary to the purposes for which II |
naS created majority OF the community have a |
Iisnt 70 alter, reform, or abolish it," Now sir |
this Government has been found Inadequate b |
contrary 10 the purposes for which il was created
oy .he verdict OF the community for whose bone |
III ]. was formedj and the right to alter reform
OF dooiisb II, Immediately attaches, of necessi.