Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-24

FEBRUARY 4, 1929.
Sen; Doae amendment to the Bill, and M.
Norgdn'S amendment to Gen. Dade's being
under consideration.
MR.. MoRGAN'S SPEECH.
tCoNcLUDEDo
Mr. MI. said, that, gentlemen from the middle
section OF the State, who were DESTROYS of obtain
ing fair distribution ofpower among the people,
could never have effected convention, but for the
e&eriions OF the western counties A large ma
Jority oil the people OF the lower counties were de-
cdediy against any change in the present system
OF government, and, therefore, the members from
mat middle section, ought not to oppose our efforts
i or equality OF representation in the convention
ihey nave power now, TO do justice 10 all, and
surely. they ought not to do Injustice to their
friends. Under any arrangement, the Eastern
people will have Il majority in convention: and in
amending The constitution, may lay upon the
western people, any conditions they NAV think
proper, but this Is not the time 10 attempt it, II
we conces'e principles, before we begin the task
ct reform, what may we not be required to con-
sede, before IT Is finished! We, however, believe
II we commence upon fair and equal footing in
convention, that unequal terms will not be reuuir-
ed OF us.-1he Western people are not ignorant of
their numbers or their physical power and though
they love their brethren OF the East, and wish TO
DO Justice TO all men; yet when they are told that
they are to be treated like step children, and de-
MED the justice shewn TO Other sections of the
state, they would at least say, that they prefer
remaining as they are, unequal from their natural
increase, IMAM to submit to acknow ledgment
that they are not entitled TO equal representation
In the convention, or in the future government
ANA ne deemed II his duty, in the name of his
constituents III the name OF liberty, solemnly 10
protest against going into convention upon any
other, than terms OF strict equality.
Mr. nj. said, he wonld make few remarks in
re'ation 10 uie mode oil election, as proposed by
me Dill and The amendment Of the gentleman
from orange, and OF his own amendment Ii was
well known fact, that, the main cause of our
present legislative deliberations has grown out of
the existing inequality ofthe representation in the
legislature. 1t has been contended and maintain
eu mat, n minority Of the people have a majority
OF the representation in that body; and of course
II ioiiows, that, they have the power to negative,
II they please, the will Of the majority however
Important that may be to the State.
The amendment of the gentleman from Orapge
may transfer this power from one portion of the
community 10 another, and give the latter nor
tion, the very undue power of which il had com
paineG when in the hands of its former possessors
This may be the effect Of the district SYSTEM
such al least will he its inevitable tendency
Inc great question before the people, is between
the large and small countless so far as relates 10
representation and the main object of reform on
That subject Is TO e9ualize their power and infiu-
ence In The Legislature. When YOU call upon
the people by districts, to vote for Representatives
10 go INTO Convention, what do you say? Now
IS your ume; let large counties in each district
exert themselves and enter into combinations a.
gains the small counties, and in nine cases out of
ten, the delegates will be elected from the large
counties by plurality of~e.e-, .aL afanar I'm
those who now complain of inequality in the rep
resentation, may and doubtless will secure to them
selves, the whole power in their own hands. Do
| not the large counties now complain of the undue
power OF the smaller ones? VIII they not now
more certair'y than in any other election, exert
their whole energies with view to correct the
evil OF which they complain? And in fact will
they not in every district grasp at the whole now
er! III so, the small counties will have Just cause
| oil complaint against the large ones, and such an
excited canvass might defeat the whole abour of
the Convention. Mr.. nj. insisted that il was
high moral duty in this body TO see that the peo-
pie shall be fairly as well equally represented
IN the Convention, and not while going from one
extreme launch into another. According TO the
amendment of the gentleman from Orange YOU
/ do put means into the hands OF the oppressed 10
20 out OF one extreme into the other; and much
time cannot elapse before the people will be sen.
sbe o! their situation.
Mr. M said he had made a calculation for
every senatorial district in the alth and
by combination of large against small counties
40 counties could, and much smaller number
may, elect the whole delegation 10 the Conven-
ton, out OF the los counties and a boroughs Ii
is as demonstrable any problem in arithme tic
The object of the large counties will be 10 break
down county delegation entirely, and all the large
counties will combine against the smaller TO effect
that object, and then look to convention elected
by themselves and probably by minority of the
people, TO propose a scheme for that purpose
Suppose the whole delegation TO be elected by
these large counties under excited canvas,
among canuhateS entertaining various opinions on
the subject Of the new government, what will be
the RESULT No man can teln What will the
members say ,when they meet in conve ntion! Thew
may and probably will say, as members OF the As.
sembly have already said, that the came instruct
ed to vote Tor such propositions as will wholly
Dreak up county representation in any form. and
That they are bound TO adhere TO the will Of the
people, or IN other words the will Of those who
elected them that the preservation of the district
system, by which they perpetuate their own pow
er and influence, is the best form of governments:
and they may divide the state into some "a or 30
districts for the election OF senators; and then for
the sake OF symmetry provide that these same dis
tIlcts shall elect each or members to the House
of Delegates; the consequence must necessarily
be, that these large counties in this way will Sc
cure to themselves, all the political powers of the
government. MIR. NJ. said that his object in Civ
ing to each county its own proper influence in the
convention, was two iold--in the FIRST place, the
representation will approach nearer the peoples
each county will be represented independently Of
every other county, and by delegates OF their own
choosing. There will be no unpleasant excite
ment in the elections, and all will be satisfied TO
go into convention, thus represented The duties
Of that body will be discharged, justly and in hsr-
rnony, and the result will he the adoption OF
form OF government sgreoa able TO all, neglectng
! the rights and interests OF none.
second reason in favor Of such distribution
and arrangement Of the representation is, that il
| will bring more members into the convention
! He held IL as settled point, that the larger The
| number in convention, the more favorable il will
| be TO reformation that numerous body will PRO.
duce more popular form Of government, and -
rnausiing 90 directly from the people will afford
additional influence in the adoption Of a new con :
stitu,ion. The gentleman from Orange, said that |
! ne had 6S Ohip cone IN The amendment rropos ed