Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-27

CIR ndinnenca, tue best form Of government and
they may divide the state into "a 80 districts
for the election of senator's and then for the sake of
symmetry provide that these districts shall elect
each or members to the House of Delepates the
consequence must necessarily be, that these larre
counties III this way will secure to themselves all the
political powers ofthe government. Mr.. NJ said that
his object In giving to each county its OWL proper in
Hueuce in the convention, two-fold in the first
place, the representation will approach nearer the
people; each county will be represented independents
y 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 harmony
and the result will be the adoption ofa form of GOV
erhnient agreeable to ALL negecting the rights and
second reason in favour ofsuch distribution and
arrangement OF the representation, is, that it will
bring more members INTO the convention. He held it
US settled point, that the larger the number in con-
Vehtlon, the more favourable it will be TO refor-
nation, that numerous body will produce n moro
popular form OF government and enanating SO direct
~ from the people, will afford additional influences in
the adoption OF new constitution. The gentleman
from Oange, said that he had So objections to ,bn
amendment proposed by Mr. NJ. but of all this f,r
inldable list, he has mentioned one ony--the erc,t
additional eXpence, which would arise from this IL
NUMBER OF representatives i'll the convention, Rut
Mr. M. SAID, that when the Importance of no srht
was considered, he thought if this was the sole obi
tIon that no would hesitate to vote for his
ment
MIR. H. said it was generally agreed that the dc,
ieates were not to be chosen by general tick of ,n &c
the state could not be laid out INTO precisely equal M
Visions, ne believed it would be better to adopt exis
ting divisions of the Commonwealth and none wero
more convenient than county divisions Senatorial
districts on the other hand, offered No advanton.s
over those of counties. Vhey neither aDnroac5ed
nearer to equality nor were anv more anplieablo 70
the purposes of elections. Mr.. NJ deprecated the
IDEA OF dividing the state into large districts for the
eleo.lon OF deiegatcs and would greatly prefer In
convention as We'll as in the new government that
every county should have separate REPRESENTATIVES,
where large enough to contain the required nonrl,
lion. But the small counties in the new povcrnineut
oushc 10 be thrown into districts containing the "a
tof representation nearly as practcabe in s,,cb
manner, that each such district NAV have ono 5oIo
sate. In pennsylvania it has been the practice to
give 70 the large counties several Delegates accord
their population, and to the medium counties one
ana the small counties, where they will admit are
connected together in such manner nc IN n,oLo tho
proper ratio and allowed one and sometimes
delegates. This, Mr.. N. believed was a rood ar.
rahgement, and it was what he wished in this state
IL seemed that gentlemen wished to mould tho fi,
ture government according to the organization of tbe
Convention, and by giving to the larger countios n
small majority of delegates in the convention ms thew
Wou'd nave by his amendment, they may take and
preserve that influences IN the future government
which their population entities them to- The small
and medium counties, disposed to do Justice could
not OBJECT to this arrangement. While the large
countless not having the power suppress the whole
.lluehce OF the small ones, nor the small ones over
rule theJust weight ofthe large ones all Will act With
an undivided view to promote the peace and bann;
ness OF the whole community. This organization of
the body will certainly have tendency to promote
equality and preserve liberty.
Mr.. M. said the other hand, auv district e,s
TEN is calculated to call out the same angry passion
IN convention that it will among the people No
district system pleased him well his own af6nd
t116- h.. ~
hlGnt or inc original bill. When legisla.e on a
subect OF this kind, it should be in spirit of
ty and llberality, and to avoid every thing which
might nave tendency to arouse the preiudces
brethren OF the same political famly-citizers of
Lie same state, and people OF the same community.
Among all the governments that have exist.J
none have ever displayed more ma nnanimitv and
tlce than the House of Delegates in their late ":
on TINS SUBJECT voluntarily surrenderinr their
ana equazing 1t among the counties 1t NAV be
SAID, that the small counties have been comneIIed RI
yield This is not true. They have Welded from y
sense oJust1ce and equality. They had The mower ~
retain for themselves any extent of influence the,,
thought proper and unless this house passes the bi
without amendments, they can still give tbenoeoI-,os
the same power IN convention that they now possess
In the Legislature. Mr.. NJ said thew were acting
mere, IN the lnceptive stage of reform and unoues
uonaby the manner of choosing the delegation to con-
future Government " VIC
The Delegates of some OF the smaller corn,ies.
have with great FEASIBILITY commended that this is
not the place for introducing efecting an cquiliza
ton OF power But all have not so commended or
voted many acknowledge that they have no ripht
IN organizing convention, to exercise that une6ual
power. the advantages of which they have so lone
enjoyed For this might defeat the objects of reform.
The people of this State, have in times past been
usea 10 De represented by counties. Wien the pre-
sent constitution formed, and when the conYen
ton was called to act the federal constitution the
counties were represented equally. And the gentle
man from Orange himself would hardly doubt the
40 a1Hty Of the men who composed those conventions
nave been called upon to correct the injustice which
grows out OF this unequal county representation, and
they have with great magnanrnity and in clear and
distinct terms expressed their APPROPRIATIONS of the
principle, that the free white population shall he
equally represented, or as nearly 50 as practicablc;
such is the object and purport of the bill.
While, blr NJ said, the principe could not be