Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-08

1 Il,
Jected The Convention bill. The most prominent
oil all The grievances complained OF was, the un.
equa representation OF the people, and at all times
an .quai representation OF the People founded on
tue OASIS OF white population, was what was most
loudly demanded. No other representation was
thought spoken.
Twenty-eisht years have passed away since
the Jreehol,tsrs have sought for REFORM and
fourteen since they knew themselves to be the ma
lory; yet so great was their aversion from
luton that they pettioned year after year. for the
facility OF law to take their votes ON the cues
ton OF calling Convention. When this was OBJ
famed II was tr to expect, the facility now asked
LOT, TO enable the free people go into Conve nton
on equal principles No one had reason TO appre-
bend tho: instead of this, we would have been me:
ny such measure as the bill under considera.
ton.
Do gentlemen deceive themselves so far as 10
believe they have either the right or the power
10 iorce this bill on the community. What right
! nave we 10 say that none but freebooter shall
give ms vote Could we not well say that hone
out STAKEHOLDER shall vote. We have no such
right. The precedent of ITS, will no, bear us
out There was, then, an enemy at the door,
and government in the hands of some person was
ndisPensably necessary. Persistence in this nea.
sure would raise up another enemy of a very diff.
ierent character. Ii must inevitably produce re.
voiuton. 1t il not in human nature that men
should endure an oligarchy in any form when
they are able TO shake 1t off No one ought to
DOUBT tina, majority Of even the present free
west is against il, and there there is scarcely
dissentient. There is, also, great division a.
gainst it in the east Permit me to consider this
subject with reference 10 numbers. The white
population of the East in 1910, exceeded that of
the West about lie thousand. In 1920, about sc
thousand. At the present moment, have little
doubt that the majority would be found West of
the Blue Ridge But where are 10 be found the
hoh-ireeho!dsrs: Certainly on our side. Then these
are majority. Of the whole, and have been quiet
~ looking on for than twenty wears in the ex-
pectation that the freehollers themselves would
reform the State. Let but this final attempt fail
Let the ogarchy support itself through the present
struggle anu refuse the reasonable facility asked
Tor. Let them usurp the powers of a Convention
and determine at once, what shall be the future
apporiionment OF representation and what the suf-
raSe, and my word for it, the n-freehoier will
soon be heard from. They have long seen the
freeholder urging reform, and have Justly expect-
ed reasonable relief from his exertions. There is
now general understanding that this is the las,
appeal that will be made here. Indeed, it has re-
CURED some eXertions-soine soothing TO prevent
popular movement before now. That movement
VIII be inevitable, II you not only refuse at this
time what is just and re asonable; but as if Won
were fife very Convention itself, you proceed to
declare what shall be the future apportionnent of
representation, what the right of Suffrage and in
tiis form tender to us and the people that black pill
winch VIII never be swallowed, until physical
iorce shall be resorted TO and used successfully
Inc gentleman from Westmoreland has deciar-
ciared, the nature and extent OF the reformation
they desired, not even on what basis they wished
Representation placed. To set the gentleman right
Ia. this particular, as we'll TO shew that il were
better to examine into the truth of fact, than TO
assert 1t, will read part OF the report of the Com
nitee on the Staunton memorial in the Session of
1916. tSee the Journal, pages SO 81 ST. The
Staunton Convention OF 1916, was a respectable &
numerous body OF the friends OF Reform and thew
sought that Reform on the principles VI e now con.
tend, as had the petitioners in lSUi-'2-'3- SO
and In almost every year since. From the report
ana resolutions OF lSl6, it appears that the Com
init'ee recommended an equal distribution among
lie White population oil members 10 Convention
Those opposed 10 4 Conye ntion made use of evcrv
honorable e1ertion that ingenuity and talent could
invent, TO divide US, by Introducing features into
the resolutions which would have that ie ndeHcy
Alter every effort OF this kind had failed and il wos
manifest that bill DE ordered 70 be broue h,
In, IN conformity with the resolution a gentleman
who, II will be agreed by all who knew him, either
personally or from reports OF the most po wer
debaters OF the age in which we live-hlr Tszewe
OF the United States Senate proposed an amend
ment to Introduce that very principIe-the repre
sentation OF slaves, which is now contend.J for
as the last effort, hope, to sustain a fallen oligar
chy, already crushed by the law OF descents and
The act Tor docking estates tail-This proposition
was seriously debated then, hut its friends were
neither so numerous nor SO bold as now. On d
vision, they numbered but Is to the hes, of INV
recollection The journal does not shew the num-
he
count was not inserted. Here then is record evi
dence, (see the journal p I7O) to shew. how
completely the gentleman from WestlnorclaDd and
his friends are mistaken. After that session 1
never heard this proposition Urged, even in pri
vate conversation, until since The vote M Ia,
Spring So completely was it then Abandoned
that the Senatorial districts were in that very ses
sion reformed on the basis Of white popuIatisn ,s
ascertalned by the census of 1910.
And the Senate was SO reformed at the ins,ancs
oil the enemies oil reform. We had carried n,,-
proposition-had passed Convention Bill and sent
II to the Senate. We represented such power.
iui majority, that it was supposed the Senate
would Yield 10 prevent this, eastern Statesmen
who dreaded nothing so much as Conyeu,iop'
brought III, as tub to the whale, tis, very sena
toflai bill, which, IN The preceding session thev
refused to consider for want OF constitutional pow
cr, as they said.
Mr. Chairman, can il be possible that the friends
Oh slave representation are ignorant that the Sc |
nate OF virginia - the representative Of white DO
puation only. and that il was made So after Tho |
struggle of 1852 This fact is further record evi- |
dence, that the specific basis Of white population il
mat which has been uniformly demanded nv tho |
trends OF reform. They never urged any other
They successfully asserted il in 1916 At The |
otaunton Convention they again asserted, re-
corded and proclaimed it to the whole Com |
monwealth, in order that their enemies ,nioht mot
nave the power 20 nlisrepresent their vie W. I
have shewn that the nom freebooter has nevcr
been consulted, and that he is entitled 10 ne head
ana TO vote yet think it important i'm some de- |
gree, wbetiierhe shall vote for members of Con !
vention OF not, because know the freeholIers-
agree with him, and must form such CONSTITUTE !
on as ne viii accept on the final vote
NOW, Mr.. Chairman, 10 apply the position of the |
gentleman from Westmorel1nd, that every fbing
must be the result OF concession. 4 have she,v5
that the possession Slave property never confer
red privileges or power in Virginia-that it never
constituted an element of government.-No mot