Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-01

mrs in regard to that depar,mcf,t-I
mean as taths Supciior Courts As to the County |
there maybe danger: but of what char
accTi not apprzed. These, sir are my views at
PRESENT. am not prepared TO propose unv ti,ine-I
thought it due to myselfto state canddly what vcrc
my general views.
Mr.. c. concluded by saving that he had MO, st,n
grIt ofthc Documents printed for the C6m,uttce;
that he had no specific propositions to make but that
he would prefer with the gentleman from loudon
utivc COMMITTEES.
MP. BALDWIN withdrew his motion.
Mr. MERCER then renewed The motion 10 pass bv
These amendments III order to take up the Report of
the Executive Committee, which he withdrew at the
request of
Mr.. CoRpoS, who expressed a Wish to have an op
portuniy to present to the COMMITTEES proposition
which he had prepared with much labor. While the
basis OF TIA two Houses considered separatcly
he did not see that any satisfactory issue could be
c%pected' lie had therefore prepared proposition
which he would read o the Committee. lit should
appear that II was not likely tho views Of zen
tenlen, 10 reconcile the conflicting opinions OF the
Committee, he would abandon it in despair and with
precpila'lon His proposition divided The members
OF the two Houses according the districts I'll coun
try lie had not referred 10 any particular basis of
representation. He had thought 1t best to take the
| present Constitution as lie basis of amendment and
not 10 build new altogrt r. He had riveii 10
the extreme West. 36 representatives for their 90
counties. TIC Valley will have their present NUM-
Der. Middle Virginia " Ill have, 10 make n ueyy dis
trbu.ion Of her numbers which she now has To the
tide water district he apporiioc, So ,eIegh,es lie
presented the difficulties and advantages OF his prop
oSlfion to the Committee 1t grvcs 20 the cxre1ue
West less than the number of the white population,
WoIid give, but mare than federal numbers or any
Hber proposition would give. 1t gives to the ether
districts the power they have. Tle propos ion
OF Tue gGltleran vas then lad Tie table Tor e-
animation.
~ticSoScef Ihat the Representations in thu, Senute
ana Louise OF Delegates of Firginia shall be upper
toned as follows: that is to say
-lttpr,c t,,T t~r.T
! OF VI ountails, and II east ofthose nionIrains
fhcI's shall be in the Ilnuse of Delegates leo
'nrnocrs OF whom rs shall be elected from that part
Virginia lying vssl OF the Allegheny mountains;
% from the Valley between tue AiIeRLalIy and Blur
Rdso: 81 from tho Blue Ridge to The head Of tide
water; end 80 thence below.
\ The question was then taken on passnv nv The
resolution and amendments and decicd in n, .,.;r
/ lnatve--aycs 81.
Mr.. MEncER moved to take up the report Of the
Executive Committee.
| Mr.. Brodnax expressed wish tina. the Con,mi,,e,
tive Committee ' $50
Some conversation took place OIL the subject which
ions existed. - 'ts'-
The question vas then taken, on takiny M tb,
Executive report, and decided in the negative
Mr. Brodna& then moved 10 take Up the 9Th reso-
luton oithe Legislative Committed which read a.
fellows, which was agreed to.
hcsofred That 1t ought to be provided that l., ali
elections for members Of either branch of the fSena
raj Assembly, and IN the election of all offcers
which may be required TO be made bv the two
iouseS OF Assembly, jointly, in either separately
with the exception nt the appointment of their ny;n
ocers the Vote Should be given openly OF rfpu roce
and not by ballot.
Mr. SaopNAN moved to amend the resolution, by
striking out the whole of tho resolution after nh,
word Resolved, and inserting the following.
! Resotced, That it ought to be provided in the Con
stnoaon that IN al elections in this State to any
% l.ie o. .fhst, honor or profit, with the eX.
cepLtoh OF Inc appointment of The officers OF the
Geocrai Assembly, tho votes should be f.ivcn ,;
coce and not by ballot.
My BRopNAx said it was his opinion that all cleo.
lions should DE SO conducted a. that all the world
may kro" now the votes are gwen lie had INN
gined that the elections of the officers of tho &C
!ature was OF less Importance and that the nnIIic
not being Interested IN the result, he had nxcon,I
sucH eiectons from the operation of the ,icn uore
principe. lie would now however, at the sugqes.
ton OF gentleman, in whose Judgment he had min;
ted confidence, Withdraw that exception SO rs to make
the operation OF the provision in all cases
Mr.. CLAYToR could not see the necessity of with
drawing the exception, and therefore refused to :.
sent to its erasure. ~ Vs.
Mr.. BRoDNAx said it was usual in many of tho
states 10 cal over the names OF members in the
election OF onccrs' and for each member to answer
as ne intended tu vote. He could not see anv rem
son tor secrecy In these elections lie wished to
aVoid mat hyPocracy and dupcity which Turk in
lhe paAot box; He wished every thing to be done
openly that all may see what vote is riven
Mr.. CiAfToR said his reason for WISHING The ev
cePuon to remain, was because the election of ofii
cels was matter on which the members alone were
-hr: - JOHNSON agreed with the mover as 10 the
PROPHECY OF oecn coco elections; but he could see mo
pEoPreiy IN imposing on the Legislature the nocess;
~ ol elecnng their own officers on that principle.
Tue OBJECT Of piUa 0oce voling to prevent CORRUPTION;
u Il? Such cause could exist for insisting on that
oIe III the mere election Of their officers l. could
not be necessary, that doorkcepcr should be pos.rs
sea Oh inc names of those who voted fr and ananst
nm lie wished that tile subject should be left to
Mr. RASDoLpH expressed hone ,hot IN c,,o,,.,.
courtesy, The gentleman would not be refused ,,nr
mission TO modify bis resolution lie said he renn,o
Dcreu the election of Speakc. of the House Of Bur
'nan now at the head of the Declaration from
and he would say at the head of thi; body. brnn4b
10 nus celebrated report the alien and sedton I2
wch put bl{ IN the ulogth ana nook in the nose
Vi INC political Icvathan which some gentlemen Som
now anxious to remove IL coon.;J -, .. S'i'