Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-29

4
went into calculation to show that majority Of
The counties having population below the aver
age, could not be expected 70 vote for it, II such
bill were to pass, the representation from the
| lower country would remain about the same, and
| the middle country would sustain a loss OF ten
| members. The que stion was not " hat was hest
to be done, but what il was practicable to do Bv
| a similar calculation he showed that there was a
majority against Congressional districts. He ac-
s smoWieugea !hat the county plan was unequal,
out the form in which the bill had been recently
put by his amendment, made that inequality less
ooJecionaoie. lie had no partiality for the bill
even In this form; but finding that no other plan
would unite majority, he had determined upon
Snis. IL was well known that he had, from the
nrst, supported the basis of Senatorial districts
me enect OF re-considering the vote would be to
'hrow the House again upon the sea of uncertain
" and open the door to protracted struggle and
oi'eussion lie expressed sincere hope that all
strife would end here, and that Convention
would be called, which would end in harlnonizing
'he country, and promoting the permanent happi-
ness and glory Of Virginia.
MI: brixton declared, that, having been driven
from his favorte scheme of equal county renre.
| sentation, he was now willing to take Senatorial
districts. lie assured the House that many of
the representatives of small counties would do the
same. No just conclusion, he thought, could be
arawh from the iact that Senatorial districts in
several forms had been rejected: II ought 70 he
recoiiected that several schemes for graduated
county representation had also been rejected.
Mr. Goode said, he would be better satisfied by
Voles IMAM calculations. He was in favor Of re-
consideration; and would even go further-he
would re-commit the bill, with instructions to the
COMMITTEE to report the Senatorial plan. This
instruction, he thought, would shut the door
against the schemes that were expec,ed.to be Of
Tered; II would also be binding on the House to
adopt that plan. He did not intend now TO vote
ior county plan in any form.
MT. gregory said, he rose to disclaim any sde-
sign oil entrapping thatporon of the house, friend
~ 70 the Senatorial district system: he was will
ing that the motion to reconsider should pro-
ceed upon the understanding, that the Senatorial
oasis should be supported by the Eastern part of
the State He was willing TO say, that he aban.
uoned The county system uutenable ground,
and he would take occasion to saw that the plan
which his judgment had always approved (he al
iuded to the Congressional district plan) had been
| oahed by that unnatural! and unhappy alliance
winch had been gotten up between the East and
.he west, and III the management of which he had
| taken no part-and for which he had never felt
any confidence. He hooked to the middle coun-
| try as allied TO the Eastern part OF the State by
local situations and believed that part OF the coun-
try was united to the East in the policy of this
whole measure. He cherished this idea upon
| feeling and judgment. When the county system
was presented TO him by determined course of
action, OH the part of the delegation from the East
he considered the tie Of common feeling and was
directed 10 his efforts: by it.. Upon the present
motion. he would say to the House, that he felt
strong desire TO vote for the bill which should
meet the support OF the majority. He was anx-
ious to take leave OF the question in a friendly
way because he wished TO connect his constu-
ents with the subject in no temper of irritation
but In respect and affection for those objects of re-
form to which we might be guided by an enlight-
ened public opinion. He, therefore, hoped the
House would agree to the motion, and that the
district system would be finally adopted
| Mr.. Upshaw OF Essex, also pledged himself TO
abandon the county, and vote for the Senatorial
plan. The county system had never been sine
qua non with him. He preferred Congressional
districts, but not being able to get that he had
concurred in the county plan as most Compatible
win the interests OF his section of country
Mr.. Duncan said, that pledges were pretty
things, but when he recolected how long the anti
conventionists had held the faces of the conyen
onists to the grind stone, he could not throw him
self upon Them We had been long enough al
sea, and having got i'll sight OF land, he was not
willing to tack about again.
Mr. mason OF King George, would give no
Pieuge-He considered Senatorial districts as OBJ
Jectonable as the present BILL and was Indifferent
| as to which Of them prevailed
MIR. Christian, OF c. G. said, that it ought TO be
recollected that the Senatorial Bill had only come
IN conflict with the plan for equal county repre-
sentatlon. He was not surprised at the kind feel.
ing which Mr.. Doddrdge then manifested towards
| the small counties in the West,that had before act.
ed with those Of the Eastern Country. These
gentlemen, he said, had been educed, by some
means or other, from the fair and honorable under
standing between them and the Eastern small
counties. If they should be deserted by the new
allies then declaring in their favor, they would on.
y be treated DIS they had treated their late friends
In the Lower Country. Mr.. c. acknowled ged
the inequality OF County Representation; but con-
tended, thatt preserved the balace of power
OF himself, he had preferred Congressional Dis
tricts' and had taken the County plan only in the
spirit oil accommodation to his Western Brethren
Out he preferred the Senatorial Districts 10 any
plan OF graduated County Representation
MI Parker, oil Northampton, said he was glad
that Mr. Gordon had made the ackpoyyl edgment
mat gentlemen OH that floor represented the IL
terests OF their Constituents. Men he said were
the creatures OF circumstances, and would ALWAYS
consult their interests. The votes that had been
taken IN that House, were proofs Of this IL was
under the influence OF interest, that the small conn
ties OF the w est had united with those of the East
lie fet embarrassed as 10 what course to take. He
would vote Tor any other bill in preference TO this
Since the sense Of the House seemed to be against
separate County Representation, he would not A.
again support that scheme. He attributed the
loss OF the County Plan, its abandonment by its
western ffiends-and made some illusions to the
union which had existed between the small coun.
ties in the upper s. lower country.
Mr.. Gordon regretted the necessity of his taking
any part on this subject. He had remained silent
unt!i he found that the County Plan was about TO
be fastened upon us; and he offered his amendment
because he wished that some bill should pass, and
considered the amendment offered by him, as the
only plan on which majority could be united He
could assure gentlemen, that but one individual
knew even that he intended offering il, and that
gentleman had aided him in making the calcutta
uons' tie was glad that the proposition had dis.
solved the union between the small counties
Mr.. linn said, that the small counties in the
"est,had determined TO secure their own interests
by putting down all district plans-,his was the
true motive OF their action. He did not prefer e.
Dual County Repre- sentation but a gradus,.d 90