Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-15


solved itself into Committee of the Whole, take
into its consideration the bill for organizing Con-
veniion-Mr. May in the Chair.
The Chairman stated, that the question before
me COMMITTEE was, on the mendment proposed
by the gentleman from Aileghany, (Mr. Terribly
TO the original bill. 1--WE think it necessary to
state, tha the original bill proposes to adopt the
congressional Districts the basis OF the Repre-
seh'a'oh |" the Conventions; and Mr. Terrs IL
MetJnent goes to substitute in lieu OF IT, a repre-
sentaticn by counties, viz: one Deleyate from
each oi The present counties 1.-The Chairman AZ
Ter announcing the question To the Committee
remarked, that when il rose yesterday, SUBJ
s,itutc had been offered by the member 1, ON
Brooke, (Afr. D. by way of amendment to the
substitute then before the Committee, which, in
the opinion of the Chair, was no; in order; but
in Difference to the opinions Of some, aud the wish
es OF many OF the Committee, the substitute Of
the gentleman from Brooke, would, with general
consent, be received.
MIR. Doddridge then to submit, his suSsti-
tnte III place OF Mr.. Terrilrs He had for this
purpose, written out al entire new hill. He beg
ged leave 10 explain il in few words: He had
formerly proposed bill TO the Committee, which
they had rejected. for arranging the delegation
by counties into four classes. His present bill
differed from it in certain features. For instance
ne mad struck out the fourth class altogether, so
as to throw the counties of Shenandoah, Loudoun
and Fauquier into the Bird class. Again--in the
former bill he had thrown all the counties, which
had free white population below 1000, into the
lst class-and those between 1900 and 5000 into
the End class-,he lst class was to have one de-
iesa'e, and the End class two delegates-But as
the city OF Richmond and the borough of Norfolk
had population OF between 4 and 5000, he had in
tile present bill thrown them into the End class,
aud allowed them two deiegatesQh the Convcn-
lon: He had also made somesehanges in the
qualifications of those who were to vote for dele
gates 10 the Convention.
Mr. Christian Of Charles City, enquired, whether
nc understood the Chair TO have decided, that this
amendment was in order?
The Chair replied in the negative--that its first
opinion was unchanged; that the substitute of the
gentleman from Allegheny, haping been adopted
6y the Committee as an amendment to the sub
stitufe, proposed by the gentleman from Essex,
{Air. Pitts) it was not in order 10 receive an a.
mendment to it--that for the reasons first stated,
the Chair had been disposed to receive the last
mendment, wittiethe general consent of the Com
mittee; but with such consent Only-and Mr.. &.
having expressed his dissent, the Chair decided
that the amendment was not in order.
For the purpose OF testing the question, Mr..
Doddridge then said, he would respectfully appeal
from the decision OF the Chair. The decision OF
the Chair was advocated by Messrs. Christian
5raxton, Gaines, Goode, Eppes aud Hall. II was
opposed by Messrs. Gordon, Witcher, Filzbugb oil
Fairfax, Brown OF Harrison, Nelson and bod
bridge Upon putting the question, the decision
OF the Chair was confrmed-ayes 81, noes III
(and, Of course, the substitute of Mr.. Doddrdgs
was so far superceded)
The question required on the adoption Of Mr.
Terrll's substitute.
The Chair then remarked, that the bill and the
substitute were alone before the Committee, both
open TO discussion: That it was in order, howe
ver' 10 state, by way OF argument against either,
any new plan Tor the organization of the Conven-
ton: For example, that of the gentleman from
Brooke, or the Senatorial District plan, rs ultima
ted by the gentleman from FairfaN:) but that
beyond this, neither amendment nor argument
would be in order. In reply to an enquiry by
/ M Eai air t,,rfl
that II the amendment OF the gentleman from AL
eShany were adopted, substitute 10 the bill it
could not afterwards be amended in the Commit
tee, but must he reported TO the House.
Mr.. Rutherford rose to state his views of the
whole question. He stated his objections both TO
the representation upon federal numbers as adopt
ed by the original bill, and the county representa-
ton as embraced III Mr. Terrl's substitute-He
should hereafter move an amendment of his own,
founded on the compound ratio of free white pop
ulatior and Of taxation.
Mr.. Brown OF Harrison, also addressed the Com
! inittee at considerable length. He said that he
could not assent to any scheme OF representation,
which was not equaliZed, on the basis OF white
population, according 10 the census OF 1920. He
declared this TO be compromise, as between the
East and West, for it was plainly deducibe from
the Militia returns OF 1928, that the increase of
population West Of the Blue Ridge, had been
greater Than TO the Eastward, ard if an eDume "a
ton could now be made, the West would have
more representatives, than are due by the Census
OF 1920. Ii was, therefore, a concession TO agree
to an equalization, by the Census Of 1870, ana az
great concession as coul reasonably be asked. He
informed the ConInittee, that in order TO make a
breach lii the bill and get clear OF the slave repre-
a,ion,he should hrstvote for the county representa-
ton; but having got clear of the slave feature, he
should not vote for the county representation,
ard he called upon all the Delegates from the
Western counties, ultimately to unite with him II
abandon that mode of representation MIR. Brown
addressed the Committee OH variety Of Other
| particularly answering the course Of re-
! marks which had been made by some of the mem
bers in relation to the Western part Of Virginia
When he concluded, Mr.. Nelson moved for the
Committee to rise-whch was negaiiyed, ayes 20
| noes 100.
The question then REQUIRED on Mr.. Terrill's a
mendnent, and II was carried-Ayes Ill, noes 81
On MIR. Goode's motion the Committee then rose
and Mr.. May reported the substitute as agreed
| upon in the Committeeman the House Adjourn.
yEsTERDAY--A communication was received
from the Senate, that they had passed the bill
| concerning Noah Zane, and that tl.-y adhere 10
their amendment to the bill divorcng Sarah Ann
Lee, 10 which the House bad dsagreed. On
| Mr.. VASES motion, the House insisted Oh thcii
disagreement.
| Reports were presented from The Committees
by Messrs. Iancey, Gordon, HILL and Parker OF
! Northampton.
Mr.. Craig obtained leave 10 bring in bill 10 es.
tablisb inspection of flour and meal in the town
Of Faye,te, in Montgomery.
| On Mr.. Doddridge's motion, the petition Of the
Wellsburg and Washington Turnpike Company
was withdrawn and ref1<fed TO the Board OF Public
Works now in SESSION.
Mr.. Richardson presented report from the Di
rectors Of the Williamsburg Luns,ic Hospital
which was ordered to he printed.
On Mr.. Terrill's motion the bill was taken uT
concerning
CONVENTION.
4 fu that he al iug;u, al