Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-20
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
Oeoafe ara the Senate on the Conrention.
EEBRnApy 1900

FEBRUARY A, 1879.
zen. Dode's amendment to the Bin, and Mfr
.horgGn's amendment to Gen. Dade's, beans
under consideration.
Mr.. Morgan said, that having some DAYS before
submitted for the consideration Of the Senate ar
amendment, to the amendment, offered by the
gentleman from Orange, Gen. Dade, y he begged
to be permitted to make few remarks, which
would at once show the difference between the tive
proposed amendments, well as between his
own proposition and the provisions contained in
the Dill, as IT came from the House Of Delegates
IN proposing the amendments which he had Of
iered, his chief object was, to remedy what he
believed to be defect in the original bill, and to
make It as perfect as possible, and to determine
whether the choice of delegates, to the conven-
ton, shall be submitted 70 the body Of the people
or 10 the body of the freeholders. He believed
mat the delegates in the other branch,of the Le-
gsiature,as well as the people OF the district which
ne represented, were almost unanimously in ia
YOUR oil Convention, for the purpose of eoualiz-
ing the representation; yet he believed also, that
they feIt some partially for their present insitr-
ons and that, in going into convention, strict re-
gard ought to be had to those boundaries by which
they had been always guided in their choice OF
oeiegaies TO the Legislature. He was of the same
opinion.
Mr. Morgan differed from the gentleman
from Grange, who had commended, that the bill
contained no principle at all. He (NIr. NJ thought
1t demonstrable, that the bill contained the two
principles: LIST, "that the people ought to be re-
presented equally, according to the free white po-
pulaton;" and IDLY, 'tbat each of the counties
and corporations onght to be preserved as nde-
pendent celebrates, for the cleo ton of deegates
to the proposed convention
Mr.. NJ said, that be thought the Legislature
ought TO adopt some bill, by which there would
be secured TO the people, in the great sections of
the Siae an equality of representation, according
10 an equal ratio OF free white population and al.
so topermt the counties, to choose each one or
more delegates, according 10 their population
such a bill he thought would do more to satisfy
the public mind than any district system, which
could be devised.
The gentleman has said, that this is not the
time to dispute about the political power of the
different sections Of the State, that il is impossible
In the present case, to have relation to sectional
power or feeling.
Mr.. Nj. said, it might not re imprope. here IN
remark the striking anology Of our present situa-
ton to that of Athens, about the time Scion was
called into power. He said the people had be-
come almost universally displeased with the Sc
verify OF their laws and inequality of their 90
vernment: That in their disputes about reforms
ton, the people OF the upland country contend.d
for perfect equality; those OF the low land country
for dominion in the hands of the few; while the
commercial part OF the community feared the ac-
QUESTION oil power by either Of the Others and the
poor being oppressed by all, found favour in the
influence OF none. In this situation thew mutu
ally agreed 20 submit the institution of new form
OF government to the wisdom and virtue of Solon
He accepted the authority, and although he did
not institute the best possible form of government
yet was the best that could be established at the
time, and unquestiona5ly constituted the founda-
ton OF the future happiness and prosperity OF the
people: 10 the rich ne gave the principal Offices
according to their several classes, while he ee
cured to the poor the privilege Of voting i'm the
assemblies Of the people. This substantially rave
them negative upon the affairs of the State.
and constituted them the best security for liberty
and freedom.
| How striking the simlitude between the state
OF feeling IN Greece, at the period referred TO- and
that OF our own country at the present time! We
oil the uplands maintain, that all men are to be ac
counted equally free and independent, and enti-
Tied to equal political rights-we see on the mart
oil the lowlanders, well by their votes as by their
maintaining that, the power in the Legislative
councils OF the state shall remain as heretofore in
the hands OF few, denial of this equality of ma
tural and political right Mr.. Nj said. he eons;.
dered the gentleman from Orange, Iowlander.
| although that gentleman might think otherwise
but no man could doubt that the great line which
nature mad drawn across the state (the Blue
hiugel was the true division between the upland
ers and the iowlaDders of this country and he re-
GREETED TO see the question, now under considera-
uon, made one OF power between the two sec.
tons OF country, rather than one Of right and g.
quality.
Inc gentleman from Orange, prefers bis amend
meDt to all Others and il is not difficult TO accoup,
tor II: he coDiesses that il is UNEQUAL vet mas
rnuch as II approaches somewhat TO equality, the
west must be satisfied with III When examined.
!, VIII be found that the gentleman's district by
the bill, lacks one delegate according 10 fair ra
to OF represeDtation-and by his amendment will
nave nearly one too many.-This NAV be a good
reason for his preference. To prove the correct
ness OF this opinion he would refer TO the actual
puIation. In 1920, the free white population Of
that district, was 20925.
By the bill az sent to US by the House of Dele.
gates, that district will have four re in
convention, and fraction OF septed nonul.
tion OF 4,oiT. 1he ratio FOR representative being
4,lO2, II ought TO have one more delegate: but bv
me gentiemans amendment, his district will have
Tour delegates, aud lack population of 2Od IN
make up the ratio OF district (os of every four
deiegatcsl amounting 10 nearly one delegate too
many. Mr.. Nj. said, that by his anne udnent ,hs,
district would have FIVE delegates and Graction "a
1860: that this OF couTse was much more enuai
man either OF the other propositions and he thought
eoulu nor De more just Why would the gentle
man ask more than an equality fthis inegualjiv
IN the genlieman's amendment is 10 be overlooked
now can he expect any thing like reformation oil
the representation in the future legislatures?
~ the gentleman will not accord justice to all
men, and give all their equal influence, how can
he expect others to yield their undue influence to
him? He ought TO recoiIeci, that those who ash
ior justice, must first render IL to others On what
principle are these senatorial districts based? They
are perfectly arbitrary and terrtorial--not on any
ratio OF population, nor according 10 ancient coun
! ty usage. They arc wholly accidental In the
discussion OF this subject, much has been said n,
senatorial districts being founded upon an enual
ratio of the free white population: this he vvonid
assert not the fact. At the time the artan.o.
ment Of these districts was made, some of ,bs =,
contained much greater population than Others.
The arrangement was not as equal az was practice.
p'e' as may DC seen oy an examination ofihe cen.
sus Of 1910. He would ask ifthev were nos
equak he acknowledged he had no idea when
me bli came to the Senate, that the gentleman
Hoh orange would have proposed such an amend