Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-10

abandoned, on the ground of comprouiSe. lint IL
uu not the less express the opinion OF the house of
delegates l he opinion OF the senate was as clear.
~ shewn, in the passage of the bill before men
TONED, Tor new arrangement of the senatorial
ulsticts, on the same just principle, that The free
,chtfe inhabitants Of the country are the oniv
j"St measure 81 GpPorftOnment Of political po,c-
e.. Thus did both houses and all parties concur
in adopting this grea, and sacred principle. And
yet, we are gravely told that q let the ATTEMPT
10 equalize representation be made when il will.
tins question (Which seems TO he the very demon
Of discord) will be sure TO rise up 10 coniound our
peace. That the very agitation Of this subject
is searching blast which will find every weak
part Of the body polite -
ain wholly incredulous then as 70 the extent
oil the excitement and luminosity which will be
produced IN the slave holding country by equal
Izng the representation OF the people of Virginia
But 1t there must be excitement and animos,y I
nave already suggested, and repeat, that the true
question Is, whether il is not better to cxasperate
the minority by doing right, than to exasperate tn e
majority by doing ipr0ng.
come next 20 consider the circumstances nm
der which the proposed surrender Of our rights is
asked.
When and by ,chorl il is asked'-It is asked in
.hc thir'etnth year oil our arduous struggle tor a
Just participation IN the powers OF COVE nment.-
III Is asked ny those who, during nearly the whole
oil that time, treated our requests our humble ne.
ttions and respectful memorials, with cool con-
temptuous inditlerence.-By those who, for two
successive years, refused to submit the convention
question 10 the people, though the hill Tor submit
uhE y vas voted los oy tie Dresen alive OF All
overwhelming majority of that people By tho.c
who thus violated principles which onght 10 lie
held sacred by all who call themselves repubii-
cans IN ords' TO rtfdin as ~, q state of suJ;.c-
no" AMI d'yrd"ch's,m snf.-By lhosr, in short
VINO have defended the citadel OF usurped and
awiess power till lis walls are crumbling in ruins
and IL Is about 20 be taken by assault ind tphat
20 fhey dSk!-Ihat for the sake Of peace, ami hur
mohy' ana cancellation we should lay down our
arms, and not only sis from the attack but aid
thein TO rebuild their ruined fortress, with dmrn
slons somewhat reduced, q be sure but with a
strength that shall defy all future assaults. II
we accede 10 such terms of paciication, we shat,
deserve TO be cIasSed with the gallant CarbonaIi
OF NAPLES, whose most valiant professions of de-
voiion to liberty, and most pu>llarimous deserton
OF her standard, III he hour OF trial, were the
laugh nd he SEQ of Europe.
hat, theH, e alernatve?-The legislature
refuses us a conv cntion. Be il SOL contention
ctogged toih degrdding conditions is ,oorse than
none. 1t would but perpetuate evils, which. if
we have the manhood TO attempt it. we can NOW
shake off forever.
The effort will cost us labor and time and mo-
ney But, If the enforcement of our Just rights
oe an oJect a'vaiuabie as ii is dear to Us. the eff
for is worth making.
IL the bill for assembling convention he lost or
II IT pass the legislative bodies tainted with the
principle oil representation. let the friends of
reform in those bodies Secede from the iegisia
fne, form themselves into q separate bOdu and
perform those duties ,chich the peopLe sent them,
TO perform. They enjoy, in a pre- eminent de-
gree, the confidence OF the people. IHey mere
selected Jor this rery tcork; and il they leave it
undone, they will dIsappoint the expectations, and
sent them
ne difficulty OF organizing convention with
out the aid OF the legislature, is not, by any means
so great as might at frs, be supposed.
4 ne ilrst consideration is the expense which
VIII he incurred. On this point we might follow
the example of tie catholics of Ireland. We
nave all heard OF the " catholic rents 3" IL is a
iund' raised 10y general subscription, to defiay
The expenses of emancipation. Such a fund could
be provided in Virginia without tho smallest diff
Guilty
After the necessary expenses were provided
Tor, the most important of the duties of this pre-
hininary convention would be, TO fix standard of
representation; or, in other words, the number OF
FIRE" white inh btantS 10 be represented by each
member OF the proposed convention. And here /
will remark, hat there cannot bo a moments
doubt that the standard recommen cd Ivy the pre-
iminary convention would be adhered to, cr ne
reSsttate rel, by the friends of reform throughout
The state.
The census Of 1920 would of course he resort
I'd TO, in apporiioning the representation. and the
elections would, necessarily, be county elections.
he Opposition 10 he made Of the fractions is the
most difficult part OF the whole arrangement
One solution of the difficulty would be- the trans
Ter OF the surplus fractions of the larger counties
TO The nearest smaller counties holding the same
general political creed. For example: suppose
the number 5000 TO be adopted AZ the standard
Frederick county, having free white population
of 1857, would he entitled TO FIVE members, and
would have diSposdble surplus fraction of 1857
Hardy county, the nearest small county holding
the same political creed, both being mt ariy unan-
nous for convention, possesses population of
5000 or fraction OF 1906. Add the population of
10th counties together, and you have 2lI63, emit
tied 10 screen members, with fraction over OF on
~ 16@ Give free members 10 Frederick then,
and ttcO instead of one 20 Hardy.
Hn' alter fixing the number of representatives,
that each ounty will he entitled to, when how
and by whom would the members Of the proposed
convention he c'crted!-i answer, at the ordinary
spring elections in 1929 for delegates TO the next
General Assembiy-by the agency of tho shcri6s
IN the different Countics-and Ivy the GeehOIdcrs
Though tho Justice OF the present limitation of
the right Of suffrage is almost universally admit
ted, any attempt, at this stage of the business 10
take the votes of the non.frceholders, Of OF
particular classes Of them, would he attended with
so many practical difficulties, TO endanger the
total failure of the whole sch' the o. operations
lie non ifeehodeT5, those at least who deserve to
have, and will have, their right OF suffra q recog-
Dized, under the new government TO be establish
ed, will have good sense enough 10 that tenn
poTary iorbearaDce Is necessary to the eventual
success Of their just pretensions.
But the sheriff might refuse 10 open such poll
Conceded.-lt would be easy, in such case, to o.
pen poll at the same an adjoining desk or ia
bic, for the election Of members to the proposed
convention, under the superiGtendence Of two or
more respectable friends of reform, who might
be Professionally selected for The purpose in all
the counties by the preliminary convention at
Richmond
But many ofthc counties would refuse to send re-
presentaiives to such convention TRUE But
the vote taken OF the convention question tn the
spring Of the present year, may be considered