Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-03
snAY NoY. oh.I

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Rev. Mr.. Armstrong Of the Presbyterian
fhulch. a
The Convention resolved itself into a Com
mi,iee Of the Whole on The Constitution --Mr
Powell IN The ChnIr.
The Char propoundrd The question rs 10
the filling OF the blank with The number Of
Senators. s
Mr.. Bagiy rosa to propose the number 40.
lie said. that before he saw the report of the
Legislative Committee. he had fixed on thai
humber, Mr.. Il. said that with his expo
Renee in The Senate of Virginia 10, rigb, yeets,
he had never considered that body as merely
instituted for making ye,bal correclions-bnt
they frequently were IN the habit Of making
the most mpoitant amendments IN the bilis.
Even MS TO the Revenue bills, although they
had not the power OF amending The money
bills, yet they would amend the proposition
bills. When the present Constitution was
made, the number Of "a Senators WINS sulli.
Gent TO represent all the people-there being
% Districts below the Ridge-bnt in the pre-
sent state OF our population. the 80 Sooators
would moi bear a creator ratio 10 the whole
population, than the "a did IN relation 10 the
population AT the time Of adopting Tho present
Constitution. lie wished to- increase the mum.
Der To DO, so that they may he able 10 represent.
not Tho money, not the DegrUGs, hut the lnle-
rests Of all The people. lie showed the Impos-
slbitity OF a small Senate iepresr ming ,h.ii ia
forests aud he Other consequences of so IN
adequate a Representations. lie pfoceeded 10
examine tho lumber Of The senators ia The
different Constitutions. lie stated, ior instance.
hat Massachusetts had 10 senator's, whi1h b.
supposed was adequate TO rcpres, nj The whole
people. In % oiiie States, he said the MIN
ber of senators WIS never 10 be less than one
third, nor more thnn one halt oil IiIe kepresen-
tatives. lie said The senate at present was
much too small 10 do theio duty that ~ was u
small quorum, allo" lng only lhiee Committees
of seven, which would be assigned TO thee
bills-tba, moreover being unable 10 originate
any measures, they had 10 wait upon the
House OF Delegates and hence a great por.
ton OF their time WAS lost, aud towards the
close Of the session they were much pushed,
and did their business very hastily
Mr. B1idwin reese 10 submit his plan Of a
ccmpromlsc-and read the scheme which he
would recommend that purpose, viz. the white
basis Tor the House Of Delegates and the fed.
eral basis for the Senate, and The number Of
lis member rs 30-a aud moved that The pIoposi
ton now before the Committee be lor the pre-.
sent passed by.
Mr.. D0ddridge cDqnired, If the gentleman
from Augusta Mr.. Baldwin, meant to unite in
the same proposition The Constitution Of the
House Of Delegates aud the Senate
Mr.. Bnldwin proposed 10 do so.
Mr.. D0ddridge said, he should then move 10
divide the question.
Mr.. Mercer hoped all these questions would
be passed by, until The resolutions about the
Executive Department should he discussed.
Mr.. Leigh also wished the scheme aboni the
Legislative Department to be passed by--be.
cause he had IA plan in contemplation, which
he hoped might be acceptable 10 all, II gentle.
men we're disposed TO give and 10 take. but
he wished Grst 10 consult certain gentlemen
from the Senatorial Districts.
Mr.. Doddridge enquired If The gentleman
from Chesterfield csud now state TO the Com
inittee the nature Of his plan.
Mr. Leigh declined.
Mr.. COdiieT then rose 10 address the Com.
mittee. lie said he could not undertake 20
decide finally upon any one proposition, uniil
he had seen the whole The whole instrument,
lie concluded by saying that he had not seen
any of The documents printed for the Commit.
tee. He had no specific propositions 20 make
but he would prefer with the gentleman
from Loudoun, Mr.. Mercer 10 take up the
Report on the Executive Committee.
M. Bdtdwln Withdrew his motion.
Mr.. Mercer then renewed his motion.
Bur at Mr.. Gordon's motion, he Withdrew il.
WI W. 5nI'i NHhi NV NV I''IIltth w AOiit
trouble, a plan for the purpose OF uniring the
Of the Committee, 10 place of The pro.
position of his esteemed colleague, Mr.. Plea.
SAINTS Mr.. G read his plan
ResoiUed. That the representation in the
Senate and House Of Delegates OF Virginie,
shall be apporiioned as follows that is TO
say
There shall be 10 Senators west of The Blue
Ridge OF the mountains, and ii east of those
mountains.
There shall be in the House Of Delegates
100 members Of whom 20 shall be elected
from that pat Of Virginia lying west Of the
Allegheny mountains, % from tue Valley be-
tween the Allegheny aud Blue Ridge 81 from
the Blue Ridge 10 the head OF tide water aud
80 thence below.
Air. e.. said, he had not stated in his plan,
whether il was founded on the Federal basis,
mixed basis, or any other-he bad avoided all
such genersliiies. lie said il would be f6nnd
that II would give the East below the Ridge,
a majority Of 20 delegates. He said he would
lay bis plan on the table, for the consideration
Of gentlemen.
The question was then taken on passing
over the propositions on the Legislature, lear.
ried, ayes 81
Mr.. Br0dn1r wished TO take up the next res.
o%iution OF the Leg isiaiive Committee,
After some conversation between Messrs.
Brodnas, Mercer and Nicholas, the question
was taken on taking up The Executive Deport.
| ment-and lost.
Mr.. Brodnax then moved to take up the uexi
[9thl resolution of the Legislative COMMITTEE,
! viz R%esotned, that it ought to be provided,
that in all elections for menbers of either
branch Of the General Assembly, and in the
election Of oil officers which may be required
to be made by the two Houses of Assembly
Jointly. or in either separately, with the eH.
cep,iun Of the appointment Of iheit own on