Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-13

ties, generally, possessed wealth. and paid large
share OF the public taxes. He here presented a
comparative statement of the taxes paid by various
counties, and insisted that this unequal share OF
the public burdens, that was borne 10y the small
counties, was some equivalent, for the Inequality
in the representation. The whole Revenue OF the
State 1923 553; Of ibis, all the anti. Conven
tion counties paid Ss22J ,O93-aud those est OF the
Ridge in favor oil Convention, paid 1896, 69S--and
those on this side in favor OF Conven ion, paid
$99,77 Ii was his fortune misfortune to hav e
been member OF Congress, a, the time when
the Missouri Question was agitated in that boty.-
He had gone there with the mos, devoted attach
Inent to the Union. But, that question reused the
most angry feelings Imaginable. He had never
conceived any thing like the excitement it produc-
edIn fact, the sacred bands which united this Ma
ton, were OH the point of being broken asunder.-
And we had seen, that the agitation OF nearly the
same question here, had produced excitement.-
He called on the members from the Eastern
Counties, TO give up proposition so Objectionable
TO the West. He said he did not like il more than
they did.
He contended that the County System had the
advantage over any District System whatever, be-
cause 1t took the representative Immediately from
among those whom he was TO represent: and in
that Case, there WAS familiarity and intercours Sc
between them, which enabled the representative
to speak correctly. the will Of the people. His
responsibility was increased by the greater vigil
lance hat would be used by the people, in looking
into his conduct. This could not be the case in
the District System, in consequence OF the greater
distance and less intercourse that must exist. In
fact, the people, by such system, would be =
presented in too many instances by persons, Of
whom they knew nothing, but by report, or with
whom they had bad no intercourse, except what
would take place in the transient visits during the
canvass for their suiiyagcs. IL was impossible that
such representative could either know how
TO represent the feelings and local interests
of the People, or that lie could explain and
justify TO them the proceedings of the body 20
which he had been elected. In proof of this he
referred TO thc operation OF the present senatorial
system OF Virginia. Was il possible that the Sc.
nator, representing the Eastern Shore, who re
sides on this side of the Bay, could know much OF
the local interests or the feelings of the pcope on
the other side? When bill of local nature
went up from the House of Delegates, he must
necessarily have to seek explanations, sc. from
the immediate representatives Of the people on
that floor. This, he thought, was the case in re-
lation to all the other districts, to some extent
II was principle in our politics, that the repre-
sentative ought to speak the will of the people;
how, Inc asked, was this possible, when, from his
situation, he had not the means of sufficient in
tercourse with them 10 ascertain that will? On the
contrary, when the representatives come immedi-
ately from the people, this will not happen. He
mixes among them, them al the Courthouse
aud other public places, gets their sentiments,
and can fairly represent them. He feels his re
sponsibility 10 them, and they feel the power they
have to control his public conduct. This, he
thought, was one OF the great securities as well
as beauties OF free representative government
1t approached nearer to democracy than the dis
: trict system, and was, in every respect, prefera-
BILE, both in relation 10 Convention and 10 The Lee
" gsIaure. In the district SYSTEM il might happen
b that all the members would be elected from one
3 county, and in that case the people would have to
dance attendance on their agents, if they wished
Il to impart 10 them their-wishes or opinions. The
u removal of the representative from ,the view and
;, immediate contact of his constituents was tend
ing daily TO subvert, not only the tcR of the peo-
pie, but the great objects OF government itself
H., al.
of the people He might produce many us,ra-
tons OF this idea; but there one so familiar to
the country, and remarkable for its results, that
he would content himself by abiding to that alone
In recent conflict for the Presidency of the u
States, the people Of neighborng state preferred
a particular candidate as their second choice
This preference not only hn0iOn to their re.
personalities in Congress, but they were actually
instructed TO vote for their favorite. What did a
majority do? Comply with this instruction? No
They voted from considerations of some sort, for
another and an obnoxious candidate. He repeated
that it was dangerous 10 remove representatives
from the Immediate contact with, and esponsibility
TO, the people. Ii we continue TO do SO, we shall
soon be governed, in fact, by the odiOus oligarchy
described by the member i,on Brooke, (Air. bod
dridge.)
There were still other objections TO any disiric,
representation. Ii produced Deighborhood s;rifes;
it arrayed county against county; it made men
enemies that were friends before In proof oil
this, look to the late congressional election in the
district OF Frederick ana Shenandoah. lie had
, the personalities; the general abuse and
county denunciations, to which that struggle had
given rise, with feelings of disgust and abhor.
renee. In that case, each county had its candi-
date, and supported him through thick and thin
He had known of another District election in
which there was the array of county can
didaes; and, in that instance, the popular excite
Jnent went so far that gentleman, who wished
to address the people, was actually deferred from
doing so by clsmor and menace. Mr. Parker com
Inented ON the improperly OF any plan that should
lead TO these evils. We have district systems
enough already, in all conscience. Do moi intxo-
duce more.
3 men, representing tile small counties, ought well
a TO consider: If you go into Convention on the
N District system, it would be sort OF previous
sanction Of the people TO the establishment of that
same district system in the organization of the ie-
gislafve departments of the new government
Y. And what would be its effect on the small coun
ties? Why, that they would be almost virtually
annhiated Mr.. p. here compared several plans
OF district representation To show how this mig hit
happen. Take, for instance, said he, the PROPOSE
zion for associatng Harrison with Wood Lewis,
and Randolph Harrison has within $50 az many
votes the other three counties. Was il not
+ probable, il Harrison started candidates, that,
by the arts OF popular defamation and election
eering, family connections, sc. some 200 votes
might not be procured for them in Wood, Lewis
and Randolph And in that case, Harrison would
send all the members with her peculiar feelings
and prejudices, which might possibly, be i'm oppo-
sition to those OF the other counties. And, in such
an event, had no, those counties as well be strick
en- from the map? IL had been proposed to sssoci-
ate Hampshire, Morgan, Hardy and Berkeley
and TO associate Nicholas, Pocshontas, Bath, Au-
gusta and Greenbriar. In such association,
when either Of the large counties wished 10 car
ny in the legislature any matter OF local interest 10
xya mr. hat heph iha Lun 70