Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-01
lREP0RTED ron TUE WIG.
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
WADSrsaAY~Nox.--25.

Mr. SUMMERS had moved TO fiji the blank with So
Mr.. BsopNAx had moved to fill the blank with I8. |
Mr.. DoDpRIpG& had moved to fill the blank with |
The question was about to be taken on the largest
number. when
Mr.. BAYLY moved to amend the blank with 10
lie stated that when he the report OF the Legs
laiiye COMMITTEE, that the number of the Senate |
should not be Increased nor diminished his mind had
settled doyp the number he had now named
He once had the honour of seat IN the Senate for
eight years, and experience had taught him that this
was the proper number. He stated that tire Senate
had made a,lendmens in bills which were sent to
them by the House of Delegates He also said that
be recolcced the session being prolonged week,
while there was contest on the subject of q bill
Bat he'statr that the Senate had been always
powered. He showed that in the proposed arrange
Ocr' If 10. the Senate would not be more powerful
taenit was with "a, when that number was appointed
The Senatorial District from which he came was
composed of FIVE counties. The Senator formerly
was man knowing the interests of his constituents
and well known to all of them, but since the new
aTangemcnt, thc Senator scarcely known to anv
O.. them. lie referred. 1the trade of hisdstrict-
The Senate of the State for IL years he said. was
composed Of the old Virginia gen clncn: but these
had been driven from the Senate, because they did
not choose to accept of the station. lie stated the
principle on which 4 Senator from Accomack was
elected, aud then a Scnatorfro NORTHAMPTON; whom
every thing wen, harmoniously; but thnrs had
now changed, and he thought IT was necessary now
TO increase the number to them to their form
or condition. He spoke of the feelings of the Ens-
tern Shore: of those of the Western Shore he knew
n9thng. The situation of the Eastern Shore is not
peculiar. The counties of Brooke and Ohio
tongue of land, in the Ohio, ought TO be as much
interested IN obtaining Senator who was fully and
universally known. Throughout the whole of the
> ate, the same reasons ought to operate The
plain farmers now, in consequence of the largo dis
tricts, cannot be supposed to know their Senator:
they are obliged To procure their knowledge of the
individual trum others. He believed a small Senate
could never unite the affections of the people
while the House of Delegates will always be able to
have decided advantage over the Senlie He had
looked into the Constitutions of the different States
Massachusetts, has 40 Senators This is small State
There Is closer identity of interests. and more
connected intercourse than in this State; and i'll
massachusetts, has 40, Virginia ought to have 60
New Jersey mas 10 in her Legislative Council, and
80 IN the other branch, that The Senate is one
third. Pennsylvania has % Senators. and 10 Repre
sentatves Virginia has 81 in the Senate, and PA
IN the House Of Delegates. In North Carolina the
Senate is co, and the House OF Commons 100. In |
Georgia the Senate is g. and the House ST. and the
Constitution provides that one county shall ALWAYS
have Senator. Delaware b., Senators and 81 !
representatives, In Ohio the Senate is never less /,
man one third, nor than half oftha Uuusn
II was the same with other States Of the Wess and
ie other States confirm the principle that the Sen
lie is never less than one-third, nor more than one
half of the House. FIT zen of the States h.,o IL,
tcd this principle. /
One word on the subject of expense l. was truo /
the expense Of the Legislative branch was one of the
causes which produced this Convention The House
= Delegates Is now cid, and the Senate 81, being
2J8 According to the plan now proposed. the Houso
would be 100. and the Senate 40 being an aporegate
Of i60 or 78 less than the present number Here would
be considerable saving as to numbers. and there
would be an equal saving as to time. The sessions /
would be diminished, because time is now lost in dis
putes between the two branches. 1t was the pre- ,
vaing opinion when he was i'll the Senate that that |
body ought to have more power. The Senate of the !
State is different from that of the U. States The
u. s. Senate may be compared TO assembly of am
bassadors, who have duties to perform relain to the
whole Of the Il. States, and even to foreign nations
and who consequently have great deal of business
to do. lie reminded gentlemen of the great leisure
which the members of the Senate usually have. II !
often happens that the whole Senate is not more than
90 members and when you divide this body into COM
mittees of seven each, you take all the Senate Blu
siness frequently is delayed to the injury Of the pub
lie. He concluded with expressing his intention to
vote for 20.
Mr.. Baldwin expressed an anxiety that n compro
mise should take place. and he intended at a proper
lime, to move to strike out the whole of the amend
men of the gentleman FROM Goochland and inserting
a substitute. lie wouid respectfully suggest tue I
propricty ofaying the amendments on the table in
order that he might move his propositions.
At the suggestion of the CHAIR the motion was
varied, ~ as TO pass by the resolution and amend
Inents.
Mr.. DoDDnIDcE asked if it was intended to unite
OF the Senate.
Mr.. BALDwIN answered in The affirmative
Mr. DoDDMDGE said, that in that case he should
ask for division Of the question.
Mr.. MERCER then made few observations on the /
subject Of the increase oftbc number Of the Senate
md the union in it Of Legislative and Executive
duties, to both of which he was opposed.
Mr.. LEIGH wished the resolution and amendments /
o. be passed by for few days. and that the Judi.
rll Report be taken up. His object was 10 d.gegt
scheme Of representation which he had thought Of
aud which he hoped would unite ali parties the 9TH
side disposed to give take. lie wished to
take the advice Of gentlemen on both sides before
ne proposed lis scheme.
Mr.. Dominance asked if il would be improper 10
ask the gentleman what was the nature Of his pro-
position.
Mr.. LEIcH declined giving any information on thc@
subject, until he should have consulted gentlemen on
the subject.
Mr.. BALpwrN suggested that his motion was only
10 pass 10y the amendments respecting tho filing Of
The blanks.
MIR. CoALTER then addressed the Chair as folows
-, 81, f-cr, :