Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-08
Majority for the East

Majority for the East,
Having presented these practical results proceed
TO make few remarks, and they shall be very brief
on the pr3nciPte Of dPp0ifionnlent Oh which these
plans are formed, by which they are hereafter TO
be modified. That proposed by the NIiddie and
" cstern districts requires little no explanation
Ii was irst proposed, in effect, by the worthy mem
Der from Goochand, Gov. Pleasauis) on the 18Th
uItimo and has been since under the view of the
committee 1t proposes federal numbers, as the ba
SIS OF representation in the Senate and white popu
lation the basis in the House of Delegates Ii is
almost supertluous to remark that the basis of white
population in the Senate, long and strenuonsly con-
tended for by the members from the middle and west
ern districts, has been Abandoned on the princi-
pie OF compromise. They have also Abandoned on
the principle their favOre number of 24 for the
Senate and have proposed that it shall consist of 3d.
They have added to their plan decennia assessment
of the lands IN the Commonwealth subject to tax
alton, as tit accompany ment for the decennia act
app ortonment OF Representations which they consi-
der an essential feature in any Just plan for the dis
trIbution of political power in country whose popu-
atlon IS increasing, in the different sections in such
unequal ratios.
In considering the principle Of apportioamcnt cm-
braced Ill the plan of the gentleman from Northamp-
ton the ist remark to be made is, that it operates
only an .t9t'tro and is not adhered to- at ALL in the
actual distribution of powep made in present. His
"ctuHt distribution Is arbitrary one, and more ia
Vorabic to the ,CeSt than that of the gentleman from
Chesterfield His prncple of future apportjonroant
Is on the contrary, less favourable than that on which
the gentleman from Chesterfield in common with
the Cmet Justice of the United States has founded
his actual aDpOrtlonment.-f understood tho o,on4Io
man from Northampton, to contend that his pfncni,
was more favourable to the west than that of his
friend from Chesterfield, and that it derived this
advantage from the circumstance of his having in.
troduced a thru element into its constitution
from the circumstance of his PROPOSING ga fair
average OF the three ratios, viz: I'd of white DO
puation; 2nd, of white population and taxation
combined; and 3rd, of federal Misunderstanding
that of the gentleman from Chesterfield pronoses
the average of tco ratios only that of white popnla
ton, and that of white population and taxation
cohDncd. In other words he contends, that the in
PRODUCTION of the thru clement Of Federal numbers
renders ms average favourable 10 the vest to
the average of the gentleman from Chesterfield
But IN this he Is clearly mistaken. A comparison
OF the two principles. through the medium, of thor
results, will shew that his is less favourable IN tho
west, than tina! of the gentleman from Chesterfield
c axe tor example, the calculation made by the
Ihcf Justice land printed for the use of the Com
1ttee) of the results Of his principle which Is the
same with that of the gentleman from Chesterfield
when applied to a House of l26 melnbers-IIe tolls
you, ana CORRECTLY, doubt not that i'm such House
me west would be entitled according the cessus of
On the basis of white population. to members 81
pn the basis OF Federal plumbers 10 10
On tne average OF The two, to 46
NOW, 1t IS conceded on all hands. that the basis II
federal numbers. and the basis of white population
ana taXation combined arc practically and in result
'ile saIne-ln other words that either basis would
give to the west 40 members, and no more, out of
l26.-Faking this as true, let us see how the My1e
JoH average Of the gentleman from Northomnton
WI. ahef"ss on the people of the west. They viii
On the basis Of white populationto ~
On tic basis Of federal nuinbcr.o 10
On me pass Of white population and taxation
co''brls ~ again TO 10
To,3, 155
Divide IVY } 70 attain the "fair average Of
the ratios, as proposed by the gentleman. -,
rom NorthsmptoH and you have ffI