Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-15

err to meet all tho wishes and interests Of the
State than he was. He knew II was impossible to
meet those wishes. but he would come pos
-be for hi. sincere desire that all things should
90 on tremendously. He should vote against the pro-
position TO make the Federal number the basis for
cons which it wonld not now he necessary TO repeat
u what he had said was remembered his reasons would
be known. lie would vote against it, much on ac-
countof its effect on the people he represented as on
account OF its effect on the whole population. He
should consider as satisfactory qualified voters for both
branches II he could not choossif federal numbers
should be preferred, the Limitation TO be given TO the
senate TO operate check The House oil D-iegates
he should have little TO regret on account oil the
power given his const uens by that bas'. over
that which would have been yiven by the basi. he
commented A single remark as TO the power Of the
Ssnae to check the power Of the House OF Delegates.
He did refer his experience there nor
resist the argument that the Senate for years
| might withstand the House, but that It mu.t at last
yield because both branches from the same people.
He would say nothing farther that argument,
cept that il the federal numbers were adopted IN the
Senate. and the House Of Delegates established the
basis OF white population. ought TO suppose that
Zach should concur in two or three years any great
question II ought to be SO. He thought the respon-
sbili'y OF the representation was sufficient security
Tor their continued regard TO the public interests The
members OF the Senate elected for loager period
ot tmc and tina, circumstance might render that body
less efficient as checkbut the member Of the House
goes back 10 his constituent holy annually that
when you give the white basis TO this body. you es,sb
ish the best OF all checks He had thong right
ment. The Committee onght not TO indulge him any
more, az he had already consumed 50 much of a. cir
time He would not sit down without saying that to
the Glitter sercasms, grsuous impua.ions and learned
jesis Of the gentleman from Charlotte (Mr Randolph
he had no plea 10 enter, no 10 give. However
low he might stand in the opinions Of others, and they
could not estimate him lower than he es minated hmsel
yet he had 'elfrespcct enough not to answer that gem
teman, and il he had not, respect for this Committee
would impose silence upon him.
Mr.. MERcKS rose TO corroborate what had fallen
q Ia una frOm oka fka of
Senate Bill n 1916. The basis of that bin rested
on the white population and ought thereto stand He
wa. second on the Committee, and owing to the indis
position OF the Chairman, who could not attend, the
duties OF Chairman devoived upon nina gentleman
from Berkeley, not member Of this Convention,
tho one who coated the counties to form the ha.i.-
He had heard complaints. Another wo and he had
done. The gentleman from Norfolk had said tina, in
the original formation OF this government regard
had to the representation OF interests, and that the old
House OF Burgesses was composed with reference TO
that distribu ion of interests He evidence in
The Typographical other chsractea Of the country
sustain the view Of the gentleman from Norfolk The
gentleman from Norfolk, had gone fer to divide
Tue commonwealth into a number OF triangles 10
'hew the different interests into which the State was
divided. He considered these interests az forming
basis as calculating any otherthat could be determine
ed.
Cotton Of recent cultivation In Louloun
where there formerly tobacco fields and wheat
patches, there wheat fields and tobacco patch
es. The plan. therefore, of the gentleman from Nor
iok might be applicable one day, and altogether nsp
plicable few years hence. Mr.. NJ. made some other
observations in reply. but did not correctly catch
their import He concluded with stating that the
counties had been created for judicial not for legislative
purposes; and all applications divide counties were
founded in The difficulty of going to the
either as jurors or witnesses He had heard any
other causes assigned, although he had been in this Hall
on many occasions when applications OF th. kind were
made. He hoped thatihe basis would not super
sehe fhNs oS 'he Ssee WHITES. .s.sa-s..s-~ h,
Mr.. Cooke said, that IL he was correctly Informed
nj lie
from Norfolk tMr. TazewelD had be singulariy in
teIcitous in attempting TO support, by reference TO
that hisory his theory Of the true principles ofrepre
sent,ion. For find, said Mr.. Cooke. tina, he, too.
has his theories Of government wei the wild dem
ocrat. OF middle and Western Virginia.
His theory is, that there should be a representation
OF interests, in the legislative bodies, contradsn-
guishsd from the representation of nnmbers aud, to
support this ,heory, he has attempted to shew that il
has been uniformly acted on in Virginia. even from the
first establishment of legislative bodies in the Colony
For this purpose he has drawn picture of the Colony
at that period of is Infancy when the population was
Dispersed in detached settlements or plantations. sepa-
rated from each other by "mighy waters" and mpen.
strable forests He next assumes it fact withou,
attempting to prove IL, that each Of these settle
ments had some peculiar interest Of lis OWL mean
an interest variant from that Of its neighbour settle
menfs. He alleges that separate alton
given to each Of these Settlements because of The erist.
ence of these separate and variant interests That, in
process Of tIne when the settlements were enlarged
to in contact wi h each other, II became ne
cessary to designate by artificial boundaries the limits
oil these separate and distinct Interest," That to ecc
this purpose the Colonial Legslaure in 1884 erected
them into countless giving TO each county equal rep
resents'ion in the House OF Burgesses And thus he
shows that his iavoi'e theory of the representation Of
interests as interests and coniradsiHg uished from the
Of numbers, was the theory Of the ear
est awgivers OF the Colony; and he that il has
remained, to the present day. the theory Of rcpreen
taton practically adhered 10 in the Constitution oil Yr
ginia, and 80 is entitled TO prescriptve respect.
Now, Sir, spprehend that in taking this view ofths
haef into
theory TO the facts he has made his facts conform 10 HE
theory.
apprehend that more accurate version Of our ear.
ly constitutional history will shew, that IL any principle
Of representation has been adopted in Virginia H. sub
stanally, the principle which is ended in the
Report OF the Select CDmmtee-the principle that 10
apporonng representation regard should be had 10 the
free white popnlat m exclusively.
The first chapter in the constitutional history OF Vir
GINA is, the ordinance Of the 9Th of July 1921 On
that day. "the Treasurer and company Of adventurer.
Of the city OF LONDON for The FIRST Colony in Virginia"
Colony. ~ by this ordinance, they constituted a &c.
neral Assembly, to consist in part Of Burgesses
Representative 20 he chosen by the 'inhab1nts OF
the different plantations, or settlements. And as there
were, at that time, slaves in the Colony the tree
inhabitants Of the country Of course the basis Of
representation. And though the ordinance did not d.
rect, that the free inhabitants should be eqnV repre
sented, yet, equal representations where there
representation Of the people, Is the obvious and
natural idea, IL IL TO be presumed. that the company
contemplated representation substantially equal.
trace, in this first organic law Of Virginia. Of the
representation OF interests, and no evidence, any
where. that there any peculiar separate and dis
nct interests appertaning 10 the different plantations
settements--Their contguity, would ZEN 10 con.
tradic the ides and IN act their interests homo