Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-10
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DEBATE ON BASIS OF REPRESENTA- TION.
IN COMMITTEES ~ rHR WHoLp THE CoSsrirurros
MONDAY Noy

~ SoMAfrEE WHOLE Cesar
MONDAY. Nov. 10.
Mr.. TAzEwELL said, that when he cums TO the
onse ms morning, he had hut little expectation and
certainly not the slightest inclination to take anv mart
IN this debate He had no. felt any WISH 10 participate
~ the discussion Of question general and undrfn.
Ell IN It's Terms, as that which the committee would
soon b. called upon TO decide tu which he Ia ever
seen OF man, and all the information which he had
been able TO acquire in the science of politics. comb.
neil TO teach him, that good ever had and that no
ro''ble good ever could result from the discussion of
any meregeneral propositions in orer elicit by such
discussion an agreed basis which by mutual consc mt
mght he adopted as foundation for some unkio,rn
practical political scheme All such schemes when
'ni'y developed, (And developed they us, be al some
time or oth"r) must at last he the test of ex.
P.reh'e ana uuii'y; and as II ought not TO be consider
ed as continuing any just objection to any useful poll
"ca' pan, mat u was not Constructed according the
most nice AMI precise rules Of any art, 60 nor will il
We any reconnendaton Of any other plan that il 10 =
Gear sy,iog,.he deduction ola any supposed general
rum III the details OF any intended scheme when
iar!y exhibited should he seen to he mischeyous
they would surely he rejected although in strict ac-
corh'n|e with the agreed basis and if believed to be
good, they would infallibly he adopted, although at
var with and contrary all the admitted general
announced 10y such basis. Discuss whatever general
proposition you please, settle whatever general basis
you choose, and you will al last dcover when you come
10 hS me details OF the plan that each OF these
oc adjusted by regard to its own particular merits
anu oy no special reference to general rulesEn-
.erts'iing these opinions, il with much regret he
hah seen at FIRST the and direction TO
he given to the deliberations of the Convention; and
ne 'au 'len almost resolved, TO say not word in
re''Ion TO The matter under consideration, until il
should assume more certain and defined form than il
yet presents. But the dscns had now proceeded so
'ar' mar would perhaps be economy Of time, to
eNend II little farther; and by endeavoring 10 shew
nor the truth or al'ehood, but the tendency and effect
oil me general proportion, TO bring future f
nor our present labors TO more speedy termination
.ah 'hey seem al present likely 10 reach Ii with
hs view he would ask the attention Of the committee
to lew remarks which he proposed TO address to them
W 'ie course OF which. he would notice Of those
Inc carI s,a IL
IRON '.oudoun, who had hut Just taken his sc at
Whatever may b. the form Of the question now pre-
'ened to us, the general proposition included in ii is
wha u The proper basis wherein TO erect representa-
ZION In the Legislative Department of government
dessne' for such state as is virginia. In examining
tn,s question, most apt enquiry at once present.. IL
sen 10 our consideration. Upon what basis il such
PRESERVATION founded now. When the venerable me m
Der from Loudoun, and other much respected gentle
men on every side oil this body. unite In telling us,
mat the exiting Constitution Of Virginia h the the
world has ever seen-when the experience Of many
here assures that this government has endured for
more Ih' an nan century, producing ss much Of good
as could be expected TO result from any governme
AMI when not solitary witness has appeared to testify
70 the existence OF single mischief its effective
surely ought TO examine carefully the foundation of
such government, before should wish 10 change
It, For his part, he free to declare that he would
not compare the knowledge derived from such exps-
rirnce with that obtained by an examn alton of the vis
ons OF Plato or Aristotle the tn cries Of Locke or Sid.
ney, or OF any other mere speculative scheme what
ne Basis oil Represent alton here established
more Than two centuries since-I upon a pre-
scripion of fifty odd years only a, his friend from
Charlotte had supposed but back its orign TO
period much he yoni the Independence of the Com
fnenweah, and is coevsl with the very first Legislative
Assembly that ever convened in Virginia During the
ong interval That has since elapsed, representation it,
sell has undergone many changes but the foundation
"herein-H rests, has ever remained the same. He
prayed the committee, therefore, to accompany him in
the enquiry he about to institute as 10 the bss
wherein this ancient scheme Of representation was
erected.
In the year 1919 or 1920 the first House of Bur.
gesses assembled at Jamestown The members Of IN al
body were elected by the different plantations they
were Then called, or as should now denomnste
them the different settlements then existing in the
colony. The early settlers had established themselves
IN different societies. along the margin Of James river
from its mouth to near this spot
These societies, separated either by wide water
courses, dcut t. be passed, by thick forests dan
gerou' to penetrate. differed widely from each other
The numbers OF their population, in their wealth. and
in the extent Of the territory occupied by them but
each entitled TO representation and each Sc mt IL
Burgess to the Grand Assembly. Variou-iy circum-
stanced while each had interest in the pros-
perity OF ALL each had also particular interest
TO itself Wis view Of enabling zach to promote the
good OF ALL IN That mode which would be suitable
TO lie own convenience; and with view Of enabling
all 10 advance the property of each, by any
not inconsistent with the good repres entail N
was allowed to every society then existing; and thi.
without having regard 10 the population or the wealth
OF any, TO these things combined but merely Ia
the peculiar Interests existing in the different societies
occupying The underlined space, then termed panta-
ton settlement. The basis Of representation then
was the interests Of t, different planaiions and
these interests various and peculiar each
had it's proper representative that interest
cernsd many few persons, involved much or little
wealth. II the peculiar interest Of the part was OF
sufficient importance 10 claim the gard Of the whole
that interest wa. entitled to, and allowed repre-.
sentative, whether the population OF the plantation
amounted 10 90 To 800 persons, or whether In
wealth EIO0 or 6 1000
In process Of time, the different settlements ecams
extended in every direction aud were brought in
contact wi h each other. The various interests III IN
existing in the Colony, became more sssmilsted and
consolidated, than they had beeu before; but still di.
versity OF particular interests existed. The wants and
wishes OF the settlers In Accomack must have been
~ different from those Of The persons dwelling the
fas OF James River, aud The pursuits and situation of
the inhabitants Point Comfort, must have been very
unlike those OF persons abiding lar from them on The
other side Of the great This union Of the settle
ments had superseded the necessity Of allowing re.
presentation 10 each Of what had been the different
plantations; but the for allowing representation
10 The various interests existing in the Colony, still re
manned before The abode OF these different inter
ests had, indeed, been much enlarged and extended.
hut the interests themselves, remained still various-
In this state OF things, public convenience required
division Of the settled parts Of the Colony: and
aocordngiy in 1894, II divided for The FIRST time
into eight shires counties, they were afterwards
called. These shires, history aud laws inform us
very different In extent Of territory, in the mum
bers Of their respective inhabitants, and in the
property possessed by these inhabitants but st the
same basis Of representation preserved. Within
each Of these shres particular interest, peculiar 10
itself supposed TO exist and to That peculiar inter
est representation was allowed, whstever might be IN
comparative numbers weslh extent Of territory
Pursuing the examination further, you will and tina