Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-29
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION
THURSDAY, JAN. 6.

THURSDAY, JAN. 8.
AR MILLER or Powhatan presumed the whole mo-
ri,s ofthe bill were open for consi .ration ITO which
the chairman having assented Mr. II. said he should
then proceed into an investigation othe entire subject
presented to the committee. It was proper for him
TO do SO, because IL had been stated in ono of tho
public journals, that he was n steady ANTAGONIST of
convention and that the bill had been axanined by
him. before 1t was even carried TO the committee
II Is true sir, that the bull submitted to him be-
fore u was considered by the committee and ndecd
1t might be said that he had a hand in framing II
l. was true also, that he had at ali times been op
posed to convention and that but .wentv-s:--
ot the trceholdcrs of Powhatan voted in its favor
Nevertheless when 1t was ascertaincd that n n,ior
ity Of the people of the commonwealth wished the
measure, it had been his determination lin which he
believed he expressed .ie feelings of hose who sent
INN here) to give his feeble aid in organizing con-
vcntlon upon principles which would insure protection
to the great interests of society, the rights of
sons and the rights of property.
The history of this bill was singular Afer two
weeks investigation, it was reported by committee
specially chosen, and of great intelligence It might
not be in order to state that ii was reported b, n
large majority of that committee but be that as II
may, they had thrown it upon the charity Of the
House, as poor and unprotected orphan. II has
been entirely deserted by its Sponsors and no one
except the young gentleman from Wcstmoreland
mr. Newton) had stepped forward in its support he
with his characteristic kindness has thrown his man
tie over It, and mr.. NJ. thanked him for it. This
bill to use congressional phrase) was based he
would say founded, upon combined ratio Of free
white population and taxation. 1t was true. that il
correspondent with congressional districts but those
were selected not with view Of havinr the oaetnrn
slaves represented, persons but because it was
believed that this basis would as nearly n practca
bic coincide with a combined ratio OF free white M
pulation and taxation, besides, it was proper (sIcb
being the RESULT TO take these districts which had
already been laid off, and the people contained in them
accustomed to think and act together upoD po,icoI
subjects lie would repeat that this bill v;as found
cd upon the combined ratio of free white population
and taxatlon and to prove this, be bcored leave 70
read again. the statistics presented by his collearue
on yesterday, who had anticipated him in several of
ms views Statistics were dry matters of calcula-
ton, and therefore unintercsting but they were so
essential TO the proper investigation Of this subject
That lie hoped TO have the attention Of the committee
while he exhibited them. Let thr state be divided
into sections, one west Of the Alcf,hancv NOM
tains one between the hllcghcncy mountains aud
nc Blue ridge that from tho Blue ridge TO the head
ri tide water, and from that line 10 tic sea hoard
the result will be this The western districts for
the election Of members Of congress- comprjsino %
counties, contain population Of 1926, of which
VI 49l arc free whites, and pay tax annually of
s35,442 ]. In convention composed of g8 rno,ohcre
as prOpOsedhy the bill this section by white ponuIo
ton would be- entitled TO ~ 81 members by tovo
ton t. % m mbcrs, and BY the combined or mo
dunn Ta.Io,ip Il members excluding fractions which
Is the number given by le bill The four disric,s
between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny comprise ~
counties, md contain population OF iG7Al6, Of
which i32,7l7 orc free whites, and paw an annual
TAX ofI56,lOi 81. They would he entitled by white
population to 70 rnembcrs, by taxation TO 70 81
iucmborS by the combined, medium ratio, to 6 .
excluding fractions, the number proposed bv the
bill. The eastern districts, inciudfnr tho cities
OF Richmond and Williamsburg and borough ofNor-
folk, contain population of3O ,55I, ofwlich 134123
s arc White md pay on annual tax Of So6,551 10.
Ihey would be entitled by white population 10 %
members, by taxation to &c 10; by the combined
ratio, or medium principle 10 % 10, which is one
and one-cighh less than the number allowed bv tho
bill The middle districts between the head Of tide
water and the mountains comprising 80 counties
aud The town of Petersburg, contain population of
@62,'OG, Of which 2Ii,75o are white, and paw an
annual tax of $780,, 37i Oh. White population A
the basis would entitlc them 10 81 IS members
taxation to 30 &c, combined ratio or medium prin
cipie 10 &c, excluding fracto0s the number propos-
cd by the bill This sir, is Che result Of my statis-
TICS from which IL appe1fs that the bill rests as
nearly almost as calculofon can mako it, upon the
combined principle Of white population and property
me only true basis in my judgment Of government
10 guard and protect the various interests Of tho
community. Whence then, ask, all this glamour
and excitement about the slaves and their represcn-
fnircs Which so1prn 20 give 80 much horror fo tio