Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-20


can prevail IN the other House, and hence have pro-
posed IT. Concession after concession has been made
10 Eastern pretensions The small county interest
has been most galantly maintained. Ii has been
maintained wth am ardour aud iirmness worthy of
better cause. Like the Spartan band posted with
III thelr own selected Thermopvlm, headed by their
own Leonidas they beat off Dlyriads Of plans; but
length seddced from their strong hold by the prof
'eren ad al the graduated county bill advocates they
Were divided and 'vanquished-not vet subiupated
however. have no doubt they will rally around
the Senatorial plan. Notwithstanding the conflict
nas noen violent, the friends Of reform have much
cause Tor congratulations
The triumph OF liberal principle, has been sirnnl
.housh not complete-point fer point, has been
W.SsIed IRON the advocates ofpowcr. With an mir
p uenahce they first displayed their federal numbers
on'-that was torn to pieces, by tho cross firm, of
combatants in the Battle Royok next was bro1,,bt
INFO action the property and population bill sustained
by the arstocratic dogma that the "tax pyers only
Shonid be the tax layers"--in other words that
representation should be based upon ,roYe,f, and
not the true republican ground of personal rights
Thai soon was "hors de combat and the famous CO.
anton bill now occupies the fied-aganst which am
prepared TO night even unto death This is bill of
mixed character-a mere arbitrary arranremcnt of
conihcting interests securing no one OF the great
principles for which the friends of convention hove
conteudcd-marked with no distinctive tcuture but
that OF county representation which friend OF equal
representation can consistently sanction. Gentle
men OF all parties, will finally be brourht to choose
between this bill and the substitute have off;.red-
can thcy-wlll hey hesitate to prefer the substitute,
nat, ASK are the leading objects OF the friends
OF convention as heretofore avowed,
Were they not to eQuaZe representation unop y
district system, ngreeaby TO free white population,
10 diminish the expense OF legislation by reIucino.
the members OF the House of Delegates
TO extend the right of suffrage to all persons hay
ING sufficient evidence OF permanent interest in md
attachment to the community and thereby ,drit n
larger portion of our meritorious citizens ia ms,
participation OF the power ard privileges of the GOV
ernmPnt'
put it to candid m-n to say whether one snrlc
one OF these objects, secured by the bill undc.
consideration
The member from Mononqala (lIr. Norr-nl nro.
poseSaso to amend this bill. II is true IN In, amend
ment Is introduced provision TOUCHING the ri,rht ~
suffrage somewhat similar to mine. but with the ex-
cepon of that he has only added 20 the many o,icc
tons TO the present bill He seeks farther to Grsd
uate representation, By INCREASING the number of
Delegates Fo this bill amended by the scheme of
the member from Monongalia, I have sixtv-fbur snc
CHIC objections. The Senate need not be alarmed
at TINS appalling enuncaton. for it 10 not nv ints1
ton u discuss those objections in detail II will
be recoiected that my amendment proposes that the
convention shall consist OF SO rncnbers-tInt Of the
member from Monorgalla Of i59, maxim difference
~ s1xty-iour; circumstance Of itself constituting
strong ground ofobjection. Whilst the BODY should
be large enough, to partake sufficiently Of the pou
lar ieeilng, 1t would not be large To endarper
that calm and dispassionate discussion so much IN
be desired important an occasion; the fewer t;a
number required, the more particular will be the 60
ection-and electng too by districts the probability
is greater OF putting III rcQuisition men OF the most
distinguished talents and approved virtue Aocin
the history OF all de5er1t,ve assemblies tcnchns us
that small bodies, despatch business with more nctiv
NY than large auu unwieidy masses and most assured
" at much less eXpence. And here let me suorest
that the state OF the eychequcr might be materially
alected hy the difference, IN the expenses of con-
Vention OF 96 and l59 members | am unwilling %
regard this measures asa contest for power however
csposea others may be so TO consider it.
Let us now unite in deviGng plan hv which all
sections OF tho state may 60 into convention upon
terms OF the nearest practical equaity-a1d then If
1t be necessary wage contest for nov, lei ench
be governed NY what the majority may d .ie TO be 4
correct Adjustment this is not the bro = time or
place Here, al claiming to be equally can
did and patriotic, each alike entitirJ IA HE
opinions let us eldeavour to harmon:a, by mlt,,aI
concessions. Do gentlemen expect AMONGST the ii
Versty OF interests and opinions there shonld he M
c'nce.s on no compromise Shall we have no res
pect for the opinions ofothers' Do gentlemen be-
y0nd the mountain mean To- conccdc nothinrs If so
be 1t So but they may learn when too late that oil,
erS are rs tenacious of their opinions; and can and
VIII maintain them a. firmly. Although my brcth
rem OF the Eastern part othc State did accordin to
my opinion set up IN the commencement of this con
trovcrsy unreasonable and uniustfabc pretcusions.
they have IN great degree Welded them and 7 he
icYa ihe main ground OF controversy now is the diff
ference between the senatorial districts arranged ac
Co'"H% 10 tle census OF 1910; and new arran0c-
Inent OF districts according 10 the census of 1920 II
has been found, that within those periods whilst the
white population has increased about II 900 belo,y
tho Blue Ridge 1t has increased beyond ab )ut 40 900
according TO the census Of 1910, the country below
the Ridge will have in Convention so members. be-
yond CT difference OFT. According TO the census
Of 1920, the relative numbers in Convention would
be, ! understand 90 East 30 West-a difference of
lG The West then, will have conceded in the mum
Der of members. When they are asked To sonccdo
THIS alone, IS the demand upon their berav so OK
orbtnnt as TO Justify the hazard Of passing no law
upon the subject, and thereby surrender the State
to that high degree Of political excitement which
would inevitably follow--or passing tho bill upon the
table which recognizes no fixed rule of action and
whose results in Convention, would be 50 purely ac-
cdena as to operate either for or against the great
objects of reform? | think not. Go into Gonven-
ton upon the terms oiIercd-hey admit the Iis-
hce g. cTp"dicncy Of tho reform sought The western
members OF Convention, thinking alike upon those
great objects ofrcform acting in concert as they all
want To do, upon questions particularly affecting