Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-09
Gsmeral asaembIp.
~ SE%a7'E--EeJ. 7, 1920.
CONVENTION

~ oE!'.tIt--Feb. z, 1929.
CONVENTION
On motion of Mr.. T'tr'or the bill IN orgn,;zo q
convention, was AGAIN taken up-the question ON Mr.
Allen substitute to nlr. Taylor's amendment.
.HT .ften explained the details Of his amendment.
II would give members to the country west of the
Blue Ridge and 30 east. That of Mr.. TAYLOR pro-
posed To give four members each senatoai dist rict
making the eastern majority one fourh-his mnjoris
ty OF l-6. His proposition did not contain an exton-
sion OF suiiragc presented the naked proposit;o
ofwhe population the true basis of rem
Mr.. a. proceeded to reply to Mr.. Drompooles ar
gncnt that the principles of the bill of rights wero
distractions and not applicable to the condition of tn
country he denied the conclusion and con,endc8
that they were applicable to man every where. an
the examples cited by the gentleman from Brunsv;cE
(Mr D. from ancient history, and that of REVOLUTIONS
France, only proved that those nations were too
corrupt to receive them. Worc we (said Mr.. Al to
abandon the doctrine of tho natural equality of MN
because the Jacobns in France had filed that coun-
try with blood aud analchv'
In reply to the argument, that the owners ofslnv,
would be endangered in :hc possession of their nronar
ty II the slaves were not represented. Mr. A. said r
was too much To ask, that minority ofthe free peopIo
OF the state, should be ruled by minority because Of
the existence OF such an apprehension. He believed
It entirely grouDdless.. Since the government Was
founded there had been Indicate n of snch a pur
pose, from any section OF the state On the contrarv
there were slaves enough in the western Quarter ~
the commonwealth to produce an identity of feeling
on this subjects identity that would daily Increase
as II had done for forty years, unless the measures 81
the General Assembly this question: compelled
western Virginia to assume ground which II ,;d NO,
now contemplate. To relieve the apprehension 90.
slaves being subjected unequal inrncial burdens
the people of the west were willing in convention. to
afford the most satisfactory guarantees that property
OF all descriptions should be taxed proportonablv and
according To its assessed value.
Mr. A. at length and ably, replied to the argument
OF hlr Dromgoolc (As We profess only to sketch pro-
ccedmgs aud not to give speeches at large at this
time, are under the necessity OF postnoninc NJ
Aliens speech until another day.)
mr.. cdbeH assigned the reasons which had deter
mined him to vote for Mr.. Taylor's amendment in
preference to Dir. Aliens and in argument OF
great length, research and ingenuity inculcato,l
compromising spirit, deprecated the settlement of the
basis OF representation by the Legislature and SIM
ported senatorial districts present arranged ss
equableto all parts of the state, avoiding any com
mitment on the part of the General Assembly. as TO
what was the proper basis of representation and ms
fair ground Of compromise.
Mr.. Draper followed i'll an animated replv TO Mr.
Cabell, contenGing that the Convention OUGHT 10 he
Convention ofthe whole people, and not OF part II
this was admitted why go back to the census of 1910
to ascertain the numbers and tesrelative geographic
chi distribution of the people? Mr. d. contended that
the West gave up more than could properly be asked
nagrecing to take the of 1890. 1.-THE census
1910 was adopted, and if the ratio of increase in the
vest was as great between 1890 and 1923, as be-
tween RIn and 10 thoro would DO an unrepresen
cd action in each senatorial district beyond the RIo
Ridge of 10000 To require great an amount of
population TO be uurcprescntcd in the Convention was
unjust and unreasonable. 1t had been asked, whv
the West should be afraid of going into Convention
under the census of 1910, for wos said the East
had been ever liberal to the West. He asked in turn
why the East should be afraid of the West for he af
rmcd thAt the West had been equally liberal to the
East. Wv
.6i' Bernardo in elegant and clnssic efiison IN
cnIcated the spirit of compromise and moderation ON
the West, and urged the considerations ofself.de.
fence which required the East to cling to certain
propositions.
Nh Morgan replied to Mr.. Bernard, urging that
the claims Of the West were founded upon the m,pu
table principles of right which could not be compro
missed or abandoned, while that part of the common
wealth was ready to grant every guarantee that slave
property should be protected and subjected to TO
burdens which were not equally imposed every 9th
er species Of property.
When Mr.. NJ. had concluded, Mr. PatteSon mo-
we'd that the Senate adjourn, which motion pre-
vailed.
u The name Of Dir. Fulton was omitted in the
noes who voted against Mr.. Dales amendment in
the Senate, Friday; aud that of Mr.. Morgan twice
inserted.