Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-02-10
MIR. CoOKEs sEcOND LETYER.-Conciuded.


to tho white basis, is fmliarly called, to be
equivalent TO II, a. present in practical results You
will percesc, IN the very terms of this proposition
tacit admission that May not be equally favorable al
some future period. And in this may NOT" Is IN
VOWED the vcxed question of the probable future rea-
tive of population IN the east and tho west
On that question shall, by and by, say sonethmg-
Suffice 1t To say AT present. that, concedng hypotheti-
cally the correctness of the most sangune cacuia-
toas as to the comparatively rapid increase OF west
efu population, in failure, and admitting the impor
lance of grating tho constitution plan for fu-
t1re apportonment which this constitution wants,
was found, after many trials utterly impossible to
carry in the convention, any plan OF future apportion
nisnt which would not have been worse than none at
all. The alternative was, of course, presented, Of
taking constit uIon destitute or this valuable fea
turc, or nonc.* could not hesitate in my choice be-
tween these alternatives. And do not know that
better express my view of the subject than by a
dipping familiar illustration suggested by shrewd
and sarocious friend Suppose that, being very hun
cry, yon were asked to partake of excellent din
You reply to this inviting proposition, "Sir,
VII cheeriuy dine with you to day, provided you
viii ngree TO give me good dinner whenever
cali on YOU about dinner time hereafter" Your host
replies, You exceedingly welcome, sir to par
take Of the dinner before bat really cannot bind
myself as YOU propose Would il be wise in you to
90 away hungry. because the promise of future good
cheer was withhold !, for one. clear for partak
ing Of good cheer to-day. II will nvigorate my sys-
tom, enable the better to procure good din
ncr 70 morrow.
really good one' Is the proposed constitution, in
actual present dis ributon of political power.
sich an rs you ought t" accept: Isit, IN prect-
co results nearly or quite good at present. as the
basis If white population Is it not present, 10 The
people # TIE Vuiiey, white population in dsguisce-
III Sc the questions propose to consider.
You will perceive NJ once that these questions
be answered without first ascertairing what is
the actual white population of the diffrcn sections OF
the state IN 1880 II the census of $50 were adopt
cd as the standard by which TO measure tho fairness
OF the distribution OF power made by the amended
constitution If it could be justly inferred that the
rate of increase has been uniform, in the last ten
years throughout he state, the representation aot
ted by the constr uton, to the country vest Of
tho Blue ridge, would be abunduntly satisfactory -
For acco ding to the relative numbers Of the white
people east and west OF the ridge In 1920, the west
is entitled to Sc members only, out of I54. on the
white basis and the5new constitution allows It pre-
eIsSly that number is adni s DION on all hands
increased faster 4l3so, than tn. same descrip-
ton of population of he ridge. The difficulty
to ascertain hoo much faster And this is really a
question Of great difficulty But it is impossible 10
arrive a. correct opinion OF he merits of he new
constitution without forming opinion this pre-
wous question. will erdeavor throw on the sub
ject all The light which have myself been able 20
obtain
Il is a subjec 10 which have been compelled By a
sense of duty 70 devote, during the last few weeks
many hours Of anxious consideration, the result OF
which will state to you for what II may be worth
VIII premise t1af the PUBIC uTinion has been great
ly mised, a. snpposr. by the Auditors report, made
by orteI ofthe convention in October last
According that report the es imated white pop,i.
lation of the country east of The ridge, in 1929
The estimated white population of the couu-
try west ofthe ridge, is 31e,516
Majority cas-; OF the RIDGE only 1925
The following statement will enable you 10 Judge
how far his estimate is entitled TO your confidence
BY resolution adopted Oc; obor ItiI. the Audito,
was requested 10 prepare and lay before the convsn
ton statement Of the free Whe population Of ach
county in 1929, far he could deduce the same
bg COMPARISON of the white thables and the entire
white population IN the years 1900, 1910, and 1920"
In other words, the Auditor having. being suppo-
SGD to have IN his Office return or list of the
white thabes IN the respective counties in each of
the years above mentioned, and having a correct re
turn the total white population of the counties in
the same years, made by the United States officers
who took tie census requested TO ascertain the
proportion which the white ttbables bore 70 the
whole white population IN each of those years And
having or being supposed to have, also correct re-
torn or list of the white t;babes each county in
1877 De was requested TO state the white BopClat on
ofench county IN 1929 by assuming that il bore the
same proportion to the white ttbables in 1920 which
1t did In the years when the proportion actually
uscertained by the census 1t Is obvious that the cor
rectness OF any estimate formed in this way mast de-
pend on the accuracy Of the returns or lists Of tha
bles annually made to the Auditor. That thew ccere
NOT accurate might have been inferred, priori from
ue notorious careiessness or Tncompetency Of many
of the officers on whom this duty 10 imposed But on
this subject we are not left to conjecture. For the
auditor himself states in his report that sthe white
and slave iitnblcs have been in some instances SUD
Piled by conjecture, the returns being imperfect or
altogether waDtiOg"-and that there are so many
probable errors in the datu upon which the pop.la-
ton OF 1929 is estimated, that lie enterta;ns consider
able doubts OF It's correctness" If these doubts re-
CURED any corroboration, it would be found in the
fact, that Loudon one Of the most prosperous coun.
ties IN the state asceTtoned by the census of 1900 IN
have then contoined white population of 1914. is
ciiDMed III 1929 10 contain 1890 only; and in the
further fact that the tran. Allegheny country whose
actual increase from 100 TO 1900 was g3 I'D pep
cent, from 1900 to 1910 At per cent, from 1910 to
1871 279 per cents and whose increase in the same
dm'hi hing ratio, from 1906 to $50 would be 6 10
per cent only, is Estimated by the report TO have ac
tualiy Increased sc per cent in The last nine years
winch is equivalent TO about 40 per cent. in ten
VII not weary you with further details noinr TO
show what the Auditor hnsclC in effect adt,its and
wha' believe was given up all hands, before the
session Of the convention closed that the "AoAoy,s