Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-12

tleman from Richmond County would not prevail. J,
would be remembered, perhaps by some gentlemen
that nc had formerly said the most convenient nusber
for the House Of Delegates would be li6. He Nod
fixed on that number in reference TO the desire which
gentlemen manifested TO have each Of their counties
represented If possible But was impossible to- mce,
the wishes Of all. To do that, Representa- must
be given to each of the very smallest counties in the
Statc and then the very large counties claiming
presentation In proportion, the res" would he not d.
nsinufion but a considerable increase Of the present
number Of the House of Delegates He prayed gen.
tlemen consider the fairness of the claim which such
| counties as Shenandoah and Fauquer might advance II
such Richmond, Lancaster and Charles City
were to have one Delegate piece. The very attempt
| at equalizng the representation such scheme must
OF necessity overtun the whole plan reported by the
Select Committee, and open the entire field Of contest
anew. II had been represented 10 the Select Commit
tee by their respected and venerable chairman (Mr
Madison) upon his personal knowledge (and he hoped
that gentleman would pardon him for adver,ng to the
tacD that avourte object of the People of Virginia
in calling tire present Convention had been reduce
the number Of the House of Delegates If possible
onchaf Of what il stood at And thereby avoid
not only the expenditure Of great deal Of money, bu
what Of still more consequence, great deal Of the
time now consumed by the deliberations of that body
The committee had cheerully yielded to this suEges
ton, AMI haG reduced the number TO that ON
Jcct, far II was practicable consistency with
other valuable objects. Then what the ground O.
complaint on the part OF the gentleman from Richmond
MIR. NEALE here inicrposed. He had uttered nc
complaint whatever. He well aware the Select
Committee had done their best, under the very difficult
circumstances in which they placed He had MOI
made or insinuated, any complaint against them -
MIR. LEIGH said, that he fully aware OF this: he
had used perhaps too strong phrase hut he had
poyed the word complaint in its general oh
lection. What reasonable objection, he asked, could
the gentleman urge against the arrange Of the
committee! His plan might, doubt give some con-
tent t. his District, aud 10 lew others in the like
circumstances. But what could the gentleman him.
'ef saw, TO shew that such counties westmoe
King George, Lancaster, Richmond and Charles City
With population OF from TO 5000 should have each
Delegate, when counties, such a. Caroline, Chester.
held, H.nover Spottylvania and South mpton, with
L. To- and Is 900 TO have III one. hat
suppose the pc ols OF these large and wealthy
counties would say to this! He app- aed to the candor
the good sense and the justice Of the gentleman from
Richmond county, 70 say whether he believed whe-
Their was reasonable TO expect that they would yield
TO tl'osc small counties larger repr. sentaon , n
less their own was increased! They had not Weld
ell to the plan proposed by The committee from any
sense Of mpe rious justice in the bat from feel
ing oil generosity toward the smaller counties in the
Gent portion OF the Common ath. Noihing but such
'e@ing would have reconciled hem to things
they stood by the committees Report. When the 10.
cal aud comparative claims fairly examined the
re al ue.ton would be found be not whether the
sn"l counties should get mere, but whe Their the od
Delegate IN the number assigned should not be take
tom Prince George and Surry, and given TO Caroline
and Chesterfield. He hoped the proposition would not
prevail
Mr. NEALE said, he should be glad to see the House
Of d. 'ga es reduced TO 100, but that would not he
practicable if justice was TO be done to the smaller
counties But it rs ouid he found that those count-.
averaged contribution in taxes the amount of l726:
while the pay aud mileage Of Delegate would come
TO but 1920. He hoped The Convention would so far
indulge them as to add 10 to the proposed number OF
the lower Homse. The gentleman IRON Chesterfield
insisted that il the small counties were be thus IN
duged, then Chesterfield and Caroline would each be
entitled 10 two Delegates. Blu had il not bean urged
in argument throughout the debate that where there
was complete identity OF interest between the coun.
ties, there was no necessity Of adhoTing with rigid
stricfness TO proportional distribution OF representa-
ton! He bad himself voted repeatedly on that principle
lie knew IN" committee had disposed of the 1872 Dele
gates In the airest possible manner He hal com.
plant that subject All lie ASKED that the mum
Der might he rai-s to l+2 and then there would still b.
reduction in the number Of the House of ~ members
MIR. NICHOLAS said, that the proposition wenr. o
give his own District one additional member and
therefore, IL the question an insulated one. as
Representative OF that District, he should of cn,,r.e
be disposed to crafty the wishes Of the But, IL
was necessary 10 look at o'her consde rations All
must see the great embarra's nent that would result
from disturbing the arrang ement of the Committee
lie was strongly impressed with the truth and justice
OF the remarks OF the gentleman from Chesterfield that
u This measure should carry, great injustice must be
done 10 the larger counes unless the Hou.e OF lie.
gates should he greatly increased instead OF being re-
duced in number. He was against disarran ing the
whole plan OF distribution adopted by the Commitee-
On that principle, he had yesterday ainst taking
Delegate from Brunswick, and giving to Franklin
lie thought II was better TO put up with martial
inconvenience, than throw the Convention upon the
Ocean OF contenling claims. He shcud sin act on
That prncipeand should, therefore, vote against tina
"A
vance the interests OF his part of the STATE; but
nothing could be done, unless they were resolved TO
act in spirit OF compromise.
He referred In the case OF Brunswick and Franklin
to shew the difficulty Of any new arrangements; and
expressed his belief, that should he vote for the prrsen
amendment he should, in the end inure the Interests
OF his District by unhinging the arrangement of the
whole subject.
Mr.. " referred To the great length of time already
consumed, and the dscreJtsbIe spec ace exhibited nv
the Convention in coniendng thu. for local interests
merely Alter disputing and discussing the principle of
representation and at length, agrc ing on
would not be Ill graceful wind up in mere county
scufe! He saw distinctly that the plan of the gentleman
was imprActcabe, II not so, TO be attained ooy at
me expense ofhear-ournngs and resentment in various
parts OF the Commonwealth He should, therefore
though with reluctance, be obliged 10 vote in the ne.
gativc.
Mr.. TYLER said, that .ome of the remark. Of hi. |
colleague had been such as 10 require him 10 make
very lew remarks In reply, as he intended TO vote the
Other way Ifhs saw that such result could possibly
oow as his col eague seemed TO appe he should
certainty he one OF the last men, Of the very last
10 vote in lis faro': and II could be
such was TO be The result he sboud abandon the scheme
with pronptitude. But did the proposition do in,c.
10 any part OF the State! Did il interfere with the great
'Ian OF appointment which seted the relative repre-
rotation OF the four great divisions Of the S,ae? iJ
deny any thing to the middle country! To the Val.
ey? Or TO the tran '-Al eghany District? Wa. IL not
perfectly lair and just apporl ionrn M PAY what
cabals'ic force was there in that mystic number 1872,
u The principle adopted by the Convention wac pre.
served, how In the OF all that was itist couid this
arrangement merit censure complaint. DID they net
allow to others the thing which they claimed for
hemsevee He was mt, however, periina cous in IA.
For OF the plan; but he wished 10 viudicate tim,sf
rom the charge Of ijustice II wa. natural that he
hould desire 10 see the system of rouov