Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-04-07

y.
Powell moved To amend it by subs,i-
tuiing the following:
La the year 1912. aud every ten years
thereafter. the general assembly shall have
power To apportun the representation Of both
branches among the several counties, cities
and boroughs Of the common~ cath, accord.
'ng to some just aud equitable ratio"
So anxious was ! to obtain a rule Of
future superintendent which even might
provide Tor the unequal ratios Of the
increase of population IN different parts
OF the commonwealth, that I voted fur
tins amendment also, supcrseding my
own proposition. And here again 1
voted against all the east. I voted
wrong. ] admit but il was an othodox
resieFi vote Tor the name Of the Hon.
Philip Do,idridee appears alongside of
NINE. IN the minority Of SO by whom
the amendment was sustained. The
re superintendent Of the whole repre-.
senta'ion OF the state, without any re-
s'ra'nt whatever. Is certainly too great
a power To bestow OH bare majority of
the legislative bodies. So at least I
th"nght. when. four DAYS after. Mr..
Madison srule FOR future superintendent
b"ing under consideration, 4 voted a
sa'n~' an amendment proposing to
strike out two thirds Of each house
c"nrorring.' so as To leave the puuer
IN the hands Of bare majority. And
so. too, thought the writer OF the cir.
eular on the 18th Of December. For
having. on the day before, laid on
The table, at the request Of a trans.Al-
le2hany member, but without Ira wig
determined 10 support IL, resolution
precisely similar TO that Of Nr. Powell.
The writer OF the circular expressed, in
the most unequiyocal language, Ia, dis.
appreciation of the principle. "a the
following extract from his speech will
shew:
81 trust have proved. satisfactorily, tina,
the plan at the gentle man from AIbemstl. is
10 create . house OF delegates of ~ members,
and IN winch the east is to have . majority OF
ll-oe'"g II, or a, the very least iS, more
than the east are eniaied to by any far prin.
cipie; house Of delegates in which the cas-,
s'o possess uncomfortable power in the frs,
Instance. To such house Of delegates IL is.
that the gentleman from Frederick propose.
I ~ give power 20 re.spportion re prese ntation
after 1870 or 1871, without compelling them
to any particular ratio, principle or basis.
y" w such house of delegates part with
,heir power Does my friend hope. much
less believe ~ Before we can believe these
people uilI impair their own authority willing
". We mus, absolutely forget What happened
SO short time ago as las, winter, and all tina,
ne behold here every day. with our own ey es
ms would be Pgpefuaiing po1ser 10 be sure.
o." me" ~ lViH be an unequal and OPPRESSIVE
po'eer and IT would only differ in Degree from
that just now proposed by the gen,Ieman
from Chesterfield. whose plan of power. pre-.
sent and future. has JUS, been rejected"
Thus you perceive that on the 10Th
OF December the writer of the circular
censures my imprudence in proposing TO
en'rust so formidable power 10 a bare
majority OF the legislature. Yet in his
circular he censurcs me for pursuing.
on the 18th of January, the opposite
course--for voting against the confer.
ring OF SO great power on bare ma.
j"rity. Mr.. Cooke says he, voted
against Chapman's amendment, in
which vote he was joined by two or
'ihcee other me mbers in the west. and
by about the same number on the q.
'doptiOn Of Mr.. Madison's resolution. >
And again he says, by Mr.. Madison's
provision there never will be n new
superintendent throughout the state. ,
L That -, because il requires 2-5rd.,
an una,iaiDable majority. For this
provision (requiring more than bare
majority.) there is neither ertnse nor
precedent And again This prosi-
sion only relates to new appOrtion-
'mcni OF representation under a con
'siitntion. Why should this require
The concurrence Of hr0.Mirds Of both
branches? The journal Of the 10Th
'of December will furnish the answer.
The vote on our last proposition was
'4S To 4S. and Of course II eastern
gentlemen agreed with The west. This
Showed me danger that DIcre Di0jori-
'Hes Of each brunch mighf, in He ye1y
1871. do pe5fcci md equaI jusfire 10
'GH the STATE 'Ihe dmger hat me
'PrP0ndsT0nce If our eosiern orisio.
cyGcY might Nc rsiuccd. and Me fasf
md Uesf fiaced on me footing of q
gust eqUoiHy, UGs FOE abp0reHf fo e.
c"pe attention, and accordingly Mr.
nadIson's proposition was adopted
10 avert that danger Revert TO the
extract from his speech, and you will
zee That The danger 10 be apprehended
from comforting the power on a bare
majority was exactly tie opposite u
was the danger that tic pfet,ondefahce
OF the east would be perpriuated.
Nor arc these the only rontradic.
tions into which the writer ~ the c,r
eular has been betrayed by his eager
meas 10 censufe me. Mr. Madtson's
clause providing for future apporiioo
ments BY vote Of two thirds Of both
houses. which VAS So unfortunate a.
70 receive the support Of my hamblc