Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-02
richmond, VIRGINIA, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1850.

vehuon. Let us then compare the situation of the VAL
ley and Middle country and the counties just mention
ell particular under the existing Constitution with their
SITUATION under the proposed plan. The representation
Oh inc in the present H. of Delegates about
eighth OF the whole number; by the proposed PLAN
VIII be increased to about fifth. That Of the whole
iuue country is about neiourh il will be increased
10 one third. The representation of the fourteen coun
ties Immediately below the Ridge is about one eighth;
WIN be increased to about onesixth These counties
by uniting with the West will give q majority against
tue Eastof tweny-three. BY uniting with the East,
tney VIII give majority Of twenty one against the
west. In the present House of Delegates the trans
A.eghany country by uniting with that below the head
OF ude water will give majority of forty-two against
the vaiiey and Middle country united Upon the pro-
posed pan, the Valley and Middle country will have
majority oil ono. We may, therefore, well hope that
ms great accession oil strength 10 that portion Of the
State which extends from the head of Underwater to the
Allegheny mountains viii when the excitement which
the discussions in this House have produced shall have
subsidized. when the salutary effects of this change on
the local interests of that egon shall be felt that the
people who inhabit 1t will be content. The people of
mo fourteen counties forming the upper division of the
Middle country, must be satisfied In their hands will
De placed the balance of between the East and
west 1t twas by the Union of these counties with the
West that majority obtained for the call of Con-
venhon Ample Justice Is done TO the country West Of
the Aiieghany Ii complaints heard from that quar-
ter, they will be without cause-Unaded by the Val
10y and Middle country, they never disturb the
pose OF the State.
Neither Ia. the exrsme Ess anv cau.e of complaint or
just ground of apprehension Their fsv.urlte ba-
sis OF representation would place the balance Of power
In the same hand. The numbers which it would az.
sign TO the East and West, resp"ctivry, would. in.
deed, bs somewhat different But the Counties at the
Eastern base Of the Blue Ridge, would stll hold the
balance between East and West. In their hands II
may he SAFELY placed-They pay as argea proportion
OF axes, anu hold as large proportion e slaves any
other parts Of the State-When they tax their neigh
bours. they tax themselves aio. They have ,eep in
terest 10 all the laws concerning slaves. On the sub
ect Of Internal inprove have an interest COM
he Wpat he nfpfl I,ai-
contributions to the public purse, will prevent them
rom einbarkng In what We consider the wild and ex-
"avagant schemes OF the We,'. Their distance from
market and the value OF their products, make neces
'ary Tor them to construct roads and improve the navi-
CATION OF their streams Single handed. they can do
nothing. They can control the East only by uniting
with the West They will. therefore. necessarily be
led TO unite with the West in moderate system Of inn
provenen' alike beneficial every part of the State
81 you have The best, the only safe guaranty against
the abuse OF the power conIed them; the guaranty
OF their interest have thought il psopcr TO law before
the Convention, what consider the advantages Of the
scheme oil ne gentleman from Aibemaic, before ex-
anime that oil my friend from Richmond county which
intended a. an appendage to it, Permit me now sir
10 call the attention OF the Convention to that scheme
Ills hrst resolution proposes that of thirty two Sc
MAJORS 10 shall he assigned to the cousy West of the
Blue Ridge and 10 East: That this apporonment shall
b., permanent All the objections urged against the
scneme OF the gentleman from Albemarle apply TO this
,a.lre OF mat now under examination. The rule of
iu'ure airport onmen which is proposed for tie House
OF delegates, will either increase the pre- Of
hs East IN that House leave things they are or trans
Ter the Preponderance ia that House the West If il
operates no material change il will render the nj 10
when u IS to be appended in respect better If il
the prepondrrance Of the East will
the discomfort Of the West. lit transfers the prspon
derancc TO the West il will introduce the elements of
discord into the halls Of legislation and prove IN
!ne rePoe oil the State, and ultimately wrsst from the
East the protection which proposed be given by the
pei lane mt Senate.
Upon what is this proposed rule of future appor;on
ment tounded? Ii is no, founded on population nor
wealth, nor taxati'n. Ii 10 said to be based upon
Ia ahu, Mui Its operation be effected by the quantity
OF land IN the several counties? No. Ga the value,
no. by the taxes paid on land! No What then,
"hy'u VIII depend on the number Of resident freehe
ders owhHg ireeholls worth twenty-five dollars In
o'her words, the number Of representative, which a
county will be entitled to, will md on the number NJ
divisions OF the value Of five dollars and
into which accident may have cut up its territory: and
s tenure oy whirh those divisions may happen TO be
neh. Ihey will bear no proportion TO its population.
back or white, TO the extent or value of il, terri
tory' nor to the taxes paid by s inhabitants IL will
erPshu on circumstances purely adventurous. Sir,
such 'c1ene is at with all former notions Of re-
preventative government and if applied in practice he
the ~ at variable in M results of any that has ever vs,
oeen canned OF. In suprot of these remarks LET me
ask the attention to survey Of few of The count in
me different sections Of the State. If we compsr.
western counties with the valley counties and with
each othsr; Eastern counties with western counties
and with each other, we shall find the result. equally
variable anu Unsatisfactory. We furnished by the
Auditor with statement shelving tn. number of per-
sons charged with tax lands in parcels not than
twenty-five acres in the several counties and in lois
ana ports OF lots in the several cities and towns,
-iheir value is not stated. but learn from gentle
man III my eye (Mr JyDes) that he has examiged the
Commissioners books, aud the number which fall short
OF tue value oil twenty-five dollars is
as not 10 be worth notice Those Of less than tw en,v.
hVe acres and OF the value Of twenty dollars will pto.
o"oiy not materially vary the result. From that
document appears that the county OF Kanawha with
white population OF 1893 and ,527 slaves and nav.
ing tax oil Sl735 has tut els reehoders; whilst the
county OF CaDell, with only 4772 whites, 1876 slave.
and paying a tax OF 1884 has SOL ireehoIser. The
county OF Randolph with 1872 whites, 234 slaves and
pay ing tax II S6II, ha, 07S freehoders while Ohio
wtn ooSS whites 2I4 slaves, and paying 50 43o, has
lOZO r"hodsrs The county OF JeHrrson, with TO- 1927
whites, 4,24S slaves, and paying $5,77s, has $50
ireeholders; whilst Randolph, with less than half the
"hte population, about twentieth part OF the slaves.
pa lag one-Binth oil the taxes Of Jefferson has DIG free
holders Morgan, with less than one fourth as many
whites, ono thlrtieih AZ many slave,, and paving
Que .en'h as much tax a'Jefefson has nearly half
many ireeholsers The county Of Campbell including
The town ct LyOchburg,has 1862 whites ISL slaves
pay S9JH 10 taxes aud has about 400 freehodets-
oot' with hall the white popula isn one-1neenlh Of
ths slaves, and paying onetenh of the taxes Of Camp.
bell. has 1854 ifeeholdefs.
lbe county OF Fsuquer with 1926 whites, ,3el
slaves aud paying SS3l7, has 1923 Ireeboders. Tue
ne ghbouring county OF Cuipeper with lI,I66 whites
e'zzo slaves and paying S6,5S5, has I433 eehoders
Aud the county Of Patrick with about one ih ri as many
WHITES, one eighth az many slaves, and paying enc
ninth as much tax az Fduquier, has 9ii resholders.-
Jefferson with 1887 whites, 42i5 slaves and paying
S0'TI6, has $50 ireehJlders. Princess Anne With 3S2
whites, 1874 slaves, and paying S275l, has ,Ol7
reeholders IL IL unnecessary TO pursue the eompa-
IisOn la Their Before quitting the subject how evcr
neg leave 10 call the attention Of the House TO the pc
euia, condition Of The country west OF the All ghany,