Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-06
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.

sol trir
Committee of the Whole, Mr.. Sianard in the Char
on the Report of the Select Committee.
Tire Chair proceeded To read the Rcport section
by section. The third section having been read
Mr. Nayior complained of the abandonment nj
represent alton i'll the House OF Decgates as il re-
garded the counties OF Berkeley and Morgan, which
were thrown together and allowed but two members
The county OF Shenandoah, entitled by the ratio
10 three members, and was given three accordingly:
but that county with 10 900 white Inhnbitants wa
given Senator to itself Whereas Berklev which
nearly approached the standard which wonld cntite
her to two members, and Morgan than which many
less popuous counties allowed a delcra,c In
themselves, were given but two members between
them In consideration of this circumstance Mr.
Nnylor proposed TO take delegate from Shenun-
doah, and give il to Morgan.
Mr. Boyd supported the same views. He did not
think that equal justice was done To the different
portions Of the Valley. Berkley had 0O85 white
inhabitants, yet was allowed with MorpAn hut
TWO members Every other county, save Mononpa
ia "hlch came near Berkeley in population, was al
lowed two, and mnny counties with as small n popu.
lation as Morgan, was allowed one. This was not
Just or equal There three distinct interests in
inc DaIey--the James River. the Shenandoah and
the Potoinac-and representation ought to be amor
TONED with some eye equality among these various
interests. M. Boyd gave various tabular state
ments TO shewthe excess given TO Shenandoah, the
injustice done to Berkcy and Morgan, and the pro
prl:ty OF taking one of the three from Shenandoah
ana giving 1T to Morgan, to nllow one To Nor
gan separately, and two to Berkeley.
Mr.. Cooke suggested to the gentleman, who had
preceded him. that in all probability. proposii ion
Woud be made IN the of the conside off
the report, To add 10 members, to the House of Del
eghtcs, 10 the east. and to the west which would
enable the Convention TO satisfy the now dissatisfied
portions Of the Convention. and supcrsedc the nccos
sy of the motion of the gentleman from Uomnst;ro
(Mr. NavloTl
Upon this hint Mr.. Naylor Withdrew his motion to
amend. ~
Mr.. Claiborne expressed his satisfaction ot fine IN
In pufl
lAlr. Cookie which without disturbing the pr,ncple
OF Mr. Gordons basis, would contribute TO the Conc
raj cOntentment.
Mr.. Cooke then moved to increase the number NJ
Delegates IRON ~ to l4O--7 TO be added TO the
East and TO the West, preserving the relative dis
trIbution OF power among the 4 grand divisions of
the state, as provided IN the scheme of npportion
Incnt OF the gentleman from Abonnre hir Cor.
don) This would enable the Convention 10 satisfy
various counties which were really agrricycd bv tho
prcscn npportIunmcnt.
Mr.. Leigh Of Chesterfield (thc draffsmnn of the
legislative portion ofthc Constitution commented ON
the difficulty which had been experienced - making
the npportOnmcnt-and suggested that If The amor
honment were arranged anew, Il would BIO expedcnt
10 TX maximum nUnbeT Of Delegates, and leave
discretionary with the committee 10 select that mum
Der winch could be most equally ap portoned pro
serving the relative distribution of power among the
four great divisions Of the State The number fdO
he thought might answer he purpose
MI Iaylof expressed his appreciation oftbc pro-
position Of tho gentleman from Chesterfield. IN re-
gard to h's portion Of fhc State, he believed the
Committee had done full and entire justice vel he
thought It was possible by the addition Of snple
member TO improve the arrangement, and to unite
that district a. one nan in favor of thc Cons,i-
tuition
The question was then taken on striking out 127,
and carried in tho gfFirnntive--nycs 81
Mr.. Leigh Of Chcsteriicld now moved 10 recon-
NIT tho 81 article Of the constitution with hstrnc
tionsto opportoi dclcg,tton anewt md preserving
tic same relation among the great divisions Of