Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-02

should be found that under the operation oil the rule
| which have propo.ei, the ,jorty Of the House Of
Delegates should come from The West Of the Blue
Ridge; have we not safety and guarantee in the per.
manency oil the Senate! l am satisfied from my beet
reflections that the east from the of things, will
| continue to retain the power In the lower House,
and from my scheme, they can never lose il in the Sc
nate.
From the arguments offered, should think that my
scheme will be accepted by the East, il the West will
agree to take II.
l,t Because the lands east of the ridge are more
capable OF being divided and suh-divided into small
frsehods than the lands OF the West and that there
10 land assessed in the Esstto the Of 740 900
than land 10 the West, from which fact may infer
its superior capacity TO contain dense population.
2 That there are 0oD mates above the age Of l6
years, more than in the West, most OF whom will
er or later become freehold voters.
3. That freeholders multiply faster in savs-hod-
ing community than in non. sIav--holding commu.
nifty upon the same amount Of white population. The
East has more population now by $4,000. at least.
T. That the decreasing Increase OF population in the
West IL such that in short time, If IL be not less than
the increase Of the East it will mt be greater.
Mr.. President before conclude, permit me TO put
this question to you, and through you, my eastern
friends Of hi. body-aud put the question cmph i
cally. Suppose, cir, few weeks past our s'tern
Brethren had offered TO give to us a permanent Sc
nate with majority Of six members, provided,
would give 10 them rule Of re. apportionmen such
have propo.ed-thnk you. we would hive refused
III No, sirwe should have thought il fair and honor
able them as think fair, honorable and just hi.
moment.
You will remember. Mr.. President, that when Of
Tered my resolutions there two Others offered at
the same time, one by the gentleman from Frederick,
Mr. Cooke) and one by the gentleman from T.oudoun
(Mr Henderson, the subject OF the Ju iiciary and
Executive Departments OF Government BY my reso-
luton fair rule for re-apportion,nent was contemplate
ed-by Nlr CVoke's the dsg' adation and ir isce to
the Judiciary were intended to be avoided and by tina,
OF Mr.. Harderson's email council was to be preserv-
ed. aud the election OF Governor TO be given thu Lee
gsature-and these several propositions intended
O de uurnt Drou asst
Mr. President IL my resolutions lost, 1t must b.,
because the West think then unayorabls to their in
teress, aud the East consider them injurious their
political power,nd if each apprehe nds H. all may rea-
sonably anticipate good.
Mr. ScOrr then rose aud addressed the House as
follows:
had hoped Sir that this agitatng question set.
tied, so far as il be settled by of hi, House
IL it again to be disturbed, know what we can
consider settled, until the Fl. al vote is given and
the Convention has adjourned.
When the various departments Of the Government
were referred TO the select Committees this question
stood oemost and engaged the attention Of all. When
The House went into Committee Of the Whoie the
reports OF tina select Conmiuees this all absorbing
question was first taken up, and debated week after
week, with all the ardour aud ability which the deep
interest which il involves was well calculated TO
bring forth. The Convention divided into al
most equal parts, and the people became agiavd and
ntlamed; when my rienL from Albemarle TO use his
own words sin order to sink the discussion, laid upon
the table his plan Tor present apportonment Of rep
tuiuro-Aitsr
been in possession Of the Committee of the whole for
some time and several rutess attempts had been made
to agree upon another scheme embracing both
and uturs sppertonment. was taken up and adopt ed
| by more decided majority, than hoped could he
united on any proposition. connected with this Slim
perisnt question. rule Of future appor,ionmen pre-
sented by the gentleman from Northampton, en-
grated upon il; but disagreed to by the Houss by
an almost anmou, vote. Various other sshernes for
iuture apportionnen, proposed from both sides Of
the House, and all oi than reiected. and hnaly the
plan OF the gentleman from Aibemarie agreed to by
adhesive majority; and the Convention passed 10 the
consideration Of other subj. this que ,on there
fore is no, TO be considered settled cannot be sad
that we have settled any thing. for one, have 20
considered; and regret that my friend from Richmond
county should have disturbed it, (Mr. N-aIs explain.
ED am net ignorant Of the motives which led my
friend TO take this sep-although not stated to the
House in the remarks which he submitted in support
OF his proposition, he had exp aimed them me. du-
~ appreciate them; we, that he has felt it his
duty again TO agtate the Convention by bringing up
this suijsct.
Mr. PRECEDENT. the plan before us doe, not profess to
provide br present apporonment. IL IL designed TO
engrat OH that OF the gentleman from Aibemarle il
mns therefore, be considered in ction with that
plan III, objected to that plan by gentlemen from the
West and from the East also; and amongst the latter is
my friend who sits me- (Mr. Leigh that /, |. de
feciive IN not providing rule for the future
ment Of representation: That this defect will generate
discomfort anong"t the people, and far from shaking
the question OF the basis OF representations il will kee
il ave That hosiilites will iiBn cdiarly re
and will result in new Convention or separation Of
The State. ask the gentlemen from the East in what
part OF the State IL Ii tina. they expect these dcon nj
TO ari'e! From what quarter 10 th. 10 he waged
They answer from the West I will ak them if IN "
would be willing TO adopt our OVID f,voure basis Of r.,
pesentaion the federal number or Formulation and tax
a'ion az arue OF future appointments if such rule
would not be more objection ,bls 10 our western brs
thren, than no rule whatever, and by concurrence
produce greater discontcnt and have a stronger
tendency 10 bring about another Convention than the
plan OF The gentleman from AIbemare would ask
gentlemen from the West, IL they could succeed in a.
doping iher hvorite, the white basis il it would pro-
dnce no discomfort ia The Es If il is expected that
oil lhe 2st would not make Com iituiion con
tanning Dch an obnoxiou, principle one which we
think s opposed to the best settled PRINCIPLES OF
sentative government, and subveTsive OF our dear
est interests ? Sir, we should be moro or lea,
than men, u we did not. There il yet majority OF
white population East OF the Blue Rilge We ,houd
Tor time have the command Of both houses Of the L.
gSature on any basis. We could WELD that powerful
engine 10 ELECT our purposes-we could il az the
legitimate means Of securing safety by expsllno
Tho odious principle from the Constitutions; and in m v
Judgment We should act unwsely II we did not do it,
Sir, the difference between the East ard West w.ud
be tlIs-ihe West coulJ do nothing without reyolu.
tonary movement OF the people, whst Of the Eas,
could effect our purposes, the very means which or.
ganzcd this Convention.
These reflections have brought my mind to the con-
cIusion that IN the present excited state Of this House
and OF the People, ii is better TO provide rule Of m
lure appOruonment, unless, indeed, could hit upon
one which would unite large majority Of the House
and tranquilize the public mind. I confess I sec no
prospect Of such result Let examine the operation
oil The plan on the gentleman from Abenarle upon the
different divisions Of the State, and see whether it is
isey TO produce the effects which are apprchended
The causes which led TO this Convention were vari-
Gus. The unequal representation in the Legislature was
one Of them Great as that nequalitys it would not Of