Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-14

this But he offered II in a spirit OF compromise. The
Rule Of Three II the population Of sS. N Ws ss
at present, gave delegate, TO the Western District
what would the population Of that District in slI give
and 50 IL issi and ..i sr , ten years thereafter
ment. was already provided for by the plan OF Sir.
Cooke, Win ths only difference that the latter plan
contained limitation a. to the number Of the House OF
delegates ana oil the Senate The only effect in which
this amendment would differ from that gentleman was,
In en'argng the number Of both houses: consequence
to hich he was opposed
One observation TO the amendment Of the venera-
BILE gentleman from Orange: IL provided power in the
Legislature to apportion representation throughou
the State; but il laid down rule by which they were
to be governed in that arrangement This caused him
to vote gsinst the proposal Of the gentleman from
Giles (Mr Chapman:) he could agree to H. unless
he agreed TO change the whole foundation Of the gov
ernmen for Representations constituted that ion
IL rot to be doubted that in 1871, there would be
majority in the Legislature holding the same sent
mepts rs the majority In this body, and which lad
vented the adoption of the white bass and the result
would no doubt be the same. was in fact giving pow
er to the Legislature in 1884, to make a new govern
ment for Virginia. Having divided the State into fur
distinct districts aud thus pres to the people the
idea Of diversity OF interest," (Which he did not believe
to exis all that remained invite three Of these
divisions to unite In expressing the fourth, and the Con-
suuton was then in their rover.
Mr.. FIrzHUSH said his colleague was certainly
mistaken in his view Of the proposition: il was totally
different from that offered by Mr.. Cooke. IL was the
only proposition which had yet been brought forward
which proposed equal and Just rule for future APP
portonment; and it should receive his decided support
suppose one oil the great population
greatly, while another should not; this rule went to
give TO that which increased enlarged number ofre.
pressntatves. His objection against the plan Of Mr.
Cooke was that II retained the relative proportions now
established betweent he great divisions Of the State
ehangeaby and forever. But th, amendine mt avoided
that injustice and should have his support.
MIR. MERCER said il he had been mistaken, he had
committed great error: but he not yet convinced
oi me TACT Mt Nj. here went into analysis OF the
amendment and insisted in his former view.
MIR: CAMPBELL said that Mr.. Fitzhugh had under.
STOOD hi, proposition correctly. He here went noSan
arhmetica illustration Of its effect the principle of
the rule OF proportion The only objection which had
any weight was, that IL might increase the number of
me House OF Delegates too much: but then whilst one
division gained, another might lose But he had no OBJ.
lection TO have the present number for that
Hease, liked as a u,drimiin,.
Mr.. CLAIBORNE called for advisor OF the que stion
on striking out and inserting the amendment.
MT. CAMPBELL demonstrated against preciptancy,
and asked the House TO give its attention TO the plan
mat Its merits il IL had any, might be canddly weigh
ed. All the merits OF NJ Gor,on's had N,
ly in its ste erng middle course and producing drawn
battle between the contendng partes il that were any
merit Mr.. Cs plan had the same lie insisted on In. ne,
cesny Of some rule Tor future apPo' tionment, aud
asked what would have become Of the government of
the U. s. IL the Federal Cons ution had contained M
provision on this subject!
MIR JoYNEs said, he had been anxious for some rule
sn the subject but that presented by the presen,
anne ndinent was the aud the niut ous TO tbe
INTERESTS Oh Eastern virginia OF any that had yet been
uouk" o. Inc representation now fixed by a plan
oil Mr. Gordon gave TO the Trans gbany district one
representative for about every $500 OF the nh
while in the tide water district the rule gave them
about one Tor every 10000, and this be the ratio
forever According TO that rule they below the Tide
water could never get another till their
population increased 10 900 above this present
whereas the West got Delegate for every ncre ase
OF while al the same time the district ne ary
stationary, and the other growing with rapidly He had
much rather have the white basis: IL would be far
less Advantageous 10 the East. According to the
| I'M m Inn mi fha k.s~
would not remain as IL was fixed at all: only the
same ratio within each District between the population
and representation.
Mr.. MARSHALL said there wa, a serious ohiec,on IN
the amendment II went 10 enlarge indefuiteiy both
Houses OF the Legislature that must be its
effect unless some restraining clause were added ia
prevent IT, But such he we'll assured wa, not the
sense Of the Conventions they wished rather TO Jimn
ish the Legislature and their objection to IL had
stated by the gentleman from Accomac, (Mr Joynes)
no superintendent at present agreed was the white
basis II stood in 1920. They had all that ths
black population should not be represented in the same
manner as the white and the present scheme
ina, principle; But the amendment said the same pro-
portion should be Observed whether the population
white or black: suppose that the East should get ma
oriy OF white population by this plan they would not
get proportional increase OF representation. The
amendment would not benefit the Eastern part of the
State at all all its benefits would he confined to the
west IL was unjust to adopt principle which would
not apply itself change OF the population from black
to white, when the general basis OF the whole plan was
10 Tact white population. In the middle country IL
was possible and probable that the character of the
Puation would be greatly changed there were none
who could consider the condition of the ives
tern part OF the middle District and not perceive this to
be true but the ratio Of representation would not
change with il. 49,
Mr. MERGER proposed to the gentleman from Brooke
to modify his Resolution as to read
The General Assembly shall have power in the
ye" 'o'i, anu every years thereafter, to
aPportion the representation in both Houses. 20 that
the number of delegates in each of the four grand dis.
rcts SNAIL bear the same proportion the whole white
population OF each district respectively which the
sent apporonment establishes In such district the
no oil the present apportionment he ascerained bv
the next census-Provided that the House of Dele
shall never exceed in numbercne hundred and fiftv
nor the Senate tbirty-sx member.'
Mr. CAMPBELL accepted the modification.
ihe que lion was then put on striking out in order 10
insert MIR. CampbePs amendment: and decided by yeas
and nays, az follows:
AYES.-Messrs Anderson Coanan u,-r;.on vii
hanson, Baldwin, Mccoy, Moore. Berne, Smith. Mil
Ter, Baxter, Mercer, Ftzhugh, Henderson, Osborne
COOKE, Powell, Griggs, Masen Of F.. Nayior Donald,
son, Boyd, Pendleon, George, M'Millan, Campbell of
W.. Bysrs, CIoyd, Chapman, Mathews, Ogissby, Dan.
can. Laidey, Summers, See, Morgan CamobejI NJ n
Wilson. Claytor, Saunders, CabeIi and Stuar;~ia
NhYS-Messrs Barbour, (P.) Jones, Leigh and
Taylor OF Oh. GiIes. BrodDax. Drompooie, Alexan
der, Goode, Marshall of III. Tyler, Nicholas. Cjop-
ton, Johnson, Mason Of s. Trezvant, Claiborne Urou
hart, Randolph, Leigh Of n. Logan. Venabe Madison
Sanard Holiday, Rosne, Taylor Of Car. Morris Gar
nett, Barbour Of c. Scott, Green, Mar,hal Of F. Ta1e.
weH' Loyaii, Preniis, Grgsby, Campbell Of Bed
Branch,- Fownes, Martin Pleassnts, Gordon Tbomn
.on, Msssie, Bates, Nesle, Rose, Coalter Joyns,
Bdyly, Upshur and Perrin.-53
So the House refused 10 strike out and Mr. Gam.
bells amendment fell OF course.
Mr.. JOHNSON said, he had misunde rstood The ou..
uon not having attended to the modification a. 10 white
popuiaion In ITS former step he thought the amend