Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-03-31


Blue Ridge vas $50, 1857, and West .
that Mountain. Sia,726, and accordin,
to this state Of yhitG population IN.
Senators were apPor toned between Oh,
East and the West in 1917.
When the ConveDtien law Vas nass
ed in February. 1899, the General AZ
sembiy, IL that body had not intende ed
q gross outrage on the principles Of ius
tice, could have had recourse to th,
Census Of 1890. Then the white DO.
pulstion stood thus East Of the
Ridge. s48.87s. and West. a54, sos
Had the 90 Members Of Convention
been divided between the East and
West, according to the Census OF $50
the West would have had 4OA mem
bers instead Of Sc, the number which
the law gave rs, and the East Ssh mem.
bers instead Of 60, which the law gave
them. The proceedings and votes Of
the Convention will abundantIv shov
that, but for the wanton Injustice al
adopting the tables Of 1910. for distri.
buting representation in the Conyen.
ton. and even assuming those Of 1920.
the West. with their friends East al
the Ridge. would have had no Difficult.
~ in making and presenting to the peo-
pie. for adoption, Constitution found.
ed on just principles. But to have
dealt justly with Us, the Assembly OF
1898 ought to have made REASONABLE.
allowance for the change of population
between 1890 and 1899. The amour,
of that change cannot be correctly sta.
ted; but from an estimate furnished
by the Auditor 10 pursuance Of an or .
der OF Convention. it appeared that the
white population in 1899 was 6S2. a6I
Whereof there resided East Of the Blue
Ridge 362,745. and West 319.5I6:
and from this il would appear that the
West were. Of right, entitled TO as
members nearly, aud the East 20 81 !:
giving the East, in the whole body. n
majority Of little more than six instead
of twenty -four.
Notwithstanding the injustice done
us IN glving Us but So members, there
were many. and among them, who be.
lieved the friends Of reform would ont.
number their adversaries in the Con-
vention. This hope was generally en-
tsrtained in the West, and as far az |
know, the expectation was general.
that should the great principles Of re-
form be definitely carried against us in
Convention, we would retire in a bod
and frame and offer to the people, as
the representatives. Of q majority oi
them, . Constitution formed on our
own principles; aud this determination
appeared to be almost universal among
the Western members, until the ses
sion had progressed several weeks.
am perfectly confident that if there had
arisen no division among ourselves.
and the Western members had retired
with dignity and csimness," to use
an expression Of . member whom I
shalt have occasion 10 name, the Eas,
would soon have yielded 20 us tha,
which. to the last. every member of the
Convention residing West the Ridge,
except one, commended for. i. e. the
white basis in the House of Delegates.
with rule for future apportionmen is
according 20 the basis Of free white
numbers.
IL happened during our session, az
have seen IL happen in sessions of the
ordinary Legislature, that the friends
of reform were strongest when they
met, and grew weaker and weaker by
divisions among themselves. Rich.
mond 10 the seat Of political power in
our State, and. like other cities, has
many means Of attaining the views oi
Its statesmen. The late Thomas vii.
son, OF MOrgantown, used TO say OF
that city, land he drew the opinion
from long experience that "Rich-
mond IS to Virginia, what Rome was to
the civilized world"
Early IN the session, our previous
hopes Of success were strengthened BY
The votes on several questions. The
hrst resolution offered by myself on be.
half Of the friends Of reform IN the LIE.
gislative Committee. provided that in
the apportionment of representation in
both branches Of the General Assem-.
bly,, regard should b. had 10 white 10
pulatiOn exclusively Mr.. Madison
was Chairman % this COMMITTEE, and
he requested me to modify u so az IA
make Il relate 60 the House Of Dele
gates only, and then present che same
question separately ~ 20 theSsnate. Al
his request ] varied the proposition
thus Resolved, That IN the appor.
tIonment Misrepresentation in the House
Of Delegates, regard should be had "a
white population exclusively" Thus
modified, Mr.. Madison voted for the
resolution, and he and Nv. Monroe did
the same afterwards in foil Conven
ton, bot both voted against the same
rule OF aPporti0nment in relation 20 IN,
Senate. The request of Nc. Madison
to separate the question, gave reason
to fear that he would vote for the fedc