Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-01-07

ton east of the Blue Ridge GAG g73; divide Inc
oy 10 $40 and 1t gives 10 and fraction of rather
over ono half The gentleman from Albcmarle has
merely given the benefit of these fraction, o the east
TIN. is his only variation from the basis Of white
population by the census OF 1920. What | ask is
that Tins rule thus determined bv this Convention to
D. Just as between the two great divisions ut the
State, may be- applied the distribution OF rcprcsen-
tation amongst the smaller subdivisions, that in the
distribution ut power the psope have the honor in
part TO represent, may have the full benefit of the
rule adopted by the Convention, as the lust measure
of political power in the State. Have the Commit
tee done them this justice in their report, To show
that they have not 1t is only necessary to the
ac', mat The DISTRICT, reported bv the Committee
composed oi the Counties of Bedford Franklin and
Patrick, contained by the Census of 1920 n white
population OF ,o56; that composed of the counties
o CampneH' fittsylra'i,a, and Henry, 94,39I-whils
That composed of the counties of Iniiiax aud Meek
lenburg contained only 1880; that composed of the
counties of buckingham, Cumberland and Powhatan
l3'"o3 ana That COMPOSED of Petersburg, Prince
George, Surry, and Isle of Wirh. only 1871 /,
was not my intention To make speech upon this sub
lrct but simply IN bnit these few statements in ex-
paha'ioh OF the reasons which have induced this mo-
ton and with them leave II to the Convention.
Mr.. I4rtGH observed that the Committee had moi
adopted any fixed rule III upporinninr rrprescnt,,,eu
-Dut had distributed II as equally $ upon consd.
Grafton 81 all tc interests of the different sections
ana with due regard 10 county boundaries could be
uohc. ana nc thought any gcntlemaA who would TN.
Cerake 10 make such a dist ribution would find il a
dlcnt matter Ia make one more equal than that re-.
ported b. the Committee
Mr.. SCorr la protest against the idea that tho
proposition offered by the gentleman from, Aibomn-lc
was founded upon the white population of IsaO-thnt
/ proposition had hccn advocated by its author md
moro particularly by himself, upon the express ground
o. lis having such basis; and he protested r,insi
such being assumed its bnsis because some c,lcn-
!ations showed an approximation to it; the scheme
appToachcd ut lcast as nearly to the proposition sub
united by the gentleman from Northampion as II did
I To the white population of 1920.
| Mr.. T.. | know nothnr Whatever Of ho b,.i on
wEch ;hc gentlemen from Abcmare founded his
plan, but ON the results of calculation. take for
gran ed, however, that lie must have had some rene
Tai basis which has induced him select this par,i
cuor superintendent in pre- ference to any other; and
as the gentleman from Fauquicr denies the s,icicn
cY OF the evidence, have offered TO prove tina, ha,
basis Ism Tact the white population OF 1920 with an
arbitrary variation of mere fractions, must be per
mi'ted 10 submit to the House the results of a few
moro calculations upon that subject. have shown
that III the division OF power in the Senate between
the east and the wcst, the only variation from tho
white population Of 1920, giving fraction TO the
east Let ms now examine the npportion,ncnt in the
House of Delegates. Tho whole white population nt
the Sta'c IN 1920 was GO3, 08l-dvidc this by y
the number OF members in the proposed House of De-
! legntes, and the result gives 1919 rs the avcrape
number en- tiled to elect delegate upon that basis
Compare the appur' ionmrnt III the House of Dele
gates ms proposed by the gentleman from Albc-
marie with tins calculation, and tho result is as fol-
! lows:--Thc western district white populatiun
! 1881 l2--29 members is for 1890. Tie Valley
white population l2l ,096--2i members is one FIR
5olo. Middle district white population 1877, o6--lO
members is one tor 1919 Tide water distrct white
population IGl ,6G7--3i mcnIbers is one for 47jj
Thus showing IN each district only slight fraction
al r4tion from til, white population of 1920 Take
tnc average OF the four dis rics, and the result is
4|o.-vary'ng only 10 from the precise number xiv
/ en- ny the equal representation of the white
! population rs ascertaincd by the census at 1890
Sir all these results may be purely acc-
denial. but to my mind they look very much
I tcSIOO Dc i,n.a I,no
any other basis which would produce results opurox
irnai!ng SO nearly 10 those arrived al BY tho nnil.
man from Alhemnrlc, my mind could not av,,i the
conclusion that this l. the basis of his proDns
ton. But. sir, grant 10 the gentleman from Fan
quley ':iat II IS not only nsk that his basis what
ever It may be, whether 1t be the white popuatiop
OF !OHo That OF the gentleman from ON Nor lamp-
ton, or that OF any other gentleman NAV hc f,i,lv
worked out TO its results. That that which tbs
Convention has established, as lust for th, whole
Stale, may be equally applied To all it's paris-Dnd
not after thus establishing one rule arbitrary if yon
piease) for tue Sac adopt another equally or rnor
arbitrary III It's character for districts by the
ton OF which the people of that particular section
OF She STATE have the honor in part to represent
are 10 lose large portion of the political power
they would be Justly entitled to, if the pencral rl,
you have adopted fairly and Justly applied-
Bnt sir, have the Committee adopted any such ius,
rule III their aPporionmen? If they have adopted
an; rule Whatever, 1T approaches nearly TO the
Federal NUMBERS asccrtaincd by the census of
1920. than any other | have been able TO dscovct-
and surely 1t will not be concnicd that this is The
basis adopcdby the gentleman from Albemarle: bu,
even IN the application OF this rule unjust as is il
has been uyusrly applied to he particular section
OF country IN question, for upon Federal numbers
the TWO upper districts south OF james River and
cast of the Blue Ridge are quite too LARGE. Sir. |
know not BOW other gentlemen, representing that
scctoh' ii"y lce upon this subject; but sir should
DC very unwilling Ia meet my constituents after oi
wing my consent 10 Arrangement which yvoHd
leave 900 white persons unrcprcsencd in the t,y"
senatorial districts embracing that section of conn
Try with which they are locally unted-almost n suf
hcl"hcy TO en;i'o them TO another Senator Sir, this
injustice never shall be done 10 them with nv con-
sent never can and never will vote for any sucl,
arrangement.
B"' the gentleman from Chesterfield SAYS that any
person who viii attempt TO mako moro equal ar
tangeIneni. observing The county limits will find il
difficult task. Sir ! have taken the trouble fo re-
arrange HE counties composing few Of the dis
tr'cts as reported by the ScIect Committee. accord
my 10 the white population of 1920, and viii rroubl
inc Convention with some Of the results which
NN 81