Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-26
TEE LITE CONTENTION.
Mr.. DODDRIDGE,s CIRCuLAR LErrER

MR. DODDRIDGE'S CIRCULAR LETTER.
WAsHINGToN, LIST MARCH 1880.
Dear Sir: When left Richmond, determined 10
avail myself Of the opportunities Afforded by residence
here TO observe The course of public opinion in easte
and Middle Virginia respe citing tie New Constitution,
and to address my constituents and friend' the sub
jet efore the approaching elections which The fate
Of that Constitution is t. he decided. In doing his it
Is my purpose very briefly, 10 review the prsce
in the late Convention, far ice the diff al.
ties that lay in our way resulting from the organza
ton OF the body itself, and the means by which our
equal and Just claims were betrayed and lost.
When Napoleon had planned tho conquest of Spain,
he halted for with his army Bsvomnr where
he invited the Spanish Monarch to visit im friend,
to consult on measures for their mutual afe'y. The
King OF Spain was induced TO acGH this friendly invia
ton. He vi'i ed Napoleon, who immediately seiz,J
him, compelled him 20 his right 20 the crown
OF SPain shut him up in prison, and marched hi. army
across the Pyrcnnees for she conquest Of his deuded
prisoners domnions. Throughout ChriNendon, thi,
conduct called treachery
II is well known 10 You that before tie late Conyen.
lion, the people wcs; of The Allegheny had their full
share of representation in the House of Delegates bu'
this availed them nothing while their friend. i'm The
Valley. and in the large counties below and near the
Blue Rlge, had so much less weight in that House
than they were entitled 10. The tde-water country
governed the State aud all ruff red alike I-s
Toying effects of tiie-waier misrue. In 1925 cur
friends in Londoun proposed meeting at Staunion
which took psce.-At this citing friend. below
the Ridge, and in the Valley, represented iose-
ther wi u the extreme west Certain resolutions were
adopted, expressive Of the Of that mreing and
published tn the world The leading defects in the ex
iy the responsibility Of the ExeCuvc-the uneousl
aPporlonment Of representations the restriction on the
right OF suffrage, and the want Of proVi'ion Tor future
amendment These defects were proposed TO be rem.
eded by abo!i.hug the Execu i've Council; nv srpor.
tonng Representation in both branches of The Gen,r-
al Assembly among the white population equally and
by extending The right Of suffrage TO all whc her free
hold ers or not who have evidence Of permanent, com
mon interest with, and attachment to- ihe cmmunifv
me means Of redress propo'ed, was potion 10 the
Assembly TO pass law for taking the OF the rco
pie on calling Convention. There were ,ome mem
bsrs OF the stanton meeting who would have prefer.
red acting al once Society, apes, IN The CEN
era A.sehly constituted "a IL WAS and i, is 10 he re-
GREETED that that pai taken then or after.
wards The petition Of the Ssun'on meeting was re-
jecied bV the Assembly in the Sessions OF 1925 and
1876 II was agreed TO in 1927. The law, however,
only authorized frcebodars TO vote on that question
This vote wa. taken at the Spring elections If 1928
when ~ SOS ireehOders vote for and i6 SS7 sgsin.t
Conventions; thus giving majority Of frpehoiisrs ct
Doll in favor Of Convention and of dividing their
power with their non freeholdiHe brethren With such
majority Of ireeholders concurrng with the view,
and individual wishes Of the nOn-fre -hodcrs class
nearly numerous themselves. serious opposi'ion
to the call Of Conv' non on such principles give
lair expression Of the popular WILL not expected
Vet that opposition was made and sustained ky the
whole force Of the cast in the session Of 1923 The
struggle, at that time rcsul ed in The pis.age of l,
organizing Convention Of 96 Members four Of whom
were TO be chosen by each Senatorial district This law
was forced on US by The ca t. all the tce,t noting
against IT, Thus the Convention itself was orysuiz. i
not by those who sought but by thos, who opposed IL:
not by the friends, but by the enemies Of reform.
The extent of the injury done the west will appear
from the following facts:
Inc Sen'o-id Districts had been formed in Februa
~, 1877, with view 10 an equal representaton nj
wme population; but, at that time had no tables Of
population later Than those furnished by tn, census of
ISiO 10 iS Nv The white population cas Of the Blue
Ridge was 335 S37, and wet Of that mount,in 90 =
126 and according to hi' state Of white population be
Senators were apporioned between the east and west
in 1917. ~ ~ "e''
When the Convention liw WA ras.eI in Fsb,,.r,
1929, the General Assembly, ii ha' bolv had not -
tended gross outrage the principles o iusiice cold
have had recourse 10 The cer@ns Of 1920 Tho, 49,
white population stood lbu+-east of the Ride ne r
S13, and west 308 Had 1ie 90 members Of Con
venion been divided between the east and wet az b.
cordng to the Crnsus Of 1920 The ~ would have had
40 IL members instead e &c. The number which The
law gave ~ and the east 50 ? members instead Of
oO, whrh NE law gave them. The proceeding and
t so's " NC Convention will abupdannY show that,
eut lor The wanion insco Of aIoping the tables oi
1911 TOT o"tn'"ing representation in the Convention,