Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-30

Mn SPEAxsR,I feel IN, sell 10 SOMA In ea,lre eaIled
upon. as member OF the committee whom this suhjsct
was referrd. 10 state very briefly the views BY which
and those who acted with me, guided In coming 10
the conclusion indicated by the report from that commit
tee Before proceed do so though, will state wbs,
may be permitted 10 hope IL Unnecessary 10 state
that In the views which have taken, aud in the course
which have pursued upo. this subject, have been
uaed solely by regard 10 my solemn convictions of
me constitutional question involved and by other con-
sderation whatsoever; and will a assure the gentleman
rom ftennce mat entertaining for him do very
nigh esec, II wiii give Inc sincere pleasure, nd Chat
the majority of this House differ with me in opinion and
that he may be permitted retain his seat Sir as was
Justly remarked by the gentleman before we enter upon
the investigation Of the merits Of this ca e preliminary
question presents itself at the Threshold which reouss 10
be seed and that IS what effect the decision of any prior
House should have upon this for it, the gentleman from
Henrco contends such prior decision has In ii tding
authority then the question would at be settled ami
all further enquiry precludai But, Sir, do accord
with him in this view of the subject. The constitution
has declared that each House shall tie Judge ofhe qua
i.ica'ions Of its members and hurn5ly aparehend
that when any case OF this presents itself TO the con-
sdera'ion Of the House, in which il involved con-
sutuional point, each member in his decision, mus,
be bound by his own views and opinions Of the Con.
stution, and not by those Of others. We should not
surrender our opinions upon constitutional questions
at the feet OF authority, how high socver that aohori.
ty may be- to the conclusion, then, that what
ever OF Difference and respect be due decision of
prior House upon this subject. certainly has not upon
any subsequent House, binding authority Let pro.
eeeu then 10 an examination OF this question upon its
merits which is this: Does residence The city OF Rich
qualiy the gentleman HcnricO
that county according to the Constitution Of this land
constituting thatConsituon look the plain import
OF the language used in that instrument itself and the
opinions OF individual members who framed it, whether
they meant or did not mean 10 make this that alteration
That Constitution requires the representative be actual
ly resident within the county, city, town. borough or
election district from which he Is elected And here Sir
would remark il might be permitted respectfully 10
So that much of the Argument used by the gentleman from
ienrico Is irrelevant 10 the question: least THAI
what he attempting prove might and would be
readily conceded and yet the conclusion for which lie
contended, would by follow. lie has vaf-
enactments of the Legislature prior TO the adoption OF
the New Constitution and probably subsequently
thereto in the phraseoogy of which the City of Rich
mond Is recognized as forming constituent part OF
the county OF Henrco. Now, Sir, in the county or
geographical division of the Commonwealth the CITY
OF Richmond is most certainly within the territorial
limits Of the county of He co; blu. in the political di.
vision of the Commonwealth, far least this qucs-
ton concerned they totally distinct and separate
And even the Constitution had i'm toden verbs de-
carcd that residence in the city of Richmond would
qualify any Individual to represent the county of Henco
still gentleman either in this House out of it, could
even then say that the city of Richmond not in the
county of Henrico. Mr.. Speaker, 10 INV mind much OF
inc CONFUSION oil ideas that prevails upon that subject
grows out oil tho fact that confound the political division
OF this Commonwealth, with its county geographical i-
vision and also with its division for judicial purposes The
ordinary Legislature has divided it, and may again div ide
into countless and may they have DONE make various
divisions for judicial and other purposes: but Sir the Com
sution for the purpose of distributing the political power
OF this Commonwealth has also il up into various po-
iiica divisions and assigned TO each division respectively
lis political power and weight That Constitution has de-
the City OF Richmond shall have delegate cons
tung them two separate political divisions or electoral
districts and assigning 10 each respectively its political
power and weight, and TO 1t seems that SO far
as this question is concerned d.ey totally dis
tinct and separate as county upon the shore
| as from Que bordering upon the Ohio Ii moreover
seems TO me that unless do give this construction
New Constitution and consdcrit creating the division in
political point of view that under that constitution tbi
extraordinary of things exist the citizens
OF Richmond qualified TO vote in the city; would also
be entitled TO vote in the county, and thus twice
the nttaliE
that every citizen who for twelve months
has been housekceper and head of family, &C. with
in the county city. town. borough respectively, where
he may offer TO VOTE SC. shall be qualified to vote for
members of the General Assembly in the county, CITY
town, or borough respectively wherein such
er and head of family shall live. Now Sir, if YOU de
eide that the City OF Richmond is vet in the comfy
Henrco for political purposes and all persons residing
the city are TO be considered residents of the county
would not follow that those citizens possessing the re
qulSitc qualifications 10 in the city, would resident
OF the county, be entitled 10 in the county and thus vote
twice upon the same qualification? know there is prov
sion IN our general law of which prohibits persons
situated from voting the county: but if the Cons
ton has given to all residents of county properly quail
cd the right TO VOTE and if they residents of the
county OF Henco, which they would be If my consruc
ton Is not correct is il in the power any legislature Il
deprive mem OF a right thus expressly secured by tho
Constitution. VIII decide that the CITY of Richmonf
l: In the county OF enrco for the purpose of giving h
right TO represent, but not the right in the county
And now let us look for the of the thing
Why is it that separate delegation has been assigned
The CITY OF Richmond l. il because of the extent of he
population and her peculiar, commercial interests a
contra distinguished from the agricultural interest which
prevails in the county proper? And why dcncc re
CURED as one OF the qualifications of the representative
because is intended to Ear that could secr
IT, an identity OF feeling and interest between the con
situent body and the representative. Now Sir,
me commercial or any other interests of the cit
requires in her delegate residence an evidence q
this identity, does not also, the agricultural or ote
interest oil the county propor, require the same p
ii there be any wisdom all in this rcquston il is sure
ly as applicable to the the other Thus MI
speaker 1t seems tome, that both from the language
rpcco nnff q
hng we must come to the conclusion, that however
the City OF Richmond and the County of Henco nav in al
other respects be blended they far this question
concerned to all ntents and purposes completely and en-
tirey separaedFor these reasons cannot vote for IN,
amendment proposed by the gentleman from Dinwiddic.
MARRIAGES.