Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-01-01
FoR TIE Wurs.
"
TO THE LEGISLATURES OF NIRGINI

to matter, witch he may think conc, rms his ntar
est nor DO Conserve II material to The question now
to be discussed what arc the opinions entertain Of
we fitness. ca00city or worth ofthe Individual whom
they are To 5fect. Suffice TO say rcrro' that the
occasion has arisen az NS time, for me TO take part
IN that. whch.l earnestly wished and have hereto
fore positively determined TO Uvoid-but a sense of
PRIDE. which Is common 10 us all from he rreatest
to the least member of society mpcls furnish
my views for your consideration. moan that sort of
pride. which we MI feel IN maintaining opinions DELHI
erately formed, frequently expressed and generally
known and III which our judgments may be erroue
ousy condemned 1t is from this consideration chief
ly that, at This time, respectfully ask the attentive
consideration of each member the House to the fol-
lowing views
! have always aimed, and frequently express
ed the belief that resident of the CIV of Richmond
was not entitled TO represent the county OF Henri
CO: and have often endeavored convince others,
believe may say with truth, rarely wi'hou sucrrss;
this l saw without vanity, and without attaching any
credit to myself. the Who'll" of which must be yielded
to the strength Of the question sclf when presented
in its original naked, abstract form, without he gloss
OF Ingenuity and sophlstry to conceal is merit.
will not go back, to trace the history of the Citv
of Richmond, TO shew when and how, she became
separated from Inc county If Henrco and entitled to
an exclusive representation of her all thus will he
done by The gentleman who to appear the bar of
the House. in support Of his own memorial. | will
look only to the pr,vlsIons of the old and the new
Constitution, according both to its strict letter, end
most o6UIous SPIRIT.
In the old Cons tuition you will find, that to each
county IN tn" State, given two representatives and
and by what authority let ask could the
Legislature have given to the City OF Richmond an
exclusive alton pitts own, except he
al and only mode Of dividing its terrirory for if
City was still t. be considered part of the county
would the county not have have had three represent
tatives, although The Constitution entitled her but
two: and if there division of The county, would
1t not have bern competent for the j. glSlature to
have said that the upper lower end of Heurtco shall
have exclusive representation. Ia have said the
middle par, (Which is thu Guy of Richmond) shall
have one. The only wav 'hen, by which il was prac
tcabe for the representation be increased by
dtUsion of the county, and for this purpose the
poratlnn line was drawn, line of DIVISION between
the county and the town; and the city given
exclusive taxation, jurisdiction and representation.
Will any claim hat the City Of Richmond is a
part of the county for he purposes of aXatinn? Ger
tanly not. And why? Because it has exclusive
taxation of lis own To pay Can 1t be considered
part OF the county for he purposes ofrepreseutatiOn?
UnquestI"naby net-because it has exclusive re-
presentation fits And if they are to be con
sidercd part of the county for any purposes, in the
name of common sense and common Justice, LEI them
share with US he evils, we'll the enlnynens; en-
power the county court to tax them for the support
of he poor for the erecti of bridges, keeping the
roads in order and for all other county purposes
Let ask, however why should the i~hi be claim
ed for the people of Richmond only. to represent wo
distinct Interests upon he residence? Is this
privilege common TO ali? Are we not bound down
to single location. and that 1t our actual residence?
Is there man any county in the State, who would
claim the rgh to represent in the Legislature of Vr-
GINA any other interest or county than tina, IN which
he actually resdes? Or is 1t at his option say he
will represent his interest thar, as NAV best suit
his views of convenience? Prav ~ ny his actu-
al residence qmr"d? For the plain and simple rea-
son thai IN every county here local interest o
be represented. and it thought necessary that
the represents I'VE should live among mix and con
vene with his constituents, order know and I'M
Gers and their wishes and n"ress, without requiring
them on all occasions TO overcome the aim st nsur
mountabe difficulty of sending instruo;ion SAL is
this not case peculiarly In point. Is there not diff
ference off crest between the county of Henrico d.
tie City of Richmond that would of itself forbid the
right of resident of the town. to represent the
county? Is not one an AGRICULTURAL md the other u
commercial INTEREST," Or to the words of the sit
ting member, Gas used before the Committee in as
signing his reason for Dreerrng represent the
county instead of The town the one Is a monied IN
terest and the other landed interest. Is his diver
sity of interest itself, which he admits TO OK
ISL not sufficient reason for granting the county
representation, exclusive and distinct in interests f. m
the town. for 1t mus be remembered, that with the
overwhelming vote belonging To the town, they can
at all times and under all circums ances influence &
controul the election oft county
Can the custom heretofore practiscd, be urged with
any weight IN this question: can thu repetition an
hundred times over make that right which was orr
ginaliv wrong in ITSELF and in express violation of
written Constitution
Bu this is in fact new question under the
new constitution, and matter what opinions
may be entertained by other gentlemen on the
subject, it will b. found examlna ion to differ
ma erlally from he old constitutions which did not
recognize the City OF Richmond as seDnrate elecR
toral district, being the Of the adoption of
that constitution part Of the county Of Henrico for
any and every purpose whatever
ct what he provisions Of the new con-
stitUtion, IN language plain and emphatic as not
to be susceptible of mIscousructlon It declares in
many words thai the Cii oC Richmond shall he on
titled to one repre- entatve and the County of Henri
co to one. and The representative shall be an actual
resident Of the town or county which he represents
l. c. he shall be an actual resident f he county
which he represents, and actual resilient Of the
city which he represents Is not this most mani
fest and papabe distinction both letter and soirt
But 1t was with soma 3mazemant tha ! heard the
sitting member urge before the committee that The
adddtonGt qualification. prescribed for The represent
talon, was that upon which h rested his aim 70
seat IN the House ut least, / so undcr- God him By
reference to the Constitution it will be found .
49, 1Snd thus: And any u~rHnn may be Elected M m
ber Of the House Of Delegates, who sniii l17~o a,-
tanned the age Of twe"ty five years, and shall actually
be resident and freehodcr within he county. city,
town, borough, election district, qualified by virtue
Of his freehold to for members Of the General
Assembly. according 70 this constitution
This clause. it was Grg'd by he intelligent mcm-