Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24

there voice raised for that purpoScl The Convention
we have from good authority took the Old Constitution
as their land mark-a amendments proposed by
solutions and proposition made amend so
prevent the practise which is much complained of
lhey knew that at the time, the county represented
by citizens of Rchmond and nothing done alter
the practice. On what ground, then, would this House
deprive the county OF privilege when the Convention
did not propose or, ii it proposed, rejected
III III the decision of the Committee prevail IL will then
appear that although the Convention would not the
this House constructs the new one in such
manner defeat the wishes o! the Farmers enrico
Would the House do ts Would they deprive the people
oil Hennco Of privilege they had long enjoyed -
MIR. Williams then rccapulated the argument agains;
the decision of the committee The practise had been
uniform under the old constitution, and altef
ed by the new; and it declared last year, by the
gentleman who drafted that portion oil the latter, which
relates to elections, that he not instructed TO alter it,
The privilege contendcd for not that Of individual
but the right of county. Ii was matter of no great i'm
portance to saw to am Individual that he was not eble but
il was matter of great interest when a county told
that il should have the right OF selecting its delegates
and they best could tell whether their interests required
the enjoyment Of that extended selection not. There
were occasions when extraordinary talents required
in our public councsSuch occasion presented itself
last year. and gentleman of re-eminent abilities
chosen to represent Henrco, who resided the city of
Richmond; But il the report sustained by the
House, the county would be hereafter barred from
making selection which its people have hitherto cons-
dered IT their interest make. The Court House OF the
county being in the city, the Lawyers OF the county will
reside there and they be deprived right of
representing their county. The agricultural class of
whom many reside in the city for the benefits of society
anu loE uc cuuCiuon oil tclr children, would Suicr
riousdepnva,ion tappeared TO him, that this
doubtful question previous the adoption of the new
Constitution, could not now be considered doubtful
he Ind always understood that il a principle which
through all constitutional provisions that the peo-
pie were not TO be restricted unless the restriction
specifically provided for. He thought policy TO cx-
tend the privileges of the people as far as they could
rghtfuly be extended. Alter the solemn decision of
the House 'on three several occasions by which the
right oil the people OF Henrico had been sustained,
he would ask, should this report be adopted how could
he answer the enquiries. OF the people by whom he
had been elected: They would demand OF him how he
should have been singled ou-why he should be reject
cd while others suffered retain their seats. How
could he answer If he should say that the House was
wiser now than IT was at former period, they would
ask when the question TO be seled-and that he
should be unable TO reply. He had cneavored shew
shat this practice had been authorized and confirmed I'M
der the Old Constitution, was clear that il emaned
untouched by the Convention OF 1890. Even if the
subject had never been agiteed and no decision ever
been had upon IT, when the New Constitution had passed
it in silence and those who drafted that Constitution
did not intend TO touch the principle alter the practice,
would not that very failure upon it, give il the
strongest sanction? Did the people cnco when pass
ing that Constitution, suppose that they
be deprived of their privileges He hoped they woad
be so deprived but that privilege they had enjoyed
long, might be preserved TO them, well the Bo-
rough of Norol' and other towns, similarly situated.
Mr. Powell, as member of the Committee, would
state conciscly his views of the question In doing he
would observe that he solely dictated by the convc-
tons OF his mind; and that it would give him pleasure if
the gentleman from Hcnrco should be confirmed i'm his
seat Ii was true that gentleman had said that there
was preliminary question which must be noticed. If it
argued former
actoi the House was binding upon it, the question
end But this was not The constitution declared tina
each House should its grounds And however
this House might pay all proper Difference TO the opinions
OF eminent men who composed former House, they could
not be bound by them IT, them not bound by any
precedent said Mr. P-he question simpy il the
ieman from Henrco entitled TO his sea?-M p believed
that much that the gentleman had said irrelevant He
had adduced much evidence 20 shew that Richmond was
in the county OF Henrico. Mr. u. admitted that he was
geographically correct and that for judicial and other
purposes Richmond formed part of the county of Henri
co; and he believed that if the Constitution had stated
totiden rerbis that the Justices of the County should
side in the county, there would be objection mpor
lance to their residing in Richmond But he did tax,
this Judicial identity rule which apply the divs
ion OF political nature, which effected when separate
elections fixed by law. At that time political Ill
place which rendered the as distinct as though
had been the bank of the Ohio the other on
the Eastern shore OF Mary land The constitution said that
every citizen OF county, city, town borough possessing
TO vote Now if the identity OF the City of Richmond and
county OF HenricO, admitted, they also
nit that freehold in the former entitled in the
latter: lie thought ~ were admitted that the people oil
Richmond entitled in the county
the political distinction intended by the law. There
another reason on which he opposed he taken by
the gentleman from Hcnrico. The trainers of the cons
tuition, i'll laying out the election districts were guided
the amount OF property i'm each If then il be affirmed
that Richmond is component part of The county of Hen
rico, The latter entitled than members
But he maintained that the city and the county had been
politically divided-and the reason for that division was
what the gentleman had stated. 1t considered by the
trainers OF the constitution that commercial interest
required that the voters
city member should be actual residents iden
ty OF feeling between the member and his constiue ns
The rule was strong in in the otherin the
county the city. If therefore the whole purport the
provisions in the constitution in relation elections
considered, the conclusion must be that, however the
City Richmond and the county of Henico blended i'm
particulars, they completely divided for all po-
litca purposes.
Mr. Williams of Henrico understood the gentleman from
Spotsyvania to assume that geographical line had
drawn between the city OF Richmond and the county
Henrico, except in political matters. This was exactly
Mr. VS. argument although the conclusion drawn from Il
part OF the county for purposes must be for all
which was not restricted by the laws constitutions
He also understood the gentleman say that they were
united the county OF enrico ought to1have than
two delegates But this did not the argument that
the farming interest residing in Richmond being property
holders in the county, entitled to representations al
though the gentleman admitted that the delegate from
Richmond represented commercial interest with which
the agricultural class had no community oflecng.
Mr.. Moore did not rise TO discuss this subect for the
gentleman from Sportsylvania had done it full Justice He
considered that the division of the city from the county
had been made in order to point out the limits of the cleo
ton districts. He TO call attention language
the old Constitution in which was stated that the mem
turned and that the Borough of Norfolk the cities of Pc
tcrsburg, Richmond &c. should each return particular
member lie thought that this word particular pointed
out the nature OF the representation The Constitution
settled the question tO the countless but left open
TO the cities, towns and boroughs. But the new Costit-
ton differently worded, and the actual residence of
the member in the city, county, town, borough was inn
pcratively required. new feature thus
into the new Constitution On these considerations he
Al