Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-02-10


little difficulty in adopting the latter as the
measure. But because the first was impractic-
able, and the second was untrue, neither was
received as the measure. But with view to
approximate equality, and obtain some ratio
that would be juster exponent of the wealth
OF each State, the basis ofGederal numbers was
adopted, whereby the representation of each
State was TO be determined, ssbv adding to the
whole number OF free persons, including those
bound TO service for u term of years, and 'ex-
GLIDING Indians not taxed, "three ffLhs of all
other persons" And at this time more than
fico-seoenthS of the power which we possess
In the popular branch of the national legisla-
ture is derived from slaves f'his principlc
has ever been held dear by the people of this
commonwealth. I'm the form ola rebresenta-
ton by counties it received the sanction of the
first constitution and the patriots and states
men OF our earlier days. More recently, in
our own time, it was more signally illustrated
in the provisions of the amended constitution.
For notwithstanding, according to that instru-
ment, the legislative poweris distributed in ap-
parentlyarbitrary proportions between certain
geographical divisions, sit is yet true that The dis
trlbution approximated very nearly the state
OF things that would have been given by the
combined ratio of population and taxation.
And although the scheme was Objectionable,
because it did not contain that compensatinr
quality which would accommodate it i'm all
time to the shifting interests of the State, it had
It's foundation i'll principlc--a principle which
respects the safety of the vast proprietary
rights OF the community, and comes down TO
us consecrated by time and the blood of the
revolution, so long cherished by our people, in
the opinion OF the undersigned, ought TO be
held sacred.
When the present system was established.
1t was certainly foreseen that howeveriust and
proper then, IN progress of time it would oper-
ate unequally; and for the purpose ofis mod
Ihcatlon, so as to secure thereafter equal JUS
tlce TO all, the General Assembly was empow-
cred, "aiter the year 1871, and at intervals
thereafter of not less than len wears. two
thirds OF each house concurring, to make re-
appointments of Delegates and Senators
throughout the Commonwealth" Whateye,
opinion may be entertained of the extent of
authority thus conferred upon the Legislature,
the undersigned do not hesitate to declare its
exercise at this time SO TO disturb the princi-
pie established by the Constitution, TO be in
the highest extreme inexpedicnt and unjust
ltdoes not comport with the spirit of our insti-
tutions or the habits of our people, to tolerate
important changes in the fundamental law up
on slight occasions, or except in pursuance of
the direct authority of their will That the
change proposed is important, none will deny.
and that it has not been demanded by those
whose interests are more Immediately con-
cerned, is equally true
Whist the undersi gned are Of opinion, that
any nfraction by the General Assembly under
existing circumstances, of the principle of re-
presentation established by the Constitution,
would be an understandable exercise of the
power confided to it, and therefore to be avoid
ed, they do not, however, hesitate to declare
that any modification of the present appor-
tionment, correcting inequalities therein that
may have supervened since the system was
established, falls fairly within its province,
and If any such inequality is found to exist, it
is the daty OF the present Assembly, according
to the true intent and meaning of the Constitu-
ton, to correct it. With these principles to
guide them, the undersigned have devoted
their most anxious attention to the important
subject. They have most carefully examined
the facts adduced by the advocates of the
change, and had reference TO such other sour
ces OF information as promised to aid them i'm
their deliberatlon. In 1929, the tables of the
Auditor reported to the Convention, estimated
of mountains at 1852, 745, and the white popu-
lation west thereof, at 309,5I6. At that time
the eastern counties contributed to the common
fund 1924 ,697, and the western S9O,732 Ac-
cordipg, therefore, to the mixed basis of pop
ulaton and taxation, in House of 134, and a
Senate of 80 members, the eastern counties
were entitled to So 3-10Delegates and 10 $40
Senators, and the western to so 40 Dele
gates, and II LILO Senators. By the last CEN
sus, the white population east of the Blue
Ridge OF mountains was 1863, $500. the same
population west thereof was 371,7l5. In
1S4l, the east paid of the public revenue 1896
554 95, the west paid S190,092 6S. Now,
according to the same basis, the east is enti-
tied to rs 5-13 Delegates and IS 1913 Sena-
tors, and the west to SIS S-13 Delegates and
ID 3-13 Senators giving to the trans-Allegha-
ny district 81 Delegates, to the Valley %, to
the Piedmont district AZ, and to the Tide wa
ter 50. From these statements it results, that
the aPportionment made by the Convention OF
1879, departed TO some extent from the ratio
of the mixed basis, and gave to the west an
excess of both Delegates and Senators. But
this was done, as is well known, in spirit Of
cancellation and compromise, and from no ~
teatlon to abandon the principle Reference
to former enumeratiOns of our population
proved that the western division of the State
was increasing i'll population and wealth, in a
ratio so lar exceeding the eastern, as to create
the belief, that in the space of ten years a ma
Jorlty OF the white population of the whole
State would be found in the western division
ana the convention was therefore easily re-
conclled to an inequality insignificant in value,
which events were daily lessenuC. and which