Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-17

one delegates; The second district including all
the counties lying between The Blue Ridge and
The Allegheny, (ihe valey) having free while
population oil 1876 S36, twenty five delegates; the
Third district, including all the counties lying be-
tween The head OF lide-wate and the Blue Ridge,
having free white population OF POI ,0G9 folly-
Two delegates; ard the iouith district, including
all The counties, cities towns and bornughs lying
on lide-waier, having free while population OF
lH,436, lhirly.six delegates. Upon The assumed
basis of;he free white population, The delegates
in the proposed Convention would sustain The lo-
lowing relation 10 their several constituents, if
elected, as proposed by The bill you hold in your
hand The ratio in the Eastern division would
be 4,sl3 OF her free white population TO each de-
legate; and the ratio in The Western division
would be 7,lOS OF her free white population 10
each delegate. In the several districts il would
stand thus: In the first district The ratio would he
S,427; in the second district, 5,473; in The third
district 4,7s5; and in the fourth district $50
Upon this basis equalzing the ratio, it would
stand thus the Eastern division would be en-
titled 10 G5 delegates, and the Western division
would be entitled 10 G9 delegates; the firt district
would be entitled 10 forty-five delegates; the
second district would be entitled TO twenty
four delegates; the third district would he en-
titled 10 thrly-fye delegates; and The fourth
district would be entitled 10 Thirty delegates.
contend that if The members 10 The proposed
Convention are elected and organized upon this
principle OF equality, they will be most like
ly 10 advance the great interests of the entire
State, and reconcile the conflict of feeling and
local jealousy, that has SO lohg pervaded her
councils OF Stale, and virtually annihiatcd every
effort 10 sustain her declining prosperity.
il is uncharitable TO presume that body thus
elected upon The principles OF equality and fair
ness, would compromit any OF The important in
terests of The Saie-lhey would have no in
ducement TO do so; and if they wlled il, hey
would not possess The power. To make any de-
legated power dangerous, il must be capable OF
combining a sufficient strength within itself 10
control The equilibrium of the whole body. Ii
has been seen that the delegation in The Conyen-
ton, upon The equal ratio, would be sixly-five in
the Eastern division au1 scventy.nne in the
Western division. Can any one believe, that
any question whatever, can al any time, under
any conceivable circumstances, combine The en-
tire strength Of The delegation in the Western
division, when they see that twenty-lour of that
delegation are from The valley, East Of The He
shany, and The remainder divided between The
Northwestern and Southwestern portions OF Vir-
GINA. All, so far as identity Of ineresi is con-
cerDed, are more antagonist 10 each other Than
any one of them is with Eastern Virginia. The
people of Western Virginia might well have their
tears excited upon this ground, because Of the
community Of interest and feeling in all that por
lion OF the State, lying East Of The Blue Ridge
There is great reason TO apprehend, that j, is al
least within The possibility OF things that such a
combination might take place there, whilst here
does not exis! possibility oil such unity IL the
West.
There cannot be the least foundation for the
long entertained apprehension of danger 10 the
slave population Of Eastern Virginia by This
equality OF representation; that SPECIES OF pro-
perry is daily becoming TOO strongly identified
with the interests of Western Virginia, 10 be
the subject Of jealousy 10 any portion OF The
Stale. Moreover, if this were not SO, there can.
moi be any good reason assigned why The mao
rity should entrust, not only their property bu
their Liberties also, 10 the minority, rather thar
The minority should trust their slave property IL
the majority.
Remainder on second page