Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-01-24
sTATE CONVENTION.

Cou,n,,es on the ssb,ses Of e.ll Zoe Csavsutou 70
amend the Constitution u the stsse.
The Select Conaai,,ee whom he's been referred. By
resolution .. this house, the subject d the propre,y Of
call of Convention To amend the Consultation OF the
Sm,e have had the under consideration fully Impress
cd with s vital Importance the bes, interests of the
muniy.
The Minority Of your Committee. differing With the
cr deem due themselves. and such portion OF their
fellow citizens who accord I'm sentiment with them. Offer
for that difference Of opinion They full
ly Of tho many exisng defects pertaining 10 the
Constitution. defects that call aloud for amendment But
admitting this be true. they sdmonshed by pssi
perence Of the DANGER instead Of procuring redress
OF those evils they be plunged su deeper into the
difficulties amidst which they have been struggling for the
last half century the dying oi political prescription
Ia 10 subject OF serious moment any State To throw
OF the mantle Of po,sc,on thrown sround her citizens by
Of her law and resolve herself again into
her original elements; but how much important IL
becomes, when State hike that Of Virginia, diversified
in feeling, conflicting in crest dissm.r in practice
sud pursuits eone-ses IL TO be charge the
fundamental principles OF her government; aud
pottan the people should distinctly tho
precise relation the members Of the proposed Conven
ton will sustain TO the sovereignty OF the State large.
IL cannot. with poprety be said that this day there
- less virtue, less PATRIOTISM less wisdom INTEL
than existed at the tins OF the formation Of the present
constitution; neither be denied that the
lives feelings and passions alike pervsde the transactions
at n then. Interest. the moving spring Of all
human action would, IL Is supposed have the
trolling Influence on the judgment Of tmo
At another, always furnishing ready aud to the mind it
sell. conclusive Argument Of justification, for the adop
ici OF any measure.
There posuaes in the science OF government that
safely be lost sight oi-tuisms that BE-
speccd and cherished ineparaby connected with the
happiness and safety OF In social satc that the
cannot exist except in proximity with the other Many
perhaps all OF these primary principles be found pre-
liked to the constitution in the bill Of lights the produce
Vt the wisest heads and the hearts that the world
has ever known; principles that neither the conflict Of iu
erest the Of faction has yet suy
sailed; principles that remain brilliant light
To Illuminate the path ct the honest enquirer after the only
true system OF republican government; principles which
the assembled wisdom OF the State in 1880, alter mature
debeauon, DECIDED 10 be perfect and needed amerd
ment.
From hence earn that all men are by nature equally
free and indept nden that all power vested ill., and
qnenty derived IRON the people; and that when any
eminent shall be found inadequate contrary pur-
poses pr which designed majority Of the com
MUMMY hath right reform. alter abolish Il in such
manner as shall be isdged conducive to the public
veal II there any Of strict adherence To
these primary principles, the fears Of local minority
would to great extent, be removed But when see
ta these doctrines have been fully recognized by who
had by VI their virtue and wisdom, deseyedy oh
tanned the fullest confidence OF their fellow frame
the organic law proesed be based upon those prnci
pies yet in direct conflict with very many, all OF
them, must be pardoned for expressing fears
upon like occasion. without proper limitations and
sctons, further departure from them might be eSpe-
renced.
Amongst the members Of your committee, in relation
the proprlety OF calling amend the
tuition, there believed exist but tile difference Of opin>
ion. But the principles upon which that convention
be organized gvesfise much difficulty. The proposition
OF the majority Of your committee preserve the relative
strength OF the house OF delegates in the several
divisions OF the State by the present const
tuition. IN the formation Of the proposed convention, with
ell due Difference, cannot for moment be entertained by
the minority either upon the ground OF State policy, oquy
justice IL will be borne in mind that the basis upon
which the representation both houses Of the Legislature
present Is hxed arbitrary the effect Of which
total annlhiatiOn OF many OF the political rights 81
majority Of the citizens Of the State. Examples
wanting any If the annual Of the legislature
u ncontesiby this fact leaving O view the ey
dence Of fixed continuing determination 10 withhold oil
legislative aid least portion VI tue State, afforded
the present session,
What could the people Of the expect the hands
OF convention with unlimited powers based upon the
brary ratio OF the present house OF delegates after such
an example OF equality and justice this They could
only expect redress OF evils pertaining TO the constitution
peculiarly applicable 10 that section Of Virginia ayOured
with the majority OF and hat to be pre-
sumed would not be the Let for a moment
anime this question The present apporon
ing in the branches OF the
has divided the State into grand divisions, the de-
nominated the eastern district and the other the
district separated by what appears preclude all hope of
that idenuy VI interest much be desired by the
State, the Blue Ridge Of mountant and without
Vi the principles confined IN the bill vi rights pTeXed
To the constitution which perfect and nted.
ed no amendment, but with eye single the le-
gslaive power in the the wes arbitrarily ed
the number OF delegates in the house Of representatives
seveniy-eight in the district, and ty-siK in The
western district And in the senate, the district
nineteen senators, and ia the district IN rteen.
With view 10 show how unequal and unjust this arb
principle in reference the is necessary
10 shew what the elements Of which this
rule manufactured The State then 1880
ed Tree white population OF 675SlO; Of whom 357 3O5
were IN the eastern district and 81 50J the dis
trict Upon the principles # equality in house OF
e-entavss having hundred add Ihtyfour members
allowing member every 5OI3 the equal ratio the
eastern district would be entitled seventy delegates
the district - giaty -four delegates Upon the
same principle Of equality 10 the senate, allowing
ber every 81 49, the equ-l ratio. the district
would be entitled to seventeen Senator'S and western
district to fifteen senators.
The distribution Of legislative power by the present con-
snutiOn. on the arbitrary principle assumed giving the
eastern district seyeniyeight Delegates aRd the
district hiiysiX the house representa- and
senate seventeen the district and fifteen
in the western district dealt hard OF Justice
20 the vest and the result II conc Ii and
promise, the only Just principe upon which conflicting
interests in government be neuuaizsd; but
the effect Of representative body, clothed with
limited powers. based upon unequal arbitrary ratio.
But the distribution Of pOlIuca power by the present
constitution unjust aud unequal aud operated prejud
eay 10 some OF the local Interests OF the State, II is
fest, and susceptible Of demonstration, that injustice
and ntqgsliy will be greatly mnged by the adoption Of
the measure proposed by the msjory Of your committee
which the minority viii now proceed 10 shpw. IL will hard
y be denied that il the members OF the proposed
ton elected by the electors from the places
aud IN the same numbers with that Of the present house Of
delegates, the proposition oi the majority Of your commit.
tee the members thus elected, II they would not be the
identical members OF the present house Of
they would certainly possess aud bring with them the
convention the same promptngs u interested feeling aud
identity OF interest with their constituency, which
hiss strongly manifested itself the present sesson; and
II where IL the reasonable ground Of hope for the
Oraiion Of the present destitute cordton Of OF least
portion Of the wesn Can be ia the spirit Of hberaiy
justice and equity, for which il is said Eastern Virginia
10 proyerba a specimen OF which the west has had
many whitening essmplesl II 90 we then would AK why
this spTt O beTay and justice Is TO be manifested
10 the Orgsnzlon Of tho posed convention, by bssng
1 on such principle TO give equal power to every
iiOn Of tho Slater
IL presumed by the minority Of your committee, that
eastern gentlemen will contend that by the arbitrary
appointment Of the representation. fixed in the present
constitution. injustice has been done Them the
limit Of perverted Judgment could conclude. But IL
may we'll be contended, aud honestly contended by tn
who are IN the enjoyment Of the advantages resulting from
the exercise Of legislative power that u ce snd equality
were the CHARACTERISTIC principles observed in the dsrbu
ton Of that power Thus being The favourable posi-
ton that be assumed by them IL Is proposed 30 to
sder ~ with view b testing the proposition Of tho
jory Of your COMMITTEES Ia relation to the Organization Of
] III. mon r..anLI--