Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-31

rondarv importance when compared win Inc
great evil presented in The unequal distribution
Of legislative power. This has borne down The
nsorle OF the West and bound them 10 the loot
stool of power for The last forty years. II the
mower 10 remedy this evil exists in the l.e2isla-
iure and has been appealed to in vain for many
successive years, what reason was there to hope
any thing from The bill now before the Housel
The equalization OF representation has been de-
manded by The West each successive year since
The formation OF The Constitution. Why has his
been refused? Was there any one with The har-
dihood 10 deny, that this appeal was sanctioned
nv ics.ce2 The answer was ready. II was the
result of that most dangerous principle, Judge
deciding in his own case. According 10 others
the same honesty Of intention which ne claimed
for himself he must express The opinion that their
judgments had been swayed By sell nteres =
Were he an eastern man, he might also refuse TO
give up any portion OF his power, provided an m
eenious reason was found 10 satisfy his mind OF
The ius;icc o, his course. II was in The power Of
the Legislature 10 give partial relief without in
curing The danger cfa change OF the organic
law Lei the Legislature fairly apportion the
renresenlalion Of the State, after each census 50
hal The number in the Senate shall not exceed
az nor that in ihe House OF Delegates $50 The
Easl has guarded This power OF appoItionmenl
ca that whilst il holds out the delusive hope
10 the West il can never be exercised. Did the
trainers of the Constitution expect that The con-
curreuce OF twoihrds ol each House could ever
be obtained for this purpose, when the represen-
talion from The East and from The West were in
The proportion Of IS 10 562 Ii was worthy OF
obs ryalion, that such did appear 10 be The expec-
talion OF the trainers Of The Constitution. If
This change conld not be oba ined from the Lesis
lalure, nothing was TO be expected from Con
vcntion constituted in accordance with The pro-
visions of this hill. The petitioners were forced,
in violation Of Parliamentary principle, 10 appear
before The House under the condemnation OF a
majority OF the Committee, and relying alone
upon a minority report. What are the provisions
of the bill II proposes first 10 submit 10 The
qualified voters The question, whether or no, here
shall be a Convention This he approved
Secondly, if il shall be found that MAORI
" of the qualified voters re in favor Of a
Convention, il provides thai these voters
shall assemble Tor The purpose OF electing
delegates 10 the Convention in The same relative
proportion throughout The State as is adopted in
the selection Of representatives 10 The House OF
Delegates. The Convention would be composed,
if not of the present delegates 10 The Legislature,
certainly Of those who entertained similar SEMI
ments With them. What could be expected from
an assemblase Inns constituted? Would the
people OF The West submit their claims 10 such a
Convenlion2 The anomaly would he presented
Of Convention called by those who were oPpos-
ed to the call OF a Convention. The East would
have nothing 10 lose and every thing 10 gain,
and would mol object 10 Convention organized
on principle that would secure them the power
OF redressing their grievances wiltout yielding
any thing TO the West. He doubted no; that The
gentleman from The South side (Mr Ednnnds)
would give il his hearty support and throw in The
weigh, of his towering talents. lie (hlr. L.
would attempt To es,ablish he following positions:
lst That Convention, organized upon the
principles of The present, bill would not have The
power 10 reform, aller OF abolish The existing Con
s.i,uton.
%. If j, had the power, il would not exercise
il in a manner conducive 10 the happiness and
welfare OF the people.
And, Sd, BY The adoption OF the substitute The
power would be undoubled and The existing evils
would be remedied.
Isl, as 10 the power. His text would be de-
rived from The Bill OF Rights, which declares,
that when any Government shall be found made.
quate for The purposes for which il was framed,
a majority oil the people shall have The right 10
reform, alter or abolish it, By The provisions
ut this bill, would majority OF The people have
this power? The qualified voters might select The
delegates 10 The Convention, but they would moi
represent the true majority according 10 The Bill
Of Rights. He would call attention 10 the body
as elected Seventy. Eight delegates would be sc
ecled from the East, having community of in
Iercsts while flty-siy delegates would represent a
portion Of the Stale, having very different interests.
The majority required did not include every man,
woman and child, bui that class which, accord
Ing 10 the 9th article Of The Bill of Rights, has
given evidence of permanent attachment 10 the
He would assume the free
white timetables as approximatng most nearly 10
the true basis OF representation.
Mr. LEFTWICH then presented tabular
showing the relative proportion o.
free white t,hea bes from the several sections OF
the Stale at different periods, and the representa-
ton from each section in accordance with The
present and the proposed apportionmeni. Equal
izine the representation, The West would be en-
titled TO 60 instead OF So, and the East wonld be
entitled 10 65 instead o! 10 delegates. He cha
acterzed the present system as mons,rons in tie
extreme. He regarded it as principle OF Re
publican Government, that the basis OF represen-
alton should he persons in conradi>tinciion to
property. Would The patron 81 this bill contend
hat a convention, organized upon such prnci-
Pies wond be in accordance wllh tie 9TH article
81 The Bill Of Rishs7 Would i b. The rspresen-
alive OF the will of majority! he called up
N every friend Of Republican form Of Govern
pent 10 assist in The preservation ui the plinci-
,les OF the Bill OF Rights the only safeguard Of
heir liberties.
Here Mr.. LEFTWICH expressed his inabi-
ity 10 continue The argument at this time, and on
notion The order Of The day was postponed until
o-morrow morning.
EDUCATION.
The report OF The Committee on Schools and
tbp riol hp
on The subject Of Popular Educ alton,
vas taken mp and read.
MIR. EDGlNGTON proposed 10 amtnd The first
esoulion. by inserting in lieu thereof The follow
ng.
"Res0lred That il is cCpedlsM 10 adopt some
system OF district free ST hoos."
The ayes and noes having been call ior w Mr.
IARNE'rT The amendment was agreed 10 BY
he following vote:
Ams-hIessrS. William II. B. Gusts, John II.
Gusts, Harrie, Baldwin, Dickinson Of r., Nit
,hell, BoaL, Campbell, Thompson Of Bot Cam
len, Miller, Adkins Toer, Dickinson Of Caro-
line, Chsman, Garnell, Moss, Hall of Fauquier
McClung, Wall Gather Jones, Parks, Cailison,
Hielt, Thompson Of Hampshire, Lee, Flowers,
Nl'Rae, Turner, Touner, Patrick Wallace,
Gaines, Gresham, M'lnlyre, Taylor, Ellzey, She
pard, Adams, Wade, Jr., Edmondson, Michael,
Kilby, Waits, Happier, VERIFY, Edsington, Me-
Pherson, Syme, Aibogasi, Cooke, Fairfax, Dey,
Brawner, Long, Harper, Marlz, kiney, Cow
an, Fugale, Denison, Sickley, Chinn, Hall OF
Taylor, Land, West, Funston, Rice and Neal
II.
INoes-Messrs. Southall, Brown OF A., Pow
ell, Layne, Burwell, Massie, Turnbull, Maclin,
Boccck, Flood, Fox Darlington, Winfree, Broad
US Hobscn, Thompson Of Dinwiddie Scott, Des-
kins Sillman, Street, Saunders, Jr Pendleton,
Leake, Walker, Edmunds slovaIl, Brown e
Hanover, Woollon, Robinson, Duff, G"aTe, Cor
don, Banks, Clayton, Alexander, Hamilton, Ca
hell, Oliver, Talun, Hiner, Tunsiail, Lanier,
Daniel, Stroller, Gold Tale, iol-
laday, Freeman and Goodson--50.
The question recurring upon The adoption of
the second resolution,
Mr.. BURWELL proposed that The subject be
recommiued 10 a Select Committee.
A desulory debae ensued, in which Messfs
Burwel Lee, Garnet Edeineton, Kirley, She
paid Lyons and Tunsta participated.
On motion Of Mr. EDGINGTON, the following
resolution was adopted
p..aI,z.y Thai tho eYiSiinp system for The edll-