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

Z" wealth SO that The numoer ol u1eS"i ST.
a. moi al any time exceed one hunuleu a!.'
and senaiors thirly.six." Thus it will appear,
tina, it has been in The power OF The ,as r.
at any time since l64l, To increase The hnuei y,
dele oates from one hundred and hrly-iou' , ,';e
present numb r. 10 one hundred and my. ,na u'
has been repeatedly asked ard urged py lne ~ 80,
as matter Of justice TO them, ana mas u - :.
uniformly refused. Why has II been rel'Seu
No, because il is no, just ard proper; pu' pte"ue
il would tend 10 eGualiZe The unjust baiance
gisaiye rover now po pos snis delusiyc hope
he'd out ia The Wesl in The formation OF inc ~
semi corstitutiop2 Was il intended by us ira
mers that The Wesl should ever be the Iec'P.e".s
ri lie oneration7 None il is presumed, are 80
deficient in their knowledge of events as 10 .uus
conclude The East, having delegation OF SC
yen,yeieht TO fiily.sx over The West inc IT,
Of Delegates, and nineteen 10 lnir'eeh ~ ",
nate po>sessed with hostile feelings anu an''so
mist Interests, where was me necessity io' ~
&C n reouire a concurrence OF f1ro-fhlrds y 00n
Hausss 10 make This re-arportionmentf pa.
see Inc great Injustice that was dome 10 Inc Wes'
in he annortionment made by the CONSTITUTION,
in cir;na 10 The East seventv-eiehi delegates, ana
~ fhs West efy-sx in The House; and nineteen
senator's in The East 10 thirteen IN me Yves anu
were there fears entertained by me Eas', 'hd', "
ossibily, there Tl@ilt OF iou!u a so@ = -,
fine . ones, her large majority, a suihceb'
nnmber awakened 10 this injustice 10 constitute
majority OF their delegation, 10 equal'ze lhe repre-
seniation 50 far as 10 increase the number OF
Western delegates 10 The number allowed hy Inc
Constitution, being one hundred and hily N me
whole in the House, and thiry-six senator's
which would add sixteen 10 The presen, delesa-
lion in The House, and four Senatols-stll eav-
ing majority in both branches oil Inc LeSisid-
lure in the East over the West7 were they IN
duced 10 guard against such possible contingency
nv The requirement OF the concurrence of Two
thirds of both Houses To carry into execution ms
partial measure Of Justice il seems 10 me, that
this was a wholly unnecessary pIecaulion, there
being not the least probability oil the happeninSol
! any such event.
Ii is also worthy of observation that il was
| feared that there was possibility, by reason oil
! the apparent injustice 10 The West, that even
I lwo-hrds of both Houses might al some tulu'e
time be inclined from their convictions OF JUS
tice. 10 exercise this power in favor OF the West;
and hence, this remote and improbable contingent
| cy was also further guarded by limiting The
measure OF relief so as still 10 retain the power,
and perpeluate The injustice and inequality which
was melted out to The West in the formation ol
the present Constitution
| II am correct in the ground that have as
sumed that the unequal distribution OF the lesis-
alve power is the controlling evil oil complaint,
existing in the Western division OF the Stale,
what is The probability OF redress from body
elected and organized according 10 this bill :
Can Western men, possessed with Western feel
ings and Western Interests under these circnm-
stances and in view OF these facts, again be-
come the dupes OF Eastern politicians, BY dele
eating The unlimited power 10 such DO
DIV TO rivet still tighter the ietlers with which
they are now manacled, and by which they have
been bound al The tootslool of an antagonist po-
lnca proscrip,ive power2 | can say for one,
that my voice, impolenl and inefficient as know
i, 10 be- shall he heard in opposition 10 il al least.
What do The people of The West care about the
extension Of the right OF suffrage sacred and i'm
por,ant as that right ought always 10 be regarded
in Republican Government, when the exercise
Of thai right would be nothing less than fraud
upon The elective franchise? What advantage is
il 10 any community 10 have the privilege Of ex-
pressing their will, in regard 10 delegation of
power 10 be exercised by their representative
when that representative, in discharge OF his trust
is precluded from representing more than one
hall of his constituents? And what moral force
would he be supposed 10 exercise in revising
tribunal VIXEN he was sligmatzed with The hui
initiating position Of representing constituency
unworthy Of being entrusted with an equal voice
in their deliberations
| beg leave now 10 saw word 10 my friends
in this House who hail from the second district
the fertile Valley of Virginia. who, from their
iavoured position, upon any contingency, have
but little 10 gain or TO lose in the settle
ment oil this question. can appeal 10 them
with the more confidence, because Of the
impartial attitude they would seem TO sns.
tain 10 the conflicting interests Of Eastern and
Western ViTsinia-Whst | cannot for mo.
ment concede the tact that they are emrhalically
This n, The Si1tp then
having but very little al stake in the distribution
of legislative power, upon either proposition. l
think may confidently look 10 them for their CO.
operation in the settlement of this question upon
principle in the absence Of all feelings OF local
prejudice. And here lei me repeat that this i'm
portanl question can never be amicably settled
upon any arbitrary assumption, designed TO favor
any particular interest. II may be so fixed by a
power constituted for that purpose, because 81 S
power 10 do So; bui il will lail, as The present Gen.
stiuion has failed for the same reason 10 siel e
The clamorous complaints of an injured and an
oppressed people. J call upon all who are dis
po>ed 10 10 Justice in this matter, 10 return 10 the
Republican principle contained in the sixth arti
Gle of The Bill of Rghts-which, although pTefixed
to the Constitution and made part thereof, was
disregarded, and repudiated by what followed
and adopt lis letter and spirit, and forbear 10 tax
any community, without their own consent, cx-
pressed through their representatives elected upon
an equal ratio Of those persons having sulhcient
evidence oil permanent common interest with, and
attachment TO- the community. Base your 60
vernment upon this posulale, and, ere long, we
will have the satisfaction 10 witness return OF
the smiling connlenances thar ViTsnlans once
wore, as the evidences OF their growing prosperi.
" and confiding confidence in the stability and
1 adaptation OF their social compact to The cncour
agcment OF individual enterprise and The consc-
ouent advancement OF the general welfare.
| Having established ihe two propositions which
I | proposed 10 argne-namey, that by the adop-
ton of The bill under consideration the delegates
10 the Convention. elected and organized as pre-
posed, would not possess the power, according
| 10 The rul laid down in The third article OF the
| Bill of Rights, 10 reform, alter or abolish the
Constitution and, secondly, if they did possess
The power, that there is not the most remote pro-
liability they would so exercise il as 10 remedy
the major evil, and ameliofae the PROSTATE con-
dition Of The declining energies OF the people Of
| this Commonwealth now propose, in the third
ard las, place 10 show, that BY the adoption OF
! The amendment by way Of substitute Tor the bill
under consideration, The delegates elected accord
ing To lis provisions, would, first, have tie power
to reform, ailer or ahosb the Constitution in such
manner as would be aijuteed mosl conducive 10
the public veal, according 10 The letter and spirit
OF The third article Of The Bill OF Rights and,
secondly, they would in the exercise ofthaI pow
er, most probably remedy The evils OF complaint
that now asi,ale The public mind.
The substitute proposes 10 submit TO the quail
fed voters Of the Commonwealth the question
whether they are in favor Of The call Of Con-
ven'ion 10 amend the Constitution OF the State,
The representation OF the Convention TO be based
and organised upon an equal ratio of the free
white population Of the Slate.
In Offering this amendment TO the bill before the
House. am actualed from desire 10 conform
10 The Republican doctrine contained in The Bill
cl Rights, whence deduce all my opinions Of
The only true system ola Republican form of Co.
vernment-a system that acknowledges all per
sonsb by nature, equally free and independent, and
all power 10 reside in the people, claiming Tor
themselves The capabilty of self government, dis
counlenancing every thing ihaterds TO exclusive
privileges in any of her citizens, by birth, forui-
Ious circumstances or any cause whatever, save
lha, OF individual merit; demanding rs right an
! equal participation in all the benefits that Go