Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-03-14

voters should elSD he obtancc Accordingly, We hnd that
both the bills under DISCUSSION se,k TO obtain sthe m
sent OF the repr,s majority the GeEcra Assembly
and afterwards, the consent o majority OF the conSuiu-
ucnal voters at the polls.
Both prop si"ns, then, agrcs TO the mode settling
the question cistLsr stall hare eoareHtiOa, aud in
both, 1t seems to the c0ns,itut Onal Shs oi the e-
zen are properly guarded.
When this question is seusd however. another imme
daiey atiscs less vitality affecting the rehts OF the
citizen, aud cf fully much interest To the community
This Is. IA rhat respects shall the tHRdamsHal hn Dc
altered and 1t is in the visions tor setting this qu,s
non that the great difference between the two bills co si'ts
Ihe bill ut the majority provides its decision by body
IN which the constitutional representation Is preserved and
the members Of which be selected by the consu
uonal VOTERS No mode OF ratification Of the acts OF the
convention is provided, but IL reasonable % infer
from all the provisions OF the bill that its advocates look for
TINS Tauhau 10 majority Ol the constitutional voters
On the Other hand the bill the minority, though does
pare the tor its decision by body organized upon
principle vt representation which, whatever be its
merits, Is no where recognized in constitution. We
are not Informed as TO the mode in which the advocates o
this organization propose have the members OF the
NcntOn selected the mode Of ratea ion cnnem
p'ed but the disregard of the constitutional dsrbuii m
Il power suggested and the principle Of rcpretcata
ucn ught To- be introduced, give 10 dsagreeabe CON-
lectures To the in which they will dispose OF the
constitutional hight OF indivdual suf age.
We have but one precedent In the history OF the Com
aIh from which derive upon this
subject and that is be found the organization ct the
convention which adopted present constitution That
clcd icNancCS precisely siinl
lar to those complained Of Ii called by msor
iy Of the thea constitutional voters with the OF the
Legislature; tie members elected by the quati ID
NOets-a convention organized the basis OF the
majority OF the under the old constitutions; thus ad
herring tie forms o. the old constitution until ;he
one adopet tins Is precisely what prop sed by the
bill Of the maJov. aud this to 10 he the
indicated by every consideration OF prudence and pro-
prioty.
The range which this discussion has taken furnishes
Of In Of
constitution. The question Is, watcher will have
convention. but how il shall be gInzed,and upon this
question we have had elaborate discussion "a to the
true principles II government, and the comparative merits
Of the white aud mixed bases One would
suppose from the acum nis addressed To this house, That
this convention sembled with full power - ccn l.
der and decide upon this question: when IN tact we not
oaly have power do 80, but II would be ghly im
proper for us attempt IN any manner 10 prejudice the de-
cisol OF thu question: by Organizing clnvenion with
ference % is decision in any particular manner II we
depart if,m the cNistag constitutional forms il be
because opinion, other form more IN accord
ancc with u-ce aud the mint we seek to ascertain
whatth firm is, inv lycd in the consideration OF
questions proper for the decision OF the very convention
whch we propose q call. was not ,oathcrc. Mr.. Speak
consider decide such gu s1aJ, aud prefer TO
leave them entirely ungrrjudic,d By any action ot mine
To be acted upon by those whom my constituents may
choos, delegates TO the proposed convention.
would vote for the bal Of the majority, If i'r no other
re ol becau II can be passed nov, and no other bill
can II ever the controversy between the East and iae
West he settled satisfaction II bOtl partcs
must be done at The puoc mi II now calm, aud
what ever the iuc'ns may the great body Of the
people both Els and West prepaed TO settle all
the guest dispute upon fair terms, and in liberal
and coueiGio spirit. IL IS impossible however, 70 tell
how long this may connue-the pr clans bO'h sides
have declared that they Will conccde uo,hng-comprOm
nothing; and be feared that tbs spirit will be infused
INFO the mas ct the people, both East and West and wil
bring sectional controversy, which may lead to
quences greatly 10 be deprecated.
would the majority bill because il proposes the
only ginzaon Of the convention which likely ever to
receive the sincton OF the Legislature Suppose the bill
VI the mno were To at present sessi do its
friends suppose hey would be any their wishes
The organization than they Ii might be found
That meJoa VI the people ui the safe favor Of
such organization but how would that majority be
posed How would II bear upon the Legislature; The
l.oie u the West s1id be almost uUarimOus ia
'oE OF the wh te majority OF those tho Valley
are supposed 10 enter ain the Mon, and hoped
That there Won be found eyen IN the East, considerable
minority 81 Wnie ta-s men. Suppose, then, take II
Ir granted that tie We nd the Valley are unanimous IN
support a. basis, add that there scattering minority
Ia the East OF the same opni how would the Legislature
-tandup the question: A each member OF tie Leas
ule would represent the majority Of his constituents the
small mnorIss N the las; would be- heard upon
'Jr and ne whie basis wou.d be found ne, writer 10
have gained nothing in legislative streug by the passage
u the min my bill.
Sjmo Of Weste friends, however, seem disposed
10 refuse lie organization proposed by the majority bull aud
10 wait log the c'nsus u 1892 m The hope that their
81 be strengthened BY Developments then be made.
E tn, hope. sunk they will be dsappOnted-Or the
East all Then have the power that i, has and
hardly reasonable - suppose that they will readily
ned % principle Of representon when places them in
mnou han when places them upon equality in the
Convention II Legislature.
| am perfectly satisfied that the East will never agree
the establishment O the vii te basis OF representation
md that the question will ultimately be ttsd by
omp'omse between the bass OF numbers aud vi tax
uon aud am equally wei convinced that the Est will
lever consent q into convention upon any basis which
vii ineslby lead 10 the Establishment the white basis
". then. does the slqut Eas nd
NosIl The E.sIh mas the power grant refuse a con
cntUn while she has need Of one and lose pow.
= whenever one IS called. The West the other hand,
hs not the power 90 call convention and II her pupula
aud veat continue 20 ucr they have DONE
mast before long Gain UPON any basis that may be adopt
ID. She will hen be compelled accept such coayrn.
ION a. lie Ea.t u wiling give, II for no oth,r E
'si than to gain power for another effort in favor u
It seems re them that the bill Of the majority pro.
oscs tie proper Or.snzlton II the convention In it's
ne ony ,ne that can be carried now within any
Is naJie time II indeed any other be expected
md uai this Is the most favorable time for settling this
oriuIate controversy Aope, therefore, il will be tie
pleasure Jl The House to pass lns bill.
have sad Mr Speaker. hat ,dercd the discussion
regard u the basis o. repre- entirely unncces
oy 10 tie proper decision Il the ques under consde
auon; ami was disposed o. avoid altogether. have
oweye o'med az opinion - the basis Of representa-.
lon Which may .o some extent have Influenced my udR.
ncni upon 10, lues ion Of Organizing the convention and
100 order that my position may b. fully aud iry understood
10 enter OF large upon the sCus-un that ygin a. II
population aud wealth equally distributed over the
STATE 10 would be Of little consequence VII basis ofrcp
resentatOI shot Id be adoped for then an equa dis rbu
ton Of Tp es-nt4uon, acclrrng TO popuaion would ao
give an equal represc lia q JrOJe IS, and rerfg
snouuon according tsSion would 10 equal a. 10 pop
uauOn. Under such circumstances there would b. no
controversy 10 the basis. IN VrPnIa however thia
STA Of Ling does MT ST. i,r while The West hos The
minority o tie white pJpu alton e tho State the Eat has
the greater portion Of the wealth and pays seyontsnths Of
all the 'oHes u then to distribute rep.esents on
acc 'td.g q if population, should gyo ~ those who
~ Cd ihs istes Ire pOwes no ssy not only
what am0r sh.cid bo raised but what anns .houd
be missed god how should b. approprsted-thus com
p.oisY lbuvng those whD the property and pay the
taxes off's sats, of III control oyel tlsir properly
his could se"m ~ boz unsafe snd uniuii mode NJ
UbutnE y""er undefauy .rcumFtsnce bot The dangcfani
ln'' CO. rendered more sinking u c1nsrr- rho con
1u'n Of me different sections Of tie State The Esst
paving srvf1y cents out Ut every dollar collected needs
boz few elshdures for purposes Of nernn improvements
while t' West, paying 0uy thirty Gems M ihs iir will
'i'B eApendupfc Di ya-tsums OF money for tie proper
l'se2 emeni oi her res Now n We we're 10 give %,
- 50 ihe control of le lesying ana d11is inert of the
lhc STATE, We slOu have those paying thirty cen..
ana ,Iifg segenty holding their n fcy hc who nav
seventy cents ani need but CHI ~. u requires but Lax