Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-04-09

country governed the State At thu, tie the House
OF Delegates consisted of 2li members, majority oi
whom represented than one-iourh OF the popua-
ton OF the State The Valley promptly responded 10 Inc
proposition Of Loudoun Berkccy Jefferson and Augusta
took up the watch word of ''ref"nn The Saunon Con
vention presented petition the General Assembly, winch
was rejected the sessions o 1875 and 1861 AZ 'le
session OF 1878 bill passed submitting to the people
the question Of Convention or mo Convention lhe
echoders alone voted that question in the Spring OF
1928 there Were q eS for am! Ii f against the call
Of Convention showing clear majority OF aull Gree
hodcEs i'll favor of Convention and ot dividing Their pow
with their non-ftehoding brethren After such vote
was not supposed that there wou 10 any serious opposition
to the call of convention such principles as would sve
ir expression Of the popular VIII Vet ina. opp Gpp';I'I 81 ION
session of $3.50 This struggle resulted in the passage OF
bill based the Senatorial Districts giving the East 6U
and the West 81 delegates The bill was assc by the East
tall the Hest roing against ) Thus the convention was
organized not by those who sought but by those who oo
sed it-no by the friends but the enemies of rcorm-
1t ut this time that those moustrous doctrines
were first insisted which excited such profound
Indignation in the Wcst that is that the slaves Of the East
either persons property should be thrown into the
scale Of representation ns the free white PERSONS OF the
Nest. Tn Convention net It's history and its resolves arc
familiar a L. Tue great principle thl lin. appos'ionine
in the House of Delegates regard should be
ld white population exclusively met the approval OF tlt
Legislative Committee with James Madison its head and
the sanction Of majority of the Convention by vote o
- 10 A. And il is striking fact that although the East
had clear majority OF 2l substitute for the resolution m
the Legislative Committee asserting any other principle
Nooway says fathers fought received the sanction
Ut that body OF great and wise There occur
in the history Of the convention srkiny analogous 10
certain incidents that have occurred in the progress OF this
bill Finding that they could carry the principle OF repre-
scnation based white population into both branches OF the
General Assembly lowing the determination Of Mr. Mon
and Mr. Madison to vote for different basis in the Sc
na the Western and Piedmont members agreed Ia vote for
the following compromise; that in appointing representation
the House OF Delegates regard should b. had 10 White po
ua,ion exclusively and in the Senate Federal numbers
and that reapporonments ifes" principles should be
made every ten years. Mr. Dodlridae moved this "a an
amendment TO Gorions plan. Instantly Mr. Leigh arose
ana said he authorised TO say That = the amendment
was rejected "he Valley generally and probably the
members, West OF the Allegheny would vote for Gordon
plan" This every friend and foe East o tn Ridge GER
information that ii he preferred TO have no rule {" lnlu
lnpsr, r,oncnt, he would hazard nothing by descInr the
West, and joining the East in voting for Goons plan
Ii understood that gentlemen, members OF The ke-
form party had pending the efforts carry the compromise,
openly declared that If the amendment defeated he
would vote for Goraons plan Upon the amendment o sr
Dotiridne the stood I3 TO 4S. Mr. Cooke and Mr..
Henderson, hc gentlemen referred to- voted for H. IL was
osand hereupon, those gentlemen ut once came out am.
advocated Gordons plan, High and patriotic motives,
doubt not influenced thc but far as the West was con
cc,e, they committed great mistake. Had they stood
firmly agans, Gordons plan il must have been defeated a'd
right and Justice would have tmnphed When the bill now
under consideration in Committee Of The Whole several
Eastern gentlemen openly and patriotcay declared cni-
selves in favor Of fair compromise of this question o re-
presentation in the Convention. You, Mr. Speaker SAID
You were wiling concedc onchalf ui the prcsen, rU!
The East The gentleman from Campbell (Nr. Ws the
gentleman from Franklin. (r Caiborne.) and others, pro-
claimed they willing 10 conccdc much 10 the West
The prospect least for reasonable compromise seemed
tcn and felt that the West wond but stand hr
against the extreme proposition of the gentleman from Hall.
fax as embodied in his substitute medium ground could
b. found, which, without acknowledging prinrl-
pie obnoxious 10 either party, the East ana the West
IN spr, Of conciaon might be brought 10 stand What,
then ms asonishmcnt and chagrn when The gentleman
from Logan Mr Ferguson) whilst advocating. the PROPOSE
ton OF the gentleman from tockbrldge, Mr. Dorman,)
which gave the East a. and the West 6 delegates openly
| ha lppfat hn
failed he lcaS Tor u contention any basis ot representations
In the face OF such declaration from prominent Western
member what could be expected but The defeat OF lhe og
nal bill which proposed 10 submit the question OF basis 10
the people and of every proposition OF compromise! II thu,
became manifest that compromise concession was not ne
cessary carry convention bill and SO the substitute was
adopted, and is now on its passage.
will notice another remarkable fnct in the history OF the
constitution IL was feared would be rejected by
the people To obva,e such result the question raca-
ton was submitted TO the constitutional voters but To
those who would become qualified TO if the constitution
were ratified Above 10000 thus admitted
to vote in of constitution, which to give them
the elective francise. The majority in favor Of ratification
was OlSl the being 26O55 for and 563 votes against
ratification The idea o 'vong ones self farm il not
so modern some suppose.
tucd the assertion that fathers fought for the principle
of this bithat araiion and representation should foge
tier deny that the principle of this bill was ever contend
ed for by the patriots OF the Revolution They resisted
the attempt Of the British Parliament to tax them when
they were not represented-hey contended that
should be in proportion TO wealth or taxation
Taxes their origin, selimposed contributions to the
King made by the subec-volunary offerings for the sup
port Of government An imposition OF the colo
MES without their consent properly considered net
of tyranny and be resisted The wachword of the pa
rots was millions for supportnot cent for tribute'
tribute TO they would not paythcy were ready to
contribute of their own tree Will and consent millions 10
support the mother government But who hal ever before
dreamed that the Revolution OF o vas slakcd upon the
propos,on that the colonies should be represented Par
lament or any where else in proportion 10 their wealth!
poor colony send few and rich colony many mcinbers
huG inter
aton OF phrase taxation and representation should
ooe,ber Ii cannot that representation shorld b.
IN proDoroa to taxation for then taxation alone would be
the scale representation and the idea OF persons would be
excluded 1t only that community should be-
taxed without being represented Taxation ana representa-
on cocxst in all free governments; yet they are separate
and dis; net and be conmnged without corruptng
and pouting each other In all reasoning this sub
ec the community people 10 h" represented and taxed
must be regarded they cannot be reasoned about
as one PEI pe-one communityhcy oughtn TO be toge-
Ter This nrst be regarded postuate in the argument
nre the uc principles in regard 10 representation and
taxation in such community! Suffrage is the express
sion of individual will in the delegation Of power to
representative. AN concede that suffrage should
he unor-tha the qualifications of voters should be
the same in every portion Of tho community Representa-
on is the aggregate OF individual suases; the whole
should be neither greater nor less than the aggregate of its
parshe voice of the representative should be neither more
nor less potent than would bc the voices OF his constituents
il they stood in his shoes Taxes contributions for the
support o. government They should be in pro",r. IL
The ability 40 pay 1t would be oppressive 10 require each
ctxsn 10 pay an equal Of taxes Keeping in view
bese principles where do gentlemen begin 10 mingIe
ton and persons together as elements in representation
How can it done and the stream o representation be kept
pare? Do they begin with individual voters No sir The
gentleman Notoway admits it would be odoas TO al
low ten times as many Il, because he has
times the wealth In that case, AS individual views on all
subects-those affecting life liberty and all the means OF
happness-subccts in which he could feel no greater ne-
rest than B. would outweigh those of his poorer neghbor
And in respect property as TO which Is argued that
would feel more than b. because ne has more Of it.
such an allotment of power designed protect property
would place Bs little homestead and horse in AS hands
that homestead and that horse being precious TO B. his
broad domains and his cattle on hundred hills to A. Asan
f ox,on with less Inconvenience than the poorhc
as to the rich curtailing only superuy or a, most
luxury whilst the same of tax on the poor cuts short
the ordinary comforts and necessarcs OF life and is there
fore more onerous. Such allotment of power as 'hs
which would not only give the control over B, and all
that is dear 10 him. but would also enable to esab
lsh rate of taxes which he could easily bear, but
which wonld be bnrdensomc b. is shocking 10 every
right thinking mind and is accordingly rejected by the gen
with individuals in inging persons with property as ele
cnts representation the gentlemen proceeds to aggregates
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