Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-25

* any portion of the commonwealth of Virginia A
that time the opponents of the section were not wl
10 acquiesee in the proposition AS it is now, when
is asccrtained that there is clear majority IN iaFo
J. of the section, and since IFS adrersaric have su;rc'
t. dered the contest am unwilling to extend any laoi
gence to those who originally opposed the proposition
t. therefore hope it may not be passed by.
e Objection being made, the amendment was no. WIN
If drawn.
Q Mr. ARMSTRONG. I had no wish 10 withdraw i
$ myself 1t was rely for the accommodation OF gen
temen present, and il intimated that sohe ",e
e were not present trt interest in the matter anu ue
sired TO say something and was also to aord IN o
r rotunty 10 them express their views that oHerco
: 10 withdraw it. have wish TO pass 1t bE, out ie
the committee decide the question at once am sa!
lsed that If decide this question at once ina.
We adopt the amendment which is proposed, "lii PER
haps TO very considerable extent give satisfaction IN
the country where is desired hereafter TO or ne"
: counties But if We retain that section it VIII exclude
the formation OF new counties for all times "
apprehend there not more than five countes III
in this State could be divided all under this provision
perhaps not that. / hope the committee VIII Strike
n out the section and adopt the amendment.
. Mr.. NJ. GARNETT. | objected TO the withdrawal
f of the amendment simply for the reason that wisleo
test the of the Convention upon striking out
0 that section.
/ Mr.. PRICE. am sorry that any predjudi;e against
the motion to pass by, has prevailed can assn re my
friend from Hardy mir SErMoua) that was perfectly
9 willing myself. had the floor at the time the proPo-
il by, but it the Of the committee Many
gentlemen SAID ''no and proceeded 10 make my re-
marks. am very sorry that any preludIce asi,H7'
he motion should have been inspired by anything
did
The question then taken striking out the Jour
teenth section and decided in the negatiTc-a count
being hsd-ayes 81 noes sc.
MIR. TRIGG. Is it in order to move 10 amend the
original proposition, not by striking any portion Dut
simply to add to it
: The CHAIR. 1t will be in order.
Mr. TRIGG. have proposition which is intended
meet the mentioned BY the gentleman from Scott
Mr. (FuLKERsos which think ought 10 be provided Tor,
for good many reasons
This county is very long county as the gentleman
has said, being some ninety miles long ana ohiy
twelve wide, and yet it contains quite large popu.
!aton. The population amounts TO sometmhs over
ten thousand, and considerable portion Of them nave
travel fifty fifty five miles to reach their court,
house for the transaction Of their ordinary business
therefore propose an amendment which ma! Poss'py
meet the case of other counties IN like condition
lido not thinkit will embarrass the general purposes OF
the section reported BY the legislative committee
have added at the end, "Provded any county may hc
ivded and counties formed out of il without re
gard its area by doing the population IN Inc od
and counties formed, shall not be less han I'VE
r thousand Inhabitants If you fix the -rea at SIX
hundred square miles, you could not make two counties
out Of it because each would have only h'tle over
four hundred square miles and yet has very dense
population. 1t would be very much to the convenience
those counties and in point Of popua;Ion'heE Won
5 DC very respectable counties. | therefore propose
this amendment to the original proposition
Mr.. GOODE. Does the gentleman mean IN ms
proposition to have only two thousand five hundred in
each county, FIVE thousand? presume he means
i've thousand in each.
Mr.. TRlGGS That was my purpose-hTc thousand
in each.
Mr. FINNEY. would inquire whether that refers
to the white population or TO the federal numbers
] Mr.. TRlGGS | am willing to make the restriction
20 five thousand white inhabitants.
Mr. ANDERSON. move that the word "whle
DC inserted before the word "inhabitnnts so as tG
make the amendment conform to the section as It now
stands
The committee will perceive referring to the
fourteenth section, that it reads thus Gin the lorna
ton Of new counties existing county shall be re-
duced below such area, shall any existing county
having population less than six thousand white luhao
tants DC deprived OF more than one filth oil lis poPl-
ulStCn
II seems 10 me- that it would be ridiculous 10 have
oroviso allowing county be divided with populi-
tion u only five thousand, when the section alreaey
provides that county shall be divided in any event,
% as to reduce the population below five thousand II
move there fore that tho word "whitc DC inserted b.
liorc the word inhabitants. .
Tic question being then taken upon Dir. AHpERsoSs
amendment TO the amendment, it resulted ayes % noes
l3o.
Mr. Nj: DENEALE. do not believe believe the question We
understood.
The CHAIR. suppose the amandmcn, was under
stood, as it simply to insert the word white be
.orc tho word inhabitants.
SEVERAL MEIBEES. Let us take the vote over
.gain.
The question wa. again put and the amendment
agreed to-a count being mad ares sc noes SO,
J The CHAIR. The question now recurs upon The
amendment offered by Mr.. rRIcG as just amended.
I Mr.. GOODE The proposition now before the com
mittee is orc believe which proposes To dispense with
the in the formati on OF new counties entirely
isregardng the area of old counties as well as new
r Mr.. TRIGG. 1t only dspenses with il, where sin
: gle county may be divided into two counties
Mr. GOODE The proposition is certainly nove
one and do not know that precisely comprehend it
am apprehenSive that gentlemen have hot cousidcrcu
maturely the question of area which is proposed BIZ
the report of the legislative committee. An area Of
twenty miles in way and thirty miles in the other
wav, would form Of six hundred square miles
# the courthouse be located in the centre Of such
coun- the result would lie that part Of the county
would be- more than fifteen miles from the court -house
I! the county not square, but paraegram, TIL
nos. dist ant point would be on fifteen miles from the
courthouse and it surely cannot be considered toe
n arsc in area-twcnty miles one way and thirty tn
,ther must in perfect CANTOR that | am not -
rridy bound 10 the particular number Of six hundre
: square miles, if it would give greater satisfacto
TO reduce this number in some degree. would not in
st upon six hundred the minimum if it would civ
dissatisfaction to large portion Of the west and if
could be satisfied that they would he content with
c reasonably sized county As far rs am personall
i conccr cd, would consent to reduction Of the nun.
/ Der OF square miles mentioned in the report as liz
area to be embraced.
S Mr. HUNTER. am not entirely satisfied with tie
I" amendment offered by the gentleman from Washington.
5 MIR TRIGG and would offer the following BY way d
II substitute Provided however that any county, til
E length of which is three times greater than its mea2
breadth, and which exceeds in length fifty miles, may
& be divided at the discretion Of the legislature
" The question then taken upon Mr.. HUNTERS
II amendment and resulted ayes 43 noes %.
The CHAIR. There is quorum voting
IS Mr. FERGUSON. l move that the committee riie
J., and report the fact to the Convention that there is
e quorum.
e Mr. CARTER Of Loudoun. Is there not n rule Of tie
house requiring every member to vote who is preser
:. The CHAIR There is rule requiring it, but they
: rarely do it.
Mr. CARTER. Well, ask that the vote DO taken
:. over again.
: Mr.. FERGUSON. withdraw nv motion
y acrnin led