Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06

In which they maintain that the question has been de-
c7dod by The people Of this CoD,lronw ealth We arc
referred TO the history OF the Staunon conventions of
1915 and 1926. Weare told that the DIGESTION Of the
white basis was there icbatcd-tlat tie rense Of the
Commonwealth there expressed and ascertaned to
be in favor OF that basis Sir these conventions were
composed of men eminent for their talents and inte
sence, and entitled to the highest consideration ac
count Of thor private and moral worth. Many of the
members of the Convention of 1925 were personally
knoWn 10 NE, and | recognize among them come OF
uly r'ends, Tor whose opinions ! entertain profound
respect. But the opinion referred to unofficial
an expression OF respectable body of private gentle
men, ana no sanctty, no authority, be attached to
their acts They spoke their sentiments the country
they made their appeals the constituted authorities
OF their eountrythey brought their case for adiud-
cation before the eg ,tvs councils of the State the
tribunal authorized to pass upon their acts and their
sentiments were condemned SO far thsl were these
opinions from being an authority, sustained bv the
constituted authorities OF the country when submitted
for adjudication, they were condemned rejected and
repudated.
We have been referred to the action of the general
assembly III 1915 reappoirtoninS representation in the
senac, As notable instance Of the triumph Of the prn
cipe Of tue whit. La=is The gentleman from Berkeley
especially goas into scsaces in contemplating the
"dy"u shdfta Of western equality incline to think
t IMPORTANCE IN this regard has been greatly exagger
ated IN the convention of 1929 L. W. Tazewell made
statement IL which he referred the elements which
entered into the calculation of the apporoment of the
senate bill Of 1915. He said that,
According to the basis OF taxation, the west
found entitled TO ssysn msnbers. and small fraction
oyer. According the basis of federal numbers they
were entitled ~ seven members aid largo fraction
according to the basis OF white population
hey We're entitled To nine members and email frac.
non over computing according ~ tie census OF lSlO.
IEen by adding all three together and dividing
by three, II was found that the west would be entitled
TO eight members and fraction Believing that
he Ia.
iracon could better spare the fraction than the west
and being entirely averse to terin with his western
brethren concerning fraction Of representative
", for his part he willingly assepted to give up this
fraction 10 the West, who thereupon would have nina
serators while the cast retained fifteen and upon u
perfect understanding OF tLese proportions all the
arrangements Of the original bill made
The accuracy Of this statement has been questioned
L is said to have been couirovertcd by Mr. Doidrdge
and gentlemen claim for the support of the version of
Mr. DoddrIge, the ccrrohoratiGy statement of B. W.
Leigh, aud Of Chapman Johnson, and to the supposed
JOINT testimony Of the three, they add the acdged evil
deuce Of the of 1870 Let first dispose OF the
namcs ii Leigh and Johnson 1t he observed that
the remarks OF both these gentlemen which al.
duced to support Ar. Dodrige, were delivered long
before Mr.. Tuzewcll spoke the subject and that h,
spoke for the purpose Of correcting impress
sions produced by representations made to the Con-
renton lie spoke III the presence Of Leg and John
sol-Goth Of whom, On the same day but after Sir.
same subject without contradcting correcting his
statement. complaining OF his Oh lection their for
rncr statements | submit, therefore that they acqui
esced in his statement, especially when it is known TINT
Ar. Leigh; spoke II confirmation Of many OF the facts
urged bv Mr. Tazswcll on that dry. Ii Mr.. Tazewell
had made statement in their opinions uioundcd or er-
roueous they would have exposed it. No human force
cculd have restrained Mr. Leigh, from explaining if lie
bad deeu.sd the remarks Of MIR. TuzeweIl to be
neous, or to have impugned any statement made by
Mr. Leigh And again II is to be observed that Mr..
Leigh not a member of assembly in 1915, and
therefore could not have besu familiar with the or
cumstances
MIR. Doldridgs made representation in opposition
to the position ssuusd BY Mr., Tazewell. and shall
by 10 lnoans impugn the honor Of Mr. Doddridse by
any comment which shall oier-hc said:
: The bill Of 1916 Il presume it tn BIO 1870
based the Of 1910. In 1910 the white popu
aton SOL 900, disregnraing the fractions Of thou
sand OF this population 2l2,0oo were found west Of
the Blue Ridge Out Of twenty-iour members Of the
senate his population entitled the to nine mem
senatorial arrangement Of that year regulated by
white population, aud by nothing else
Now let any gentleman put himself to the trouble Of
making: calculations. if lie does 10, mud Mr. Tnzewelrs
statements 10 le correct the statement Of friend
l!on Bot:etourt CIR. ANDERSON The contrary
with9taud:Dg. | will acknowledge hat | am mistaken
Mr. ANDERSON. As tie gentleman has referred to
mS-
Nr. CCODE do 10; to impugn your state
meut
m:LG calculation and hld nscer.:ucd that the sem
ate in lS6 was apportioued 10 the white population
1910 anG gentleman who will make TIE calculation
viii find that it would give the east fifteen and small
fraction over, and in tic west lille with small fraction
over. showing clearly the appointment was made
co:lus to tho white population Of 1916 If YOU APP
pc.oneI representation according TO federal numbers
at dat period the principle which is advocated
Of combined ratio OF taxes aud population | doubt
much whether the west cound be entitled to
ms MIXERS How then, there could te compromise
taking tie statement: of the gentleman that the west
would be entitled to seven either upon federal Humber,
upon the ratio OF taxes and population, cannot for
the life Of me understand
Mr.. GOODE | wish to te resi- eciiul. | desire al
WAYS to ba respectful to the gentleman from Boteourt,
Nj ASYERsoS) but prefer to be nllowedt to proceed
in NV Remarks without interruption. Tue statement
which have made is before the gentleman. | hnvs
uY dc estimates il connection with this question.
fud upon the Guss Of white population that Mr. Taze
we'll. s:atsuart is strictly correct. He says the wes:
would be entitled upon the white basis OF representa-!
ton alone in lSlU to nine aud snail trac He he's
de, srn;ned it with the greatest accuracy-nine and
one. .een,b part Of member i. the proportion and
if that be sula fraction OF member, ] give it
vp 10 not deem it importan; to nuke this correction
al al except for the fact that Importance seemed
to be attached to it when it reterrI to b. others
aIr Dodir;lse, Nr. Leigh and Iii. johnson
raysl agaiu.t lir Tuzcwe! Nr Leigh was said to
have been an active participant III the matter, though
if mistake not, la not member Of the general
assembly o! 1916.
lie VIA present when Mr. Tazcweli SPOKE, and had
his testimony been impugned By an thing that fell
from Iii, lips ali l!e powers eart could not have
prevented contradiction on the spot lie did not mako
n contradiction Lu. on the very dag which Sir. Taze
we'll spoke he confirmed most Of the statements made iy
that gentleman But suppose il to be true that the bill
Of lSlt mad been based upon the white population CT
1910. 1t was not the white population Of 1916 Six
wears had elapscd-the General Assembly OF the State
had fail power 1T that tins this matter but they
were content to DO their SUCCESSORS have DONE
grant this cquaixng representation in the Senate upon
principles which secured safety to them, safety to the
east aud safety the State, independent of n;
ton with all reference the basis Of white popatiou
If lad Lue introduced ana adopted i'll the provisions
Of TIC bill of 1916 how different is il, from the crcrm
s..uc.s under which We find ourselves. How different
fol introducing the principle the whole legislature
Eha. was the Senate nj that time 1t was amere
v&ory body, which had power to Introduce new
leas!res-it bad 10 original jurisdction-t had kind
Of appellate jurisdiction which could even amend
money bill 1t obliged to receive any bill Of
taxation as sent from the house without the power
make tie slightest alteration Amendment Whatever.
All power orsr the mouey Of the Commonwealth
directly withheld from the Senate l.; the provisions oi
the constitution Ct 1916. Would gentlemen be
RI r.r.iy. such q provision und Senate Will