Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04

Of sign OF saying anything offensive do not mean TO call
lie you pl'nderers but msan simply this ha, in fran
s. ing government and in creating institutions Ter
J. which We are TO livc-and would here remark that
the gentleman from Augusta admits that security m.
be given against the abuse of power-hat that cor
rect principle: wise counses will suggest that We
should have an eye TO the security Of the government
against all abuse of power, and shall show that unless
We do adopt some such principle. that there DO
an abuse Of power of kind that will practically eri
10 punder Us OF rights This j. whai mean when
use the word plunder. and design. without meaning
any offence throughout this discussion. 10 continue Ia
cail things By their ehi names am, deal with them a,
think proper.
But the gentleman from Preston further than
merely to tender to his eastern brethren guarantees in
the constitution. He says that the also hsve
guarantees for the protection Of their property a well
ourselves Nowftley distrus their own exercise pow
or hope they will not complain that do feel fully
satisfied 70 pace ourselves Under their power Ii YOU
are not satisfied with the guarantees in the present con-
stitution you mus not fall with Us who are for not
being dissatisfied with them. But We will not .ako
ose guarantees alone and trust nav be- permit.
ted The privilege of suggesting YOU such guarantees
as VIII Secure lis aGaa, 81 abuse %! the power You
desire to have. loGr proposition now is TO base the
representation OF he State upon all the qualified electors
OF niabt of the State. Let look upon this pro-
position and consider it practically nth first place
would ask how will you he able 10 appor;!on represen
tatlon upon the qualified electors ri the state II
be BY this plan armoximated IL. but il cannot without
difficulty, be aScert;ned accurate! Take the roI ar
vote OF the qualified electors of this commonwealth i,
lsiS-tN, vnte 4: county election would hot be Il fair
criterion because II IS often the that there are no
opposition candidate in the field AMI other rea-ons o,-
crate TO keep the voters from the polls bel M Tie
Der of double votes eivea-ihc Presidential election,
howeve- atf1r good Guide t, the number of quail
lied voters at the election in 1913 9lI0 votes were
cast III this state. This the united for 1avlor
and Cas-. The entire white population If the state OF
Virginia Numbered so9lSi. would here state that
the increase OF votes under the constitution we arc abou.
70 adont-if We extend the right OF suisragc-wi s.
eng liberal estimate, an!o * to about Gooo0an ov
er estiate rathe: than rnder If the proposed
xtensi"n Of .u:!iaa then lal been made in 1875 the
entire ropn1r would have alnoun. 81 10 l5i7iu.
Deduct That vote from the entire number Of tic whita
population, and vcu have remaining 747,it Vow. by
your principle laid down in proposition b representa-
ZION must DC based upon the white ;nnu lion. Til.
gentleman from Augusta whom am sorry 10 see is no.
aow in his seat. denounced proposition :. with great
;orce declaring In. it dsar chiscd 100000 OF the FREQ
Hcope OF Virginia ut the sametime forgetting that
proposition i, which he advocated wi,f2nrch ZEAL
disirancsed yearly 100000 OF the white population c.
fhe state Here then is another total abandonment Of
l. your principles.
it Bui these the only instances Il. which Won
Hban: yonr principles. Your proposition as il affects
representation DOGS not base il in regard to the Leafs.
aurc upon the qualified electors If the state nune,
caiiy considered Else why restrict TO county limits,
i II yc"T Intention Ia 70 carry your principle practically
into operation why Go You take the whole qualified
of
representatives. Of which you propose TO compose the le
! ssatiye department Of government and Thus without
regard TO county boundaries give representatives to all
n the qualified electors of the stS.e,
: a MEMBER, lin his seat That would be the true
d way.
t i. rURKISs That would be the true wav If Won
10 not design abandoning principle o. power in ihjs
instance And in view Of this aba. i,inent can van
blame Us Tor insisting upon the adoption OF principle
which will work good results when there i no nacn
II W. fln III int, Ill.
{, .ionmen of their principle will throw them and arcu.
meuts though trcng and powerful and appeals though
Il warm and generous cannot extrcate the from it. il
that when they thus attempt TO eyae the necessary
result OF the position they have assumed they will
carry the fraction Of in voters from one county
to another and thus increase the representation of ha
smaller counties while the larger counties will be cur
tailed OF their Just proportion OF representation Here
then, are scyerinsances of the abandonment on
the part Of western Virginia of their own sacre,! and
revercd principles, Tor winch thoy have clanored So
loudly from the year 1878 up to the presen, time Can
Re the west-ough ito take any exception il tell them
thnt this is struggle upon side for power-DeseG
e power while upon the other it is contest for senr
servation contest in which desire to show TINT in
l. order to scipreservation, we must have power Sir
the principle for which they contend cannot be carried
ont: it is practically impossible for every man. in a
y political community, to have equal political power
There has been government established upon
the face OF the globe, nor can there be one established
r care not wha: s fern may bewhcre equal political
power c vested in every political individual and
practically carried ut. This has never been the case
in Virginia in anr other State in this confederation
i has been me re:t heretofore, mainly Of party con-
tict where the successful par,y-;Le one having the
maorty-h.' had IN II, possession all political power
from The exercise Of which the minority has been eycr
ded Take for instance, this State Unfortunately j.
may be, since have had Ivy residence in the county
which in part represent this floor have belonged
to party which has been in tie NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. de.
prvcd Of political power i'll the halls OF legislation
that has had equality whatever with the majority
power while my ;rie:i lir. i.DMtSpsl from the sano
county ha. ewing his being connected with the ma
,orty party been in the exefc;s" Of power all tho
iime and YOU cinnot produce such state Of things do
4 what yoa aY, will give each vo.er ill this state
equal political power lh- STATE, ~ the last three or four
presidential elections has shown in the vote nearly an
ibrium III the number OF votes est by each party.
the average majority OF tho successful party has NOT
exceeded two or three thousand .nrng the last
twelve years. Yet during that time the den,ocra,;c
party have almost invariably had in tie er.lara Of
Virginia majority of some thirty forty members
Under this state of affairs, was the whg party repre-
en,c did have equal political power in he lcyia
a,;ire with the democratic party! still! they had oorl
rights anl freedom. iou -hoy il; and there
ore. gentlemen Of the west YOU 10 rich, in abandouiu
princpl which cannot De cafed cut and serve tho
purposes yca desire.
But gcnteincn argue that the right Of Suffrage being
the groundwork OF representation every individual who
entitled to tina: right ought to have equal
political weight in the affairs of gorernnclt never
!. % understood the exercise Of the rgi. OF suffrage.
This right, if understand it, is in!ert practically
citizenship, aud the exercise of It only one OF IT,,
clements Representation of which poxersa pant The
light Of suffrage does not alone give power |, is tho
exercise If political right incident TO ctzeu.Lip but
/. not The only means by which political power ia
: reated it iaay be called active agent in giving
!.ct 30 power. There other means through which
is created, as ! shall show before conclude nv
: -c,narks.
TIL. gentleman from Augusta Or SaEyrEYl stated on
Wednesday. think, that the emitted 10 pro-
lection and that i: We transferred the political power TO
western Virginia by the adopti.a of proposition that
possibility that that power would De ab, ed
nj our interests 'nper..led. Then say ought to
Iopt the s. stem Of mixed basis if that will alone 90
t are US in rights. would remark tia, ii | have
nssated the gencaans position trust he ~ill correct
ne. But viii no danger result our interests by aIopt
II, The principle contained in proposition 3 Nav we
be oPPre.sisely taxed: Is there ap;er Of dis
rmna,iou being made agaus. tie interest 81 eastern
Virginia and in favor the Interests Of western Virginia
: this plan proposition b be adoptel' Bat he SAYS
! there is no great peril
. "The>e p.antases-
There is no peril !.