Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-25

discuss the principles OF government since the days oil
the cvouion and III which the sentiments and nter
,.ts oil east and west were !, sseiy represented
IN their memorial 10 he legislature they declare
tina. 80 loci rine has received more universal assent
in q republican, government than the VII ol the
mai ,r;:v .luil be tAe law OF ,Ee land and, yet
in State 1oastrg of the pure republican character
al it institutions - lis, and fundamental !ihcipc
nj rc,l;c;sn does exist, for the government
,r:naily in the hands of a minority: rna rhat IS st''
more p,ynir;p,s 10 III" gE,rH interests, N ne HaHd'
Of mi!sor;ty inhaJtiMc particular section % m'
STATE"
The General assembly are then respectfully request
ed 10 recommend to .A~ people of this commonwealth
the election al !: sruy.i.lon TO alter and amend tfc
defects OF the constitution. Al in doing this 1t Is co.."
i.l.ilv hns that sur:. principles OF reIrcscitaii"
willLs al,c:i an: such iodcs Of election prescribed
is will ensure 10 ever part 81 the State '"yi-lt N
the coyentun Ia BE- assembled pfqpor'o"H to IT'S hH'
po,uia,on Thus and thus "u can the "%c!i1ii"ii-
existing in the state l." aarc,!. the great citi oil Re
publican government bc attained and the c''elit"t'r
bc placed b;si. insure lis own dnraihr ~ WEI
Is the peace and happiness Oh those Tor whom Il A>
been framed"
This it may be firmly a.erlci. was the "oca Of IT,
:Ii i'll August, 1916. These proceedings ioI Il vci
angry and excited discussion upon the call 81 a'"
yenoI in he legislature bat the sub rt wa u'!i'""
Is quie;r'! asi adjusted 1T that ti!.c ~ rcilGii!g TN
Senate and rc.":rafs!ns it representation H". tI!'
;.sis vi the rcr white population OF the STATE IN inc
debates oi 1929, Mr Tazclt co:;rovcrcd Ia" tact ina
the rcrr:ng Of IT," mate upon he bass oI
white ,,nri:.:on. and upon this statement .. Air
iazeH, the gentleman iru:h Cureper has i'!:iic.
himself But the icl is that neither IN co:..
trovcr; i denied i Pests "t >!.ny upon H. stale
n,nt o VI Dv:Jri,i.c and Sir Mercer, il ry-ts upon
t,urc- which cannot be- !.>kru. Ii i prove. -
comparing the apport"um=nt Of Representations VIII
tic that preceded H. Ii i, moreover '.!-,A!
admitted BIZ Mr.. IL Oh wiIn Inform. Us ip"rc ~. ~
bates Of CIv"nti"n.l That h. well Remembers every
!Ici connected with IL history. "rin, progress ans
tina! contamination. and that lac Will remember a!
10 the .- day hi- lii, 10 avoid tic cal! o"
vcn,on he cunIcS the bill Tor clU.t.:zi@- liz! repre-,
.'Itaiiol IL the senate tie jasis q 'rhi, yit'0-
Hyn ,ps in IN evil hour. pissed ! had 10 share in
thank Heaven none"
1t NAV haze been regarded by Mr i,i-'a- la"i':-
been done in IN evil lour. regard il amung.; tho
mos; aI- ioo;.s and gratifying incidents IN or i,s'
history. lonl: upon t;t, the m"g"o ch.r't ."
equality: The first decisive -tcp IN Ii" -rci
work a", progress OF constitutional reform. AHG WIG;
las II been ever Known. sincc the days al fG: i!'de
that the Anglo Saxon race havln., one" r!acr :. re-;
upon the platform OF e,,alitv la, been known ~;:"r
wares rrcc.c rom it in words which hs"" .ci.lr
ed n"te"ic'" cf late his n"t" i n"'rt ''|!i'
,eifo!sHa. Sr do ncy n TAT" step D'"E"ar"
/, might hay" been pos>ihc-;arcIy possible in
ut III" period Of the adoption OF tbs >rrm" il; >"tl
Carolina /" have forced it upon the poop" al til" We"
/ to ha.c stranslc tn. infant licrcuc- in Iii craiI.
i:a, the time has passed. when lie stands E"f"r'
you Ill all II" proportions OF lin:" na!h""d w,.i'-
IN lis q -aIir club representing The power o.
one hall million Of the free whit, Inhabitants al III.
lnnwcal,h. Ii i TOO late sir; il cannot Row Il
done.
Tl,n. SIR wla: WI, tic rc>lt Of II" second .iea'
contest upon this question: II i we'll .c,vu has IT,.
Convention 81 ls29-3n wa> o.-auiz-da- to :yc I"
the east. in that boz IS. ma or:tv 81 twenty four lr;
bcr+. And ye; upon the irst trial "f strength !:
was ascrrtanc, that the Whit, basis prime pie W.
IN the aScrniencv. But that majority w;> cTr.-
ray rendered pr orlc.-. not b. producing chan.
conviction upor hc II. ais o! the delegates. hri ~
--nac and IN ,rnmatorv appeal! To III" con-iircu.
~ For Wee lii" l,i;y aud Eipu!",.s passions 81
! .:h III" sub: reasoning "f p-i:ur ~; the electric
a,;ro,,cc Of Randolph. were in rcu lion coi:nr'
up IlaI.foI- OF alarm. ard /" a.itat asscs III III
c:t-; with rnio:rA-d Ir:"leii danger - III IL
Interests. The system ot ins:ru" Wa "'sur:" &"
ami Under il, operations tirrcraT yor, dci stc r"
the Norfolk 'ir'c,. Yielded h.. seat an, tie dele.
cation from "i the Piedmont district. h"ci:" af
rzr,l IN il Hr;iOn Weeks paSs,'! over N c";si"r
ing propositions Of npromise with ever: ir"-p"c; Al
times oi 20 other result bG: ft! - IL" Integrity I'll
the commonwealth. 1t was Under these Circumstance.
tina: Genera: Gordon Of Aihcmarlc. on H." 2 ii De-.
cctLtr i"2?, sustained lis ,r"p on "r The gYu1:
;ioament of representation, which prop -t"n viii
slight alterations not affecting t!' principle rpo Isc
il was based adopted by vote Of tii:y Ia forty
i've AMI became Incorporated into tn" constitution.
Now lei liz learn from General Gordon. t.c aGthor
and roro-cr Of the compromise, ,hr .rn:ln!. unoi.
which n" placed it and upon which hc asked cr i: Tic
sanction II that body
This proposition is the result Of IN estimate of tho
;rah ;,5G,iitior cl' ls3' - only authentic ,ior;.-
r.ant Of population n power. One great objection.
AWAY hal to bringing the federal nwn"y. mike:
l.-;, under $ct: ion WAS st;pa ot"f tie Ec ;G
.nlap,iuc il wo.l tr-c:tcc and 4 stroa- OH .ctiur
,l4.,.t l.
ee:u~ut 9; faction. seed ii i-cor; fatal to The per
flamenco OF the constitution. Sir, 10 constitution y".
c::n form! situated a. virginia cnGur" witt: -3c
provision. We ought meet this middle ..ror:u.
oil the ct Isl although! the West set, Gpa i-hci
claim.
MIR. Leigh following in the dcbatc objected 10 Gen.
Gordons propositions:
"rke gentleman frorI ..aclnarc assigns /, liz west
ycrv nearly the proportion which i would ac
entitled the rrnc cs II Tie al IL o,ai. according
The d; i-'!p probably not warnings IT, The
ser 81 rcJ irl.taiiu. IAnrr than amt either - ir
llr divisions Of the commonwealth. N"' i.I- w.- III.
;.rinci .1i ctj,,ftp" - that arrangement.
And vet, s:,'mil;ci as this proposition y,.. ayGscGl.
rpou lie .rolnd tia: il was base! unou Ill: last Az
rkcnc ccil-rI. o! white p"puJto!.-upro.rd ~ Mf
Leigh hcca;isc it recognized TIA, principle Ne ,Yhirc
;opriia!G'.-it nevertheless ultimately received the
sanction Of very delegate from eastern Trgi., a.,.
became Incorporated into our existing co;,,t!liiirm
Iii recognized Ii: grinrip Of "iii:c populations VII.
, not i;y wc> vote iur lis adoption: Simply because
it made provision ior the latur" app"rji6nc, OF
representation upon lie principle L ul,:c no
provision 10 adapt The representation tic !,pi..y
growing and increasing population Of the We, II tied
the il prrnanei s:cc;on 10 The east. 80 long az
that constitution lasted. nc white basis as ;rin.ipic
al 90, Grnnlc;. had nothing in ii objectionable 10 cas-:
crn sa;rslnc:G. long il, operation va, 10 leave
power cast Of the Ridge. The priacp!c Oh, !ssaror
*ci, when it transferred the sc"prc o! power iron!
cast 10 vest.
SIR il i, impossible for aE man 10 rca,! ;, IN a.:ra
ton, the rng, Of the Contention nf l-n- 80 and
more especially those which led to the "Xst!n amor
tionmc;t o representation. without: rcach.r he con
clt!sinn that i!i".c distinguished advocates .! The ,i.c
ba-, looked upon that a the last trt!rsca. .,' c,,r
c successfully made in this Commonwealth g.. he re-.
!cntion oil power cast Of the Ridge. iir. yer. cou
tent item 10 take their last lease nf ro.cr upon The
pri'ciplr OF white iopu!atoma najori!; n which was
OF the monntai-an! retain t!at power Ions. ..
they could preserve the cxisn. constitution The idea
that in any future convention ever 10 assemble in Viz
ginia-when large ma ory Of the white population
If the State would be found west Of The Blue Ridge
nonntains-tha, any effort would be seriously nadc TO
overthrow this great principle Of popular government
imagine. never occurred 10 the n-t sang zinc o; them
They were content tn rest their power lpOn tn. prr-
cipIc Of white Notwithstanding all rla.s or furr
apporlionmcnt. and trusting to ali the dIirult;cs and