Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-15
FVENING SESSION

Convention, had examined in very imperfect and
satisfactory manner am aware the propopon TO base
representation in Virginia on property and persons com
binsd and some of the arguments By which the friends
OF that plan of representation attempt sustain it.
endeavosed to show that while property and should
be m object Of governmental protection it was not le-
gmate source Of political power that property was
the creature Of government there being In state G" ma
ture no rule by which rights Of property could DO vim
dcated o. protected except the rule OF force that prop
srty having into society for protection anl secu
rity was playing tho usurper, and attempting do
mnon over persons that the creature was endearorng
to rule the creator.
come now to examine, very briefly, the competing
proposition, offered by those who believe that in re
publican government representation should be in con-
forraty the number Of those ho elect or delegate
representatives without regard to the relative wealth.
either of individuals sections.
The principle which we advocate is embodied IN the
three following articles of schedule B:
49, The qualification necessary TO confer the right OF
suraes shah be uniform throughout the commonwealth
40 that Ii all elections of senator's and delegates the
sne qualifications shall confer the same right OF sui
rage and the Suffrage of qualified voter shall avail
ma much as that Of another qualified voter, whatever
NAV be the difference ID Yaluo Of the property owned by
them respectively. :,
"a As individual suffrage shouid oe equa, without
resnect to tho difference Of individual wealth 80 al equal
number of qualified voters shall be entitled to equalrep
ra,sntaton without regard to their aggregate wealth.
"6 Representation shall be equal and uniform III this
commonwealth, and shall always be regulated and 81
eertaned by the number of qualified voters therein
The third and fourth sections which have Just read
are oouched in the language of whose memor t:r
est delights to honor They are, with slight modih-
cation the resolutions relating to suffrage and
taton presented in the Convention OF 1899 80 by that
pure patriot and gallant SOLDIER General hooert
or of Eorfolk-words for the utterance Of which he
was driven from that body confess that find addi-
.ional motive and stimulus to the advocacy OF the great
principle which they contain in the adoption Of the form
shich he chose for its presentation We desire thar
Hthe stone which was rejected OF the builders should
haeomo the head of tho corner wish to erect some
enduring memorial of the love and with which
the western people, cherish the name and tho memory OF
that patriotic statesman. Let the constitution VIC are
Shout to frame be his monument Let us luscroe upon
s.. base in his own words Equality and uniformity IN
suEraas-" equality and uniformity in representation.
Sir if the west has but few friends this side the o'in
tans in regard this great question of equality she ut
least knows how to remember them.
l. has been said that these sections of the report arc
Int distractions If 30, might ask, when before
did Virginia become alarmed at abstraction Wher
did she ever shrink from the of what she
deemed political truth, because OF sheer that it wa
an abstractioni If sns ls distinguished by any
one characteristic than another it is the promulgated
OF maxms and principles Of government The bill o
rQhta and the Declaration Of Independence might OF
the same ground be considered mere budgets Of abrac
tons The resolutions Of lT9s9s would also go by th
board. You call upon our people annually to unit
with you In the declaration OF mere abstract truths
but when such declaration becomes necessary ant
proper and when point you to the appropriate pac
aud time for the enunciation Of great principle, You
forsooth turn away from it abstraction! You be
come, all at once. wonderfully practical
Bet SIX is the declaration Of equal suffrage and eaua
representation flowing from it. to be termed an ab
strsctioni Are freedom and equality words Of fancy
dreams Of poesy-pnat.ained aud unattainable in
life We regard this portion Of the report as embody
ing great Fundamental truths lying at the bottom of thu
political edifce-the very foundation stone, on which
alone can rest any government for Virginia deserving
the name Of representative republic II ther are false
princ;pss why do not those who object them attach
them ami Sow the error they conceal Not member
Of this body has attempted to do So What higher er
dence can be given that they are not assailablei
The third section sf!irms that individual suffrage a;
the polls should be equal and uniform, without regard
to the amount of property held by the voter 1t doc
not undertake to decide what the qualification of suf
frase shall be- That subject referred to distinct