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

striking out the words "county of Lee and insertin
" counties ying west of the Allegheny mountains"
has been pc rhaps my misfortune TO have assisted tn
legislature in passing several bills forming coun
ties, and in no instance have escaped pretty con
siderable amount of severe abuse for my agency in it
But have never regretted what have done. In on
Trans-Aeghany country especially in the north west
ern portion of it, attribute in part the great ncreas
10 population and in taxation too, to the formation
new counties BY cutting up our very large counties int
smaller ones. would refer 10 the county OF Taylor
an example OF this increase in population ard wealth
where believe lives than ten miles from thu
court house That simple fact believe has raised thu
value ofand in that county to more than 1t IS in any othe
portion Of the State. think that perhaps some lim
tation ought to be placed upon the formation Of new
counties, and not allow the lines to approach Toe
the court house Of other countless and not to reduce
the population below certain number But an
entirely opposed TO making it impossible for the egsla
turc to form counties The formation of our conn
try is such requires small counties, and do moi
think that the legislature is going 10 be troubled with
apple atoms for small counties oener than is ne
lcessary.
Mr.. FINNEY. 1 would suggest to my friend from
Gilmsr (Alr HArs) so to modify his amendment rs &c
make it read also " east of Chesapeake Bay or 4
The committee prefers it. or the county of Accomac
will state to this committee that there is no county il
this commonwealth that is capable of being divided
than the county of Accemac 1t contains population
of about l50, and its length is about sixtyvc miles
Many of the members of this body are aware that the
people have voted upon this question for the last three
successive years and they intend to agtae this cues
ton still longer think it would he most lust indeed
to tie up the hands of the people Of that county upon
this important question. You may insert This provision
into the constitution and you may adopt what cunsu
ton you please but there will be GOO 700 votes
in that county against the adoption Of constitution with
such provision in it.
The CHAIR Does the gentleman from Gnsr (Slr
HAYs accept the suggestion of tho gentleman from Ac
comac (Mr. FINEEYD
| Mr.. HAYS. It may be the means of defeating IN,
amendment but have objection to trying it.
The question being then taken upon the amendment
to the amendment as modified, and it was not agreed
to-a count being had--ayes 81 noes 81.
| MIR. HAYS. Is it now in order to submit an amend
ment?
The CHAIR. 1t is in order to submit an amendment
to the amendment
| Mr.. HAYS. Then l move TO strike out in tina,
amendment the words the county of Lee, {" and insert
"the counties west of the Allegheny mountains"
The question was then taken upon The amendment &c
the amendment, and 1t was rejected, count beicg had
ayes 50 noes SO.
| The question then required upon the amendment OF
the gentleman from Scott (8fr FuLKERsoS)
| Mr. ARMSTRONG will ask the gentleman from
| Scott TO withdraw his amendment and will offer enc
which think will accomplish his object
| Mr.. FULKERSON, lin his seat) What is ycul
anne ndmcnt?
Mr. ARMSTRONG. The amendment which have
to offer will leave all the old counties their origna
size. 1t does seem to me we ought 10 have some re
feelings and wishes of the people in regard to th.
matter.
The amendment which propose is this
I'm the formation Of new counties, existing county
sha be reduced 10 less than four hundred squnr,
miles, shall any existing county having less than sN
thousand white inhabitants be deprived by the lorna
ton of new county, of more than fifth of its white
population.
If the gentleman from Scott Or. FULxERsoS) will
withdraw his amendment think this will accomplish
his object.
| Mr.. FULKERSON cannot withdraw my amend.
ment
Mr. FINNEY. Imerely wish TO say that cannot vote
ARMsrRoSG.)
| The CHAIR The chair will remind the gentleman
from Accomac Mr FlSSEY) that the motion upon the
amendment of the gentleman from Scott TO except the
county Of Lee.
MrFINNEY. Oh, will vote for that.
/ Mr.. PRICE. | hope the gentleman from Scott will
withdraw his amendment. If he thinks that the amend
ment of the gentleman from Taylor will not accom-.
plish his object he can offer it again
Mr.. FULKERSON When my amendment has beer
voted upon the gentleman can offer his amendment.
| Laughter.
The question was then taken upon the amendment OF
the gentleman from Scott Mr.. FrLKEEsoE) and it
rejected-a count being had-ayes 81, noes SO.
Mr. ARMSTRONG;. l now offer the amendmen,
X proposed few moments ago. move to strike out
the 10th section and insert the amendment have just
read.
MIR. GOODE 1t y-ill be Observed that the effect OF
the amendment will be to place restriction upo.
the formation of new counties. 1t provides against
ducing the old counties, but it would not prevent the
legislature from forming new county Of ten miles
square, il it should think proper.
MIR. ARMSTRONG. | assure the gentleman
from Mecklenburg (Sr. GoopE) that it was not my in
tentiou to impose any Limitation upon the formation OF
new counties whatever intended TO leave that subject
the good OF the legislature and the people int
cd IN he o |
we have done that we have done all that it was our
duty to do in relation this subject am for leaving
the matter to the discretion of the legislature.
Mr. FERGUSON. The proposition now before The
committee will operate very differently in diAeren,
sections of the State. While l am disposed to give
every thing eastern gentlemen which they desire,
do not think it is exactly proper return on their part
to refuse everything for which VIC ask and to force TINS
matter upon against our wishes.
Now the proposition of the gentleman from Iaylol
Mr ARAsrRoSG) is this that no county shall be divided
that does not contain more than 200 square miles
Several VOICES. Oh no! that is not the propo
Mir. FERGUSON That is the effect of it, 1t is If
effect that county shall not be divided at all. Now, i
tn. gentlemen from the counties east oil the Blue Ridge
do not want their counties divided let them make pro
vision against it. That country to considerable eXten
lis level but our large counties in the west whou
exec pton interspersed with mountains, some OF which
arc SO impossible that the people in one portion OF The
county know little about tie matters OF the people
in another portion OF the same county Is theJ 10
those living another county. 1t may be very neccssa
ry in the east TO have counties Of GOO or $40 square
miles but there is no such necessity i'll the west.
the gentleman from Scott Mr FuLKEHsoS has said Their
are counties there, some Of which hundred mile
long and only few miles broad The county of Logai
nearly l20 miles long before the county OF Wyoming
was formed out oft. If the lmi. is reduced to 4O
square miles will submit to it, but prefer having
no limitation at all. do hope the committee will no
force this obnoxious measure upon us in its prcsen
y form.
: Mr.. WALLACE I am rather surprised that thi
should be regarded as sectional question by the gen
tcman from Logan (Mr. FERorsoS.) noticed when th
vote being taken just now that gentlemen from tn
extreme west voted for the limitation, while gentlemen
from the east voted against it. think the vote in ia
ycr Of Limitation as large from the west as it
from the east.
: Mr.. FERGUSON. | did not say that it vas sec
', tonal question, but said it was measure which TIL
: gentlemen from the east endearoring to fore