The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-16

peaceably, events may induce her one day to re-
turn. II she never does, our galaxy grows fast
enough to permit the fall of single STAR
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From the Rishmond Enquirer-JMay Is.
-YEsTERDAY.-The convention
met at 10 o'clock, but the Compromise Commit
tee not being ready to report, took recess un-
til l2 O'clock.
On re-assembing at IL o'clock,
Mr.. MARTIN of Henry, chairman of the COM
mittee, appointed for the purpose, reported that
the committee had agreed, with but one dissent
ing voice, to the following scheme of compromise
upon the basis question. The report having
been read by the Secretary, it was ordered, on
motion of MIR. Martin, to be printed: Where
upon, on motion of Mr.. Scoggin, the convention
adjourned till to-day at 10 o'clock.
REPORT
The legislature shall be formed of two dis
tinct branches, which together shall be a COM
plete legislature, and shall be called the general
assembly of Virginia
ID One of them shall be called the House of
Delegates, and shall consist of one hundred and
fifty members, to be chosen biennially for and by
the several counties, cities and towns of the
commonwealth, whereof 80 delegates shall be
lying west of the blue ridge of mountains, and
So for and by the counties, cities and towns ly
ing east of the blue ridge, and said delegates
shall be distributed and apportionted as follows,
to wit
3. The other house Of the general assembly
shall be called the Senate and shall consist of
fifty MEMBERS to be elected for four years, of
whom thirty shall be chosen for and by the
coupfiao cttiao op1 l,,,pc IF tho hlna
ridge of mountains, and twenty for and by the
counties, cities and towns lying west thereof,
and for the election of whom the counties, CT
ties and towns shall be divided into fifty dis
tricts,, to be composed of contiguous territory
and as compact in form as may be- Each coun-
ty, city and town of the respective districts at
the time of the first election of its delegate or
deeg ates under this constitution, shall vote for
one senator, and the sheriff or other officers
holding the election for each county, city and
town, within five DAYS at farthest after the last
election in the district, shall meet at some con-
venient place within the respective districts, and
from the polls so taken in their respective coun-
ties, cities and Gowns, return as senaiEr the per-
son who shall have the greatest number ofvotes
in the whole district Immediately after the
senator's shall be assembled in consequence of
such an election, they shall be divided by lot in
to two classes-the seat of the senators of the
first class shall be vacated at the expiration of
tn second year, and of the second class at the
expiration of the fourth year after such first
election, and which rotation shall be continued
biennially so that one half may be chosen every
second year--and for the election of senators
the counties of - shall form one district &c.
A. 1t shall be the duty of the general assem-
bly, in the year 1865 to re-apportion representa-
-. =. Al. g Ill =.
the event the general assembly shall not be able
to agree az to the principle of representation on
which such re-apportionment shall be made or
shall fail to make such re-apportionment, then
the governor of the commonwealth SHALL by his
proclamation, Immediately thereafter require the
qualified voters of the commonwealth to assem-
bic in their respective counties, cities, and towns,
and to declare, by their votes, whether represen-
tation in the two houses Of the general assem-
by, or in either of them, shall be apportoned
according to the number of the qualified voters
in the commonwealth or whether the same shall
be apportioned in both houses Of the general
assembly, or in either Of thcm, according to the
number of the white inhabitants contained, and
the amount of all Mxes raised by the legisla-
ture, paid in the several counties, cities, and
towns of the commonwealth, deducting there
from all taxes paid on licenses and law process
and allowing one delegate for every seventy
fifth part of the said inhabitants, and one dele
gate for every seventy fifth part of the said
taxes, and distributing the number of senators
in like manner.
3. II shall be the duty of the said sheriifs
and other officers taking said polls, within five
days after the same shall have been closed, to
certify true copies thereof to the governor who
shall thereupon, as esrly as may be, ascertain
the result of the said vote and make procama-
ton thereof 1t shall also be the duty Of the gov
ernor to communicate the same to the first gen.
eral assembly which shall convene after the
taking Of the said vote, And the said general
assembly tbercupon, at the session thereof
which shall be held next nfter the taking of
said vote, shall apportion representation in each
House OF the general assembly according to tho
principle of representation therein, for which a
majority of the qualified voters shall have de-
clared their preference by the vote aforesaid, and
thenceforth it shall be the duty of the general
assembly, in every tenth year thereafter, to re-
apportion and distribute the number of senator's
and delegates throughout the commonwealth,
according to the same principle ofrepresentation,