Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-16
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THURSDAY MORNING, MAY 15. 1881.
CONvENTION-YESTERDAY.


The Convention met at 10 o'clock, bu. the Compromise
Committee being ready report took recess until II
o'clock.
On re-assembling at II o'clock,
Mr.. MARTIN of Henry, chairman of the committee ap.
pointed for the purpose, reported that the committee had
agreed with but dissenting voice. to the following
scheme of compromise upon the Basis question The
having been read by the Secretary was ordered on motion
of Mr. Martini TO be printed Whereupon motion of Mr.
Scoggin the Convention adjourned till to-day 10 o'clock
REPORT.
The Legislature shall be formed Of two distinct branches
which together shall be complete Legislature and shall be
called the General Assembly of Virginia
3D. One of them shall be called the House of Delegates,
and shall consist of hundred and fifty members be
chosen bienna for and by the several countless cities and
OF the Commonwealth, whereof 50 delegates shall be
chosen for and by the counties cities and lying
of the Blue Ridge of mountains and 6s for and BY the
ties cities and lying of the Blue Ridge and said
delegates shall be distributed and apportionted follows
10 wit:
called the Senate and shall consist Of fifty members 10 b.
eec for four years. of whom thirty shall be chosen for
and hy the counties cities and towns lying east Of tho Blue
Ridge of mountains and twenty for and by the counties c
lies and towns lying west thereof ana 9r inc elecon OF
whom the countess cities and towns shall be divided into
y districts be composed OF contiguous territory and
compact in form may be- Each county city and town OF
the respective districts at the ne OF Inc hrs' election OF us
eerae or delegates under this constitution shall vote for
Senator, and the sheriff or oiher oSers holding the
election for each county city ana town. WITHIN hys days at
frhes after The last election in the district shall meet
some convenient place within The respective DISTRICTS and
from the polls so taken in their respective counties ci
ties and towns senator the person who shall
have the greatest number OF votes in the whole dis
,rct Immediately after the Senators shall bs assem-
bIed in consequence of such election, they shall be d
Tded by lot into classes-the of the Senators
of the first class shall be vacated al the expiration
of the second year, and OF the second class the expiration
Of the fourth year such first election and which ro,a-
,on shall be continued bcnnialy that half may be
chosen second for the election of senators
the counties of - shall form one district DC.
A. II shall be the duty Of the General Assembly in the year
1865 eapporion representation in the Senate and House
uf Delegates and in the the General Assembly shall
be able agree 10 the principle of representation
which such re-apporiunment shall be made shalt fail
make such re.apporonment then Governor of the Com
mon~ealh shn by his proclamation, Immediately thereafter
require the qualified voters Of the Commonwealth 10
Bile in their respective counties cities and towns and de-
clare by their votes whether representation in the
Houses of the General Assembly in either of them, shall
be apporioned according the number of the qualified
ters in the Commonwealth, whether the shall be ap
porioned in both Houses of the General Assembly, in
either OF the according 10 the number OF the white nhah
tans contained and the amount OF all taxes raised by the
Legislature paid in the several counties cities and towns OF
the Commonwealth deducting hcelrom all taxes paid
licenses and law and allowing one delegate for every
seventy part of the sad inhabitants and delegate
for fifth part of the said and distributing
the number Of Senators in like manner.
1t shall be the duty nf the said Sheris and other officers
taking said polls within five days after the shall have
been closed certify copies thereof the Governor
who shall hereupon as early as may be- ascertain the result
of the said and make proclamation thereof 1t shall also
be the duty Of the Governor 10 communicate the the
first General Assembly which shall after the taking
OF the said And the said General Assembly ihereupon
the session thereof which shall be held after the
king of said vote, shall apporton representation in each
House of the General Assembly according the principle
of representation therein for which majority Of the quail
fled shall have declared their preference by the
aforesaid and henceiorh shall be the duty oil the General
Assembly, in every tenth year thereafter eapporion and
distribute the number of Senators and Delegates throughout
the Commonwealth according to the principle of
presentation.
The above report received the support of the four West
ern and of three Eastern, members Of tho Committee.
Mr. Finney of Accomnc the other member Of the Commit
being alone opposed it. The proposition has
novel features We, discussed aud its fate is doubtful
We nearly all Of yesterday in the country paying the
last sad Offices friend; did visit the Capitol and
gathered but little of the sentiment OF the Convention in
gard 10 the proposed Compromise We, however heard Of
opposition to IT, from both East and West, and cannot,
therefore, predict its fate before the Convention Todays
proceedings will most probably decide the Should
this fall 1t will be difficult say what will he the
card played We doubt that this knotty ques
on must be settled, In way oher very early