Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-28

"a divorce nensa et thoro law LAWN other words
acting upon the philosophy OF scoundey statesman
whose xom IL was that olitcai bunder is than
they advise escape from the consequences OF the
by resort 10 the namy of the other They urge in behalf
of the youthful husband that he carried away by the
fervor Of his imagnaon-hcy plead his inexperience his
tender years his with the Of the world
his Susceptibility TO the fascination OF beauty and his trans
ports view Of anticipated felicity which has never been
realized.
This being the predicamen of affairs with our brethren Of
respect TO their new alliance we do not
feel ourselves competent indeed not called upon,
10 administer any advice Advice is not what they most
need Ii is late for thot No amount OF advice can
get them their present dilemma with whole skin No
Judgment of court OF law or court eccesiasca can re-
store them 10 their Status quo.
II is said nevertheless that no event. however painful or
calamtous happen in life, from which moral cannot
be educed f one obvious than another be drawn
from The event question, s-to berare 81 all alliances
founded state rsasons political necessity Jdmy agsran-
dizemen considerations Of gam or influence uheH
compatibility in temper tastes hd6udss laouya ana aoorf
all, TRUE LOVE- are ndnhHg.
For the Enquirer
A plnn to secure moro sfectual representation OF
tho people OF Virginia.
Arrange tbs counties OF the Commonwealth In groups OF
two three or four according their population and give me
combined minortes of ench of these groups member OF
the House OF Delegates whenever the mnorites equal In
the number Of voters the particular number which may be
adouted by the Convention giving night TO delegate
For example, If hundred should DO inc NUMBER
agreed on as proper basis of delegate the counties OF
King and Queen, King William and Essex would probably
h, eoch entitled 10 one delegate Ii my election tho uni
ted mnorcs of these counties equaed seven hundred they
should be entitled TO delegate.
This example explains the practical operation OF the prln-
cipe IL posed engra on our new Constitution IL
would be new American Constitution but al the same
time though new the legitimate dcveopement and carrying
out very old principle which lies at the oasis III repre-
sentative government principle that other things being
equal population should be represented IN proportion -
numbers There may DO disturbing causes which may jug
,fy some departure from this fixed elementary TRUTH but the
departure should be farther than lie mpeous dean-
ded by the circumstances 49,.
In the present Republican Constitution oil France, this
representation OF combined mnores constitutes pronnen!
feature and believed in its practical operation is per-
fecy satisfactory II is subject OF sone aStonisnent tha
In this age of political progress II has not been Incorporated
in some of our Constitutions in this country. 1t may be
the consequence Of habit OF looking oone To Engana
for precedcnts ard rarely seeking information iTo ne hs.
tory Of the continent Like our English ancestors we also
prefer for the pat 10 follow cautiously Inc example q!
our predecessors than st 10 the fair and fall devcl-
opement of principles precedent with US has
much more influence than Logical argument
Undor existing SYSTEM mnores are excluded rom
all representations and the minortie constitute very arge
portion of the people OF Virginia. times majority oi
the whole population Ths Is GerAlny unjust ana ncon-
seven hundred voters three hundred and hvone are emil
tied 10 delegate speak their sentiments and 10 cast their
weigh, in tho Legislation Of the State the remaining hree
they should not be cypher The sSclden which casts
them few votes in the rear OF their opponents-ioI
accident IL often is-should not dsranchlse them, and
render them the subjects Of despotic power Despo-
tic it is them, it is totally irresponsible Large
masses Of population are without representation;
their wishes unheadher principles without an authorised
advocate-ther legitimate influence un!e in The deIea-
lions OF the State Why it Is even worse than this Those
representing the in the counties use the Influence
and power which place gives hem TO render the principles
OF those who their political opponents odous and TO
reduce them permanent impotence. Thus the minority
not only poweress in each county, but is PROSTATE and
tramped on by the triumphant enemy This state oil tmns
leads 10 and exasperatng conflict Give 10 the NIL
norty power propor,oned TO lis strength; give them
representation in the ratio OF their numbers nnd deprived
of fhpv
conten,edy the will oil the majority Political contests
would ose much of their exacerbalion and defeat the venom
of its sting. Though conquered IN Their counties nsy
would still WELD their proper strength In the councils OF the
Stse-though defeated they would not be PROSTATE me
principle representation would be fairly and fully carried
out.
10 equality on the two parties that divide tho Snte
In some of the the democratic party has been s
fcno under prescription OF twenty and even longer
In others the Wings have had TO endure the same hard mea
sure of constitutional injustice Nor is 1t source OF much
consolation the democrats OF Londoun 10 Know tha
thew have been DISTINGUISHED for many the Wings o
King William have been at tho same mo drinking the same
cup Of bitterness They have been both victims OF an GRO
neous sysle and they have right 10 deiand redress OF
grievances There Ia Justice no TRUTH no consistency
in an arbitrary rule which gives representation 10 :hee nun
dred and fyone voters but denies altogether TO three
hundred and forty nine This is not democracy but ma.
ori,y despos which is and always must be- In the eye OF
the minority, tyrsnncal and oppressive
In nonarches the ruler equally interested in promoting
The happiness and prosperity Of all parts of his dolinons
and ali classes of his subjects He theoretically the father
his people But with u.s. there is an unfortunate portion
OF the people that subcc another portion that rules pro-
scribes umphs and enjoys for the time, the privileges ol
an ooous arslocracy The ruling power has interest
in tho subject portion except 10 crush them for the
elevation OF the former depends on the weakness and
prostraton Of tho latter Fortunately, t.c material in
are,s OF the ore and the other n,crwovcn for the
most part TINT blow BIZ inflicted the rights and
property OF the without participation on tho part OF
The other This constitutes the protection of thu SUBJECT
uarty In addition this consolaory fact those who IRE
down are always anticipating that the period will come
when they will take their turn when the wheel of fortune
will have rolled round and they shall be on the summit ano
their enemies at the bottom But for these considerations
their situation would indeed DO intoerable.
has been suggested that may happen and sometimes
mas h,pnen under our existing laws ha, the majority
the Legislature represents minority Of the voters OF the
commonwealth nearly unanimous vote in few eoun-
ties and well divided in many others, may produce
this result Large maortes In the counties in favor OF one
party and small maloes in the counties OF the oho party
may have the effect This is ccr'ainy an evil which
should be- remedcd and which could not exist the proect
now submitted should BE- adopted
II may possibly urged thu, the n,iaofties indirectly
Ell the delegates of other counties in which the
pocs of the mnoes in this ascendant. Ii is freely
admitted that this Is better than representation at all
Is possible the Delegate from Clarke speak the
ments of the Democratic minority Of Loudoun but he cannot
cast ,har vote They deprived of their proper suffrage
in The State legislation. Besides there often peculiar In
erests OF local character which require representation
md which find opponen, in the delegate Of the majority
And ii the principles and sentiments which have ega
organ from one section should pcrchance meet with
tor from another he still oclouss TO his constituents
confidential relations Under all circumstances, the mino
rites however largo and however numerous. have vote
In the legislature they nothing This - gross in
Justice which cries aloud for redress II constitutional
prescription of large body OF citizens which, upon
amna lion and reflection much surprise that il should
have been permitted 10 remain so long.
representation Of combined mnorities such is pro-
posed would rid much OF this injustice relieve the feel
nss OF thousands Of much evaporation md contribute
10 the harmony Of the people OF the Commonwealth
But yet under this system, thsre would only be
approximation justice; very large approximation
pared with tho old system without exactly reaching
H. The mnores would still have representation less
than that 10 which their numbers would cH- Them l.
hundred should be adopted the basis the delegate
of the combined minorites would represe, really ths
ber which would be true in ii ecsl,ct
OF the maoes They might represent only huntrec
and fy-one. But it is perceived that any mode con!1
be adopted, which, s ea'S practicable that would .iec
approximation 10 the principle Of representa-
ton.
II This system should be adopted cac,ons would be
necessary; for the minortes could lie ascerained un,
the first election had occurred But This would small in
convenience sustain great principle and proper
representation.
There might be Auc,uation in the number of dele
gates There might be larger mnorcs one election thar
another. But this constitutes no valid ground of objection