Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04
T.IRGLH.E.f
REFORM CONVENTION
NO. 49,.
=, Ronvnr II ,aurR, FuAixhsrto the Con
reu,.on. Sv WILLIAM G. BIsnor Of, ial Repor'srl
MoYDAY, February l7-.c0ntinuee9


MONDAY February l7-.c0atsnuse9
Nr SCOTT I do not propose. as SAID when was
- 49, =, a,bo,k in this ,ii.tsssion now. NOT 40
nronose 10 detain the committee y s = M NJ
Intermediates OF the gct'':mH" -. a. - a
W,srl II this discussion shan pio,sea, ,u"' ~ rsaaa
IN I n from no other source. rom me- tAe reason"
WI learn ron, If representation in the To-
why ~ '',' li,,, If hi. Common wealth. property
g's'a,Ne and he will hear the reasons
,;.r;b,,ion Of the Legislative power regard
ni unt IL, had 70 mere numbers i.So NV w ,ae
so"' ~ :,al every geutiemas own intelligence has
pups H. ,n,,icd him with an answer, TO auswer so
10. an - antlen,a,'s remarks as represents tins sub
.;.. - +Iowiar cn,barIa-smcnts around the question
.a ~ r,ovne hc,n. The proposition A, contains
not only the rl.sipc 81 the mixed basis OF
ton bt il prescrb,,- the nuber of Which the ious -
pleo,cs and the member o which the Senate shaii -
c,upose,! and provides Also tina: the SESSIONS " '
General Assembly shall b. hennia 10 does '"o'.,
precribas IN acua, apportionment OF .ot 80 detail
io,e,t ,ba cornt;es These Nil matters Vi uN1a
soc. IA which individual members OF TINS ooa' hay
,r.a, different; ,pi:on- however thcy may concur
N H.. pyr principle OIL representation l'as So
~, a. sssrsTc that the proper prnicltie OF represent
>,: ,b,. which vii. combine. IN some tornl Wii'e
t;'"' :, . t,yai;.u, Int I>hay hot agrca with lin
.I a,,,! 8 al which the two legislative pooles
~. t., Ia composed, nor agree win nm up" .no
|st;.n If annual biennial 'esscns may -
him uIon the principle Of the bass ana set u''sa
,r,n him r,an the details Of The appor'iou'''t N'u','
-, ,.leu.,n see that if proposition \ Is eseh
'"' ny H. far mln:io We must pass by the p,inc,'
rrtr..., .:ion ali address ourselves 10 ,':e eo'
,,,o. .; these details 1t is to avoid t'i"' o,c,0",Il
:;s.n..,arrass tho question ol theso matters u ".'
,ha, h.y, ,rcso;c! the Substitute my -, 80
i, bring ,hi, body =" vote fs' upon .ae
r,s.ntati0Ii II VIII it '""i''s "''
rIot th.re is no foundation for the criticism OF 'he
,sn;lrn.n fro;n Aceomac, (Mr Wis., must teadi! Nc
o,..;yaa VIXEN members turn their altenlo. 10 INK
Il declares in language not TO De MISTAKEN t-al
in boil, bodies shall beapportioned amongst
L counties ce; aud towns according "a the hunioe'
-; White ;,:aiau:s contained and the amcun' Oh III '"a
- mid in c.c, la!ctus from slich taxes MI E.a,s pau,
- licences an.i law processes. Here IS pi.a'Pc ps
r,ie to tic .:ow---a Tangible one, upon vi e.
SON ca;, rrncee-a r"e upon Which VIII sstt''' ~ af
III. &c a ,ni;sai,y IN this body can settle. whoth
800, = ;;o, in the Legislative department shall &c
l,..j nuoi ~ pu;aca alone or upon co'noh"sion vi
y;re ,apatiou and taxation 1t is true that the suoS
tas NJ, s,,.c i;sv declare to what fractional part
,' nia,;,a,,.. aaa 10 what fractional part OF the
$500. !, nr.,enlety, La. be allowed. But the reason
Iii; .sja must b. apparent because II Is mpossl-
H. IN determine the t:re fractional part unt:l VIC have
all ,b :r.t blank and determined OF What number
w ill constitute the houses. When that shall be
,,, W. viii h. provided with the means OF ascortainng
tL f.-..ti.n The intention is, as | appreiend the
'.,,,ea.n from Aecomac, (Mr. WIsej full well knows,
,r., ". shall determine upon the proper number
- which 10 compose the Two bodies to MI these blanks
~ ,ie fourth section TO distribute representa-
t N equal notifies according to the number of white
ui.;i;.:nts andt,.c amount Of taxation
VI, WISE II the gentleman will allow me, wish
ae. h.s attention TO another point agree with toe
q.st.yn:r that the fractions which shalt divide the
,, ,.oulatup and the fraction which shall divide the
r,o. cannot la etenncd-but it IS this that can be
determined, Whether the fraction TO divide tho popna-
m d, the cvso shall BIO the same IN each Is tlIs 2ne
t ns.' That can be determined vtho.
.'.h r. ,,,a.. az the House In the pfopG''toh
.,y..i;i:l Of taxes to onese'ehtynun =, pop-
,,. .., m, nn:er Of dollars OF taxation osaF less
, m: nullct Of population rssss..s "eS in
,,tia IN equal fraction t.!at you value as... Ehite
,,, n price less than 81. The gentleman docs not
~ j.s IL his proposition what is TO BE- tho proportion,
49,. ..,,u. Thai can b. fixed and until it is fixed b.
,l t,.,,.,,,s proposition, shall be very much Con
s,s AID embarrassed By it, That IS the point which
The a,i; leT.a does not meet
Il; S;%:TF Ii does hot seem to NE 10 be proper to
III ,i. 'i> j. the t:'rth section until the committee
,, ,,.rc i.c! -, number Of delegates and senators
MA, ch;,i il t9.a legislative bodies to be com
,.4; ", ;ieE!ty can arise out OF the present form
NJ ,hs aii,r.. The settlement oil THIS question o.
,i fr,ct,o-!e adjustment of the relation which
b ;ac.oua' ,,t o: the inhabitants and the fractional
,r; - ia. taxation is /, bcar to each othcr-is mat
Ter wir! may be settled and conveniently settled after
III. yc s.iali have been taken upon the substitute rs
i slsn:. does not commit the body IN advance to
"a! ii, open question: 70 tlse his own hgure leaves
st III: ;',4 upen and an opportunity viii DO given To
n. fcni rem Accomsc (Air WISE when nc comes to
an t,i- l!aik to ,! high IS he chooses THIS ought
"a ,rns:. - objection - him.
4, WISE Allow lie Ia say that thon it will BIO too
,. Il. Gentleman first fixed the principle that it
SIR WISE. Tie gentleman will allow ne 10 say that
,ia il viii he 100 late The gentleman first fixes tie
irinc,ls !. he q combined hasi, of taxation and pepu
,u aud il he has the power to fix that, he has the
,.n,9.r f. rr::c tn horse. am bound bidder. want
Ia p,y D. .r. sccc lie 10 the principle what shall be
;as Ion i,ctee dollars and cents on the one side
ami ..,. s,ae on the oher-the Iroput'"n-llat II all
.l.i.p Fix the proportion, and If 1t 10 mere cues
80, small picarui.a matter, and comes down 80 that
tl ,:jar a. compared With the white man. shall h. val
. 81; what it is worth. why, will throw away the
mall iiori Bt il hs proportion when fixed. vii! bring
asi, the result Of proposition A. and the dollar shall
H. considered ~ worth more than one white man, | will
.tl vote Con his proposition nor stea to it ut all!
a. SCOTT I do not expect to get the vote of my
1 srou Acaamac lMr WI.I) for the proposition am
hall therefore moi be guilty OF tho vain attempt Il
o,jl IL according form THAT will be agreeable t.
,o We know that difference of OPINION exist
,.. ibc members who compose this body in rospec
=. ,i ,;sn upon which the principle Of the nizcd b"s
tit IT,, agreed upon, shall he carried OUT some GENT.
49,. entertain HE opinion that the entire number OF tn
vt. nl,,,;;aus all be added to the entire amount
,t,,a.;.n ,tima.ed 10 dollars, and distribution
mad Of tie representation amongst the countess cite
cad towns o the Commonwealth. upon plan Calculate
a.. .l. BASIS That is one n;oda of working out tn
,asel basis Now the objection to tiiat as it seems
~ :, ,a Il IS an uncertain plan. A plan which WI
~ ~ oue result you estimate taxes in dollars, M
a,t!,s result If you estimate taxes in dimes or cent?
According Ia he plan which the substitute couten
iaes aa ambiguity will be guarded against that IN
,rttqin, avoided for the substitute proposes to dc
What fractional part of tho white inhabitants sha
" entitled 10 member and what fractional part Q
,,Aaon shall be entitled to q member result vii
az chieyc IN llst way not liable to tins objection TO
a...r i;4n,. 10. the satnc result will ensne whethe
m esna'r tie taxes in one denomination or In anotl
50 Heiser tho Gentleman from Accomac, (dr. WISE,
mr. any other gentleman as it seems to me, can hay
ny difficulty understanding the proportion. If ther
dAasi,y r>iin. upon the mind of am person, dc
>iFe n"%r say ;bat When the tmc comes for filling th
'"a'S ~ section ith il no one else makes the motion,
vat Aa%e H. 10 adjust these fractions, so that IN th
3'"e' result one ia"icty OF representation in boil
.'"''' >.'.' lie distributed according to white n.labi
,'s y" Zoe thcr ao;cty according to the taxes PAID
'aei ''r' tia, my only purpose in printing tn
'"'u1r va, 10 deiuba.rass the question before til
"'''te~' Of ;hs details into which proposition A hat
eHis' and bring this body to vote by which tn
''IFir % fepresen;aton should be fixed That wa
~ tileit % tl,. nj tn