Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18
THE RAsls or REPRESENTATION

The Journal Of The preceding DAY WINS read AMI ar
proved.
THE BASIS or REPRESENTATION.
The Convection, then resumed iio consideration ii,
Committee Of tie Whole, MI M.LiLG in the Chair II
the report of thu committee Tic basis and a7poron
mcnt Of Representations
The CHAIR stated The question TO be on the propo.i
on of the gentleman from fauaner, Mr. ScoTr.)
Mr. FrLkERSON. | regrc, the necessity that bling,
M L. occupy the position Of speaker before s CON,
mite. today and rcrr; thu, lid not conclude yes
'erlay, rather tia, did not stop and no, occupy the
floor again to-day hai have however few thoughts
this important question thai wish I" deliver I" thu
committee in obedience 10 tie vii: of The people who
sen, me- here. shall occupy rs short time as pcssiG.
in delivering these few brief, digcsted, nnconneced
thoughts Of mine 10 the committee and IT, during III.
heat Of sscns4on,os speak from impulse-I .honld
use terms that NAV sound hnrshly and CRATE the
Of ~ eastern brethren. nope they will make every Il!
lovnnco TO ny cxcali!i,y and attribute il 10 mss.
nj terms rather than intention 10 wound their feel
iags know thai hav" s:ch wS! o. intention.
hcr" inr Tie purIosc OF coie:iiang as !si as ny
hanbl" ability would permit m" I" do 90 mol toiaam-
or 10 excite the preudiros the feelings 81 those who
stand opposed IL IL on this question NAV nave nsed
term Yesterday tha, not proper, term perhaps
that did not express h idea that intended 10 airance
In speaking of ,h power o! the minority to rule
majority interests they clam 1t, said II was riy
i.ally srrpa,ion and now il was claimed as right.
have been thinking about il since" aud perhaps wa,
,yrcnp IN that think az gentlemen themselves have
t undertaken 10 explain how they obtained this power.
that will s:v. them ny reflections upon II and my &c
uctiols from tsse reflections ami "a" II cannot show
thew wh.r. III" power from, and by what right
ll.y now hold il II will be remembered that the frs,
constitution Of Virginia perhaps the ii, OF any OF the
States in this Union adopted IN The year 1870 Tbs
BIZ of rights adopted that year and the constitution
shortly after ~ this time, has been sald before and
n We all know lie ..Ie each county III the common
rea!h was entitled two representatives. 30 III thai
A-s 10 taxation and population combined entered rs
constituent clement, Such then, and such contin
,ed h. tho basis Of representation IN our iesia'uf'
;ut ls2o-. 30 Previous 10 the time phen oGr consti
,u:io VIZ. ado;.d and during the continuance OF tina:
constitution If 776 t:a principle Of population and
taxation combined as basis Of representation never
o,c entered the heads of The constitution makers OF Viz
s,nio 80 far a we know Well now. ". VIII look for
an instant and zoe If il did enter into tho heads # thoc
rb framed ,La, constitution and administered the gov
.,n,oou, under IT, II they believe that this system OF
taxation and population combined. vac tie true bass
an,ira,ic 10 Virgin, vet when they TO apply il
=. other, than themselves, they did work il in
nroct;ce Aud how DO we show this 1t will he re-
collected that in 1889 the Virginia Legislature pa ,ei
an az, authorizing the people Of the district Of ken;uck,
H. call n convention TO determine whether they would
form themselves into independent State not That
the cornerstone laid and upon what basis was 1t
paced' Surprising for IN instant that our own eonsti
tuition was based ut tina: time upon the mixed basis
which is not the fact but suppose that those who
framed that constitution entertained the opinion that
the basis, wish TO show BY this thst they did
Continued 10 toaN pdgs