Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-04-28
THE VIRGINIAN,
A. w. C.. TERRY, EDITOR.
LYNCHBURG, APRIL rs. 1881.
The Convention.

Wearied with the protrac,ed and, we
cannot but think, useless debate in the
Convention. on the question Of the basis
of representation, the public has doubtless
lost sight Of the various propositions now
before that body, for the settlement of this
vexed question. 1t may be well to refresh
the readers memory on this subject by re-
minding him there are now, since the intro
duction ofMr. Bolts plan, no less than far
different propositions before the Conven-
ton for fixing the rule of representation !;
and, these are conveniently stated by the
Richmond Times as follows:
LIST. Proposition A, or the report of the
Eastern moiety of the basis committee,
which makes an actual apportionment, al
lowing to the East majority offourteen,in
House ofDelegatcs of $50 members, and
provides that,
| .The General Assembly after the year 1862, and
at intervals thereafter Of not less than ten wears
shall reofpurtion the representation Of tho countless
| cities and towns of this Commonwealth, in both
legislative bodies, according to the number Of hiie
inhabitants contained and the amount Of all taxes
raised by the Legislature paid in each, deducting
theretrom all taxes paid on licenses and law pro-
| cess. In making such reapportionment there shall
be allowed delegate for every seventy-fth part
OF SAID mhabtant,an one delegate for e cry seven
ty-h part of said taxes mud the senators shall be
distributed in like manner"
I'd. Proposition b, or the report of the
| Western moiety Of the basis committee,
winch makes an apportionment upon the
basis OF white population) allowing to the
West majority of ~ delegates in House
OF 1876; and provides that, in 1855, and
every ten years thereafter, an enumeration
OF all the qualified rotcrs shall be made and
representation in the Senate and House
apportioned accordingly by the Legisla-
ture, at It's sessions next after the enumera-
tons.
Sd. The substitute of Mr.. Scott, of Eau
qmer, which makes no apportionment, but
SIMPLY establishes general rule, providing
that,
Representation in both legislative bodies shall
De apportioned among the counties, cities and towns
according to the number of white inhabitants con-
| famed and the amount of al taxes paid in each:
deducting from such taxes all taxes paid on license
| and law processes In making such apportionment
there shall be allowed one delegate for every
part of said inhabitants, and delegate for every
| -part of the said taxes, and in like manner
there shall be allowed one Senator for cvery-
part Of the same.
The substitute contained also this pro-
vlso, which Mr. Scott has declared his in
tention to withdraw:
Provided, That the representation Of no city or
town, shall at any time excccd-Delcgaics and
-Senators, but the surplus fractions thereof,
whether OF population taxation. or Of both com
bned. shall be estimated in assigning representation
to the sections of the State in which they arc res
pectively situated"
A. MIR. Bolts plan, introduced on Mon
day, which divides the number of Sena-
tors and Delegates equally between the
East and West as follows
Compromise Proposed By lr. Bolls, upon The Basis
| IF Representation,
| /. The Legislature shall be formed of two dis
tinct branches which together shall be called the
| GcDera Assembly of Virginia.
| .. One of these shall be called the Hose of Dele
gates, and shall consist of one hundred and tfty
members; seventy-fiye of which shall be chosen for
and by the several countless cities and towns living
East of the Blue Rridgeof mountains, and the other
seveniy-iivc from those counties, cities and towns
| lying West of the Blue Ridge
g. The other shall be called the Senate and shall
consist OF - members. one half of which number
shall be chosen for and by those counties cities and
towns lying East of the Blue Ridge and the other
halt Tor and by those counties, cities and towns w.
ing West of the Blue Ridge; for which purpose each
division of the State lying East and West of the Blue
Ridge shall be laid of into - districts and each
district shall be entitled to one Representatives
| a. There shall be uniform system Of ad valorcm
taxation upon every description and species of pro-
perty in the commonwealth real, personal and
Mixed except such mly be specially exempted
by vote Of two-thircs of each branch of the Lecis
| laturc.
| s. Il shall not be lawful for the Legislature to
create public debt, without Mt the same time or
during the same session providing for the payment
OF the same, by increasing therate Of per centage of
taxation in such manner and to such extent as NAV
be sufficient to meet the payment of the debt when
1t becomes due. No bill appropriating sum of
| money exceeding - dollars shall become a law
| except by vote of majority of the whole number
elected of both branches of the Legislature
Mr.. Bolts spoke, at length, on Monday
and Tuesday, in advocacy ofhis plan, and
Mr.. Lyons in opposition to it, on Tuesday
night.
But we are little in advance of the pro-
ceedings of Monday, which we wish to lay
before the reader, in orderthat it may be seen
who are really responsible for all this in
terminable twaddle. Before Mr.. Bolts
proceeded with his remarks on Monday,
the following proceedings were had as re-
ported in the Times
| Mr.. Smith, ofJackson, presented resolutions from
the county ofW rt; and Mr. Nee omas from the cou1-
ties Of Cabell and Wayne; all relative the basis
ofrepi esentation.
| CLOSING THE DEBATE.
| Mr.. Chambers submitted the following resolution
| Rcsoi,td, That all debate in Committee of the
Whole on the basis of Misrepresentation, the pending
question, shall close and the vote be taken Sat
| urday next a one o'clock.
| Mr.. c. said he did not know from whom this pro-
position could come with more propricty than from
| himself since he of the few Eastern mem
bcrs who voted for the adjournment of the Conven-
| tion when Western gentlemen demanded time to OBJ
tain the returns of the census and assessment. lie
represented district having nearly ice many
| slaves the whole Trans-Allegany division, and
more than the whole number Of slaves in the Valley
Division. He had wished to take part in the debate
| but had not done The resolution would there
fore bear heavily upon him upon any other gen.
tleman. lie hoped the resolution would be adopted
and firmly adhered without reference to the CON
| venicnces of individual members.
Mr.. Miller urged Mr.. C. to Withdraw the rcsolu-
for the present. a distinguished gentleman (Mr
Botts) was expected to address the Committee to-
| day, and the motion mig ht exrite debate.
l. Mr.. Chambers declined to withdraw his rcsolu-
| tion.
| Mr. Miller then moved to lay the resolution on
| the table, but Withdrew the motion, upon Mr.. Cai-
borne's urging that it not in ORDER before the
resolution reported from the chair. He iatin1a
ted his own disposition sustnin resolution to
| close the debate.
| Mr.. Anderson said if Eastern gentlemen would
| withhold the resolution for two or three DAYS he
would vote for it. He was not willing to see the
debate protracted longer than Saturday.
MIR. Pendleton renewed the motion to lay on the