Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-24

4
tive hall When our fathers established the constu
tion OF lG, they recognised and perpcuatcd the sam
principle Their representation was then based upo
the history ofthc country. il grew out oil the pocG
necessities of the times and it was surpassed TINT tn
Legislature OF Virginia elected annually b. her pcop,
WORLD be competent to rc-apportion it from time I
time IN accordance with the ike political nectsstie.
Nor was this principle violated Mt the next re apportio
mcnt III lslC, for whether representation in the Ser
ate was then based upon the white population Of 1910
as Mr. Doddrge maintained. upon an average Of tn
combined ratios Of federal population taxation al,d whit
Numbers, rs Mr. Tazeweil eOntcnd.d in either even,
wnt was looked tn, the result and hot the rule
which that result TO I've obtained This il prove
BY several considerations all equally inconsistent witt
the recognition OF what j. called the white basis pr
clir In the first plac" their calculations were ba<c
upon the population nj period antcredrnt to III
TIME when the app"rtionm"nt was made: in the
place there was provision Tor uay future apporto
Inent and i'll the third place this apPoron:nrnt affect
ed hut one branch Of the Legislature. The Result wa
the only really important question. The rule
mere eXpudicnt OF the munc
SO il was in the Convention nf l$39-3o. II Is trt
that representation then "a 'cu!atrd np"n th
white populations OF 1929, ten years l":rc. Rut it j.
also true that it cuniorred 10 combination Of Certain
other ratios, into which slaves and taxation entered
But these were immatcri:u ronsdcra:.ons the nppor
ticnmcnt was really adopted nt e,lss il coainrlncc
to any such rnla, but hcclse il WIS SUPPOSED to cor
respond with thu varion7 interests and necessities
The people a. that tine. 40 rI!" WAS provided foi
future appnrtnnmcnt- Tha. wa, left TO the dcterIni
nation. Of two-thirds ii the legislature No principle
nj least what gentlemen now call pine pie pro
v!cl at ALL On Tie contrary il was supposed that
the very fact that certain rule worked oft rigt for
that time, proved that it would not - the same for
future time. because The wants and interests Of TIE pro
Pile continually varying, and no G:e rule cnn he 'p
pcabe tn all times md To all circumstances. But
portion Of !c people Of this commonwealth now conc
forward through their delegates and lc.nsnd radical
change in this respect They ask Tor certain rur
aprortiDnmcnt not because the rrs,it; which
leads, is ronornabc 70 what they l"iinvc To be Inc
best interests nj the people but .clu.. IA they assert
III" ru" is inan!c upon "n nn"ry;l5 a*d iIuEn:ahl'
pr!ncipl which i's: 81 mecc.-;tT ht equally good for
all future times and pieces. Itsnus; ~ adopted with
vet regard 10 consegucsccs hrc..us. it is eternal
principle.
Tie rule, demanded by western gentlemen, pro
vides that representation, or r"niT power, shall b.
al,rtonnI among the COUNTIES town" and cities u tho
commonwealth i'll prop1rt"n +" the hi:brr OF qualified
voters IN each 10 understand he fill effect If hi,
proposition you mu.t remember thai j! conceded
ii: hands that the number q" v"ters vii Tcry near il
not uatr correspond; 10 the nlm!rr q ire. white male
adult. Therefore tic number oi tho va:rrs in the
era! cri,ics AMI sections vii general; liz i'll IL"
act ratio ui their respective While po!a;In AMI 1t "i
lows n the distinguished gentleman r.n kHnawha CIR
S,uurEs) almittciin h!' argument, that the suffrage
is. in is effects is substantial: tie the white
ba.. and as such shall trra. il iG ya:s;;mr:t Why
tn, WESTERN section Of The STATE. ch advocated the
basis Of tie Who'll" white population u $50 should nc"
lift, its cro,ir aud propose chs n ba-i- ma he !;
subject iur difference o; opinion il ''r er rs though
the rnincia: was n"ntat 3iti i. i; practical effects
in auslnci,,ing the power Of IL" vest Bat 90 not
mean to ci.mrc tha: tie change is - Interests sake
The probability Is hat at this monet lie mirage i
IS will be more flyaral" - the rss; Than he whit
!,,sis though thu difference Will be =! and ;:ansi:h:y
Bat the prciv; reason ia my np!Hi"a, WIZ this parts
las change! il. position Is 70 escape u" inconsistency
of b sin. representation upon III" wtp" ~hi:c popn!a
tioa the ground that al men LH'r :: n"'lTa fis
to equal political power. and y" refusing y"t"s t.
wo:nci, and children. 1t was supposed ti' Tie .'j!;l
crltv ml b, eylcd ly coafnn; the natural right t.
the G:.aicl voter: Hut Iii. nc"' position ! main
tain csh,r -,,:rcnIcrs the whcl> question OF caves III
inconsistent; ~ it was.
For ti RI Il, u :nr i r!tar: Conventional right. q
natural r;.ht II the former. .;.rn IL" ,iow:
vL;r awar. II MAJ ,!eer: its extent. i! the ri ii
be derived from. caapart the sam" compact iat i':'
ride tina. ,liiinrc:. votes masses al ".'4. snail !4v
different political weight. AI What t!nn becomes Z"
he ALLEGED tight /" Il representation :'p"i'"ird nc
rr,n.. 10 mere number. E'i i the night 10 vote N
natural right, winch gentlemen ." the ether Side la'
,:,o i. M necessary bass II ,It!r rrfErnt. H.; VIA
ill. are women ali Minors @'"aniak: OF IN" p"pn
ion excluded from ii ;"x"rr-r!
BIZ, will not pres. this i;ro.;stslc: 81 Ike snliras'
basis arruucl; further Am vIIi.is 10 meet dIrcc!
the position that the numerical manri'y has Il Eattrl
r;,l. :, govern the miuori,v an Wei! tie whole po
;i,;,tl rowrr nf the community. Such, rnifr-tan'
tnh. - t!urtrnc Of gentlemen iran The wet the d'
ting,.iShcd .cnher from kanawna Nh oMNEl;H.l to!'
- Iba, representation was cny 10 tEpcdI'nt to aro:'
the Inconvenience OF assembling ii the people iii on
.nly II must reflect he SAYS tie will Of The consIt
,ni body and c the exact exponent o. tho numerira
u,iorv 1t i, nhYous ;hnt sTcl principle cannot b
fully carried nut, lcug vonr Legislature IS i'l!"
into two branches am the delegates r"ct"dby district
and rn ly general ticket But waive these ,:'ihcul
ties and suppose that y"nr government conforms gu
tirJy to tile principle lei k whcnc" does the III
rrrra majority derive lis as natural right "a gov
rn ~. minority What better right have Tire" mel
- ,ruy.rn two than the two have I" govern the Three
The gentleman from Maroon, Sir. N%:,"H,l say
that the authority is derived rom i!a TACT t'a' rt.
majority Il minority mus; &oTc7' @nh The mal"f".
n,,. goyrln because i has the superior physical i"rrc
am not :s,uEshcd at his argument; i"r 1t Is hccrs-'fi
~ involved in such principle and II my nuDr u''E
.nt is tie best tro,i 'ipyn which Il can DC sa'''
lut has it come IL this that nient Is fed''r' =
y nrrs,i,n Of mere physical force nn even Si'''h:
thu; such j. the proper basis Tor government IS t
tl.a the ma nrt" alwaTs has Tie superior pa.
;,rre II yuu include the whole population. me E'
o-iy of the vCiers never - u sir"liS Is The fc7'
The community il you regard only lie vs:ess ''e'ii
.".s i nav h.rrrn thai The strongest men are II
H. ,nnriry an,! that the minority is phv'i>aily supc
ri,r .srerali" when Tie ri: orl Is snail II the ilsn
az io no;,rity r.-t- u this Srouah, gentlemen sho'
,,r,,os. some mca.. al testing the thcws and shews
The citizens and calculating their strength a. yen IL
with machinery a: So many ors" power Then ,'''
VIM r,nrc4enl the largest horse power will be ehilc'
, ,rorern the rest of the commui:ty ne "'5u'I''''
rorcds unon tie idea that since til. !lH"riE can con-
nl IN. minority 10 yield it is E"irr !" sHi". ~ "''
INV. would ask does this power 10 compel "'i,sn
ontre on the mere physical iorce Z" 'E' '', I'I :,
Have gentlemen never heard thu. ':m''yi ln'""r -
,b, ,:; know that when the minority l';'- l!' '
pari nf,!c property 81 tn" country. ~ r;.' -,
ppJ,y.icI strer:.i Of he majority! Iaat n'"",' :"
h,y men and arms. atil t!at tie party "'''>e
i; lbs; He'd can raisc and MAINTAIN tue Ia
T., ,nl;,al power is TO ta rc,:ccto question {" 'r'
tbnn this force rests in fat" WITH the ii'''' '''' ~
],,r,T of the COUNT. 49,, =;
Pnt sill more, i. moi knowl"ds" power Is IT,! "
H,v. no. al the wis;,-; nicil. WHO at'r ".''''
,, ov,rumcnt agreed in declaring tha' inc p'''','
I-.er,r a country. Should he placed. NO "'.' :;
1|ntrnr ii its physical force. tht III inc :"' ~
taJ viri;i.l ir jefferson himself wh" l. 50 "'ts
nu,,ta, On the other side. sty' IN one Oh 's
:. For agree with yea that there IS ha'nra' "'
,c,,,v AIMING men. The grounds 81 l'' are a.
to1en,s Formerly bosIg FHir'rs gaze pl1sc ;n.'i
Ito oris,o Bit. since the Invention "a S"'P -,
use Won, a. wei. rs the strong with missile 'leat
hF;isu Tx. beauty good hnror. poI:;"n2S
o'".. - nccnmnli sh.aents has become bat an aix
"'" "' os distinction Tie natural ari-'arac,
-" "a ,ln most precious e;ft OF nature Yer ne
~ ~, .h,. trusts and The government q! s'"e!e
-, " rt even say that that form Of government
siaa Ut ,r,r;le; most aiscr;ually inr pure Sct