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

7
would give increased volume to the popular within
creased efficiency to the principle OF Official response
blhty-but would not destroy the fabric of our system
OF jurisprudence
Nor am one Of those who revile the memories Of the
INDUSTRIOUS men, 10 whom We indebted for the achieve
ieht ol OR national Independence and laying the deep
foundations OF orr social and political system. do
not hole, in dcr-on the memory of Mason and Madison
aud Marshall When cease to yenerats their
ries shall feel that NAV be- Justly compared to the
degenerate Roman saunterng around the consecratcd
tomb oi Cato-il unconscious of tho virtues O: the IL
isrious dead Sir, desire change but rational change
anu when come forward tho advocate of change
what Is the dcmnri with which am met The people
OF the west CONE forward and prefer claim to uni
versa; suffrage and equnl representation and that claim
Is founded on lie assertion of Inherent unalicuablr
lndcieasble rio ht OF y maj ority to rule
hat Is the scheme b. which they seek to carry out
their obcctt They have brought forward their plan of
representations they have exhibited it in its existing
FORM hen We met i'll October last We We're informed
that majority OF the people OF the Conmons euith had
an absolute and ndeleasbie right to rule that the ba
sis Oh representation have reference to numbers
alone Gentlemen imper!ously declared that numbers
AND numbers alone should furnish tho basis of repre-
=tnatoi. They insisted on tho right OF the majority
to rule, and they insisted exact enumeration Of
the people. They couGnod it TO the white population
Of the State. Refusing to receive any approximation
to numbers they rejected the calculations Of the Audi
tor founded upu ttnaDes. They declared thew would
b. content with approximation to numbers and nd
Uurned the Convention to ascertain what those numbers
really We're: that the numerical majority of the west
might be aScertaincd with precision by actual e,unera
ton and be invested with political power propurtioued
to tie eXtcnt OF that ory We met in January the
enumeration hal been completed and the exact popula
tioa vi the State ascertained. committee was mp
pointed upon the great task Of presenting US
with basis Of representation What ID the result Of
their abOrs Do the west adhere to their original plan
Do they insist upon the basis vi representation which
they urged when We assembled in October Sir, we
learn that there is something else called tho suffrage
basis, which has grown into favor, and which is urged
with all the zeal that distinguished gentlemen in adj
vocacy Of the doctrine Of the numerical majority Now
si. ask is this suffrage basis identical witl the white
basis insist they are essentially different. There Is
no natural Necessary proportion between the number
OF qualified voters ana the free white population Il the
Commonwealth. The proportion must be materially
effected BY law by constitutional or Legislative pIovs
ions. say they essentially different If gentlemen
will give Inc aaI my friends the right TO regulate the
right oG suiirc-tiie power to determine who slal be
the qualified vo;er$-we shall be able the
east in the regulation ui the elective franchise and the
Modification OF the right of suffrage numerical
ority i'll the Legislature OF the State greater than any
We have claimed The right Of suffrage may be SO reg
Ilaed 10 throw the political power of the State into
the east the West the friends Of the may
desire We may adopt suffrage qualification which
will throw The powers Of this government far beyond
the blue Ld5t. e may Establish Gualllcablon Vi
the voter, which will give To the cast power TAR supe
ror to TINT which, IS ciuined uudor the mixed basis If
you should adopt property quahcaton of sran one
dollar; if you should require the Voter TO pay taxes To
the amour; Of even dollar, upon property, it would
exclude suc nuaber in the and in the east,
would throw the powers of the government into the
hrds Of the property holders large majority Of whom
would be found 10 reside in the east and the strength
OF the east would Lc far superior to that which is
claimed under he linked basis which is presented for
the consideration and acceptance OF this body The
propositions not Identical. Ans argument which
be aducc 10 sustain the basis Of qualified voters.
my be urged in rau:atpn Of the Ioctrus Of mere
numbers. Any ar;umcn; which can be adduccd
tain the ri gt III the numerical ma ory, may bs turned
with effect against the adoption Of the suffrage buas
Now there members Of this body who reside in the
cast who were e!ecte'! 10 this Contention u. active
zeots a t "t tncv vote for tho bas. OF qualified voters
I ,Jav cau prove an identity in the MEASURES They
thh Position before their constituents, the I'D
vocatca OF The inherent rig OF the ma. orty to rule.
They sustained themselves before their consti uents
upon the ac,igcd sancity of that principle. They APP
pcarcd before their districts zealots aud devoees
that principle They hold their places here the rep
reseiltatvcs Of people who chose them 2eaots and
ievotecs to that principle. The: come forward noT
aud present scheme ui representation totally dleren:
from that which they elected and by the advo.
cacv OF which before their constituents they secured
their elections Far lie il from 10 intimate that any
than such as sanctioned by the strctest honor and tho
strictest rule Of proprety but let tell you, that
according TO v conception OF these measures they who
We're elected the advocates Of the numerical
ortv who placed their election before their con.ts
uDo the ground Of the right Of the majority to rule
are in danger OF seeming rather to faer from thor
principles and 10 degenerate INTO Western parti-
z:us-f llcv should consent t. sustain proposition moi
Identical with that on which they elected. Adoi
thai priucipic and it TO that they arr bouG
flSIa .DIS ttt..
with their leowc:tizcns of the east
Mr. Chairman confess find much difficulty in
arzing the proposition which is supported BY tie west
as their plan for The apport:onment Of representation,
rs exhibited by their ilcndS who acted the bass
committee That plan is founded The doctrine Of
numbers and IS an actGa! present apportionment OF
representation the ratio Of white population whilst
Processes t. recognize the true rule Of apporton
ment the ratio of qualified voters which ratio it pro-
poses to reduce practice ut the close OF i've ysrs II
he doctrine Of numbers be truclI the Numerical ma
i:v have IN inherent right 10 rueif Tie white popula
ton of the State furnish the true rule for lie apporop
ment of representation it is true no and will be true
at the close oil tie next five years If it be proper
adopt il the rule of apporionmaut nou it will be
proper to continue it at tie close OF Eve years If it be
proper to discard ii en it is wrong to adopt it
If It be wrong adopt the basis Of qualified voters
nor ii will lie equally wrong 10 adopt it At the close OF
tile next live Years Ii it will be proper to introduce
as the rule ofapportoument at the close Of five yeara
it mast be equally proper nor Bat II the plan OF the
west proposes to appot ton the representation on the
doctrine of numbers mo and 4. the close Of five year
to Introduce and give effect to tue basis of qualified voters
hav. shown that the doctrine of the numerical ma
orit5 is essentially different from the basis Of quaiGe!
voters If one be right original principle, the
other mist of necessity DC wrons-! til cannot be right
hit both are embraced in the plan of the west and j,
therefore rbnoxot, to the objections which may he
Justly ur-el agunst either.
The present proposedap superintendent to last through
five wears 1t is founded the ratio of white popua-
toni is what is lr!ary known the white basis
On this basis Tie powers of the government are trans
..rcd to the west aoo with orty Of fourteen IN
their favor. They 20 Ell j.: that power hvs eafS'
and il is obvious at in that term they VIII take an:
step which MAJ be Necessary to perpe:uaie their power
IT, rs the expiration Of the term shall approach they
perceive that the basis oi qualified voters nigh: have
the e;ec; 10 power to the cast the; "out' cal
convention apportoned on the basis OF numbers or re.
sort TO some other available eXpedent TO AVOID Tie re-
suit and continue themselves the powers Of govern
ment and the control Of public affairs The government
will be administered by those having the same Objects,
profcssn, the principles aud animated Dy Inc
same spirit IT. however they should fnuit VIII De more
advantageous to them 10 introduce the suffrage OASIS rs
it is denoninated they will have 1t IN their power to
act accordingly: and secure to themselves such conVs-
niences as they most desire.
We NAV disguise it as we will but ii this plan of the
west shalt rrcyn We shall be delivered over to the