Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-25

Of Greenbrer are satisfied with large county
perer, body is satisfied to reside in it And so with
Vista no doubt desire that counties shall remain
rs On long as the people satisfied 1t ought to be
M % legislative discretion to decide whether or not
!e.. counties shall be formed What reason has bee,
~ vhy the hands of the legislature should be tied
e.; We shall have enough to do II We do that winch
SP!;ma,ely belongs to us. Let US avoid legislation
lss" and make corsttunc1 with much speed
anu go on anu ni'N'
rs ~ RROWN. l am not opposed to the formation Of
.,rn,ies in all cases, nor do understand the pro.
on in the constitution to pronlot tue formation OF
vision ~ But nm in favor of regulating the rules
ne" the Legislature shall make them and under
=! ,h,t 70 be the object of the provision which Is
s'aau 70 he inserted Now. we complain very much
InerolGnc system in the legislature, nut the sys
II cp-rcng is not confined 10 laoney o'ilS alone
,eS u IssSNEY. Will the gentleman from Preston
As ~ - make AN appeal 10 the gentleman from
S.nSr;a 10 withdraw his amendment and let the sug
Of the gentleman from Mecklenhurg be acted on
SssIoA 1ba subject over for the present My object
saws TWO discussions OF TINS question: IN ADDITION
~ tue hor of members who are absent who take II
Tue WA N ,b;s question. regard 1t myself as one
dee? he .o, ;n,norfsnce IT. now this clause shall be
ont after the debate that IS liSey 10 spring up
- yro shall have the same utoate over again on the
hose gentlemen either III the committee or in
r,rent;on II appears t. me that 1t would save a
80 SeoI of time and one entire discussion of the ques
on i the gentleman from Alexandria would withdraw
M amendment and let act upon the suggestion OF the
Gentleman from Meckenburg, and pass BY the question
for The present
Mr.. FlNNEY l will say to the gentleman from
Ludoun that feel deep interest in this question 1t
). known many in this Convention that this question
hes cause at excitement in the county OF Accomac
Iexpect to leave here tomorrow, and propose to be
Olsen. two weeks. and would like the committee to
.c. N this question now. if they can
Mr. ,ANNkT. But the gentleman must perceive that
there can be final action. simply desire to
on. entire discussion of the question
Mr. BROWN. If the gentleman from Alexandria
ioor.
VI SNCWDEN. do not Go on
Mr. BROWN. understand the gentleman to decline
ri,lGrawing it.
Mr. SUMMERS. Would 1t not be in order 10 move tc
The CHAIR. Not whilst the amendment of the gen
,;,naa from Alexandria is pending
Nr BROWN. | was about remarkipg that came
here 10 put stop, as far as could to the logrolins
system in the legislature If my observations are cor
-ec. The losrolling system in the legislature is not
cp;red 10 money bills alone but in many instances it
i carried on with regard to the bills forming new coun
ties in this commonwealth For instance some half dozen
of bills for the formation Of counties would be be-
fore Tie legislature at the time. and you would
Suc all the friends of these various bills uniting for the
purpose of carrying them through, when probably no
one bill could be carried through by ITSELF l am told
there are liquor evenings also but have nothing dc
with that. and mean say nothing about it but dc
couen that It is proper for the Convention TO regulate
the manner iu which new counties shall be formed and
10 preserve certain respectable limits of territory and
population l believe We have had motion made dur
ius the sessions Of this Convention to consolidate
portion Of the counties of this commonwealth. ne
cessv ~. that may exist in the east but there is
necessity Of that kind existing in tho yet and
hope there never may be-
i am in favor Of retaining that provision because !
"a, fha hy 8hafp
sufficiently small to form good and respectable
- az least i'll the west, where the country
cu. and where much Of the land can be dens.v
populated. 1t may be different in the east am
willing give different rules, if stern gentlemen shall
desire it, to regulate eastern counties by their populn
ton There may be in the county Of Accomac Inuc,
smaller territory that would form good counties aud
there am willing to vote for the amendment of the
ssntlenan from Taylor. But am opposed to striking
out this provision and leaving the question Open as
has heretofore been in the legislature / might be
wiling to lessen the area, but not to dispense with
The provision entirely. know that many instances
projects of counties got up in the county not
from any necessity for county but for the purpose
OF creating set of county officers and having
court house Now, it is against that which enter my
protest unwilling to interdict the formation of
new counties entirely but want to regulate them b.
the same rules and regulations
Mr.. EULkERSON. do not think can 90 for this
nroylsion in any forE but in no go for it
u2ess one Of the counties of my district excepted
from ils operaton-l allude to the county Of Lee.
Tat county is about ninety miles long, but at no point
is Twelve miles wide aud is situated that it
10: borow:erri,oy from any other county 1t s stu
aed between Kentucky and Tennessee, and if YOU
cure six hundred square miles TO make county, the
sec7e never can divide that county and they very
a.yc Tor il. / protest against any provision which
Eis.: affect the people OF that county. They cannot
hep themselves; it is owing to the geography OF the
country.
.Hr. FERGUSON. Before the question is taken on
Inc motion strike out the section, move an amend
which will put the section in q condition in which
lean for it. move to strike out the word" six
anG insert " four 1t seems me that in its present
form the provision almost entire restriction upon
the formation of new counties concur in the proprety
OF forming counties in all where it is proper
do So But also think it proper TO have some
srico and not leave the legislature with the power
10 create counties with any number of inhabitants
and any number ofsquare miles. Because we all know
the angry feelings this question always engenders The
misfortune is that they do not always stop with the
creation of the county. The question often arises
Upon the removal possession OF the old court house
which is often more exciting contest than the pre-
cedng So that although will not vote for proris
ion the constitution that will do injustice to any por
lion OF the commonwealth yet will vote for proris
ion which deem wholesome restriction upon the power
OF the legislature. the amendment prevails vii
then vote lo- retaining this provision. but if it does no
prevail will vote for striking oat this provision.
The question being then taken. it was not agreed to
count being had-aycs 81 noes 80.
Mr.. TAYLOR. l now renew my motion to amend
by inserting after the word miles in the second lint
lie following words:
"Unlcss the territory proposed to be formed into
county shall contain population If 5000 and shal
leave the county counties out of which it is propose
10 be formed, with population OF 5000 each"
The question being taken upon the amendment it wa
rejected.
lir. Armstrong. Will it be in order TO move
strike out part OF this section?
The CHAIR, (Mr SHEFFEY in the chair) 1t is M
strictly in order. The chair is Of opinion that tn
chairman of the Committee of the Whole (Mr. Hol
Slx.) decided that when the question had been ono
taken upon motion to strike out the entire clause an
fxd, it is not in order to move to strike out part
NJ PRICE. l interpreted the rule as the PreseI
chairman does but the chairman Of the committee
The whole decided otherwise
Mr HOPKINS. mentioned that there was ri
upon that subject one Of the written rules Of the hous
which declares that motion to strike cut, shall M