Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-30

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md in GOOD filth: but the mix basis makes tnen agree
by giving the right to vote, but wtnhoioils e4u"-
sentation to equal numberS ,r:;, bel;oyo ~ ~
Why try and make the voters OF Virgins s .na'
they all equal as voters Tnsn i; tive r;vbt n
them equal REPRESENTATION what Is the snt 10 vote
worth If that vote does not give REPRESENTATIVES. lie
vote ia the cause the representation Tue eee' ~"
air what is the cause worth II you Destroy the elect
1t is worth nothing IL Elusive IT Is shaoo" Without
substance and this your renressnta,on dependent
I'm tho npmbar of votes and the amount OF property
held or taxes paid in the proportion OF one representa-
va f ahnpt $4,000 and one representative for about
inhabtants that ens M tne pre-
$500. af ta.es paid; but however much the popula-
ION NAV increase or the taxes diminish still the proper
.;on Of one half Of the representation IN the legsla
@ ia W be given to and the other half to persons
DIE nd ha-that is the mixture that is now for the
trst time to be forced upon the people of Virginia. Sir
il Is too strong tney norei '0 ~ J A iA'ui
and they never VIII. .oa .o,,,..,o nsu
The other day he denied that the same amount of pol
col nowor was not given to the same number of voters
on the west side of the ridge given to equal
number on the east side if correct in understand
mo him to assume that ground, take the liberty Of
aslipg him this question, whether fifty voters on tht
cast side Of the ridge paying one thousand dollars into
tho of the state have not more political power
IN the Legislature than fifty voters the west side who
oay five hundred dollars according to the mix basis
nropositionl and then | ask this further question
WIN is this distinction made Can it be for the protec
zion of property; is it net for power power to rule
this State BY minority of the voters OF the STATED
Indeed gentlemen have not hestated to Gay,that this
was contest for power and not for principle. HAY
ing the high personal respect for gentlemen that have
| really do not understand that proposition.
! Sir, how you, how can you justly and honoraby
contend for power without prlnciplei cannot tell,
cannot see is of those new things that the mix
oasis is fix upon US and to my ears it sounds very
much like might without right.
The gentleman from Fauquier (Mr Soorr) who first
addressed the committee this question characterized
the suffrage basis novelty, something that never
mad existed in Virginia Well it is true it never has
peeu fully carried out but the principle has been
llzed again aud again, as will presently show, ana
an willing make up that issue with the gentleman
from Fauquier (Mr. Scorr) to whether the suffrage
oasis principle, or the mixed basis as mere "
aoyety in Virginia and to that point ask the atten-
| lion OF the committee.
shall be compelled to 60 somewhat into detail rs to
the principles of the governments that have existed In
This State will take the history from its very com:
nencement, down to the present time.
The first constitution granted to the then colony OF
Virginia was made by the London company and sent
over III the year 1921 the power of appointing the
governor counsel retained by the company in
London but the members Of the house Of burgesses IAN
swering to what we would call the house of dele
atoms or settlements: that is the language of the law
found in Henings statutes at large; We find no mix
basis there
Free suffrage existed in Virginia from the year 1921
1870 with the exception of year, 1885, when there
was some slight alteration made Representation in the
house of Burgesses according countless two representa-
lives from each did not exist until the year 1861 But
this county not the mix basis any
Thing like it. In the year 1870 the right Of suffrage
restricted to house keepers and reeholaers that was
he FIRST matera restriction put upon the right of suf
rage in Virginia. In 1915 Bacon rebellion took place
and the right Of suffrage again extended to all adult
citizens. In the year, however, Bacon and bis
party having been put down, free hold suffrage for
the first time established in Virginia by letters patent
under the hands of his most majesty Charles
IT, and continued from that time until the adoption
f George Mason's Constitution on the 18th of June
1885, that constitution continued the freehold suffrage
Great complaint has been made by against the
patriots of ITO because they continued the free hold
suffrage as giving an improper weight to property. But
we will recoect what the state of things in Vir
ynia at that time we will that great wrong
perpetrated All the people of the State ut that time
were engaged i'll agriculture 1t had been the policy
the mother country not to suffer hob nail to be made
| IN the colony We had manufactures, no shipping
the whole intercourse with other countries being car
ried on by vessels belonging the mother country
agricultural people, and lands might almost
nave been had for the asking And we have every rea
for thinking that majority of the free adult popu
i
reason why freehold suffrage continued in the
stitution of 1916.
We next come to the year 1916, in that year a bill
passed the house of delegates take the of the
roters of the State calling convention to equalis
representation among the people of the State according
numbers, and to extend the right of suffrage And
beg call the attention Of the committee to the
cation Of the house of delegates that passed this las
act OF 1916 Sir, they not all from west of til,
Blue Ridge the house of delegates consisted of oO(
members, 1872 of whom from the counties east o
the ridge, und ai1tyeght from the counties of til.
ridge, and house of delegates of Virginia thus com
posed of overwhelming majority of eastern members
passed bill submitting to the voters of the State the
call of Convention to equaze representation accord
ing to the white population Of the State. Sir the white
basis not unpopular in eastern Virginia in 1915
rs it seems to be now; it was recognized then by
house Of delegates composed of large mnority Of
eastern men and, sir the passage Of that bill IL
1876 the two delegates from Loudoun voted for it. anc
| am right glad that they did, and glad that sh.
has two delegates the floor of this Convention wt
will carry out the same principle; gentlemen will sc,
that the white basis is novelty in Loudoun This bill
went to the and laid upon the table and be
fore it up for consideration in that body anothe
bill introduced into the house of delegates to reap
portion representation in the senate that being the cryn
evil of day The friends of reform probably sceins
that they might not be able to pass the bill calling
convention through the senate it then organze
Consisting it did of tweuty-four members, four
whom represented twoffths of the white population
the state) agreed to take the re apro tioument il
the senate; which re-apportionment took place bus.
upon phite population according to the census then las
taken of 1910. l know sir, that some doubt ha
been expressed the fact whether representation
the senate, under the law of 1916, reapporone,
upon white population Charles F. Mercer who wa. tn
acting chairman of the committee that reported th
BILL stated in the Convention of 1929 that he so under
stood 1t at the time But sir, will not leave the mat
ter to rest upon the memory of any gentleman figure
prove that the reapportionment Of 1916 was upon whit
population. BY the census of 1910 the white popula
ton of the state ISL ooo Of that number 2lo
were west of the ridge; in senate of twenty -four Thu
$4,000 population gives nine senators the west ant
nne was the exact number the west got by the reap
portionment Of 1876
i We now come to the Convention of 1929 That Con
rentlon was based the senatorial stricts each
district sending four MEMBERS making body of ninety
six members; sixty Of whom were from the east onf
thirty-sx from the west Of the ridge, making major
ty from the east of twenty three members On the itl
Of October committee of twenty -four was formed f.
take into consideration and report to the Convention
proper basis OF representation this committee conss,
ed Of fifteen members from the east and nine from tht
west they deliberaed the subject from the 10Th r.
the gath OF October and sir, what was the report ant
recommendation to the Convention of this committe,
consisting of fifteen eastern and nine western members
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