Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15


iiups and sentiments of sectional prejudice, which coul
mot otherwise than display themselves IN some dcgrc
in this body But hunbly submit that it would
deeply to be depored and especially BY those who nee
the benefit of the essential reforms II these cause
were allowed to defeat the object Of our appointment
Elected MS we have beeu to perform the very highe:
duty representatives of the people can perform tn
construction Of the government ITSELF we must alye
al-desre that our counses should be in harmony, M
our efforts successful that we may succeed IN gTn
to the state. the venerable mother Of US all, form
government which will not only be accepted but WI
be 50 founded in justice and reason-established $
clearly on the principles Of republican equality
commend itself to the attachment and reverenc
Of the people, and to put off to remote period the re
cuene of that necessity which has called us together
With view to the attainment of 80 desirable enc
let together in spirit of kindness and conc
alton forgetting so far as it is possible to forget, tina
we come from different sections of the State; ever re
imcmbering that we belong to one great commonwealth
in whose honor and prosperity we have com inter
est and common pride For myself, shall endeaVor
perform my own part in such spirit
The great question before the Convention is undoubt
edlv the basis OF representation Every thing else
subordinate in the degree of its importance Moth
ing will be done, sr-uohng can be done-satisactor
to that section of the state from which come unless tn
fundamental law acknowledges our equality with on
brethren of the East We ask no Advantage but clat
to be counted in the distribution Of political power,
men, not rs beasts rs freenen, not as slaves We asl
for Justice in this particular for that equality which
places all free white citizens upon footing
that gives to every man who has voice in the govern
ment, the weight that is given to any other cit
LIEN There be- in their opinion, equality in
presentation which is not founded equal numbers o.
the free white people of the. State. They are them
selves the Sate-ts support its protection its inte
gence whose loyalty and attachment are the only
guarantees of its existence: whose energy enterprise
and patriotism the only of its prosperity and
glory. They desire that government be founded
on basis OF strength and debility the attach
ment of united and loyal people, and not on compro
misses wich recognizing odous and unjust dscrmina.
tons engrat in the organic law ofperpetual ir
rtaion and discard Before proceed to consider the
questions more Immediately arising in the several re-
ports before desire to notice the remarks Of the
gentleman from Fauquer. (made ut early day of the
isesso reference to the organization and results OF
the Convention of 1929 we'll as the organization OF
this Convention. In the Of that gcntlelnans
marks he informed that he not the enemy Of the
west. In common Justice to him must say that in his
course in the House Of Delegates have often had oc
casion to admire him. not only for his manly and liberal
support OF western improvements but for the distin-
slshed ability with which he always advocated them.
can only regret that upon this the most important OF
all questions the west he has deemed it his duty to
take position against u.s. We told by him, that he
had looked vain for any warrant in the proceedings OF
the Convention Of 1922 TO Justify the complaints of the
west. Sir maintain that in usticegross iu Justice
vas done the west as we'll by refusing the representa-
ton to which she is entitled lin the legislative depart
mcn of the govcrnment) rs by the introduction OF
offensive provisions calculated f not designe to per-
petuae this outrage upon u. 1t IS well known that by
the census of 1880 one wear after its organization the
free white population of the State was six hundred and
ninety four thousand three hundred and three, located
~ follows Tide water, one hundred and sxtS-seren
thousand and one Piedmont two hundred and eight
thousand six hundred and ftysx Valley, one hundred
81 IN bun1r nd
Trans Allegheny, one hundred md eghtythree thou
sand, eight hundred and fifty four-makiny majority
cas-, ri the Blue Ridge Of hty-seven thousand six hun
t ed aud twelve. The Convention consisted OF ninety
iy sixty east of the Blue Ridge, and thirty
tx weSt-inaority in the east, twenty -four. This
sanzation effected, after long and somewhat au-
grv discussion in the Legislature. With this unequal
Representation, the Convention rather the members
from the EASTERN part of of the State, adopted consta
tion. with Legislature composed of ia members in the
House OF Delegates and thirty-two in the Senate. In
the Horlse trty-one west OF the Allegheny, twenty
five in the Valley forty-two in the Piedmont. and
thirty.six in Tide water-maiority east of the Blue
tidse twentv-two In the Senate, thirteen from the
west and nineteen east Of the Blue Ridge-maiority,
ak. This extraordinary apportlonment, whether con.
sdered reference ~ sarbitrary partition OF the State
The utter disregard ofequality in representation wa
the time and has since continued TO be- matter Of
hi rersa complaint in the west But sir this not
all Tor as il with desire perpetuac eastern power
lit provided in the fourth section of the third art
Gle of the constitution that it should be the duty OF
the Legislature to rc-apportion in the year 1871, and
cry years thereafter the representatives Of the
Ties cities towns and boroughs of the commonwealth.
in both of the leg slatve bodies: Provided however
that the number OF delegates from the four grand divi-
sons and the number OF Senators from the two divisions
Respectively should neither be increased diminished
bv such re-apportionmcnt. The fifth section provides
that the number in the House might bencreased to So
and the Senate thrtyiX, and no more; twothlrds OF
each House c,ncurring So sir it will be perceived
that whatever increase in population property in the
west the eat was forever to retain the ascendancy, ut
east 80 long the constitution lasted and yet ara
told there no ground for complaint, because the
constitution adopted by majority of the voters of
he Stae-otherwiae it would not have become the
-ttuton Do not gentlemen remember. that the east
were only in large majority In the Convention but
that they had mt the time 10000 majority Of the
white population and had the power to adopt any con.
.tuton they pleased. Mr. Chairman | ask in oil JUS
tice is there member of this Convention prepared to
Justify these provisions of the Constitution and if not
Is there not in this enough for complaints
But it has been said that this eastern gentle
ncn prefer to consider it, governmental m joritn bad
,cvcr oppressed the west and therefore should not
com plain This declaration is the remarkable, when
in this verv body the west withouta fair repre-
taion upon any principle whatever. 1t Is well known
that on more occasions than one the legsature ap
peaed to- permit the Of the people to determine
whether we should have Convention; and if So how
should he organized 1t certainly in the scs-
Jon of 1916 and 6 well the session Of 1919 and
3d. when the bill passed, under which we are con-
.ele. Was there oppression in this refusal to allow
those who compose the State to determine this question
It was refused and the people distinctly informed that
on question affecting the dearest rights of freemen
,hev could not be trusted We complained OF this
md ask would you not complain under like circumsan-
Ices;
The gentleman from Buckingham OR FuorA) thinks
that it all right and he minated in the of
his remarks that ought to be thankful that were
here with majority of only seventeen against He
uas said too that for all practical purposes f these
men true,) they accomplish what to be
important; that is suppose, the retention of the
power which they now hold let the consequences to
the State be what they may. Let me tell my friend
from Buckingh that lie should be cautious at least
when be thus ntimates his determination hold on to
power, regardless Of the public rights Let tell him.
that it ills becomes those who are the representatives
# IN acknowledged minority of the people thus to ad
dress freemen who know their rights and knowing
dare maintain them" The west have submitted until
many have ceased to regard submission virtue And
now than twenty years since the adoption Of the
present constitution here in Conv, nton in the
organization OF which rights wholly and entire.
lly disregarde l.
BY the census recently taken it appears that the pop
uation of the State, that is, the free whites number