Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-21

sthe following counties, their population and
representation in the House Of Delegates
{ The counties Of Berkeley with population
aot lo,6o6; of Monroe. Of 1886; OF Jefferson
aof 10, s9s; o: Fauquier, OF lO.457. have each
stwo delegates; and the counties of Chesterfield
1with population Of lo,0ls; OF Acconae, o.
4 8, ,6S7; of Dinxidie, Of i3 CTS; oi Marshall,
2ot 1896; Of Scott, Of 1880; Of Wood
4 u, T9l have each but one delegate ia the
SsHeuse Of Delegates.
q it haa been suggested 10 me that majority
s'f this Convention may have been elected BY
sl minority OF "otes.
i Mr. Dormant shculd not have said g
q Tord IN connection with this debate but for
q illusions which have heea made once or twice
Awith regard to the conduct of the authorities
ah Virginia towards the Northwestern portion
Sof the State
3 1t is with 10 purpose of going into an ar
8 sument upon that point that riss to address
This Convention, but simply to state a faci
3within Fay knowledge, which ought to be
Hknown, for the rindication Of The Executive
Sand Council. Of the Convention itself and Of
Ne7erybody who had tho least degree Of re.
aaspoEsibil;ty with regard /, tho protection oi
s!hat portion Of tie Stet..
4 After the passage of the O:dGanca Of Sc
HcessioD, and b.;oro it was ratified or thr
Spscpie, thcra vas nu Invasion o! that part OF
y be Safe. This !orco Of tho cncmy was moi
sthe7c, Ru1 there vas TO imposed necessity
*opon tho Governor, or upca anybody else, tC
Icall out forces to resist an invasion which did
ssaos occur. undertake to say that i. was at
4'bs instance ot gentlemen from tho North yes.
S:hcmsaf7es, Of the lnqs. approved loyalty anu
discretion. that troops we're not sen. 10 North.
S3sestern Virginia, and that no. only before,
9but after the admission into tho Advisor,
4 aUouncil Of : representative from the NORTH
,STeSt, therA :Tas nc Observing voice llsoru
ssa3against tbs nropriety Of protecting that sec
: ion by sending iroogs. After his admission.
Eco scten wa5 proposed in reference 10 ,ha;
ssissctioa tina: vas TO: adopted. III there w2s
81 mistokc, i. came from themselves; iar The
8 H5entiemen who did advise were OF the fi-sl
B distinction, ard OF as true loyalty to The State
8 Is any to be found in 1t. So that t7ua. hnrc-
ssafter sec shall not have questions of this kind
8 brought into debates upon constitutional
s amendments, thus producing discussions al.o.
q setber prohtless and irrelevant 10 tho matter
u hau,.
y In regard to the legitimate subject OF dabsts
4 ,ow before us. | occapy the position Of my
airicnd frum Northampton (Mr. FhHER,j and
sny friend tron Madison (Mr. BLAEErj. who
avoted against toe proposition On Saturday 20
s'raie The Governor elective hY the Legislature,
81 an now prepsred ,aost cordially III 50 with
Z he minority upon that occasion in voting 10:
{ ,hs amendment proposed TO day.
Gentlemen talk about d:sfrarchisinE the
people by taking from. them the eisc.ion ci
sthese officers. In Tast manner do Hs d!Sn
franchise the people? e. proposing &c !han,
10 say whether iney will dlSfraucaise them.
solves? Gentlemen knew lha: thcsa amend
ipents are to be submitted to me people 10.
ratification Or rejection. We hro merely :.
i 5cecammeodatory botr, aud Cur ac!ion here
sw,l be Of no G7ii: unless i: IL sanctioned Hy
sihe people Sir, Whenever sec an amend
mcnt lha. think moi only right but expsdi-
ssont, shall vote to- it indicated tha other
saGy that should 5s controlled to 2 consider
sabe dagree By that Very line Of policy or
sezpedshcy; AMI Il I thought there YVES any
ythirg in thi5 amendment to interfere with con-
This character. should 60 against
fit But see nothing in it 20 satisfy me taat
ssuch il the case. Ga the contrary, | can see
sthst it has il 1t eTei thing that can recon- i
ftuand il ~ ;ns Upon tha: s:oro. J. for one, am.
: :unw,i!ias thac The Governor Of tho Common.
wealth shall ke -i,c,ed by less thar majority;
aaf the votes cas-. and undertake ta say that
lf there be any gentleman III tnis Ccinnon-t
gaalth Of sn icvnt Wei ght q character, abl:ty
ssud patriotism and BtaiesuanShip 10 Command;
e. maj ,T!ty o. .LC popular vot1, be deserves To
! sbe and ought ~ ,,e the Governor %; Virginia.
s3u. Il there be no such cltiz?T, shat nan should
spe made Governor 7h0 can command tbe:
I7ctes OF n lu?jority of tho representatives o.:
Z The people, and can readily ioreSee cases IL;
which it might be necessary for tho continued
tranquility o( the State that e Governor shJuid
lnot be foiatod upon the people bg plurality
9ol the popular vote.
Mr. PRlcr.-It seems % na that some ofny:
sIr:2nds who voted with Iac cEon the question:
! IS to the rnoAo Of elec,ius the G;yarnur, have;
misunderstood the prac.,cGi pprTatloa Of thei
! amendment E.!ho- they misunderstood i. OF
81 misunderstood it. NV, VIA, is rie pracii
acDl operation o( this section: XVIII De this;
2 a:lat il the amendment ba adopted, mejority:
su gIl the vo.ts cast lie il favor OF any caadl-i
! date, 81 is declarsd elected. He is then the:
Representative in :he EXECUTIVE Chair OF ,he,
popular voice, because ha hes recei1ed tus
9io.lt7 Of the popular votes. II, however, there!
sps q cali a do1:n candidates. snd neither rs
csi-e Lei; ,r;y Of all the votes cas-; aid yet g
4 nc "na har:as the CREATES: number Of votes De;
sdsc'ar.d eiec:oi, would ts fairly decl4re] thei
: Srepl es.n,a.ive nf tbs popular vote, .h!nk ne;
,:naG be minority Governor H, would rel
Z present DrobASly oae-toiTd or even less Of he;
ssot"s of :hs Common H'eal.n.
81: ho;e is the difficulty 70 be removed, 50:
las 10 nake tna Governor, whoeTer he may Del
i.h.fi he is declared duly eisc,+d, 20 represent,
. ,ae nopuIz7 wiii1 You mu=!, - gag og t"o;
s.hings. You nuat t'ilar pro'Le thai
/ ,hc two highest candidates. IN TIE ls':
as:n.!l again % befoHo Sho people r7d !e';
) ne reuU!s Yo:e upon thea, and .gs!f aic"7
a:u who sbs! receive q .najarlty, &c resort;
: (, so.uc other expedleat. And "ha. IS taa:? :?
You will nos eHcounter tie great incolFeaieacr
,: submitting the question aGHin - the popu
s!sr "o:e. That woud be very in?o.l7cnient, ell
Sil admit But. sir, yea submit the q1e7
: ;ioa 20 .reir representatives 10 III: Gnaa:al
Assembly, and you permit rhcrn 10 decId-
which L. the lnran highest on the list sinai! h:r
! thp i werner. Is t!.iS eIy invasion Of po2liar
|righ;s Ii It he any invasion of popular
srights, coattss thai haye Iai'sa to discover
ct. ih.:k il il the u 13t .dccaiSiul riT II
sc,rryiag ous ths popular w:!!, and giving dis
:!na: expression 10 it; Mi 50: toat rcas;n I
ihall yo:s fu: Il.
roted against transferring the election o!
! # Goycrnor ;raln t1o people 70 tbs Legislature
& had nv ccas:,ns for Il; but am prepared
si .hs ,,.opie d. nat make al eiecii5;: them
;yIves, [, ooa:or upsa their Representatives th;
! Iuty Of elrc,ing Governor frnn among ;te
:hree highest candidates on the LIST. If 6s
aIieysd that i: MAS net i Conservative amcnC
amsn:, would not vote ;or it. !~;Iause | tell
,ou here, once lor all, raat believe "ot saliva
9;io,, Us a State, depends upon orr high con-
d.erva.ism and if we do adop: conservative
sOonsti,utiou, | have strong hopes tna! the Ia
Azure prosperity Of the State will bs secured
ar baiieve we can adopt a. conservative Ooas:l
atutiop; and, for my psrt, my votes will always
a. :. ha, ttat SEcIa is %