The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-20
Apportionment OF Representation Ia
the General Assembly,

MINORITY REPORT OF SENATOR r. a. GREENE
SENATE CHAMBER
RICHMOND, Va. nth March, 1s7l. /
The undersigned the minority of the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections, beg
leave to submit the following report:
The bill heretofore introduced by majority Of tho
Committee, being House bill No 234 entitled "a bill
70 distribute AM epportion representation in the
Heneial Assembly OF Virginia" il, in my Judgment
in plain violation OF the l3th Section Of the 5th
Article of the Constitution of this Commonwealth.
which, among other things, requires that the state
shall be divided into representative districts of con-
tguous, counties cities and Towns being contract IL
form, aud including, ''as nearly as may be
an equal number OF population"
to, orc not compact nor have they, as near rs NAV
be, an equal number OF Inhabitants. common
ratio population to representation not
But on the contrary in scmeof the DISTRICTS as pro.
yded for, the inhabitants thereof are given three
times as large representation the same number
OF Inhabitants in another district are entitled to-
sary. Tar =
But such appointments are Arbitrary, unjust. and
plainly made with reference to the party politics of
such inhabitants. And in proof OF the foregoing
statement attention is invited to the following illus
trations
spottsyvania county, havnga population of H..
12e, has two delegates, being for each 1854 in.
habitants while Norfolk county having population
of 1889, has but delegate being one to 1889
inhabitants, about onethird of the ratio Of the
representation granted in Spottsylvana county,
The Democratic candidate for State Senate Hon
Charles Herndon, received at he last election 1885
votes in Spottsylvania county, while his opponent,
the Republican candidate received only $50 votes.
Hon. George Teamoh, the Republican candidate for
state senator at the same election received Ia Nor
folk county, #2,5G votes. While The Democratic
candidate received only 1,45S votes.
The county OF Bland, having q population of COZ
Inhabitants, is giyon delegate, while Charlotte
county, having population OF 1883. is given only
one delegate. The Hon James NJ. French, the Demo-
cratic candidate for State Senator received IN the last
election in Bland county, 3i6 votes while the Repub
lican candidate received only 20 votes The Hon. j.
W. D. Bland, the Republican candidate or the State
Eenate, received in Charlotte county, GOA votes
while the Democratic candidate received 10 votes
The county of Greene, having o population of
1854, is given one delegate while the county of
Prince Edward having apopn1ation of Il 067 is given
only one delegate. The Hon. r. s. Beasleys The
Democratic candidate for State SENATOR received In
Greene county at the last election 577 votes, while
his opponent, the Republican candidate, received
only l40 votes. The Hon. j. W. D. Bland, the Ro
publican candidate for State SENATOR at the last cleo
ton received in Prince Edward county 1884 yotes
while his Democratic opponent received but 9l5
votes.
The county of Giles, having population of 5eg4.
Is allowed one delegate, while the county of Gooch.
land, having population Of 10 3li is given only one
delegate. AT the last election Hon. Eduund pendlo.
ton, Democratic State senator, received in Giles
county 567 votes, while his Republican opponent re-
ceiyed only ia votes Az the last election Hon W.
l.5S
votes in doochland county, while his Democratic
receil ed only 500 votes. .ft.i,l
The county OF Warrel, having population of 5721
is given one delegate, while the city of Portsmouth,
having population Of 1852, is given but one dele
gate. The Hon. John II. Roller Democratic state |
senator, received at the last election in Warren |
county 40l votes, while his Republican competitor |
received l70 votes The Hon George Teanoh AZ tho |
same election, received in Portsmouth city VI 600
votes, while his Democratic opponent received 300 |
votes. is -
Clarke county, having population of q $40 ia
given one delegate, while the county of Henry hay.
ing population of II 1874, has hut one Delegate
me non. W. u smith, Democratic senator, received
= Clarke county at the last election ST. votes while
ais Republican competitor received only 455 votes |
The Republican candidate for State senator received
y the last election in the county of Henry 9ls votes
While the Hon. DANES Patterson, his Democratic com.
)etitor, received sos votes. af s1r lI
Middlesex county, having population of 1el In
'iyen one delegate, while Dinwidde, having popu
alton of 11,767, is given but one delegate Hon
M. K. Perrin, Democratic State senator received
& the last election in Middlesex county lTG votes
While his Republican competitor received s5l votes
ion Dayd " Carr, Republican senator, received at Il
no last election 1888 votes in the county of Dnwid
IL, while his Democratic competitos received s26
Northumberland county, having a population of i
$685. is given one delegate, while brunswick county
avng population of 13 427, has only one DELEGATED |
lon Merriwether Lewis, Democratic SENATOR at the
ist election received in Northumberland county |
% votes, while his Republican opponent received 2i
otes Hon. VIM. P. Austin Republican State sena, |
Dr. received at the last election in Brunswick coun
y 1868 votes, while his Democratic 'onnonent "a |
eived 925 votes. 'ftl~GN II |
King George county having n nor,,a,;o,, az zr,o
gwen one delegate while York and James City |
1unties together having q nonulation of II Go5 y |
iyen only one delegate Hon hIarriwethar 1900
emocraic senator received az fhe Jast sIaction ro'
ing George county $40 votes while iii Ranuhiican |
3ponent received SIG votes The Renublicar canSi
ties for State senator's reneivad AZ Inc 60. -
on from the counties of York and Jo M 9 zoe
,tes while their Democratic onnonents roeisi CO..
,tes. $500 ~
Mathews county having a nonnIa+io, Of a oos .. |
ven one delegate while Bnckincham bay,in, |
,pulation of lS 37l has bpt ono delegata H. ,
Perrin Democratic State senator Tessivsd NJ tba
st election in Mathews county SOD votes whiia lis
epublcnp onnonent recaiuad AKA ro.os IL, ps,iA
oss Republican state senator rso;, ~
IN county at the last eleetian iii yatas ,nhiss
liz III, raS'. ,.ss., 'o'os, "hHe
We find then that the twenty Jistr;cts rocuo,
above give the folio I'M rssnJts whom areao w
!: ~ "se-ee"-
The ten Republican districts containino a ,or,,I
IN of 1886 souls are given ten deJeoete. prhiia
ten Democratic districts having n nonri, lime
ly So ga souls are oivo o1ae a., pop . iou y
ieyed that the annals Of nartizon ieSis,a ~,
ere exhibit a case of unusf ana narti1sr Iii;
tion 90 ,,ost,or,s a.. ~; T.. 'i'iAah uiscrini-
as subyersiye of the Constint ion s ~ 10 I anu
the people, IF this unjust discriminatia, ,nas NO
gned culpab!e and Criminal II ia so cera, We u'
,siderate and otherwise monstrous that IL o,r ~
to receive tho sunnort of m bodr, ~ ~ t, Vutsus
elligent men. IVY " l"''io'io VI r.
L ID trna +l4 ..., v
erred ia will nov t iae eA''inhloh OF the Dill
abitants of Democratic counties
'orexampie MONTGOMERY comfy with n non,,,
of 2564, is given bat one telepate. wbIa see =