The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-13
Apportionmcnt OF Representation IN
the General Assembly.


MINORITY REPORT OF SENATOR R. g. GREENE
SENATE CHAMBER, |
sRIcHMoSD, VA, 18th March, 1871.
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 the
Committee being House bill No. 2s4 entitled, "a bill
to distribute and apportion representation In the
General Assembly Of Virginia" is, in my judgment,
in plain violation of the 18th Section OF the 9th
Article of the Constitution of this Commonwealth,
which, among other things, requires that the state
shall be divided into representative districts OF con-
tiguous counties cities and towns being compact n
form. and including, Gas nearly as may be
an equal number of population"
The districts provided for BY tho bill referred
to- are not compact nor have they, near as may
be- an equal number of inhabitants. common
ratio of population IS not preserved
But on the contrary, in some of the Districts as pro-
vided for. the inhabitants thereof are given tnree
times es large representation as the same number
of inhabitants in another district are entitled to-
Nor is this gross inequality unavoidable OF neces-
| sary.
Mainly made with reference to the party politics Of
such Inhabitants. And in proof OF the foregoing
statement attention is invited to the following Illus
spottsylyania county, having population Of IL,
7G3 has two delegates being one for each 1854 IN
hasitants while Norfolk county having popuatsSSna
of $685. has but delegate being enc to 10 500
inhabiants or about third of the ratio OF the
| representation granted in spottsylvana county.
| The Democratic candidate for State Senate Hor.
Charles Harndon received at lie last election 1885
| votes in Spottsyvania county, while his opponent,
| the Republican candidate, received only S59 votes
| Hon. George Teamoh, the Republican candidate ior
State Senator at the same election received In Nor
| folk county, 1851 votes, While the Democratic
candidate received only ass votes.
The county of Bland having population OF 4.ooz
Inhabitants is given delegate, while Charlotte
county having population of IA 5l3. is given only
one delegate. The hon. James M. French, the Demo
cratic candidate for State Senator received in the las
election in Bland county, $40 votes while the Repub
lican candidate received only ~ votes The Hon. =
| W. D. Bland the Republican candidate Tor the State
senate, received in Charlotte county, l664 votes
while the Democratic candidate received ], ID votes
| The county of Greene, having population o.
| 4634, is given one delegate, while tho county o.
Prince Edward having population OF lZooI rs g.el
Democratic candidate for State SENATOR received IL
Greene county at the lest election 5I7 votes, whi
his opponent, the Republican candidate, received
only iiO votes. The Hon. j. w. D. Bland, the Re
publican candidate for State SENATOR at the last cleo
ton received in Prince Edward county l434 votes
while his Democratic opponent received but vi
| votes.
The ceunty of Giles, having population of 1864
is allowed one delegate, while the county OF eooch
land, having population Of 1884, given only on
| delegate At the last election Hon. Edmund Pendle
| ton. Democratic State senator, received in Gne
county 567 voies while his Republican opponent re
ceiyed only 124 votes At the last election Hon.
r. Moseley. Republican State senator received l,SS
votes in Goochland county, while his Democrati
| competitor received only 800 votes
The county Of Warren having population of 5,72l
Ia given one delegate while the city OF Portsmouth
having population Of 1882, is given but one dele
gate The Hon. John Il. Roller, Democratic Stat
senator, received at the last election in Ware
county 40l votes while his Republican competito
received ITO votes. The Hon George Teanch, at III
came election, received in Portsmouth city *l,0O
votes while his Democratic opponent received VIC
votes.
Clarke county, having a population of 6,670,
given one delegate, while the county of Henry, hay
| ing a population Of IL 3zi has but one delegate
The Hon. W. ID. Smith, Democratic senator, receive
In Clarke county the last election 677 votes viii
his Republican competitor received only 400 vote
The Republican candidate for State senator receive
at the last election in the county of Henry si3 vote
while the Hon James Patterson, his Democratic COZ
| petiior, re ,eiyed sos votes.
Middlesex county, having population OF 49st,
| given one delegate, while Dinwiddie, having a pop
| i.,ion Of IlT67, is given but delegate. Ho
VIM K. Perrin, Democratic State senator, receive
| At the last election in Mddlesex county 476 vote