The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-14
AppOrtionment of Representation In
the General Assembly.

| MINORITY REPORT OF SENATOR R. G, GREENE
SENATE CHAMBER, I
;RrcRMoND, 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. 234 entitled "a bilI
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.
tguous, counties cities and towns being COMPACT r-
form, aud Including "as nearly as may be
an equal number of population"
Tie districts provided Tor by the bill referred
to, are not compact nor have they as near as NAV
be, equal number of inhabitants A common
ratio of population representation is not preserved
But on the contrary in some of the DISTRICTS as pro-
vlded for, the inhabitants thereof are given three
times as large representation the same number
OF inhabitants in another district entitled TO-
Nor is this gross inequality unavoidable or neces-
sary.
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 as,
trations
spottsylvania county, having population of H..
tZe, has two delegates being one for each 1854 in
habitants while Norfolk county, having population
OF $685. has but one delegate, being one to I6 $3.50
Inhabitants, or about one third of the of the
representation granted in Spottsylvania county.
The Democratic candidate for State Senate Hon.
Charles Herndon, received at The last election 1885
votes In sPottsyivania county, while his opponent
tbs Republican candidate, received only $50 votes
Hon. George Teamoh, the Republican candidate for
state Senator at the same election received in Nor
folk county, *2,5H votes, while the Democratic
candidate received only Il .455 votes ~.
The county of Bland, having a population of A. OO2
inhabitants is giyon one delegate while Charlotte
oOs1ty aass ss population Of is given only
cratic candidate for State Senator received in the last
election in Bland county, BAG votes while the Reput
lloan candidate received only rs votes. The Hon. j.
W. u. Bland the Republican candidate Tor the State
Senate, received in Charlotte county, 1904 votes.
while the Democratic candidate received l3 votes
Tho county of Greene, having population of
oo4, Is given one delegate, while the county of
Prince Edward, having population of II o07 is given
only one delegate. The Hon. X. b. Beasey the |
Democratic candidate for State senator received in
Greene county at the last election SIT votes while
his opponent, the Republican candidate, received |
only l4O votes. The Hon. j. W. d. bland the Re |
publican candidate for State SENATOR at the last cleo
uon received in Prince Edward county 1434 votes |
White his Democratic opponent received but 9l5 |
votes
The county Of Giles, having population of 1854 |
Is allowed one delegate, while the county of Gooch.
land having population of 10 3l4 is given only one
delegate. At the last election Hon Edmund Pendle-
ton democratic State senator, received in Giles
county 5oi votes, while his Republican opponent re-
ceIyed only ia votes, At the last election Hon W
L. aoseiey, Republican State senator received 1856
votes IN doocnland county, while his Democratic
The county Of Warren, having apopuIation of & 1921
IS given one delegate, while the city of Portsmouth,
having population OF lO,592 is given but enc dele
gate The Hon, John II. Roller Democratic State
senator, received at the last election in Warren
county 4ol votes, while his Republican competitor
received llO votes. The Hon George Teamoh, at the
same election received In Portsmouth CITY 81 GOO
votes, while his Democratic opponent received 500
Fotes. "
clarke county, having population of $780, is
gwen one delegate, while the county of Henry hay.
ng population of 1894 has but one delegate
The Hon W. d. Smith, Democratic senator, received
clarke county At the last election 677 votes while
lis Republican competitor rec lived only ass yotes |
he Republican candidate for State senator received
I the last election in the county of Henry 943 votes
etitor re ;eiyed sos votes.
hiddlesex county, having population Of e8l is ;
tven one delegate, while Dinwi1die, having POM
,tioa OF ni7o7, is given but delegate. Hon
m. X. Perrin, Democratic State senator received
the last election In Middesex county 4T6 votes
'hiie his Republican competitor received 45l votes