The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-23
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.

,,,ortance of this subject demands
:, tho pub,ic attention. 1t involves the
anestion Of Justice to the constituent body,
and in a great degree the prosperity ana
welfare of the State. IL this state a't''u>
greatness in her population ana soilo 'nih'
Il must be through those citizens VINO were
creoilv wronged. whose weight in the Legs
ts,atiye body was dishonesty and unscrupu-
lousy diminished by 4 set OF men VINO were
utterly unfit to make any sort OF laws
much less the organic law of State--a sci
of men equally distinguished for ignorance
and rascality, for depravity and barbarlsm'
This wrong was done through the appoi-
tionment of representation now III EXIST
ence, whose substitution by another Is ae-
manded bv every consideration that touches
our sense Of justice, our patriotism. anu
our pride.
Was there anything that more aroused
the public indignation and horror of the
rule OF villainy and ignorance than that ap-
rorliopment? And can it be possible
that any man, not partisan OF UNDER
WOOD, would obstruct or even delay the
complete revolution Of that apportlon-
ment? In what respect would his policy
he more liberal and just to the people OF
Virginia than USDERwoop's: Nay, should
he not be considered as less pardonablc Tor
the wrong he would do the State than IN
pERwooD!
II the UNDERwoop apportionmcnt was
what the public Judgment Of Virginia pro-
nounced it to be, what will that pubic
Judgment say Of any man not oil UNDER
WOODS party who directly or indirectly OBJ
structed the repeal Of that apporlionmcnt
Assuredlv it would he great mistake, and
the man who makes it will live torepcnt 1t.
There can he no just appol tionmcnt
which does not remodel the districts, and
when the districts are remodeled it is I'M
possible to keep those whose terms alc not
out in their seats. And if opposition is
made to this remodeling Of the districts,
the people will assurcdly look ut The men
who make it, and inquire into their mo-
tiyes.
The whole State demands reapportlon.
ment. and this day, if the people could
speak their sentiments through Their votes,
they would unanimously demand that the
numbers of the two houses Of the General
Assembly shall be reasonably diminished
Forty thousand dolllrs annually saved to
the State just now would be Gcd-send to
the poor taxpayers now ground down by
Federal, State, and county taxes. We c!ll
hardly zee how representative who Voted
against saving that sum could afterwards
look his wearied and oppressed constituents
in the face.
We consider both this saving and the ap'
portionment matters Of such great concern
to the people Of the State that We think
they should manifest their opinions upon
; them through the usual channels. il fail
ure now to right great wrong ana to econ
omizc the public treasure, wrung from the
hard earnings Of the people, wTung along
with their blood as it were, will continue
outrage and extravaganza for years. For
years, during which the people will groan
and sweat under their burthens burthens
made all the heavier by the transition state
from one social system to another, which l.
studded with Disadvantages and fcXationS.
There may be no occasion for or ann
iety. But there are signs that are not at all
asreeable-so decided, indeed, that public
attention should be riretted upon the mat
ter.