The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-25

w, cere struck with the motion to amend
the Constitution submitted by Mr. STUART
IN Tuesday In the Virginia House OF Dele
gates. He proposed that representation IN
e both houses Of the General Assembly sna''
abe apportionsd on the mixed bas's-'nat's'
~according to the number OF innao''an's
contained and the amount OF all state 'aAes
.n.;a in the several counties, cities, ana
. towns Of the Commonwealth, deduct'ng
.,hercrrem all taxes paid on licenses ana
CLAW processes Prorided, That no county
cor CITY shall bave more than three senators
"and FIVE delegates"
We do not mean to charge Mr.. STUART
with illiberality to classes OF the commu'
nity: because We think that it is probable
that he framed his amendment with view
to its passage, and feared that without re-
striction upon the commercial communities
1t would not pass. We give Mr. STUART
credit for liberal views generally, and also
for the scuteness to discern that Virginia
policy has not been favorable to commerce.
These restrictions would deprive Rich
mond of several representatives, ana we
think unjustly. If taxes are to show IN
terests that need representative protection
there can be no good reason why sll the taxes
paid by one class Of people shall be repre-
scented. aud large amount Of taxes paid by
another shall be excluded. The basis OF re-
presentation should be fair and equal, ana
applied to sill classes alike. Taxes are taxes
They are not to be evaded, and must be
paid. The hundred dollars paid by mer'
chant is justly entitled to as much represen'
tstion as the hundred dollars paid by any
other citizen. Any basis Of representation
is partial and wrong which Is not applied 70
all alike. The basis must be universal or
ought not to prevail at all.
Every county or city is entitled to her fui
weight 10 the Legislature of the State ac
cording to the basis of representation-whaI
ever that may be. Any basis which has &c
be partially applied to the cities is wrong,
and should not exist.
But, as we said, wesuppose any basis which
should be entirely just to the commercial
communities would have doubtful chance
of success, at least In Mr.. STARTS estimation.
He may be right. We hope he errs; but
Judging from past legislation in Virginia he
has good reason for his idea-i. e., if he has
this idea at all.
We hope that no such basis of representa-
ton as that proposed by Mr.. STUART will be
maud no rnGprtnpQtp 4
fair basis should not be interrupted by any
proyisos at all. Every community should
be fairly represented. The burthens and the
benefits OF government should be equal.
There is no good reason why large num-
Der of people living within county or city
should have their rights curtailed, and
smaller number within single boundary
should have all that it is entitled to because
1T is small In population. This rule Of JUS
tice should prevail everywhere, and particu-
B. larry in republic where equality of bur.
thens and of rights is considered the very
cornerstone Of liberty.
We understand the Virginia bias-and for
some reasons we respect 1t; but the State has
lure broken loose from the State prejudice
years ago and entered heartily into the COM
mercial spirit of the age she would have
been far better of. AS it is she has been the
victim of rural rings that have been en-
ployed by adroit tricksters, and her CONNER
cia map is now a monstrosity, an abomina-
BILE gerrymander," which operates for the
benefit of q few to the very great injury OF
the State. A more liberal and comprehen'
siyc policy would have resulted in the most
noble benefits and advantages to Virginia.
WEI repeat, we trust that the basis proposed
by Mr.. STUART may not be put into the Con-
slituton of Virginia. Its existence in that
instrument would seriously prejudice Virgil
Ii. with all enterprising and Rejecting peo-
pie.
We do not suppose that there is any
chance for the passage Of the proposed
amendment but it affords the opportunity
lor.say ing what we think is applicable at any