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Convention Frocwdiugt,
Concluded front fourth poge.
2. The State shall be laid off into 45 Senatorial districts,
composed of counties contiguously situated, and in as com
pact a form as practicable, and each Senate- 1 ’
beentilled toone Se-- mM M taore .
-e. i'tie House of Representatives shall be composed of
123 members, based upon the census or enumeration of 1831,
as follows: All counties which noware laid out in this State
shall hare one member m the House of Representatives,
and every county having a population of GOOO and upwards
including all free white persons, and three-fifths of the peo
ple of color, shall have two members, and every county hav
ing a population of 12,000 and upwards, including all free
white persons and three-fifths of the people of colour, shall
have three members and no more.
4. The House of Representatives shall not, at any time,
after tailing the next census or enumeration, be composed ol
more than 111 members, based as follows: All counties
which now are, or may he hereafter included in this, shall
have one member ; and evi ry county having a population of
8,000. inclmling*all free white persons and three-filths of the
people of colour, shall have two members : every couuty
having a population of 12,000, including all free white per
sons and three filths of the people of color, shall have three
members, and no more.
5. And at the first session of the General Assembly, after
taking of each census or enumeration, according to the Con
stitution now of force in this Btate, the Senate shall assem
ble iu the Representative chamber, and both branches of the
General Assembly shall as 0110" body proceed to an appor
tionment of the House of Representatives, so that all coun
ties which now are or hereafter may be included in this
*State, shall have one member each, and so that no couuty
shall have more than three members, according to the above
ratio, and so that the House of Representatives shall at no
time thereafter be composed of more than 144 members.
C. And in the event of any new comity being laid out and
defined, before the taking of the next census or enumeration
it shall have one member, and no more, and shall be allac’ted
to the next contiguous senatorial district.
7. And iu the event of a ratification of this amendment of
the Constitution of Georgia, in relation to “areduction and
equalization of the General Assembly by the good people
thereof, that his excellency do issue his proclamation an
nouncing the fact of such ratification,” as contemplated by
the act of the General Assembly, passed on the 21th De
cember, 1832.
The substitute of Mr. Brown, being the last proposed,
was the first in order, the President so announced it; when
Mr. Harris of Walton, rose and proposed the following
resolution, by way of substitute.
llaolved, That in the contemplated amendments of the
Constitution the House of Representatives shall for the pre
sent be composed of members, and never hereatter
shall exceed members, and shatl be based on the free
white population of this State, permitting each county to
have one member.
The Senate shall consist of members, and the Slate
shall he divided into Senatorial districts of not more than
contiguous counties.
Mr. Blackshear of Lauretta, offered the following as a
substitute :
MR. BLACKSHEAR’S SUBSTITUTE.
The Senate shall consist of 30 members and no more;
and for the purpose of apportioning the Senators among the
different counties of the. Slate, both branches of the ensuing.
Legislature shall convene in the Representative chamber on
the second Monday in November next, and proceed, as one
body, to divide the State into Senatorial districts, each dis
trict to be composed of three counties to be contiguous to
rach other, and the respective districts lobe in as compacts
form as practicable : Provided houtver. That the counties of
Murray and Floyd, shall, for the present compose one dis
trict ; but should another county he hereafter formed (roin
either of those counting or parts thereof, it shall be added to
and form a part of the same district.
The House of Representatives shall consist of not exceed
ing 140 members, and shall he apportioned in the following
manner: The five counties having the highest representative
population, to he computed according to the rule embraced
in the constitution as now existing, shall have three members
each : The thirty-five counties having the next highest repre
sentative population to be computed hy the same rule, shall
have two members each : and the remaining counties shall
have one member each. This apportionment shall he made
among the respective counties, hy the two branches of the
Legislature in General Convention assembled, as provided
for in the preceding section—and the apportionment so made
shall continue until the session of the I.egisiature succeeding
the taking of the nexteensus as required bv the Constitution,
when the legislature shall hy law, again apportion the repre
sentatives among the respective counties agreeably to the ra
tio herein prescribed, and at each session of the I.egisiature
immediately succeeding the taking of the census as required
by the constitution a similar apportionment shall he made
and in conformity with the same rule.
On the formation of anew county, it shall be added to one
of the senatorial districts most contiguous ; and shall bart
ons representative until the next ensuing apportionment of
of the representatives shall be made as required hy the pre
ceding section.
MR. PORTER’S SUBSTITUTE.
Mr. Porter of Baker, ofl'ereil the following resolution
as a substitute:
Resolved, That the Senate shall consist of forty-five
members anti no more, allowing to each two counties
one senator, to he divided by this convention, and that
each county shall be entitled to one member, without
regard to federal numbers or white population : that the
Houseof Representatives shall consist of J2O members,
and that after allowing to each county in the State one
member, the remaining thirty-one members shall be di
vided amongst the counties hating tho highest popula
tion, agreeably to the federal numbers.
Mr. Mays of DeKalb, offered the following as a sub
stitute for the whole.
Mr. MAY’S SUBSTITUTE.
1. The Senate shall be elected annually on the first Mon
day in October, until such day of election be altered by law,
and shall be composed of one member from each Senatorial
district to be chosen hy the electors thereof, which said Sen
atorial dirtricts shall be formed by adding two contiguous
counties together throughout the State, without regard to
population as is hereafter specified and defined, the county
of Murray excepted, which shall constitute■ together with
such county or counties as tnay he hereafter formed nut of the
territory now composing said county of Murray one senatori
al district, the whole number of districts shall be 45 and no
more; and iu the event of the formation of any new county
or counties, the Legislature at the time of such formation
shall attach the same to some contiguous senatorial district.
2. The House of Representatives shall he composed of
members from all the counties which now are or hereafter
muv be included within the State, according to their respec
tive number of free white persons.
3. Each county containing 4000 white persons shall he
entitled to 2 members and 2000 to three and no more, but
each county shall have at least one and not more than three
members.
The whole number of members in the House of Represen
tatives shall never exceed 144, and if at aay time by an in
crease of the number of free white persons within the Stale
tho whole number of members of the House of Representa
tives, according to the. ratio herem-before specified would ex
ceed 144, the Legislature may increase the ratio by law so
as to prevent any excess of members beyond the said number
of 144.
5. The census shall betaken as heretofore, once in seven
years, and the Legislature shall at its first session after the
taking of each census, apportion the members among the
several counties of this Statu as is herein before provided, ac
cording to the number of free white persons in each county.
Mr. Springer of Carroll, offered an amendment to the
substitute proposed by Mr. May’s, rescinding ull pro
perty qualifications in cither house.
The President then stated that there were originally
nine (one, Mr. Iverson’s withdrawn) now eight substi
tutes before the house, for the report of the committee
of the whole. Mr. Mays being first in order, it was
moved to take it up, which was agreed to.
Mb Harris enquired if the substitute were adopted,
would that substitute he amendable 1 The President an
swered in the affirmative.
Previous to taking tho question, Mr. Hudson of Pul
warn, moved that the substitute of Mr. Mays lie on the
table for the balance of the session ; afterwards with
drawn. _
Mr. Wofford was desirous to know the effect of laying
it on the table for the balance of the session ; w ou |j it
Dot be preventing what we had coin*’ her* lor 1 He **•
answered it wculJ, so far ae that propeaition ini Holed, 1
but not of other substitutes. f
Mr. Rvan, of Warren, opposed the views of the ~
itemsn from Habersham, and hr***";* ,f c "
... . • mat something
would be ac"'“ — .. . r . . ,
in, which, if not entirely acccpta
ole to lbe whole people, that it would so nearly ap
proach to it, that the people would yield and acquiesce
in what might be determined on here. Mr. Ryan, ar
gued for a better spirit than seemed to prevail—he be
sought the members to divest themselves of party and
local considerations. Let vour acts be as for to-rnorrow,
and not to-day. Lay aside your combinations and meet
in a spirit of honorable compromise. He said be had
his favorite scheme, but being no more entitled to ge
neral favor than the favorite one of every nu tuber, lie
would not offer it—but select the best that might be
offered. He was still proceeding, when the chair arrest
ed him, anil said, too much latitude bad been given to
debate. At this stage -Mr. Blackshear withdrew his
motion for taking up his proposition by paragraphs, and
that it be taken up en masse. Mr. Ryan then resumed,
and Continued bis remarks.
The substitute of Mr. Mays being read, Mr. Oliver
of Elbert gave his views. He thought the convention
was wielding power, and forgetting right. He advoca
ted an obedience to our letters of instruction from the
people, and an observance of the law and our oath. He
said we came only authorised to reduce and equalize,
and that any departure from the instructions would be
arrogant, and assumptuous power. Wc are limited by
the law and by the constitution, and if abiding by them,
we cannot alter the basis of federal numbers, that any
abiidgmentof that ratio, would be a daring infringment
of the constitution. He was prepared to go fora terri
torial basis for a Senate, if properly reduced—and for
a basis of federal numbers for the 11. of Representa
tives. This he would do and no more.
Mr. Harris argued at length against the views of Mr.
Oliver, be contended that under the law, and by instruc
tions we were authorised to alter the 7th section of the
15th article of the constitution.
He was followed, at length by Mr.Singleton of
Jackson, who advocated the federal numbers basis, in a
sensible speech. We should be glad to lay it before
our readers, if the gentleman will favor us with it.
Mr. Stewart next addressed the convention, and advo
cated the substitute of Mr. Mays, “because he believed
it would be a popular measure,” &c.
Mr. Jackson of Chatham, rose, and said, be had not
addressed the committee, fearful that any thing from
him might not have force. He felt that if the proposi
tion of the gentleman from DeKalb, were to succeed,
that it would be a direct diversion of the dearest inter
ests of the State. Ilia arguments were strong, ex
pressed with candor, and enforced with eloquence,
which distinguished his speech with excellence. lie
advocated the substitute proposed by Mr. Blackshear.
Mr. Keuan of Coweta, addressed the House, and in
reply to the gentleman, said, that whilst he besought
others to abandon their prejudices, lie Mr. K. desired
him, and those acting with him to abandon their fears,
lie advocated the white basis, and said lie admired the
sentiment contained in our Declaration of Independence
by the great apostle of Liberty and Republicanism,
which said “all men are created equal.” lie said, that
if it were left to his vote, he would send the black popu
lation beyond the limits of the United States. Wc do
not pretend to follow gentlemen in their arguments.
He only here give a sketch—a brief sketch—and if in
doing so, vve properly represent gentlemen, we shall
have answered all we desire* We would not, and hope
wc have not given any improper direction to the views
of any gentleman.
Mr. Wood of Mcl utosli, rose to repel any charges
which might have been imputed to him, by the remarks
ol the gentleman from Chatham, be wiped hissktrtsof
any combination, &c.
Mr. Wofford of Habersham, rose and said, he did not
believe the gentleman from Chatham wished to impugn
the motives, &c. of those who acted differently from
him. Mr. W. directed bis remarks as a reply to an ob
servation of the gentleman from Jones, Mr. Jourdan.
Mr. Hudson withdrew his motion—and Mr. Mays’
substitute being then before the House.
Mr. Hull of Clarke, moved to strike out “ two” and
insert “ three contiguous.”
Before the question was put on striking out, Mr. Fos
ter addressed the House, and besought it to mutual for
bearance, concession and indulgence, vVe.
Ihe question was then put on striking out, and the
yeas were 115, nays 129.
Those who voted in the affirmative are Messrs. Acre,
Allen, Bacon, Bailey, Blackshear of Laurens, Black
shear of Thomas, Bond of Ilenrv, Bond of Lee, Bran
ham, Byne, Carter, Chambers, Clark ofc Camden, Con
nelly, Cooper of I’iitnailU Cox of Oglethorpe, Craw
ford ot Columbia, Crawford of Hancock, Crawford of
Newton, Crawford of Oglethorpe, Crane, Crocker, Cur
ry 1 Daniel of Chatham, Dawson, Dennis, Ellis, Espy,
Evans, Ezzard, Fannin, Flemming of Liberty, Fort of
Baldwin, Foster, Freeman, Geradinc,tiilincr, B. Green,
Thomas Green, Gould,Hall of Mer. Hamilton of Troup,
Jas. Ilemphiil, P. W. Hemphill, Hill of Jasper, Hill of
Warren, Holt, tJlolscy, Hull, Hudson, Irwin of Cass,
Iverson, Jackson, Janes, Johnson of ’Taliaferro, Jour
dan of Jasper, Jourdan of Jones, Jones of Lincoln,
Jones of Morgan, Jones of Scriven, Kendall, King of
Glynn, King of Richmond, Lamar, Lewis, Ligon, Liv
ingston, Lockhart, Lucki'P, Martin of Franklin, Mathis,
M’Craven, M‘Calf, M’Rae, M-”:idc, .M’hityrc, M‘Far
larid, Moore, Murphey, Nesbit, Neal, Ultvor, Paine,
Parker, Perry, Pemberton, Porter of Greene, Powers.
Ramsey, Ryan, Sains, Sayre, Scarborough, Simms 01
Decatur, Singleton, Story, Stokes, Tait of Elbert, Ter
rell, Thompson of Elbert, Thompson of Taliaferro, Tig
ner. Trammel, Underwood, Wahlhour of Effingham,
Waldhour of Liberty, Wafer, Watson of Muscogee,
Welborn of Harris, Welch, Wbighatn, White, Wittick,
Wootan of Monroe, Young.
I hose who voted in the negative, arc messrs. Adams,
Adair of Carroll, Adair of Madison, Anderson, An
drews, Bartlett, Barnes, Barksdale, Beall, Blair, Bowen
ol Carroll, Botvan of Jackson, Brewster, Bracctvcll,
Brcwton, Brown, Buich, Chastain of Habersham, Chat
tain of Union, Clark of Ilall. Clark of Henry, (Joffec,
Cone of Bibb, Cone of Bulloch,Cooper of G. Cox of Upson,
Crowell, Daniel of Emanuel, Denmark, Dennard, Dis
inukes, Dobbs, Dunham, Farmer, Farris, Flemming of
Talbot, Fort ol Twiggs, Fulwood, Garrett, Garrison,
Gresham, Griffin, Gray, Groves, Hall of Wilkinson,
Hamilton of Randolph, Hand, Ilariis of Walton, Har
ris of U avnc, Ilav, Henderson, Hendrick, Hilliard, Hol
liday, Holcombe, Houghton, Irwin of Campbe l !, John
son of Henry, Jourdan of Baldwin, Jones of Harris,
Jones of Wilkinson, Kelley, Kenan, Key, Kendrick,
King of Fayette, Knight, Lawson of Houston, Lindsey,
Little. Lowtlier, Lumpkin, Mays, M'lntosh, M‘Coy,
Mouglion, Morgan, Moseley. Montford, Nolan, Oquin,
Park of Baldwin, Park of Gwinnett, Park of Walton,
Pittman, Porter of Baker, Powell, Pope,Quiliian, Rein
son, Riley, Roberts, Robertson, Rogers, Schley, Sellers,
Sessions, Simms of Hall, Sioane, Smith of Lowndes]
Smith of Stewart, Smith of Tattnall, Speak, Springer
Stewart, Stricklank, Studefent, Sturges, Swain, Tait of
Cherokee, Taylor, Tennillc, Thompson of Campbell,
Ward, Waltlial, Wofford, Walker of Irwin, Walker of
Richmond, Watson of Monroe, Welborn of Houston,
Webb, West, Whitaker, Wilson of Early, Wilson of
Hall, Williams, Wißingham, Wood, Worthy, Wootan
of Wilkes, Wilcox.
On motion,the House adjourned to 3 o'clock, P. M.
3 o’clock, P. M. Monday, May 14.
The Convention met.
Mr. May's resolution being tinder consideration,
Mr. Bowen of Jackson, offered the following as a
substitute for the first section of Mr. .May’s amendment,
winch w*» derided in the negative, whereupon, the
na -* • r#Te Called for. Previous to taking!
w IC _ ~ir. Dawson advocated it as a honorable compro-1
mise. Mr. Harris of W alton, gave his views, in which 1
he advocated the white basis.
MR. BOWEN’S SUBSTITUTE.
“The senate shall consist of 36 members, to be elected
from seperate senatorial districts, in the following manner :
22 districts of 2 counties each; 11 districts of 3 counties each;
and 3 districts of four counties each, to be composed of con
tiguous counties.” Which was lost. Yeas 93, Nays 149.
Mr. Singleton said, we have been talking about con
cession until lie was ashamed of it. He appealed to
the lowcrcounty members,d*c.
Mr. Nesbit spoke at length, and with pith and elo
quence;
The yeas were 93, nays 150.
Mr. Cone of Bullock, moved that the House agree to
the section, being the first of Mr. Mays. W’hereupon
the yeas and nays were called for by Mr. Crawford of
Oglethorpe ; which were taken, and resulted yeas 102.
nays 81.
The 2d section of rar. May’s resolution was read. Mr.
Dawson moved toadl after “free white persons” “and in
cluding” 3-sths of tie people of color,” according to the
former Constitution, on the question, mr. Gould called for
the yeas and nays, before taking them Mr. Gilmer, addressed
the Convention, anii in a bold and forcible speech set forth
the danger which might, which would arise, by the refusal to
substitute Mr. D's. amendment. He warned the conven
tion by facts, by reason, and by eloquence—but strange to
say, yes we say it with sorrow, that a convention of delegates
of thej State of Georgia, voted their own ruin, and destruc
tion, by a vote of 12(3 yeas, to 123 nays.
On motion of Dawson to strike out white persons,
Yeas 123, Nays 120.
Those who voted in the affirmative are messrs.
Allen, Andrews, Bacon, Bailey, Bartlett, Barnes,
Barksdale, Blackshear, of Laurens, Blackshear of
Thomas, Bond, of Henry, Bond, of Lee, Branham,
Brown, Byne, Carter, Chambers, Clark, of Camden,
Connelly, Cooper, of Glynn, Cooper, of Putnam, Cox,
of Oglethorpe, Crawford, of Columbia, Crawford, of
Hancock, Crawford, of Newton, Crawford, of Ogle
thorpe, Crane, Crocker, Curry, Daniel, of Chatham,
Dawson, Dennis, Ellis, Evans, Ezzard, Fannin, Flem
ming, of Liberty, Fort, of Baldw in, Foster, Freeman,
Gerardine, Gilmer, B. Green, Thomas Green, Gray,
Gould, Ilall, of Meriwether, Hamilton, of Troup, Ilay,
P. W. Hemphill, Hill, of Jasper, Hill, of Warren,
Holt, Holsey, Hull, Hudson, irwin, of Cass, Iver
son, Jackson, Janes, Johnson, of Taliaferro, Jour
dan, of Baldwin, Jourdan, of Jasper, Jourdan, of Jones,
Jones, of Lincoln, Jones, of Morgan, Jones, of Scriven,
Kendrick, Kendall, King, of Glynn, Lamar, Lewis,
Ligon,Livingston, Lockhart, Luckie, Mathis, McCraven,
McCall, Mclntyre, Moore, .Mouglion, Nesbit, Neal,
Oliver, Paine, Parker, Perry, Pemberton, Porter, of
Baker, Porter, of Greene, Powers, Ramsey, Rcmson,
ltyan, Sayre, Scarborough, Simms of Decatur, Singleton,
Story, Stokes, Tait, of Elbert, Taylor, Tennillc, Terrell,
Thompson, of Elbert, Thompson, of Teliaferro, Tigner,
Trammel, Underwood, Wafer, Waldhour, of Effingham,
Waldhour, of Liberty. Walker, of Richmond, Welborn,
of Harris, Welch, Wbighatn, White, Wittick, Wootan,
of Monroe, Wootan, of Wilkes, Young.
Those who voted in the negative are messrs.
Adams, Acre, Adair, of Carroll, Adair, of Madison,
Anderson, Beall, Blair, Bowen, of Carroll, Bowen, of
J. Brewster, Brcwton, Bramlett, Burch, Camp, Chastain,
of Habersham, Chastain, of Union, Clark of Ilall,
Clark of Henry, Bartlett, Cone, of Bibb, Cone, of Bul
loch, Cox, of Upson, Crowell, Daniel, of Emanuel,
Denmark, Dennard, Dismukcs, Dobbs, Dunham, Espy,
Farmer, Faris, Flemming, of Talbot, Fort, of Twiggs,
Fulwood, Garrett, Garrison, Gresham, Griffin, Groves,
Hall, of Wilkinson, Hamilton, of Randolph, Hand,
Harris, of Walton, Harris, of Wayne, Jas. Hemphill,
■ Hendrick, Hilliard, Holliday, Holcombe, Houghton,
Irwin, of Campbell, Johnson, of Henry, Jones of Harris,
Jones of Wilkinson, Kelly, Kenan, Key, King, of Fay
, ette, King, of Richmond, Knight, Lawson, of Houston,
1 Lindsey, 1 .ittle, Lowtlier, Lumpkin, Martin, of Franklin,
. Mays, Maugham, Mclntosh, McCoy, Mcßae, Mcßride,
McFarland, Morgan, Moseley,'Murphey, Montford,
’ Nolan, Oquin, Park, of Baldwin, Park, of Gwinnett,
Park, of Walton, Pittman, Powell, Pope, Quiliian,
| Riley, Roberts, Robertson, Rogers, Sjms, Schley, Sel
lers, Sessions, Simms, of Ilall, Sioane, Smith of Lowndes,
. Smith of Stewart, Smith of Tattnall, Speak, Springer,
. Stewart, Strickland, Studefent, Sturges, Swain, Tait of
Cherokee, Thompson of Campbell, Thompson of Coweta,
u Ward, Walthal, Walker of Irwin, Watson of Monroe,
Watson of Muscogee, Welborn of Houston, Webb,
. West, Whitaker, Wilcox, Wilson of Early, Wilson of
Hall, Williams, Willingham, Wofford, Wood, Worthy.
May 15, 1833.
The Convention met. Mr. Blackshear of Lau.
moved to reconsider somuch of the Journal as related
to the adoption of the first section of Mr. May’s a
mendment, which established the white basis. Mr.
B. strongly urged re-consideration, as did Mr. Dan
iel of Chatham. Mr. King of Richmond opposed it.
Many otiiers also spoke.
Warm and unpleasant remarks passed between
Messrs. King of Richmond, and Crawford of Ogle
thorpe.
Mr. Gilmer, in a conciliatory spirit invoked a
calm review of what had been done, and to come to
an understanding, hat what this body may do,
may go to the people without division amongst
them about it. lie wished a reduction, equalization
and ratification.
The question being had, it was determined not to
* reconsider, by a vote of 131 to 114.
The Jpurnal efyesterday was then toad, and the
Convention adjourned to 2 o clock, P. W
3 O ’jock, P. nflWav J 4.
Mr. Porter offered the following SUo»Jhute which
was lost without a division.
Resolved, That each county shall have one mem--
ber without regard to population or taxation ; that
the House of Representatives shall be composed of
120 members and no more, until after the next cen
sus shall be taken, or anew county formed ; in that
event the new county or counties shall be .attached
to the senatorial district most contiguous thereto,
also that the thirty-one remaining members be di
vided amongst the sevcrnl counties having the high
est population and taxation.
Mr. Brown offered the following as a substitute;
1 he House of Representatives shall be composed
of one hundred and thirty numbers, from all the
counties which now arc included within this State,
according to their respective members of free white
persons, according to the actual enumeration taken
in 1831, and which may be taken in every subse
quent term of seven years thereafter; at such time,
and in such manner, as this Convention may di
rect. Each county containing four thousand per
sons agreeably to the foregoing Enumeration, shall
have two members. Every county having nine
thousand, three members, and no more. But each
county shall have at least one member, and not
more than three members. The House of Repre
sentatives shall he chosen on the first Monday in
October 1834, and annually thereafter, until such
day of election be altered by law. Until such enu
meration aforesaid, shall he made, the following
counties shall be entitled to the following number of
of representatives respectively. Bibb two,
Columbia two, Coweta two, l’ayettc two, Greene
two, Harris two, Pik* two, Talbot two. Twiggs
two, Wilkinson two, Burke two, Chatham two,
Llarkc two, Hancock two, .Vorgan two, Ojglcthorpc
two, Putnam two, Richmond two, Troup two, War
ren two. Washingtoirtwo, Wilkes two, Houston two,
Jasper two, Jackson two, Jones two, Elbert two,
Franklin two, Walton two,Henry two, N nvton two,
DeKaib three, wWonroe three,Gwinnett three, Haber
sham three, and Hall three—And, that the House of
Representatives shall not at any time, after taking
such enumeration, be composed of more than one
hundred and forty-four members. The Legisla
ture shall apportion the House of Representatives,
so that the number shall not exceed one hundred
and forty lour members, and so that no county
shall have more than three members, upon the a
bove basis.
Andall'new counties which may heareafter be
laid out and defined, shall have one member only
until such enumeration and apportionment shall take
place upon the above basis.
The 3d and 4th sections of Mr. .May’s substitute
being under consideration ; mr. Harris of Walton,
moved the following in lieu thereof:
“ The whole number of members in the House of
Representatives shall be 144 and no more, except
in the case of a newly created county or counties,
such new county or counties, shall have one mem
ber for each county, until the taking of the next
census thereafter, and the whole number shall be
apportioned in the following manner, to wit; the 15
counties having the highest number of free white
persons, shall be entitled to 3 members each, the
25 counties having the next highest number of free
white persons shall have 2 members] each, and the
remaining 45 counties shall have 1 member each.
Whenever from the creation of anew county, or
counties, the whole number of members of the H.
of Reps, shall exceed the number 144, it shall be
the duty of the Legislature at its first session after
the taking of the first census after the creation of
such new county or counties, in apportioning the
members, to take from one of the counties having
three members to supply such newly created county,
always beginning with the county that has the smal
lest number of free w hite persons the.t may be enti
tled to three members.
The census shall be taken as heretofore, once in
7 years, and the Legislature shall at its first session
alter the taking of each census, apportion the mem
hers among the several counties of this State", as is
herein before provided, provided each county shall
have one member.
On receiving mr. Harris’s substitute in lieu of
said sections, it was determined in the affirmative—
Yeas 13d—Nays 93.
.Mr. Hull offered the following as a substitute for
the whole, to wit:
“ The Senate shall consist of 30 members only,
to be elected from 30 senatorial districts, composed
of 3 counties each, contigously situated, which dis
tricts shall be laid out by the next general assembly,
convened as one body in the Representative
Chamber, on the second Monday in November next.
“ The House of Representatives shall consist of
126 members only, viz : each county shall have one
member, and the remaining number above that
which gives each county one, shall be divided among
the counties having the highest representative popu
lation, computed according to the rule now existing
in the Constitution, beginning at the highest, and
giving to those highest counties, one additional mem
ber, and no more. Any new county which may
hereafter be made, shall have one member in the
House of Representatives, and be attached to the
nearest senatorial district, until the taking of the
next census, and the Legislature meeting after the
taking of the next census shall rc-apportion the
Legislature according to the plan herein contained.”
Jlfr. Hull’s substitute was lost—Yeas 98—Nays
139.
mr. Gould moved an adjournment, which was
lost.
mr. Underwood then moved the following in lieu
of the original subst : tute:
“ The Senate shall consist of 36 members, to be
chosen from each judicial circuit, in such manner
as that no two shall be residents of the same coun
ty at the time of the election or for one year previ
ous.
“The House of Representatives shall consist of
136 members to be app»rtioned as follows: the
three counties having the highest representative po
pulation, shall have three members each; and the
next 41 counties having the next highest shall have
two members each ; and the other 45 counties shall
have one member each ; and in case ofthe formation
any newcaunty, it shaii be attached to the judicial of
district to which the county from which its largest
representation shall have been taken, and shall have
one representative until the taking of the next cen
sus alter the formation of such new county or coun
ties, and that the Legislature shall, at its first session
after the taking of the next census proceed to ap
portion the members amongst the several counties
according to the representative population of each
county, so as that the number shall not exceed 144
members, allowing to each one member.”
. mr. Underwood’s substitute was negatived—
Yeas 77—Nays 153.
mr. Harris of W alton, moved that the substi
tute as amended, be now received in lieu of the ori
ginal report of the committee of the whole, which
| *y?ts agreed to. He also laid on the table a pro
position to carry into effect the first section of the
proposed amendments to the constitution ; which
was read, and the Convention adjourned to 9 o’clock
to-morrow.
Wednesday, May 15, iSfiS.
The report of the committee of the whole was
again taken up, when Mr. Harris of Walton, moved
the following additional section:
Each senator shall be a resident of the district
for which he may elected, as required by the pre
sent constitution of residence in the countv,
Ihe following shall be the senatorial districts,
viz:
[1 he same as published under our editorial head.]
Mr. Hudson moved to amend the same by strik
ing out Morgan in the 19th senatorial district, and
insert Baldwin. Mr. Iverson then called for the
previous question, to preclude all amendments, on
which motion, the yeas were 140, nays 85.
1 lie main question was then put which was, on
agreeing to mr. Harris’ arrangement of the senato
rial districts, on which question the veas were 152
nays 80.
Ihe question prevailed and the amendment was
agreed to.
Air. Daw-son of Greene, then presented the fol
lowing resolution:
Whereas, the proceedings of this Convention
will not be binding until ratified by the people; and
whereas a respectable minority of this body are in
lavor of a plan of reduction, which diminishes the
number n| the members of both branches of the
General Assembly to a greater extent than that pro
posed by the majority, and which reduces the ex
|K?nsc oi the government 8 or 10,090 dollars annu
ally below that which the majoritv proposes; and
this convention recognising the right of the j-oojilej
to judge ami determine for themselves what plan o*
reduction they prefer;
Resolved, That tlie scheme proposed by the
majority, known as No. 1, and that of the minority
proposed on yesterday by mr. Hull, as No. 2, be
both submitted to the people with a request that thoy
will endorse on their tickets “ Ratify No. 1” or
“ Ratify No. 2,’’ or “ No ratification.”
Mr. Wood then moved the question of considera
tion, when after considerable debate, the President
put the question, “ will the convention consider the
resolution offered by the gentleman from Greene I”
Or. which the yeas were 86, nays 143.
So the resolution of mr. Dawson was not con
sidered.
Mr. Harris of Walton offered a preamble to the
amendments made by the convention, which was
accepted, and - ordered to be placed to the amend
ments, and submitted to the people.
On motion of mr. Sturges, a committee was ap
pointed consisting of messrs. Sturges, Dawson, and
Fort of B. to cause the proposed amendments to
the constitution to be enrolled, signed by the Presi
sident and Secretaries and placed in the Executive
office; and that they cause to be printed a sufficient
number of copies of the same, to furnish each mem
ber with 10 copies and one copy for each clerk of
the Inferior court of the respective counties.
% Mr. Branham presented the following preamble
and resolution:
Whereas, by an act of the General Assembly ol
the State of Georgia, passed on the 24th of Decem
ber, 1832, entitled an act to provide for the call of a
convention to reduce the members of the General
Assembly - of the State of Georgia, and for other
purposes therein named ; it is provided that each
member returned as duly elected shall, previous to
taking his sea* in said convention, take the following
oath, viz : “ I, A. B. do solemnly swear that I will
not attempt to add to, or take from the constitution
or attempt to change or alter any other section,
clause or article of the constitution of the State of
Georgia, other than those touching the representa
tion iu the General Assembly thereof,and that I have
been a citizen of this State for the last seven years,
so help me God.” And the people of this State
did elect their delegates ia pursuance of the provi
sions of said act, for the purpose of amending the
constitution of the State, so far as relates to the
representation of the people in their General As
sembly, and said convention did when assembled,
take the before recited oath ; and whereas the act
of said-convention in consenting to take the oath
by the said act prescribed,may be construed into an
admission on their part, that the Legislature of the
State have the right of controuling the action of tlie
people in their primary assemblies, and may bo.
come a precedent, injuriously affecting the sovereign
rights of the people : Therefore,
Resolved, That this convention, whilst thev ad
mit the right of the people to instruct their’dele
gates, and limit their action when in convention as
sembled, do expressly deny to the General Assembly
of the State the right, by any act of that body, to
instruct or controul the action of the people,'thro’
their delegates when in convention met.
Mr. Fort of B. moved the consideration of the
same, on which question, the yeas and nays were
recorded. Yeas 64, nays 138.'
So the convention refused to consider.
On motion of mr. Iverson, the convention then
agreed to the amendments in gross ; and on his mo
tion, a vote of thanks and approbation was voted
James M. Wayne; and the same was also voted
messrs. Hunt and Gaither, as secretaries, on the mo*
tion of mr. Sturges.
3 o'clock, May 15.
The convention re-assembled.
The following protest was presented, read and
ordered to be entered on the Journals.
The undersigned protest against the acts of this
convention, on the following grounds, to-vrit: Tlie
majority have determined to change the basis of re
presentation ; and to establish a base different from
that ol federal numbers. We believe this act to
be wrong in itself—to be opposed to the interest of
the great mass of the people, and especially of our
immediate constituents, and calculated to invites
change in our federal relations. They have, as we
believe, given to territory undue influence in both
branches of the General Assembly, whereby it will
be in the power of the minority of tlie people to
rule the majority. They have resolved to propose
to the people of Georgia an amendment which as
to reduction falls short of what we think the pub
lic will require without gaining any tiling on the
score of equalization, but with an eye as we are
constrained to believe to party ascendency. This
conclusion we have been driven to by the arrange
ments of senatorial districts, proposed and adopted,
and other circumstances. We believe that the
fundamental law should Ire a rule of action, bty
Calculated to secure equal rights on the one hand,
and impose equal burdens on tlie other. Believing
that the proposed amendments constitute a manifest
departure from that rule we have withheld our as
sent thereto, and whilst we are decidedly in favor
of reduction and equalization, even greater than that
proposed, we do for the reason here assigned, in the
name of the good people we represent, enter tlli*
protest against their adoption.
Mark A. Cooper, J. W. Fannin,
Thomas Levingston, W. T. Gould,
Absalom Janes, Lewis A. Bond,
r'. -A- Nesbit, David Irwin,
Hamiiii Freeman, Wm. Jones,
Henry Lockhart, Harmong Lamar,
Nathan Crawford, V/ia. Terre!!,
Nathan C. Sayre, 11. B. Thompson,
Joseph Ligon, Josiah Perry,
On motion of mr. Sturges, it was
Resolved, That as many of the Journals of tßis
convention be printed as of" the Journals of the
of Representatives, and distributed by the G of-* 1
early as practicable ; and that a committee, consist
ing of messrs. Sturges, Daw son, and Fort of and.
be appointed to bring up the unfinished business
of the convention.
T hen adjourned sine die.
FOREIGN NEWS.
By the arrived of the packet David Brown , at Charles
ton, from N. Y. >.ve are furnished with Liverpool accounts
to the 2d April, brought by the ship Soutk Aviertet<
We have only room for the following extract:
The Irish coercion bill has passed the House of Com
mons by a majority of 259, and had been returned »"n
aroedmentr, to the House of l-ords, whence it originate* 1 ,
m which body there is no douht of its final passage
is thought that its provisions will be immediately e* c
cuted, and for that punpose 28,000 soldiers arc kept l
Ireland by the British Government. Thus is a whiga"™
istry about to signalize its triumph by a measure o op
prcssioti and atrocious injustice,scarcely paralleled in
annals of lory ism—-a measure which denies to lre,an .
the privilege of the British Constitution, and treaty*
Irish people “as a horde of robber* and uwrdetW*'