132

of taxes and per centage under act of 1828, chap. 161, and the
several supplements thereto;
Which was read and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.
Also, laid before the Convention a report from the cletk of
Queen Anne's county, in obedience to the order of the Conven
tion of the 15th ult., containing tabular statements of the gross
receipts of his office, &c.;
Which was read and referred to the committee on the Judiciary.
The President also laid before the Convention a communication
from His Excellency, the Governor of North Carolina, covering
the acts of Assembly, establishing and regulating common schools,
together with proper forms for returns, &c.;
Which was read and referred to the committee on Education.
Also, laid before the Convention a communication from Charles
Richardson, Esq., calling the attention of the Convention to the
property of taking into consideration the wasteful plan followed
in the repairing of the State or courty roads, &c.;
Which was read and referred to standing committee, No. 7, to
consider and report respecting the appointment, tenure of office,
duties and compensation of all civil officers not embraced in the
duties of other standing committees.
On motion of Mr. Ege, it was
Ordered, That the committee on Representation be requested to
enquire into the propriety and justice of adopting the following
principles of representation:
1st. Representation according to white population.
2nd. The ratio in the House of Delegates to be goverfled by the
population of the smallest county in the State, commercing with
one member, and giving an additional member to each county and
city for every given number of inhabitants equaling the number of
the lowest county on which the basis may be formed.
The basis of the Senate to be governed by population,dividing
the State into twenty-four Senatorial districts, each district to elect
one Senator.
Mr. Merrick, chairman of the committee on Representation,
submitted the following Report:
The committee on Representation respectfully report the follow
ing resolutions
1. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to regard federal numbers in
fixing the estimates and basis of representation in the House of
Delegates.

2. Resolved, That it is inexpedient to adopt a principle of re
presentation based exclusively upon popular numbers, in organiz
ing the House of Delegates or the Senate.
Which was read.
Mr. Gwinn, offered as an amendment to the second resolution,
to strike out all after the word "resolved," and substituting in lieu
thereof, the following:
"That representation in the Senate and House of Delegates,
should be based on the principle of population only."