Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Virginia Constitutional Convention (1829-1830), [specific series], [dates]. Accession [number], State Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Transferred from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1901.

Historical Information

The fact that the state constitution of 1776 had not been voted upon by the general public aroused the strong disapproval of many Virginians, including Thomas Jefferson, who also criticized the inadequate separation of powers and the court system set forth in the document. The more populous counties of western Virginia wanted manhood suffrage, as opposed to freehold suffrage, and also objected to the section of the constitution allowing for only two delegates per county to the General Assembly, regardless of population. Many attempts were made between 1796 and 1827 to call another constitutional convention, but the proposal was always defeated in the General Assembly. As the population in the west increased, though, there was corresponding agitation for a new convention and in 1828 an act was passed in the General Assembly authorizing a popular referendum on the subject. After the voters had approved the measure by a vote of 21,896 to 16,646, an act was passed by the General Assembly on February 10, 1829, to permit the summoning of a convention. Under this act, the people met at their courthouses and elected four members from each of the twenty-four senatorial districts. The act also provided that the constitution should be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection.

The convention met in Richmond on October 5, 1829 and a compromise was made on suffrage and representation issues. It was resolved that there would be thirteen Senators from west of the Blue Ridge and nineteen from east of the Blue Ridge, and that there would be one hundred and twenty-seven members in the House of Delegates - twenty-nine elected from the district west of the Alleghany Mountains; twenty-four from the valley between the Alleghany Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains; forty from the Blue Ridge to the head of the tidewater; and thirty-four thence below. The convention did not change the right of suffrage accorded to freeholders, but did extend some rights to reversioners, remaindermen and leaseholders. The convention adjourned on January 15, 1830 and the constitution it drafted was submitted to the voters for approval in April. The constitution was approved and adopted by a vote of 26,055 to 15,563, even though the western counties were far from satisfied with the compromise.

Scope and Content Information

The Virginia Constitutional Convention (1829-1830) records are arranged in two series. Series have been designated for Election Records and Journals.

Series I: Election Records - This series is arranged in three subseries. Subseries have been designated for Convention Election Returns, Election Certificates, Petitions and Memorials and Amendments, and Referendum Election Returns.

Subseries A: Convention Election Returns, 1828 May-July - This subseries contains election returns/poll book tabulations of votes on the question of holding a constitutional convention to amend the state constitution. The records document who voted for and against the proposed convention and also contain a statement of the final tally of votes listed by county.

Subseries B: Election Certificates, Petitions and Memorials, and Amendments, 1829-1830 - The election certificates contain the names of the delegates elected to the convention and the area they represent. The petitions and memorials document attempts, mainly by non-freeholders, to expand suffrage. Lastly, this subseries contains suggested propositions, resolutions and amendments.

Subseries C: Referendum Election Returns, 1830 April-May - This subseries contains poll books, arranged alphabetically by locality, from the referendum for ratifying or rejecting the amended state constitution, enumerating votes for and against the constitution, with a final tally of votes.

Series II: Journal - The Convention Journal (1829 October 5 - 1830 January 15) contains a list of delegates, convention minutes and proceedings of the business conducted each day, and roll call votes on proposed amendments and changes to the state constitution.

Organization

Organized into the following two (2) series: I. Election Records, 1828-1830; II. Journal, 1829-1830.