::::::To agree with TFDs last point, the western counties with a majority of voters in Virginia were constitutionally discriminated against both in the Virginia Constitution of 1830 and that of 1850. Taxable property (slave population) was weighed along with population in three regions so as to permanently give a majority in the General Assembly to the Tidewater, regardless of population. Reapportionment occurred by population only within each region  which is no way to build an inclusive political community, you see, sort of like Lebanon which was 50% Christian when the old constitution set legislature proportions in stone, regardless of subsequent Christian-Muslim population changes.