Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-10
VIRGINIA COW ENTION.
FRlpAY. Dec. q, 1920.

ger. Before the House resj lvsd itself into a Com.
inittee of the Whole
Mr.. NICHOLAS, from the Select Committee appointed
TO inquire INTO the expedeucy of procuring some oher
suitable building for the sitting of the Convention
the at present devoted to that purpose will be re-
CURED by the Legislature Monday next reported
.at IN obedience to their Instructions they had made
the necessary inquiries, and had succeeded in obtain
ing the Presbyterian church, certain condit Gus
contan.d IN the report, which have already pub
ltshed in extenso.
After some conversation between Mr.. Doddridee
Mr. Nicholas, and Mr.. Mus m the consideration OF
the report on the noion OF the last gentleuan,
postponed.
The House then resolved its elf into a Committee
OF the Whole, Mr. SrASAno in the Chair.
Mr. GoaooN withdrew his amendment Mr. JoHN-
soS wished that the question the resolutions pro-
posed oy Mr.. Upshuf shond submitted to tn, Com
rletee, ant Il save any difficulty which might arise
1a point OF order, moved strike out the word ere
sufved." conversation here ensued with respect to
the propriety OF this mode OF proceeding when was
agreed to put the question lit the form osed by
Mr.. Johnson.
Mr.. JOHNSON then rose and addressed the Com.
ittse In support of his m,tion he said it was not his
nehtlon to enter into the debate, but merely re-
call their attention to the tue character of the
ton under consideration. He said he was serry that
the proposition regarded by all in that light
III which it ought to be regarded 1t not regard
ed in that temper which vas calculated TO produce
Cancellation He Vas sorry especially remark, that
the gentlemen the other side considered the pro
position ofthe gentleman from Frederick us contain
ing 40 compromise, no concessions, but demanding
al that was originally looked for He was sorry that
gentlemen ore side. in Considering the propos-
ttns which came from the other side did not regard
them as flowing from conciating motives, as he
thought they did He regarded al the pr ,p sitions
Us oered IN the true spirit of concession, and that
they were submitted to the solemn consideration
OF ali who wished for favorable results and who we're
really anxious that our proceedings should terIn
mite In injury. So sincerely he of this opinion
that the propositions offered by the gentlemen from
Northampton, from Chesterfi,'ld aud Orange have
been offered in that spirit und that they we e char
acterized by that spirit that comp ring them he
regarded them as the same, and experienced much
difficulty Ill choosing between them. He would 90
further, for cand)r required hun to say hat he
thought, and woHld declare for himself that were be
appointed umpire to choose between tn ,rn-to select
between each and oil, hc would choose thar scheme
submitted by our adversaries. His Judgment led him
TO believe that in all human probability the operations
ot those propositions Would be beneficial to
tnan OF that proposed by ourselves. SO much value
did he set on their simplicity and harmony of action
that he believed the results would be that which il
vas the object of all to attain; but he not the
unpirei all the efforts made by him to bring the Com
mlttee to agree with him ialed-he received no COM
Plrnents from either side, foi those of his own
side did not agree with him in the opinion he he'd
vowed. he endeavored to bring all before him, and
settle on that which would &C :cptrble 10
all, and NOT TINT which he himself preferred He pre-
erred the bass qualified voters, but stating that
preference how was he sustained, No voice on Ell
Their side in support of his opinion, and all his arpu-
ments proved Intellectual. On his side, although they
conceded in principle, all did not concur in the effect
which would be produced when they looked to the
practical operation of the principle. He willing
80 regard the tax paying portion of the people
correct exponent, and he thought that the power
should be solely confdcd 10 the qualified voters. He
then left TO choose, not that proposition which
was most acceptable TO himself, but to the greatest
number of the Committee, which would not only Sc
the votes Of comparative majority, but also q
large portion of the minority.
His object to fix rule of compromise, when
IL 1t y
not only be carried by large majority Of this Con-
venton, but which would be also commended to the
favour of the people, for whom act He believed
from all that he could learn, that the compromise
most Acceptable to, and which would be adopted
by the people, is the compromise proposed by the
gentleman from Frederick mir. Cooke) he admitted
the strength Of the argument, urged in support OF
the basis of federal numbersthe chief difficulty was
in fixing upon fair and exponent, but the
people opposed to the introduction of the fede-
raj basis-hey had deep rooted prejudice against it
and when we cannot in consequence of the unequal
distribution of slave property decide upon a fair
exponent-whcn the intelligence of the committee
could not be satisfied with respect it, it would be
hopeless task for him to undertake To explain it to
the satisfaction of his constituents. Bat the people
had strong prejudice against the federal basis vi
apportionment and that prejudice ought to be con-
sIlted-the proposition of the gentleman from Fred
grck was more plain, more intcliigibe. The east
cay, that their property may be endangered, they
therefore, require security We find it essentially
Indispensable regarding the east wit respect TO the
operations of the compromise proposed by Mr.
Cooke, that it would be necessary to afford them
sprurty, by giving them check the power of the
others. Tins simple proposition ard easily
declared. With deep conviction that it would be
satisfactory to the people, he adopted the PROPOSE
non of the gentlemap from Frederick, in preference
to that offered by the gentleman from Northampton.
lie looked to the principle only We make the rule
of it, the combined ratio of white population anC
federal numbers. We do not adopt a Temporary
expedent, this will be answerable for oil future
time The proposition Of the gentleman from
Northampton, adopts similar combination, aud ap
plies it TO both Houses. Phe proposition of the
gentleman from Frederick, is not applicable to botF
Houses but the influence Of it is limited to onethC
two propositions concur in this, that they com
pounded of tie elements, and they differ II
this, that these elements combined for house
and separated for the other' How then can it b.
said, that the OPPOSITION is conca:ory thar