Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-01-16


Pacod To set the gentleman right in this particu-
tarSas well to shew that it better to examine
INTO the truth OF fact, than To assert it, will read
part OF tho report OF the committee the staunon
memorial in the Session of 1876 TSeo the Jo,rnoj
pages SO and 81. The Staunton Convention of IHi6
was n respectable and numerous body of the friends
of soform and they sought that Reform on the
principles We now contend, as had the petitioners in
lBot-'2-3-5-G, and in almost ey cry year since From
therapeutic resolutions of appears that the
mttcc recommended equal distribution among the
waite population, OF members to "a Convention
Those opposed To a Convention made use of every
honorable exertlon that ingenuity and talent could
hNent, TO divide US, by introducing features into
The resolutions which would have that tendcncy-
itcr every effort oits kind had failed, and war ma
nitest that bill n,nst be ordered to be brought in in
Conformity with the resolution n gentleman who il
will DO agreed by all who know HIM either personal
Eor fro.s report, OF the most pcw.rGil ,cb,
t.rs or the age m which we live-Alr. Tazeweu of
the Unitod States Senate, proposed an an,,ndmen,
10 introduce that very principethe representation
nf slaves which Is now contcndcd for as the last cf
fort, hope, 10 sustain u fallen oloarchv ALREADY
crushed by the law OF desconts and The aci for 49,
ing estates ta--Ths proposition was seriously doba
Ted then, but It's friends were neither so nor
80 ooid US now. On a division, they numbered bnt
~ TO the best of recollection The ionrnnl DOES
not shew the number because at the request of some
or them the count was not Inserted. Hero then is
record evidence, (scc the journal D. l7ol to sheyy
now completely the gentleman from Westnoreland
nad AZ friends arc mistaken. After that session
ES'ti BEARD tins proposition urged, even i'm priyaio
CON- ersation, until since tho vote of last Spriny-
90 completely was 1t then abandoned, that the SCna-
Driai districts in that very session reformed IN
the basis OF white population as ascertained bv III.
CENSUS of 1910. ~
And the Senate so reformed at the instance of
mo enemies OF reform We had carried our propo-
hton -had passed Convention Bill and sent il 10 The
SENATE We represented such u powerful minority
that 1T was supposed the Senate would Weld 10
prevent tins, eastern statesmen, who dreaded non,
SO much as Convention, brought in as \ tub To tho
vli, oh -, a..
GIng session. they refused 10 consider ;,r want of
constitutional power, as they said.
MI Chairman, can 1t b. possible that the friends Of
save representation ignorant that the Senate Of
Virginia Is the representative of white population
only, and that 1t made after the struggle of
1915! This fact Is further record evidence that he
Specihc basis OF white population is t,.t which has
been uniformly demanded by the friends of rcforn--
Ihey never urged any other. They successfully n G.
serted 1t IN 1916 At the Staum ON Convention they
aguin asserted, recorded and proclaimed it TO the
Wnoia Comnionweaith, IN oldcr that their enemies
osht not have the power 10 misreprescnt their views
nave shewn that the non-frccholdcr has never been
Consulted and that he is entitled to be heard and 10
vote; yet think 1t unessental in some degree whe-
tsTcr he shall vote tor members of Convention or
not, because kaow the frecholders agree with him
and must form such Constitution US he will accrp,
on the final vote.
NoW' Alr Chairman, to apply the position of the gen
tleaan from Wcstmoreland, that evorv thnp must he
the result of cenccssion-I have shewn that the ncs
SESSION OF slave property never conferred privileges
or power IN Virginia. TINT it never constituted an
element of government. No: not the scintila of an
ciornent. Bot We have broken ono yoke, and Won
tender us another, and ask accept il and carry H.
W. aaswer No--neither nor our ancestors have
hn accustomed 10 sit by tho side of the representa-
1--we OF Slaves, aud minge with him in the tobcra
IONS OF government. We further answer, that as
the rcpresen: atives of frccmcD, we will never meet
with the representative of Slave in Convention
Oar elements are quit too dscordan.
ms Is our final answer What You demand is a
a will n
by CONCESSION, end, therefore, force us if YOU Can.