Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-07

compound easi, in that House Tho las, amendment
offered by the gentleman from Fauquier, (Nir. ScotO
sought to inrouce the white basis in the Senate gcinx
on 'ne ground that the compound basis shall prevail In
tue lower House. MIR. j. said he should vote against
THIS amendment-not because he thought white popus
auon an Improper basis for representation Senate
considered more fairly decided, as well as more fully
understood when the Committee should have tsposed
OF the question OF representation in the House of Dele.
gates, AMI should come directly consider the subject
OF the Senate BESIDES. said he this amendment takes
u FOR granted tina, have on one
principle in the branch Of the legislature and on
another principle in the other Those who are Of this
opinion, must have preference in relation to which Of
the two shall be on the white, and which the mixed
basis Those who prefer giving the white basis TO tho
House Of Delegates, WILL Of course, be against tho
mendment now Las, before s' prefer it. as furnish
ing check to the power Of the Senate, and shall,
therefore. vote against IL aso.
Ia. Scorr said that the very reason given by the
gentleman from Augusta Mr.. Johnson) operated with
doun (Mr. Mercer) had said that the present amend
ment gave thea, more than they had already. He
woaid ask OF that gentleman to point outa single
clause I'm the Constitution which establishes white
basis in the Senate: he, least had seen such
clause.
NJ. MERCER replied tina. he had not asserted that
me Constitution has such passage. but the Consiti-
ion certainly does forbid it, and 1t has been es,ab-
iished by act OF the Legislature.
MIR. SCOTT said he was aware Of that: but what ho
proposed by his amendment to give that arrange
mcnt Constitutional sanction Its whole authority. at
present, is than tina, Of any other ordinary Bill
passed by the Legislature Gentlemen insisted hav-
ing white basis Of repr esentaon he could not 20 with
hem the entire length they demanded, but was viii
ling, uitimaiun to consent to that basis in the
Senate.
MIR JOHNSON would. suggest enquiry to the
gentleman who advocated the amendme propose
ell. Whcre was the precedent, where couid any
Just reason no found, TO sanction such course as il
proposes! No man in the Convention, he presumed
disposed disturb that part of tho Constitution
which declares. that there shall he two branches of the
Legislature; one numerous, AMI FIRE quently elected
an, and coming directly from the people, charged with
their wishes and stored with knowledge OF all their
wants, present their petitions. advocate their rights
| and claim the remedy of their wrongs:-The other,
select In lis character few in its numbers, lon
ger Term OF service. and graduated in the rota-
ton OF those terms render the body perpetual
charged with the duty OF revising the proceedings OF
the representatives. of the people Of detecting their
rurs, and correcting them: in whom confidence NAV be
placed that they will have the rmness to resist wrong
and The Intelligence requisi,e'o perceive, AMI de-
c'e upon, what is right These doctrines he under
stool to he acknowledged by ALL and these rules mona
that he knew OF wished to disturb But the ground
taken by those who wished see the Constitution
amended was that in the popular branch of the Leg-
iaturc, charged more especially with tho wishes and
wants Of the people. the people do enjoy an
equal representations; although in the other, and tho
controlling branch, they justly represented. You
wi-h, said Mr.. j censor or yon all contend for piac-
ing some limit upon the m,jorty:) asd Cor tina, end,
you provide Senate BIT the effect OF the present
amendment, instead Of making the nate censor upon
TIE iiou'c goes i'll effect. to make the House OF Dele
gates censor upon the senate. Now call upon all
who hive any regard TO the just principles of govern
eni to it harmony and it, consistency tell me why
| sucf a distinction should he established.
Mr. SCOTT observed in epy tina, he wnulL rive Tho
gentleman one or two Both the branches OF
the Legislature popular in their character both
being chosen by The people, and responsible to them
anu The question which of them should be- placed
as guard upon the taxing power! We contend that we
are entitled to place that guard in the stronger branch Of
me Legislature. We wish 10 have tights Protected
inasnuch a. we bring ahrgor stake into tbs commune
W: We bring our persons not only, but orr property
WIN usjand we onght, therefore, to hav the stronger
security again. the Interests OF property are mora
easily ininged than those of persons We expose our
person IN the streets place our les valuable pro-
pcrty within the " ais of houe, bu; we lock I'M
our god in strong box
Nj, NICHOLAS sail. 'ha, M wi.hei to cxplAn tho.
vote ne shoni give. lie hal listened with attention To-
the arguments urged on both sides aud his conyic,ion
was mat the compound basis ofrepre sen,son was the
only true and proper basis in both houses. Why should
The gentleman from Augusta (Mr. Johnson) impnta
any improper motive 20 those who in favour of Tho
present amenilhrnI Fer hi. part he thought th,t
eie a, gumrnts OF the gentleman from Fauqnsr MR.
ocot) went very cOnciusivety she not merely tb,t
.hc compound principle should be introduced iuo .be
larger branch OF The Legislature but that 1t ough, Ia
prevail in both branches Bat was possible Iat IN,
vote on his amendment, might TO t.y how f,r
gentlemen Of opposite views couhl come TO some co,n
promise and yield little of their respective convictions.
Va" IT. asked Mr. M be imputed us as a fault that
we are willing at least make the experiment, or ,,.
me gentlemen res0utely determined TO 90 to all
| ~ Tue ,aamehdmeni appears to me wise in anoh-
er aspect what security have who wish TO 1, IL
middle ground, that gentlemen after having obi, n.I
n" principle OF r-prrsenation which they desire in
the lower House, VIII not afterwards when we come
70 TX The basis IL the Senate insist upoo and i,
he'e aiso an willing 10 take this amendment A.; an
experiment 10 try what the AMI f.slne, Of
Her genie'nen re'crving 10 myself 10 pursue such
course III hi E'ue, az may then deem xps,lient As
20 me proprc'y OF e-,abl'hns the whit. b Isl. i'm In,
uouse OF Delegates ither ihin in tn. Senate the ar
gnnent OF IN. gentleman from Augusta, goes on ne
tfo princiP Ii takes for granted the very one.1,
IN dispute viz that The white basis of represeniaton /.
he most proper In itself We think oherwiae W.
prefer The mixed basis: and so thinking we Il. .ra o.
nave II first established ia the most nu:nerou, House ~
the Legislature. -
IN. question was tax IN on the amenincn, of
slr' scott and decided in the negative Ayes 80
SO Mr.. Scorr's amendment (prooo.ing IN. whit.
"isIs IN me Senate AMI the compound basis in the r.
OF ID ;lcgates) was rejected.
The question then recurring on the amendment oyo.
poSpd oy Mr. Gfeen, viz TO strike out the word 80.
euSivey rom the resolution reported by the sqi.Iv
I'VE committee, AMI insert in lieu thereof In, yorI.
ana taxation combined,' and the vote being apuar.n,.
ly about to be taken, "Fr
MT Monroe rose. AMI addressed the Committee
nearly IN the following words AS we have already
presented this speech to readers in anticipation il
need not be repeated here
Aier few remark from Mr.. Giles, Che substance
OF winch we have also givenJ the Committee rose and
the House thereupcn adjourned
- THURSDAY, Nov. g.
The Convention al III o'clock and ,v.s o,.t.s
Church S Np'eoPsi
Mt MERGER resumed his speech In ounosi,io, 10 ~.
amendment OF MIR G-een (Which PROPOSES a compound
basis OF representation in the House Of Delegates, ana
in iavou' of the original resolution reported by IN.