Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-05

anted Constitution winch shall be aoDte; 10y the people oil
Niha on The recommendation Of this aud .,
expiration et years thereafter an assessment Of al,
wealth. " " '
This sch me, continued Mr. c. for npportion;nw
representation throughout the c-mmcn,veallh. on
thc principle OF compromise, has recommendation
Wnich cultieS 1t to The respectful Consideration f h
house. 1t is the result of an earnest honest nnd
la''rsona Investigation ana comparison of opinion,
made hy very consider ,bls nnmbcr 81 m ,m,ers
from tho alide an western d3tric = and in leeJ bv
neriy all those WHO v''cl for what is i.ni!iarlv
citd the white basis of rrprcsen alton us tie
rule ofappnrtipnmnnt in thu House of .legutes
We had not hsen l.'ng assembled in this place
SAID Dir c before the character and views OF
the two parties which divide the House were
d'ftlnctiy seen. One of these parties, distn-
giiisiicl by brilliant talents and Respectable even
for It's numbers, but slll small minority, was
opposed to all change wiiutsoevrr. Sumo O.;
them, because ikey considered tl,e Constitution ur
d (which have lived for more than la'fa ccntu-
~ ~ perfect as any Institution merely hlm,an
ca wr be- others, because they though tia. It's dc
reefs We're more than counerbalgnccd by It's vaua-
Die FEATURES. ana THAI It bctt"r. Us tinv th,nn.
selves expressed it, Ito bear tic ills We have than
fly to others that we know not Of
4 tar more nuirert pity in the House .le
friends Of reform Of "i.lnuvno;l," ifgenlemen
;i the term better, oTopinlon that the
t'n was defective IN many important points, an re-
qhlrsd material amen dmcnts Bu; this party toa was
suhilvded:-Whlle small portion Of II was content
WITH MINOR changes. great maj rity OF this more,
humorous party, and AIN ,st latf Of t, d, use,
cam hithcr with the fixed aai d.be.ate opinion
that the principle ot representation proclaimed IN
the 'cl TRITON OF rihtSthe priuclplc Of the. c:,ua
representation Of the free white POPULATION OF lie
statc-- was the only true republican principe and
one which could not ne departed from in the ORGAN
tuition OF either the other o. the l.rs!a i've
bodies, without d .ep Y rnJilrIG9 III, strength and
durability OF our republican Institutions.
Deeply impressed witt the correctness OF cse opi
Mons, they adhered to them with pcrtuacty cor
responding with the strength "a! their Convctions-
l)ISCOyerNlar. h
bjiy Of raying round their st9ndlrd a 5,jor!tv Of
tine house they have abandoned the effort in DESPAIR
hey see the alternative present ed TO them Of return
ing to their cons nentS, thOUt having accnunll4;-
cd ana thing, of end cavourinr to find some ,gtl.r
ground which tn, conflicting parties nav me
and be reconciIed. Every feeling OF patrotisn eve
~ suggestion OF sober reason, concuFfci in com
mending the latter course and they resolved 10 adopt
IT.
After repeated conferences they f5rl1l ID A CON,
promise basis OF representation, that winch | have
just read and determined to ofir 1t, III The true spi-
rit OF compromise, and with the hope of being met
IN similar spirit to their bret tren Of the East and
the South. They have abandoned, in fact I,rinci-
pie which is lnexpressibly dear to them, and in tie
feeling of expanded patriotism, have offered il up
as a sacrifice on The alter of the public safety Tho,y
have nos this I:o:st, ouy, bit the whole pcoDFe
of Virginia, divided distracted and fvered Tor nIanv
weeks by this harassing and dangerous question; and
they seek, by offering compromises to quiet these
alarming dsscnslons and restor peace and
ty to the commonwealth 1t remains 10 be seen whe
ther they Will be met in similar spirit by their broth
rem OF the Fast and South.
gentlemen that are slender grounds C m
ping that elher of the plans of compromise offered by
the gentlemen Chesterfield and NoTtampron viii be
factory those who have delibeation Determined
10 oer tho plan which have just presented To the House.
shall unhappi!y fail the appreciation those TO whom
is offered what will result? We shall separate having
done nothing 10 alay the fernen of the public mindani
nothing we shan return to m ar.ry and divided
people We shsl! be asked, by constituents evil
spirit perVa'ed our Councils to prevent from adopting
Constitution which should heal DIVISION and restore a
tranquility OF the Commonwealth And what sllal, we
give, Isl obvious that party that each nomlsr of
this body will seek to throw the opposite party other
members the blame OF having produced this arnen,abe RESULT
Is n obvious that elimination and become
the order of the day-;ha the country will lie with
nfannnatoy addresses',at party epihes will banded
about and party hatred nfamed hghes, degree of inve
cracy! And can who loves his country contemplate
the results WHICH likely to from such a of
peation in the publ: nmd. without feeling Of dsu,ay;
mpoe al! those who love their native Saeall who
willing make sacrifice Of their preconceived
the altar of the public safetyos compromise opinion in
the formation of organic ayvro rally The compo.
mise offered which has already received the approving
sanction Of large portion of this assembly Let resolve
before this week shall close settle and settle anicay and
forever, the differences which have long distracted the
monwoalih Let US form Constitution which will unite tie
people of Virginia band OF brothers party names
and party and recrnnaons buried in eternal
oblivion Let us hear Of Eastern men, Middle
men, ana Western mcniel hereafter be Vrgnians and
brethren
Mr. HgHDERsoN asked if the gentleman from Chcs-
te'he'd Intended to propose any proe for the
ture Of the Senate? Unless plan should be uro-
posed Tor the Senate, lie for one could not make up
his mind as to the comparative value Of tic Plans
HIr LEtcH said he meant TO pursue similar plan
in respect to the Senate
Mr.. Cooks rose to move that the House adjourn
till Tomorrow, for obvious reasons. We had bccu
engaged for several days on subjects Of detail, and
| he tbou~b it would be wiser not 10 distract our
minds further with details but to adjourn for the Uur
pose Of each member considering hs various PROPOSE
/ tions.
Mr. DopDRnGE sud Ike had heori that eorc
other gentlemen had projects to prcs,nt, IF 81 it
would be better that they should be presented that
the whole might be before TIC Convention, and then
in day two it be determined whether there
viii be any occasion for us to remain any longer to-
gethcr.
hIr CAMPBELL Of Brooke, then rose and rad the
/ following preamble and plan:
! Much has been SAID IN this Committee on the sub
eci Of compromise We confess That We have heard
nothing proposed as yet winch deserve. the nam Of
compromise. rs understand that word, il imports
mutual concesson-As yet the concessions have be"1
ranllal from one nartH from lie rcnre.cn aHcs Of .Lr