Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-22

WOulu DO an 0omcut iaCuOus ecou " AtNt
to the permansnce Of the constitution. II you do put il
in the constitution cannot the nonslave holding part Of
the State, excite you this subject whenever they
may have purpose to by it-aa you may have
Missouri question, OF perpetual recurrence In the
heart of your institutions. Sir, constitution YOU can
form, situated as Virginia Is, endure with such
provision in IL.
The non freeholders and .slave.owners, who are
excluded from the right OF suffrage, will be the lever
TO wrench your institutions from such oundson-they
will not be inssnsbie TO- the appeahat this fair domain
of Virginia, was conquered by their fathers In many
battle braveiy wonthat they established republican
form of government, leaving its administration in the
hands Of the reeholdershat after 81 years Of POSSES
sion Of this exclusive power, they delegated their
Of sge and wisdom. who met in council to beraiize
their institutions and hx the foundations OF future go
vcrnment, but that such had been the influence Of
long submission TO unequal power that they not oaiy
refused to extend the right Of suffrage to the reemen
the country, but they infused new element Of power
they made their slaves the basis In part OF repre-
faon, whilst those who guard them In their subugs.
ton, are denied voice in their council and in cleo
tons. Sir, will not pursue this subject, but ask gem
ilemen to fleet. Can government so based, he per-
manen Will not contain within itself the fatal germ
OF lite distinctions after years Of strife and conuson
Sir, is it wise ia slave-hoding community keep up
this discussion! five do not put this ingredient in our
our Western bre,hrens Not from any Apprehension OF
dagger personal 10 ourselves. Those who comm md
ed slaves, become themselves; the spirit
OF command endures through life. But when they re-
slavery; that condition is unaerabe at present.
that theirs is every day and assimlated to
ours; that their interests and ours equally combine TO
aliay this excitement and look TO Virginia grea,
united Commonwealth, | am sure the appeal will not
be in vain. Sir, we ought to meet this middle
ground OF the census OF 1920, notwithstanding the West
sets up a higher claim. But. Sir, whatever may be
the resul'; shall have the consolation TO reflect that
have discovered narrow selfishness in the plan
have submitted, my own gives to that portion Of
the Commonwealth from which come, Just, but
smaller portion OF power than has been offered by 9TH
ers and that true TO my principles and my country,
have made honest effort TO advance her peace and
honor. 1 hope the Convention will give TO the PRO-
position Of The gentleman from Chesterfield, can.
did consideration. am not vain enough to believe, |
have proposed perfect plan, but think better cacu
lated to combine majority OF the Convention than any
other.
Mr. MAssIE made explanation as to his course in
voting for Mr.. Gordons amendment Yesterday (which
he understood to have been referred to in Of the
remarks OF Mr. Doddrdge he had voted for II az COM
promise; desparDg Of carrying the white basis by any
majority that would carry weight with it. He refer.
red 10 the situation Of his district located in the mid
die between the conflicting par,es its deep interest in
The questions agi'aed, and his belief that in voting for
MIR. Gordons compromise he took what approached the
nearest to the views Of his Constituents.
Mr.. JOHNSON was in favour OF laying the present
proposition upon the table, in order that that OF Mr.
Leigh might be fairly considered As TO the rule which
stood in the way, had been adopted al his notion had
now done all he intended to do, and might be dpens-
ed with
The proposition Of Mr.. Gordon was then laid upon the
table fer the present.
The rule requiring every original proposition offered
in Convention 10 he referred TO Committee and re.
ported upon, was then, after some opposition from Mr.
Mercer, rescinded.
Mr. Leigh's proposition was then read from the
Chair, as follows:
That tho House Of Delegates shall members and
the therein shall he appoTioned follows
gates.
The IA counties lying Allegheny and Blue Ridge
The % soune. lying East of the Blue Ridge above tide
And the sc counties and lying water shall have
3S Delegates.
East of the Blue Ridge but Legislature may dscston
to time majority of the whole number both Houses
concurriDg, whensoeveT the oun
try West of the Blue Ridge and the
territory lying West ofs Blue Ridge a" Oi
such new county shall be formed additional delegate
lowed To the country West of the Blue Ridge.
And the Legislature having respect, state OF popu
rcis majority of the whole number of both d ousc, D
ng may at any me allow additional Delegate
which only Delegate shall be allowed
so a not more an two delegates shall ever be allowed
House o, Delegates shall never exceed l6o members
MIR. LEIGH then rose in explanation aud defence of
his proposition He promised in the outset that all he
was now solictous about the principle OF the plan
without insisting lite Details attempting to present
with exact precision, all the results to which il would
how it would work generally. He repeated, (wbat he
had declared when he first offered t) hi. entire and
perfect Indifference TO the details, so far as thew
might, affect his own District.
He assured the Convention, that he never went
to any work, with reluctance, in his life than
TO that OF rendering this plan Of compromise in his own
person No consideration, short Of the absolute neces
sity OF the case, should have induced him 10 do H. If
any other gentleman, holding his opinions would have
undertaken TO prepare and present this or any smI r
plan, the House should not have heard one word from
him he would have been well content to give il only
his silent support. He knew, perfectly we'll that there
was portion OF the members OF the Convention, who
without indulging any personal hostility or in will TO-
wards him, felt neverhe ess an extreme i.aIosv nc
any propositions he might ofrer merely for being pre-
sented by him.-Some. because they asserted an .x.
elusive claim to repubcanisn, and thought il neces
sary to suppose, that his mind was possessed with anti
republican prnciples-others, from belief that he
was actuafed by strong jealousy of Western inter.
ests-but from whatever cause, he knew that such
prejudice did exit, just we'll az If gentlemen had
avowed 1t TO him he only desired look into mans
lace, TO know how he felt affected toward him, and
measures coming from him. ~, would have avoided
mourning this obstacle TO the success Of his
posal ii IL had been in bis power to the end that
might get lair play. and stand fall by its own merits
sone but that being mpraccabIc he had offered it, to
take its Fate Ie should now, as briefly as he could,
E xplan il to the House
Nothing had filled him with more surprise, than 10
find, that gentlemen Of the Td1ey should prefer the
plan OF the gentleman from Albemare, (AIr. Gordon0
To that he now offered He said gentlemen of The Val
ley because. after the speech which the House had
heard Yesterday. (Mr Summers's) and this morning
(Mr. Doddriiges) he that there was a feeling in
the Allegheny couatry which, he should think
gentlemen from The Valley would be unite ne nn,cb
alarmed at. as gentlemen from Eastern Virginia but
that was question for Them and not for him to Judge Of
The substantial difference between his plan and that
of the gentleman from Ahemarie lay in two ponts nm
ly first there was slight difference in the proper.
tons OF representation assigned to the four great dyi
sonS OF the State respecvely(he should not speak Of
the slight difference to the whole number of The III