Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-12-16
CONVENTION.

should elect a Commissioner; that all the
Commissioners ought to form a board Of
police for their respective Counties; that
It should be their duty to superintend the
fiscal concerns Of their respective counties;
assess, levy, and cause to be collected, all
taxes for county or Ward purposes, and to
direct the disbursements of the same to-
wards the support Of the poor, and other
county purpOses.-TO recommend to the
Governor suitable persons for justices of
Of the peace; and that they ought to receive
a moderate compensation for their ser,
vices.
The Committee next took up the report
Of tie Judicial Committee. That part of
the epoft which "yested part of the ju-
dicial power in the County Courts" Mr.
Henderson, and Messrs. Doddridge and
Campbell Of Brooke, were for having
stricken out; Marshall, Powell and Leigh
for retaining it. The motion was lost,
ayes p.
ca the % inst. on motion of Mr.. Mer-
Ger, the propositions on the Basis of Rep
resentation were taken up. Mr.. Madison
addressed the Committee in favor of basing
the Senate upon Federal Numbers. Mr..
Upsher's proposition was taken up, which
occupied the House FOX the remainder Of
the day. Messrs. Upsher, Moore Of Rock
bridge, Cook, and Leigh addressed tho
Committee. Mr. l.. spoke last-at whose
instance the Convention adjourned, for the
purpose Of giving him an opportunity of
procuring some detailed statements which
he had occasion for, but which wcye not
at hand.
Dc.3. Mr.. Leigh again took the floor.
He said he would, lfhe did not know it to
be utterly vain, address himself particular
ly to the Western delegation; but he had
discovered by observation, and whispers
overheard, that they believed in kind of
fixed, natural, inherent, eternal principle
ordained by God for the government of
man, which it would be the acme of impi-
ETY. tc question or disturb; and from what
he had seen and heard, particularly so in
bin--thattbeir ideas ofcompromise amoun-
ted simply to this; We viii have the
House OF Delegates based upon white pop
ulaion, and let you have the Senate bas-
ed upon Federal Numbers. Several mem
bers addressed the Committee, (Mr. Up
sher's plan being before it, among whom
was the Hon Judge Coulter, self styled
''the adamantine rocks" who, having been
at the infinite pains Of writing down his
speech the night previous, read it off with
extraordinary emphasis. Gentlemen"
said he, "have planted their standard; and
I now plant mine, FIRMLY, dOwa IN Iolo-
er Virginia. think, that she has lqv,
justice, and sound policy in her favor, and
MUCH of the spirit of coacHOtiOn." 70
trumperyl 0 Mosesli]
Mr. Doddridge said he would acceptthe
white basis in the House Of Delegates, and
yield the Federal Numbers in the Senate
and here he would nail his flag He said
It was manifest that either the Convention
must adjourn without doing any thing-or
Western members must Join the Eastern
IN forming a Constitution that would be re-
jected by the peOple-Or that the Eastern
members would act for themselves, and
tender to the people what they should deem
advisable. The proposition now made,
would place the Western people back to
the condition ofl79O Unless gentlemen
would accept our comprQmise-unless they
accept the mixed basis in the Senate, and
yield our claim IN the other House, he could
see no good likely to result from our la.
bors. We shall continue to dOnothing but
continue to exasperate each other.
Mr.. Randolph said if the white basis
prevail in the one House, he would vote
for it in the other also. lie would prefer
this TO the Manichean plan of good and
evil principle. A government Of numbers
in opposition to property, he said was ia
cobism--rank JacObisml he was about to
say pure Jacobsen; but nothing pure could
belong to the thing. It was the body Of
Freeholders into whose mouths they were
to put the bride. But they never could do
h. Tomake the attempt, would be to sound
the trumpet Of civil war. It might be a
war ofwords; but it would excite so much
animosity, that nothing but the power Of the
general government could keep Virginia
together unuer such a system.
Mr.. Gordon moved a variation Of Mr..
Upshers plan; but the Convention rose
without deciding on MS motion
Dec. 4h.-Mr. Gordon Withdrew his
motion varying Mr.. Upsher's scheme, &
Mr.. Johnson moved to strike oul the word
Resolved, which would destroy it. At
Ter short debate the question was taken,
a. -, -t,,1 a 90 40 NJ ~ rpbe