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


be adopted in both Houses, the increase OF population
and taxes to the West might give them the balance Of
power about that time
NJ. THOMPSON said he was BY no means tenacious
he would Withdraw his amendment. And he withdrew
II accordingly.
Mr. JoHNsoN, sdverting 10 the expense of taking
an assessment OF all the lands OF the State, thought that
once in ten years too frequent and that in 20
wears would he sufficient. His view would be to fix
su superintendent OF representation among the great
divisions Of the State and then let the county rep
resentption be made as equal possible among the
large counies He moved every fwenty years. instead
Of every ten.
Mr.. POWELL, with the consent of Mr. DoppRIpoE
varied his amendment, as TO read lSil instead Of
1910.
Mr. DoppRfpGE could not accept a modification
the suggestion Of Mr. JOHNSON, ~ TO increasing the
interval between the assessments from 10 to 20 years
Mr. PowELI said that with the deepest solitiude
aRy human being could feel, he had turned his atien-
ton 10 the proposition Of the gentleman from Abemarle,
with view TO find whether i, contained any thing that
would warrant him in voting for it. He regarded the
peace aud good feeling OF the West as Of vast impor
tauce, and most DESTROYS to secure B but he real
IL could not bring himself vote for the plan unless
some additional provision should he appended to it, hav
ing respect to future arpcr ioument. He hoped some
thing OF this kind which he could approve, would be
united with IL, and then II should have his support
Mr. Scorr in reply to Mr. DoppRIDcE Il, observed
that seemed the gentleman who moved the present
amendment had changed his opinions the subject Of
Government. The House had heard from that gentle
man and from others who acted with him, very able
and ing .nous discussions the principles OF Republic
cshi.m They had laid down, priori, what were the
distinctions between Republic and an ari'tocracy,
AMI an ogarrhy and this proposition that, had been
pronounced acceptable to them according as il squared
with those 6xed, unsl,erable, priort principles de-
rived from nature aud the fitness Of things They. on
his side Of the House. had contended for opposite doc
trines they had insisted that in establishing Govern
ment respect must be had to the interests OF the GO
verned:-that men were always swayed by INTEREST,"
that il was dangerous TO trust to their passions and
that there must be check and control founded in their
-Lol. t,n,. Nn., q
peared, the gentleman had. at length, become
vert to their sentiments For. his main objection to the
plan OF the gentleman from Chester ield this, that
the only guaranty contained for the security OF the
West was, that The members OF Eastern Legislature
would be governed by principle Now, il seemed,
men very prone 10 he governed by interest, and
ell that had been said about conscience and moral
sense, SC. not to he regarded The gentleman had
formerly told the Convention that the Of
slave pronerty utterly cious TO him and to all in that
portion Of the State from which he came. But the gen.
tleman this jec also: and he
the man who proposed 10 cngraf the scheme Of COM
promise that principle of the representation OF
Slave Property. The gentleman had addressed him
self 10 Eastern Virginia, and very successfully. So
successfully, that he had induced them, ont of magma
nmity 10 orego the interests of that section of country
for the sake OF principle, principle, and in pursu
ance Of the true doctrine Of Repubicanism. But now
the gentleman said to those very men, ask you de
feat and overturn those doctrines which believe
be the priori truths Of genuine Republicanism; and
ask you, further to engra upon the plan Of compro.
mise principle which have decared before the world
be unjust and odous and to do this in such way as
10 PROSTATE the interests Of Your own Constituents for
the sake OF those of gentleman from Brooke. When
the gentleman had said he was willing 10 make this
sacrifice for the sake OF compromise, they had asked
him why he would not consent to engraft The same
principle on the House OF Delegates, The ingredient
the same in either House. The answer was fur
nshed by his present course Itnow seemed that the
principle by which he had been governed, and the
only priucplc regard 10 western interest. Now,
the gentleman avowed the principle that men are gov
hv tbeirv soli int And ssitu ataI
the gentleman hoped 10 prevail with Eastern Virginia
10 induce her defeat his favourite principle IS that
TO the injury Of her people! So far was Mr.. S.
from regarding the Federal number in the Senate
protection, that he esteemed il even than The
white basis alone II had rather accept the white ba-
sis in both Houses. To organize one House one ba-
sis and the other the oher would be to provide for
perpetual war between them.
The feature avowediy odiou' 10 the people Of the
west, yet the gentleman pressed to have inserted. He
would not say that this was done because that princ-
Pile odiou. TO The Vest hut this obvious, that
IL the gentleman wished 10 render the new Consu-
ton dstaseul and odous the West, this was direct
mode OF eflec,ing that object
Why not accept OF the compound ratio. its e ffe ct
would be almost exactly the same. He would not an
the question. How easy would il be TO expe this
principle from the Consi,uton! The People Of the East
began already 10 he pesented in unfriendly manner
TO their western brethren They called "tte Eas
tern Dons" The terms "blsck Senate" and ''negro
Senate already heard And with ih. spirit pre-
vailng. the West TO have the entire control of
the House Of D,legacs. Who dull not TO antici-
pate the process. The lower House send up popular
Bill The Senate reject it, the West complains of the
rejection. Next year, the Bill is sent mp again.
The Senate again reject il. The clamor the odium /,
increased. Other Bills got upor the very purpose:
framed to insure their rejection These are sPnt
up in succession. and one after another rejected In
the Senate and this Ia repeated until at length the
pie OF the West told and made believe IL, tn al
they desp=ed and ramped on. The next step is 10
pass Bill in the lower House for the calling OF Con-
ven,ion. That Bill is rejected in the Senate The
,umult is heightened. Next session another Bill
for a Convention is il is rejected again And
what IL the step? IL is hs-tO call CONVEX tion
by resolution # the House Of Delegates tho Conven~
ton meets and the obnoxious principle is expelled from
tho Constitution.
| now ask, said Mr. s.. if bis purpose has not bee %
formed, and been 0Dotced since this Conr ention has
been assembled! Nothing, certainly, is more ea.y oi
accomps hmen'. This aristocraiic feature branded in
is very birth with the odious OF Names VIVA,
chance has il 10 contend with popular commotion and
csba' For my part had much rather surren.
DIR the hole ground a, once.
Mr.. ScoTT concluded by moving 10 amend the
amendment of Mr.. DoDDRIpGE by Transporting the
Senate ant House OF Delegates that the House
of Delegates should he based upon Federal number
and the Senate white popustion exclusively
Mr.. Mccoy spoke IN reply. The gentleman from
Fauquier has said that plot has teen formed. and
avowed, to blow up this negro Senate l tell him,
TINT there is such po., have never heard OF it,
The gentleman from Feuquier may hear what do not.
Bat. have much heard Of the plot he at.
tributes to The whole body with whom act. He char
ges US with Inconsistency. This charge DO not take
to myseiI have never denied that the People OF Vir.
gins, in Convention, may base their Constitu-
ton in whatever peases them best. But throughout
abe whole of my political lite, have always thought
that Government ought not TO be based upon property
ajs my belief that wealth will always take OF IT,
SELF and that il has much interest and influence in
-.rfe aIlt 49, -. - l..