Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-08


analogous case produce that inmedeabHe ruluus. for
which time has no leniiive and no physician cure.
lDeoote to be Continued
JUDGE MARSiiALL'S SPEECH.
From the late hour Friday ng "A, which Re
porter skeiched he Remarks of Judge Msrsha in the
Convention, Friday last, had not the opportunity
oil presenting them with Judge Ms rcvision.-S ome
errorshavng crep, into the original Report. seize
the eares, occasion OF laying the following authentic
Sketch Of it before our readers
IS ta BASIS OF EXPERIMENTATION tt
MIR. MARsHALL rose and addressed the Chair. near
~ as foows
Two propositions respecting the basis of representa-.
ton have divided thi. Convention almost equally One
party has supported the basis Of white alone
The other has supported basis compounded of white po
puaton and taxation; which IL tho same thing in
its result, the basis OF federal numbers. The aoeston
has been discussed until discussion has become
IL has been argued until arguments exhausted. We
have now met on the ground Of compromise Iis now
no longer question whether the or the other
be adopted entirely but whether shall, compro
MISE adopt combination Of the two unite the
House on something which may recommend o the
people Of Virginia, with reasonable hope that it
Now, when the subject Of eomproni.e, tive propo-
sions are again submitted to the Committee; Of
hems that the two principles originally proposed sha
remain dsocti one OF them tung the basis of the
House OF Deleg ates, and the other Of the Senate The
other proposition is that the two principles shall be
bined and made the basis Of both House,. This latter
proposition presents the enact middle ground between
white population exclusively, and the basis Of white po-
puiation combined with taxation, or what has been de-
nominated the basis of federal numbers
The motion OF the gentleman from Aughsta, (Mr
Johnson) to strike oat the word Resolved from the
proposition oil Fred by the gentleman from Northampton
Mr Upshu,)i il intended to substitute the combined
RATIO which IL the foundation of that gentlsman'.
scheme the proposition of the gentieman from Freder
lex, (NIr Cooke which to introduce While popuIaiion
exclusively the basis OF the House Of Dele ates and
white population and taxation combined the basis of
the Senate This is the question now be fore the Com.
mtee.
We engaged on tie subject of compromise,-a
compromise OF principles which neither is willing TO
surrender. The very term implies mutual concession
Some concession must be made on both Sides but the
quannn TO be made by each.mu depend the re,.
i've situation OF the parties, and this must be considered
before right Judgment be formed on the subject.
Let us enquire, hen what is the real situation OF the
parties on this question. On this enquiry will epend
the reaonableness OF any compromise that may pro-
posed.
The past discussion shows conclusvey the sincerity
with which each principle has been supported. There
can he no doubt OF the honest conviction OF each side
that its pretensions fair and Just The claims of
both are sustained with equal sine Gritty and equally
honest convictions that their own principle correct
and the adversary principle is unwise aud Incorrect
On The subject OF principle no,hiag be added adj
vantage can be claimed by either side for can
be entertained Of the sincerity of either. To attempt
now to throw considerations of principle into either
scale. is TO add fuel flame which il is our purpose
to-exunguish We must lose sight of the situation OF
parties and state of opinions, ii make this
" hat is that sifuafion2
question has been taken in the Committee on the
proposition hrst submitted to and il has been carried
bya majority OF two. Is possible rnder existing cir
cumstances, that any ccafdence be reposed in this
decision' Can either the majority minority feel any
confidence that the same question will hereafter be
gain decided precisely in the manner! Can be
blind to the actual working OF public opinion? Do not
gentlemen believe Il 10 be more probable that least
some one of the members Of this majority, may change
his opuion thus leave The House equally divided,
Is il not probable that still greater change NAV
take place, 10 place the present scanty mority
' '"e sa'"s rAwcity of numbers on the other side!
"a" any &c ntieinan be confident how this question will
he ultimately decided None of us can be certain Il a.
ITS result in the House will be the that has bee
in Committee, -,
But let us decide one way or the other II the ma
Jorly snail be so small II the opinions Of the Conven
non snai ne so nearly balanced, the Constitution will
20 orih TO Tie people, deriving little additional
weight from the recommendation of this body The |
majority and minority viii have almost equal weight, |
snd the Constitution will rest on itself. Is H. possible to
conceal from ourselves that the powerful nts
the minority conveyed to the people throug press
supported by the cooperating of large district
OF country whose weight has been placed in the oppo
SITE sra'", may produce great effect? The endesvor
would be vain TO conceal the facr that in part the
Eastern country-hat lying upon end South Of James
river near the Blue Ridge, there interests which
must and will operate with great force unless human
nature sh1 cease to he what it has been in all time.
III Is impossible TO say what may be the influence OF
those interests abroad though they may exert none on
The members Of this Convention 1t is impossible to
say how lar they may affect the adoption reieci
oil the Constitution. BIT il is by means certain that
Tins change in public opinion will not be felt in this bo
dy also. Admitting gentlemen to retain their theories
Incomes which they maintain with perfect sincerity.
sill there exists another theory equally republican and
which they equally respectthe theory, that the du-
y OF arepresentave TO speak the will Of his constt-
uents. We cannot say how far this may carry gem
temen. Neither can we say what will be the ultimate
uecislon oil TINS House or oil the people.
Taking this view Of The OF parties IL is mani
lest that 10 obtain Just compromise, ssion must
not only be mutualit must be equal also. The claims
at the parties are the same Each ought to concede
10 the other as much he demands from that other,
and thus meet on middle ground. There can be no
hope that either will yield than il gets in return.
What as that middle ground7
One party proposes that the House OF Dele aes shall
be formed on the basis of white population exclusively
and the Senate the MIXED basis Of white population
and taxation the Federal numbers. The other
party proposes that the white population shall be
bined with Federal numbers, and shall, mixed in
equal propositions, form the basis Of represe ation in
both Houses. This last proposition must be equal
All ee II 10 be equal. liz the two principles are com
bined exactly. and thus combined, form the basis Of
both Houses, the compromise must be perfectly equal
Il the other proposition equ,R ask the gentlemen
who make il il they think il so!
The party in iavor OF the compound basis in both
Houses have declared their conviction that there 10
equality in the proposition. They least IA nix il un-
equal How can they accede TO proposition az a com
promise which they firmly believe TO he une.
quail! DO gentlemen OF the opposite party think ii
equaR u they DO, why refuse TO take what they Of
fer to us,
They consent that the Senate shall he founded
on the miS@d basis, and the House of ID .egaes on
the white basis. II this be equality. why will they not
take the Senate? There can be only for
jecng h,hey think the proposition quail. If tho
Senate would protect the East will il protect the
Vest also? IL the proposition is equal when the Sc
nate Is rendered by them to us is IL not equal when
rendered by US TO tbem9 II it's equal IL must be
matter Of absolute Indifference TO which parfv