Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-17
RICHMOND, TUESDAY, .WOTEAfBER Ia.
PaoGRxss OF THE CoNvENrIoN.

The Proceedings of the Convention have increased
In interest since last account Of them-Some ques
tons have been taken at last of very great Importance
and speeches have been delivered which have been dis
tnguished by great ability and brilliant cloquenccwc
refer to the sketch which follows these remarks for
satisfactory view both Of the questions and tho Orators
Our brief remarks will give mere coup aii of
either.
On Saturday, Mr. Stanard again took the floor, in
continuation Of his Speech He supported the amend
rnent Of Mr.. Green, which claimed for the House Of
Delegates. the compound basis of population taxa
ton. Mr.. Stanad spoke than hours and COM
mandcd the profound att. ntion of the Committee
When he closed, there short pause. No one rose
and the Chairman almost in the act of PROFOUND
ing tho question, when MIR. Randolph rosefor the first
time TO address the chair 1t not only the first time he
had spoken in the Convention but the time in the Can.
io in this City, 1t will be recoectcd that Mr. r. has
never been member Of the State Legislature-but he
had made his Debut i'm the III. of II. at Philadelphia
in the year '99-and his eoqucnce had never been
displayed. except In Congress, among his own Con.
situents. There hundreds In this City, there.
FORE who had heard hiin-besiIes many sanyers
and several Of the members Of the CONVEX ton Itself
And 10 remarkable that Mr. Madison himself was for
the fret time TO hear him speak at large.-The Gal
isry and Lobby OF the Hall were crowded-As many
came as could get places. and none who could be nc.
commodael, went away.-Mr. r. spoke about two
cal illusions, his brilliant wit with rather too much of
sarcasm, though less than usuai) his ingenuity and
force Of statement, all contributed rve the attention
upon this mastery exhibition. He surpassed our own
expectations, high as they were.
No one succeeded Mr.. r.; and the Oh air Put the
question on Mr.. Green's amendment, the object OF
which was to apportion the H. OF ID on the mixed ba-
sis Of population and axation.-It was decided in the
negaive-47 to Al. and the Chair voting against il. ma
king 4S 10 Al Zone member absent or being overlook
ed In the count -Mr. Scott then Immediately submit
ted another amendment, the effect Of which would have
been to, base the III. of ID. population and the Sen.
ate on taxation exclusively-bu question was taken
en- II, and the Convention adjosrned till Monday
Yesterday Mr.. Scott withdrew his amendment, and
Mr.. Leigh Of Chesterfield proposed the Federal
Basis Tor the ii. Of D.-This gave rise to much debate
1t was supported by Messrs. Nicholas and TazeweIl
n'peeches OF some length who took the ground of
the whole dscusson-& opposed by Messrs Cooke Mer.
Ger, Doddrdge and Johnson, Now and then there was
aspeech, by way Of episode.-Mr. Monroe again ap-
psared in the discussion, and gathered the members
around him He spoke before Mr.. TaxewelI. He again
raised The warming voice Of Mediator; declared him
SELL in the strongest terms, in favor OF Cancellation
and compromse-suggsstng his preference for tina
white basis in the H. OF D.-and the federal basis in the
Senate Finally the question taken and MIR Legh's
amendment was rejected, ayes At. 40. (Among
the ayes, as among those Saturday, we find Messrs
Madison and Marshall; among tho noes, Mr.. Monroe
The Committee Immediately rose. and the Conven-
fion adjourned; with no amendment before them.
And thus the question stands. And when il TO end
10 beyond our sagacity to divine But we frankly con-
Tess, we not pleased with the present Signs of the
Times The temper of the Conv enlion is onng less
concliaory. Disappointment can have tendency to
soohe the minority; while a msagre majority can be
little satisfied by the vote of two, which they they now
possess More Of the acid has=Rsen infused into the
Dehae-and in private societies, we hear Sentiment.
openly and freely expressed, which taken seriously and
literally, promises any thing but happy termination to
the abours of the Convention. Ought this state of
things to continue? Can any thing but i'll, Of il:
Is II not time, this question at least, 10 term-
nate the Debated Mr. Monroe has attempted TO throw
himself into the breach, and whatever may be thought
oil his proposition, gratitude is duo 10 him for his
generous interpretation But, where his distinguish
ed patrots We respectfully think TINT now is the
time to act-ihat dignus uindice nod,s There mus,
be active interpositjon- there be liberal conca-
tion1he same sfiTit which presided the formation
OF the Federal Constitution must be invoked on the
present occasion" The Constitution which we now
present (says Gen. washington) is the result of spi-
cit of amy AMI Of that mutual de fcrencs and
sion, which the peculiarly OF political situation
cered indispensable."r spirit must be called
up nowor we have dangers to dread. fatal to the uni
ty and glory of the S,atctaaI, perbap', to The Union
OF these States.
As we write these lines, which give us 90 much
PAIN to put upon paper, emboldened 10 ask
not time to close this ominous discussion! IL not
time for the wsest and most venerable memtess
OF the Convention TO inerpose the great influence of
their names and characters, and make another effort
Tor the good of their country! IL il not time for gentle
men to come forward at once, 10 commune with each
other, and frankly say how far they willing 20,
how far TO meet each ohor! to close this debate and
acting upon suggestion which has been thrown out by
subject matter OF the Debate TO a small end Select
COMMITTEES; there to let the Propositions be frankly
heard, AMI some liberal arrangement be made which
may satisfy the great mass Of the people! All capnn..
get that ihsy-xisb. Something is due 10 the Spi-
rit of hmty" which ought TO bind together brethren
OF the same family. We know that there are many men
con each side willing 10 concate and yield something
Ahd surely IL matter OF little which 10 to
yield the point Of Etiquetfe be the part of
the minority to ask for terms Of the majority to az.
ply for them In fact this minority and majority are bu,
TeIdfiUc terms-They may change with the particular
question which Is agtsted-or what is the majority one
day leo small mad meagre il necessarily be)
may change the next with the will Of the people
For, must be noted that in two three Districts
there sa movement in the popular mind there i, no
knowing where tmay ultimately rest.
But why should we higgle about a majority or mi
nority Why sickle for the empty etiquette of
ta,tr hall feat ..l r.