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


they will engra no provision our future growth
in population now address myself to the reprcscn-
tativcs from the West, and say to thcm,-we have
now, IN House OF two hundred and fourteen eighty
delegates. The total white population OF the State be-
ing 6S2 900, and the West containing $4,000 Of that
number !, IS entitled on equitable principles, to one
hundred delegates We now, therefore, lose 20 of our
fair proportion Of representation But what shall we lose
these propositions succeed According TO the plan of
the gentleman from CHESTERFIELD (Nr Leigh we are to
lose 2s according to that of the gentleman from North
anpton (Mr. UPshur) are to lose "a: and according
to that oil the gentleman from Albeinare (Nr CoronI
we are to lose 81 We ought to have represents
ton than we have now this grievance and do thew
remedy IL No. Not at ALL they increase IT, They
now control u.s. and they continue to control us
unless the force OF public opinion shall call another
vcnon There Is mo hope for us, unless we settle the
matter now. There can be need of proractinp the
discussions unless the principle of white basis Of re-
presentation Is TO be allowed us. If the Convention
rises, we shall be but where we were before IL
sat. The inequality Of which we have hitherto COM
planned, has been the effect of circumstances n has
been induced by tmc and the natural progress of our
population and improvements but ifhe grievance is TO be
liked by the vote OF majority here II will be no longer
the effect Of time but will be the deliberate act and
deed OF our brethren OF the East and it will be- there
ore more irritating more intolerabe Proc fascinating
our discussions can serve only TO sharpen our own ami
mosities and aggravac the discomfort of the people
1t must be So The public uneasncss is aggravated
with every weeks elaboration of this bos,y If we
can't agree, can't agree:and there Is an end of the
matter believe the people of the West generally,
VIII stop at the point mentioned: such is certainly my
right 70 announce it, as the gentleman from
the gentleman from Charlotte had TO announce theirs
Mr, SCOTT said that tho compromise of Mr.. Gordon
amounted very nearly to allowing the principle of the
white basis according to the of $780, future APP
portionment might be provided for in amendment:
but if none should be agreed upon 1t NAV be important
that the principles which rests should be known that
1t may not be drawn into precedent hereafter IL rested
on neither of the disputed principles: was founded
neither on the white basis the mixed basis or the Fed
eral number IL the question of future apporon-
ment should not finally be settled net their fault
they had offered to meet the West half way and the
quite so far.
Mr.. POWELL rose distinctly TO d.cIaim, for himself
AMI on behalf OF his western friends the npuation
had said that the question whether they me ant
TO divide the State f the principles Of the Eastern por
ton OF should be forced upon ,hem'
Mr.. LEIGH explained. lie had asked If thai arms
to be understood as the question.
MIR. POWELL said the gentleman had ind led put il
as question: but was pregnant question, and car
red the intimation that SUCH their purpose. He
now expressly disclamed any such Interior view. If
gentlemen would force mixed basis upon them il
would be against his consent and against every wish
anu feeling OF his constituents they would riect such
Constitution IL they could: but they cherished no
purpose OF division. But in that event the table of the
Legislature would groan under the of petitions for
redress which womld be presented to il. This would
be the result Of adopting the measure now proposed
Mr. r. said he should go home, and far from pre- ach.
ing separation, he should his utmost efforts TO pre-
serve Union but wherever he could make his 10
he heard he should urge the people Indignantly to re
Jec form of government which did them such gross
injustice Give Us in the House the basis ask and
we will give you in the Senate that which You demand
We shall then hail the moment, Che first in fifty wears
that we enjoy our just rights Mr. p. then advert,d
10 MrJoHNsoNs reply toihe Chief Justice, and insist.
ed that his argument had not been answered and ne
yer would be. To meet the suggestion Of Mr.. LEIGH
respecting struggle between the Houses respect
ing money bills, Mr.. p. had prepared an amendment
which would prevent the lower House from being ever
able TO stop the wheels of government by refusing TO
send up revenue bills.
NJ ID
from Fauquer, (Mr. ScorT) for whose sound manly
practical good he had the very highest respect
tor suggesting that he had really under. stated their
case. The true me'ium between the claims of the
two sides of the House, not that which The gen
eman from Fauquer had stated; but it wa. the Fede
raj number. That was the half way house. But now
hey had agreed to meet not there the half way
house, but at middle point between the half way-
house, and the extreme West This was in reality
giving up, not FJty per cent of their claim but Sc.
renfy.fre per cent of IL. Iasead of taking a middle
point between the half house and their o,on end
oil the road they took between the half house
anu the t'esfern termination Of it. They in
ss'ng on 20 per cent oil their claim, but had
Ell TO take 20 per cent OF it, He had risen to put the
matter on its proper foot.
One word more. and he would resume his seat The
reason whv the argument Of the friend of the geue
man from Frederick, he Mt the gentleman from Au
gusia, lMr. JoHNsoN) had not been snswe red was
mat all he said had been anticipated. The statement
oil the argument by the gentleman from Rchmont
the Chief Justice of the u. States, (AIr. MARsHALI1
had been such as 10 put at defiance. all that
n'u sd'u' OF, all tnat any man on earth could
Where was the necessity Of defending the ortres. of
Gibraltar against the aborve and puny attacks of The
gentleman from Augusta The Chief Justice had pu,
the argument on ground which never could be sha.
ken; and which had no been impug ned than the
fortress OF Gibraltar could be affected by attacking IL
with pocket pistol. He had put il in light-he did
not mean any complimentary which he nut everv
thing That he attempted TO place in a clear Hsbt
He had shewn that the weak and heIpless gov
eminent proposed in the plan of the gentleman from
eierck was not what il was represented TO be:
and had shewn them what compromise The gen
ueman from Brooke (Mr DoDDRIpGE) had stated him
10 nave said that he would be satisfied with what
was technically called the white basis in the House of
Delegates. lie never could: he never would: the GER
uemans constituents were not interested in the
question than his were; and he no reason why his
own constituents were to give up any than those
Of the gentleman (and he did not pretend that then
we're bound TO do SOY This was not compromise on
any just principles il was one in which the West took
the lions SHARE and left TO them Of the East az il tbev
had been Parcel Of Jackas, The refuse and off ls Of
power.
Mr. JOHNSON expressed regret that Mr. CpsHuR's
proportion mad not been finally disposed Of that of
Mr. GORDON bad been brought before the Committee
He should have thoughti desirable that Mr. UPsHuR's
substitute was received O,her gentlemen, however
who acted with him, had thought thi. the better
course and he had acqresced He did not rise for The
purpose oil vindicating the argument he had formerly
ued from the remarks OF the gentleman from Charlotte
or to prove that IL possessed strength which IL did
no lar less had he intended 10 represent himself az in
any respect or on any occasion pretending to he equal
70 the CHIEF Justice: needed ghost (bowng
MIR. RANDoLPH) to inform the Committee of their in
equality. "
Mr.. RANDOLPH said, he had not distinctly heard The
geneman's words; but If they contained any ebosfI