Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-28


rom basIug the House of Del, cato. numbers |
alone. Senate so constituted, particularly when
It's numbers are extended las he hoped il would DO
tended to SO, and ho intended To fill the blank with
which could bo wished for. He was satisfied in the
belief, that security would be- obtuned-hc used tho
word security, as gentlemen objected to guarantee
III the Senate constitu' cd. lIc may be mis-
taken, though no had not much confidence in his
opinion, hut n would have the effect lac mentioned, If
t'o basis were ~ modified. lie advcrtcd to tho re-
resolution offered by tho gentleman from Fauqu,cr
which was IN the following words;-
Resolved. Tha, IN the superintendent of roprcscn-
taon m the Senate, regard shall he had Ia taxation
exclusively; that the Senate shall consist ofthrty six
members, aud shall have the same Legislative pow
ora, IN respects, the House ut Delegates and all
appointments rctorrcd by the Constitution to both
branches at the Legislature. shall be made by con-
current vote at both Houses
fhis appeared e. hm To CIV" tn the Senate powrt
~ "'lTtnoung tax billS-to gave them concurrent
power. Evrn the United States Senate has not thu
powcr--'t was prohibited by the Constitution Iu,
II tins proposition Of the gentleman from Fauouier.
prevail, 1t wall give {" the Senate power al ORGY
nalnS moncy bulls which Il NOT on'oyrd by any other
S"nStr Tie had rong prc,ilrciion Tor hls propo
sutton He hadno hesitation In allow tho Senate to
TNrrrl>c the power VI veto the measures of the
House ~ Delegates Ike had experience IN this
tVs, and he Nrcterrcd tho practice ~ he Virginia Sc
Ntc - that ~ the United y atcs. The last wear he
eSW 'c h0'r ~ serve IN thc S'uatc o the L. States
. TVNNs'cj aims, ~ many Bills tho House of Re
sNSFi' SltNt> " WAS customary fO present
as - tho Sens,r, snd To or,gnat Bills thereon AT.
Ter They had htcn rejected by the House ot Repre-
ScntN,lvsS. Tie rccVllvctCd this pert city lie had
dahi, that thus subject beng 20 lon under the
consideration the COMMITTEE, gentlemen had made
up their ,,udS upon II. He would therefore leave IL
10 the consideration OF the Committee. He was pre-
pared In listen {" the arguments OF gcncm and he
would sdop' that proposition which to hum appeared
best.
Mr.. DopDRIDGr moved to amend the amendment
by st'ikng out all after the word "buseh and inser
ting me tolowng:--
"On the whole number OF free white persons, in
GLIDING those bound TO service for term ofvears and
taxation combined"
Mr.. TAzEwELL submitted to the Chair whether
the motion was IN order. The gentleman from
Goochland MIR Plcasuntsl had moved an amendment
to tn" original prOposton-ihc gentleman from Eau
qurr MIR. Scoit) had moved an amendment To that
amendment, aud now the gentleman from Brooke
offers an amendment tn an amendment.
The CHtIR decided that the motion was i'm order
The gentleman from Fauquicr having merely given
notice of his intention TO Offer amendment at
proper time, but not having offered It.
Mr.. Z. JOHNSON said, no difficulty on the point of
order could i'll regard to this pruposIton--l,or
would any difficulty be thrown in the way of the
gentleman from FauquIcr. The question now before
the committee, ed to the comparative merits of
the two propositions relative the federal and the
compound basis. Whether he should afterwards
prefer the simple proposition of the gentleman from
Fnuquer To both, he could not now sny, but he did
not hesitate To say that of the propositions now nrc-
scented to him for his chUIcc,--Ihe federal and com
pound basis, h. should prefer the federal numbers
He knew that on the minds of the people there was
an unpleasant impression respecting the introduci ion
OF the federal numbers in any way int O the State
constitution, but he not to be drluded by names
He looked To the character If the thing and exam
Ined the consequences whc her If the mixed basic or
the FEDERAL numbers were adopted, the appor,Ivnment
of power would lie nearly The same He WAS indu
ced to favor the principles of the federal number.
because 1t was simple lis character ensily Ia no
a'ccl AIMED known to the laws-had been habituaIy
aPPled IN practcc-Was not variable at the will OF
the Legislature, nor leaving vii them The discte
ton to change IT they might think fit The com
pound basis was liable to these objections and this
led HIN to vote for the federal numbers and against
tins amendment.
MIR. DoDDRIDGE said hc would make but very
lew remarks If any thing was due to the feelings
VI nose who IT not the majority are a large mnori
y'lt Should impress itself now If the east should
ool" me mixed basis IN either House, the western
pc"Pc VIII believe 1t TO be improper decision OF
Tue convention. As TO numbers, IT there be anv
CEd"Se' ne would prefer to that, the combined basis
Oh persons and taxation. The effect would not be the
same Inc people of color in he east were iRcreas-
ing IN a ratio greater than the whites From 100
the ratio OF increase of blacks had been a. and
traction, while that Of he whites had been but 36
and fraction. The increase of the blacks will he
SILL greater hereafter BY the increase of popuation
and the Improvement of the lands in the west the
amount OF taxes made to the revenue has ncreosed
and ITS burden1ome relation to the General Govern
hlent has diminished As to the propostions befre
purpose OF conciation If harmony could be pro-
duced, 1t wouldNbe almost sufficient to reconcile him
% any sacrhcc SlIll " we must submit, was but
fair TO allow a choice.
One word more: propositions have been made In
increase tile number Of the Senate. He from reAec
ton was particularly opposed to such an increase.
u we retain the number % in the Senate, VIC have
a dlyisor OF the House of Delegate. Concurriug in
the views of gentlemen the other side so far as IN
be unwilling TO disturb the existing Constitute on where
there II no absolute for IT, he was deslrous
to have It undsturbed in this particular. 70 "a as
the number of the Senate, have beon long accns.
toned. For all the purposes of a check it ~ sufTi
Gent The Senate has hcrel oforc been what it wus
intended TO bc-a body Of CAIN, rejecting men not
disturbed by any agitation originating with them
selves, but having time 10 regulate and chick those
OF the other branch-having IN fact much more Il.
cVated ond useful duty To perform than merely TO dot
tho rs and cross the Is of the other body The pro.
portIonof bills from tic House Of Delegates which had
been rejected in the Senate had been afpeit was less
Than usual at the last sesson-hc believed about ten
some ut these ere bills which m their passage IN
TIE House Of Delegates OK tied considerable sensa-
ton There was one bill which was free times re-