Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-10

ton combined the basis of the Senate This is
the question now before the Committee. We are
engaged on the subject Of Compromises conlpro,
mise OF principles which neither are willing to CON
eeue' Inc very term compromise, Implies mutual
CONCESSION. Some concession there must be- but
tue quaRtutn vi concession by the two parties must
aePenn on cIrcumstances,w which should be well consi-
uerea before we commit ourselves. Mr.. NJ remind
ed them OF the state of parties In the Convention:
.nal on former occason,'it was true the Western
members had carried their scheme by majority of
TWO votes; blu; that the change of sinple member
aud the change might be easily brought about bv the
chanTe OF opinion of the member himself or the ey-
preston OF different opinion in his district to which
~ ooeuence to the republican doctrine of instructions
ne would DE bound to submit, would produce an equal
DIVISION OF the whole body. The change two mem
pers would reverse the majority in the House. aud n
sihi1ar caange, was understood to he going on
among the people to the East of the RIDGE =
None OF us can be certain tlarsShe result Of the
question IN the House viii be the same as il has been
| lii thus Committee. Let us decide one way or the
other' II the majority should be So small and the
opinions OF the Convention s1ll be nearly balanced
tlerc VIII be scarcely any weight in the reconnen-
dation or the Convention. Tie majority and minor
ny VIII have equal weight, aud tho only WEIGHT will
De IN the proposition itself Is il possible to con-
csal from ourselves that the powerful arguments
'he minority, conveyed to the people through the
press, and supported by the interest felt in the cues.
ton on the side of the minority may not produce
desire to Conceal the fact, that in part of the cas-
tern country, and that South of james river there
arc interests which must and will be felt with force
unless human nature shall ceas. to be what j. has
been in all time. 1t is impossible TO say VIVA, NAV
be the influence of those interests abroad, though
they may exert no Influence on the memhoys of
this Convention. Aud it is by no means certain
that thay Will have no influence here also. Admit
ting gentlemen to retain their theories theories which
they are perfectly honest in maintaining still there
is another theory equally republican with them viz
that 1t is the duty of representative to speak the
WI! OF his constituents. can't say how far this
may carry gentlemen, neither we say what will
be the ultimate decision either Of this house or of
the people.
Taking this view of The s,a,e of parties il is
that compromise to be just must not only be mut,,
al, but equal also. The claims are the same on both
sides: each ought To concede to the other all they de.
mand and thus meet middle ground There can be
no hope that either party will yield more than it gets
in return.
What is the middle ground? One party proDose tba,
the House OF Delegates shall be based upon white
population exclusively and the Senate on mixed ra-
ito of population and taxation or on Federal numbers
The other party's proposition is that the white basis
and the federal numbers shalt be combined in one
average ratio OF the two and that this ratio shall be
made the bass OF representation in both houses
The last ct these two must be equa all feel it TO be
equal 1.-THE two principles combined exactly ant
made tue basis OF both houses il is equal per.
| fectiy so' Is the other equal? ask them il
Of Basis in aoase a s is tn e,
ton that ihefe inequality in the propocn-they
ton they firmly believe be unequal Do Others think
eqqaEIf they do why not take wiia they offered
basis, and the House of Delegates white basis IF not
why mott there can be only proposition
unequal II the Senate protects the east does not
The west also! If the proposition equal wen offered by
them 10 US Is not equal when offered ,he2 If i,
equal no matter III which house is established II there
any olcuity, Is because 1t IS unequal And if it unequal
can gentlemen believe that inequality caDbe embraced ougb
that has been used both Sides proposition for com
promise, with much Joy the inhabitants of polar
Can prove be faacious, Is meteor and not the slo
rIous mnary that gives gladness alp Ye, must be so
II we do not meet equal ground If meet on the
line that divides and shake hands make our
mise equal it is vain to hope tina, any compromise can be
made.
Mr. MERCER said the same good feelings with which
he entered on the duties imposed upon him when he
came here, still remain unmpaired, notwithstanding
the debate which bad taken place the day before yes
tcrday All asperities had ceused and the fcelinos
which were evinced III the proceedings of Yesterday
produced by the ahtecedent debate, had. he honed
now subsidized. He had listened with the greatest pos
slble attention-aDd he might say with truth with
sentiments OF flia affection not surpassed by the feel
ings which had bound him to parent long since re
turned 10 the dust; yet he not able 10 meet his
proposition. Complete justice had not, he tbouoht
been done to his side Of the question In looking over
| the arguments of our opponents they all were dedu
ced from this principle that if equal portions of peo
| pie always possessed equal wealth, then number,
would be fair experiment of political power But
1t was said that could not be done, owing 10 the ne
cuIiar condition OF peculiar species Of properly
which was taxed for the ordinary support of govern
inent, and that therefore It required protection.
What was the course, he asked, of the Legislative
Committee? 1t was suggested by the venerable Pre-
sident oft to divide the vote, to take the senst
OF the Committee on each question. When the divi.
sion took place we had q majority on our side md VIC
claimed the venerable head ofthe body as to the uues
ton of tbe-b basis in the House of Representatives.
After the debate of the question in the House we ar
rived at result of majority OF two in our favor
Under these circumstances we might have adoDtef
that principle, aud having arranged the right Of suf
frage proposed adjustment and have sent the whole
to the people. Then would have had Senate
1867 and the House of Delegates OIL the same fonn
d uion The Instructions which had been sent from
Norfolk to member of this body had been referred
to, but they were counteraced by those sent to the
gent man from LoudoD. The majority acted with
moderation and forbearancc aud he asked if in con-
cedng the federal numbers as the basis of the Sen
ate, spirit of Cancellation was not evincod by US
He referred to the mode in which he understood the
gentleman from Orange MI Madison stated the pfn-
cinl of Lln fnlnrnl lIlrllnrc n1lcrlt