Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-18
MoNn ~, NoYrArnrn1i

=, Rictmond, ith month 10Th, 1870.
Respected Ffenl,-James Monroe, Presdcn. o
thu Convention.
Elisha Bates Minister in the Religious Society
otFrends, respectfully requests the opportunity of
rciisiGds meeting with the members of the Cunyen-
ELISHA BATES.
On motion OF Mr. DFomgoolo, the letter was or
6ctel to BE- laid on the table.
Eir. Henderson presented Memorial from the
noniEeeholders of Loudoun county praying That thcy
should be allowed the privilege OF voting
The Memorial was ordered 20 be referred to the
Commit c. OF tho whole
The Convention then resolved itasIr into Co,,,,;,
tco q! the whole, MIR. Powell ia tic Chair
M. SCOT then Withdrew his proposition TO amend
"nGh Wa u add to TIN Original r, solution The words
ana III the Senate TO taxation eXciusiveiv.''
Alr. LEIGH of Chess eriicd zen moved to nrnons
'!ic Original resolution By striking all af or tho
~ord that ana Inserting the words, ''reprcsc
non IN the House OF De!SIl b. apportiuicJ an,ug
t.o several c"nn'c ca les and tDlVns in the CON-.
nJnH Ult, according To their re-s,ec,ire numbers
which shall be determined by a;;ting To the Who'll.
number of flee rsous including those bound [. scr
wee Tor term OF years aud excluding Indians not
taxed, 3-5ihs OF al other PERSONS"
Mr. LEIGH said. that It had already ho T. sufficient,
. explained to the Convention that inc general re-
SUI OF tGe scheme ot appOrlionmcUt in this promo
sition applied TO the present circumstances of the
country, Is the same the ba~ is OF thc-rer nan
IRON Cupepcr the intention in row Offering tl.,
amendment was to try the sense OF the COMMITTEE
ON the adoption OF the Federal numbers as the basis
II the House of Delegates. There was some differ
eI!ce II would be seen, between this proposition and
tint OF the gentleman from CulDcpcr. In th, course
o. tho debate on the other proposition !. was s,rcs
CO. that to adopt the compound basis OF taxation md
population was to put in the power OF the East by
according n Just proportion Of taxation on the West
70 McTeise lis own power, ~ the injury OF the gcn
ker portion OF the country. Ii was said TINT such -
the desire to retain power, was manifested by the
constant Course Of the lwlands in the Convent ION
that W may rea ouably expect that The legislature
would TO retain the power in the East, be anxious
TO ay additional burdens Of tlxaton on tina, distrc,
aAato tighten the burdens # the Wes and that This
apprehension const u;ed the oH'cion 10 the scheme
Cf uniting taxation 10 numbers. He wrs M. e,r IN
mat some members my not have voted not against
tle PracPfe OF the compound basis i il were fairly
sPpHcd, bat on account Of the great Inconvenience
end abuse OF power, which they apprclandcd ,ni,,lt
grow out OF the application Of that princjDle The.c
were his reasons for offering the present propositions
70 Inc Committee. He was content with The fdcral
Numbers, beng satisfied that it would prodNcc as
gooi result US any o.hot bas', bch coui be adapt
cd for we have already had experience of its eica
~ nnder tic Ed raj COns;;' uon. Th,s basis
was also recommended 10 his mind, by the conve-
niunco, with which il has been applied. and with
which II may be applied III practice He therefore
hoped that the amendment would be adopted.
Mr.. Nicholas, stated that ever since he had ia
ken his seat IN the Contention, he had felt awful
responsibility resting upon him. He 1t it not on
j. as representing portion Of this Commonwealth
Cnd therefore as representing in part the whole Of
this State. but peculiarly regards the district by
Which he had been delegated to the ConycQlion.--
The change whichis now contemplated III our Con-
s.itutlOn, radical nature, and calculated TO
change our whole system of civilized poiitv. The
conviction Of that fact, supCraddcI the rcspon,i-
by he felt citizen Ut tins State, ca led decide
question which is to operate al future times
Gnd particularly III reference to his own district,
winch viii be exposed to the greatest share of suffer
tng If this change should be made iearfuly in
creased the weight of his responsibility. tie felt
deeply, because on the issue of this question de-
ponds the future peace and tranquility of the Com
tnonwcaIth. He had hitherto taken no part in the
Deliberations this great subject He had not the
vanity to believe that lie could br.Ag forward any
thing which would be worthy OF tho attention of the
Committee; yet conscious Of this, ond although he
preferred listening 10 the wisdom Of others, had he
not been prevented by the feeble state of his health
DC should have !clt il his duty offer some few re-
marks, in vndicatOn of the interests OF those who
had placed confidence in his integrity and discretion
We had arr vcd al al awful period OF the de.ibera-
tions. by the gentleman who last addressed the
Committee, and whose solemn appeal be felt deeply
impressed on his heart, II was slated that the
luton would, frciected, he rejected only by maIo-
fity of one two members. lie could not conceive
awful situation in which any country could be
placed when about 20 make fundamental changes III
- Institutions, than 10 hive those changes produced
~ such 4 majority. WhG. is the situation of the
country? One bali OF the country IL opposed so chc
change, aud what adds 10 the Importance of this
view, IS tint tlp majority not entirely made UP by
persons separated from he East by The Blue Ridge
b.. isnadr up IN Ilt aud only oluccd by the aldl
ton OF members this sir the u' ain, and whom
wc had indiy regarded as our natural allies lie did
rot ccnsurc tho gentlemen for their course for lac
iueW they acted FROM whG' they supposed TO b. the
wish O. thcr constituents but II" would say that tins
4sct supcradded what lie had already stated placed
N alarming view the situation Of the country.
lie asked 1t could be- wise in any country 20 produce
change radical when one hat of the country has
pronounced u 30 b. unwisC--whcn one half the c0un
try has pronounced tina, the change Will subvcrt the
rights, inlure tho interests and destroy tho happiness
OF half tho Satc9 What must be the Eitua ion OF any
country under such circumstances? L. II expected
that any country can be content When one halls consc
enously believes that the changes about to bcmade
must be destructive Of all prospects Of security and
happiness. Any one acquainted with the history Of
mankind must know that country could bc prospr-
rons under such circumstances. The confidence OF
the country IS tho basis on which the Government
stands, aud when half think tho country is op-
pressed what prospect can there hc Of n cordial and
liberal support Of the Government? Eternal ieiousies
and aumOscs must arise ia tho country and is there
any wise man, he would nsk, welded to- his own
views and opinions, to place the country in this 81