Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-12
TIE CONVENTION.

J
OF the Whole, Mr. Powell in the Chair, ON Judg,
Greens proposition to amend, By striking out white
population as the exclusive basis of represent a ton
and Inserting the combined ratio of population and
taxation.
iIr. Chapman Johnson who was entitled TO the
/ nor 6y Parliamentary usage, then addressed tho
eo'hil'ee until halt past o'cllcli, when finding
hnnSe'f exhausted, he gave WY TO a Dlorit OF MIR
Nih'' LOT the Co'nmute To rise; when melton OF
MIR. Mason the Convention rdiourned
mr.. johnson attracted great crowd, female, and
'ie 10 bear him, and in iorce cquallcd he public
expectation high this was. His reply to Ntr Ur.
shurS conclusion that there 'were no principles in
Government, aud his vndicoton ofhe Bill of ghts
from the ndignities thrown upon it from different
quarters, wns transccndantly abe Some of his
oP'nions-we mean particularly, his Issunation ofbe
ing favourable 20 county Representations gave W. be
lieve very general surprise. We shall speedily pre-
sent his Speech to the public.
TIE BAsIS.-COMPRoAII sH.-I: is cnpi &C
'ured that the debate on the basis OF white populio
Is drawing towards close; arguments being expect
ed from three OF four gentlotnen only. how it vii
result seems TO be pretty we'll understood; namely il
the rejection of Judge Green's amendment and th,
adoption of the resolutions reported by the Legislative
Committee. Fhc vote, however, will Be VERY close
as now thought, l9 At, on thu par cnlar PROPOSE
ton But, Is believed that if the mixed ruio of re-
presentation BIZ conceded TO tbs low country in the
Senate, result now confidently expected the vote IN
favor OF adopting the simple basis OF phi'c Donulatio
by the House of Delegates, will approach SIXTY
Such ut least are the sPacuatipus of Intelligent
ooferVers Yhings, in view, have a nrces-
sary teni'ney to u c'mpromsc- 40 yield tn,
basr of represenetie in House, to the claims
the upper country, backed by republican principles
and the bas1s IN the other, the appreheusions O
their low land bre hren, present the opl,
point Tor compromise. Believing so,mny nat whit
population ought exclusively to oe considered in es
tabiishing the foundation of represen atnn-tha il
truth involves repubiicauisn ITSELF and be rrt
the majority to goveIn, yet hope In u few day
to congrnl ula;e the country on the colupromis+
upon the grounds mentioned above, of q question
80 agi aiing and pcrous to the integrity Of th
State, aud to public tranquility. With that com
promise. we firmly believe, the great body of tn
people will be satisfied as we are sure they ouqh
to be satisfied. The one side aecomplishcs, sub
santialy, its great purpose Of placing the 20
vernRen in the hands of ,jority of the people il
whom the sovereignty is residen.-the other side b
securing an asccndancy in the Senate, keeps in it
hands the or successful resistance to unius
taxation of slave properly, should any such attempt
be made. Phe great ends for which both parties ar
contending, seem to TO be practically gained b
each. That the struggle is one for potoey, US Mr.
Johnson yesterday sad, is undoubted, disguise If a
you may; but never struggle for political power
attended by motives pure aud dis!utercstcd 1t
not in the contemplation of either side to WELD th
power acquired, to the oppression Of the other side
One struggles for right, for the practical enforce
ment of that political equality which is tho spirit
our nstItutions the other for srty, for secur
ty against possible future injustice. Bitterly oppose
NIL along to any compromise upon this pont--bcie,
ing aotc That the basis of white population is the ol
q right md Republican, basis yet we confess ourseve
appalled, by the character of the crisis and aHxiot
now heretofore have been rcpugnant to sc
the question settled by compromises
Were the Convention to break up without doing the
work, might well chances were either side to in
sis upon having what it dcmands, and nothing les
no could ovcrchargc, probably, his picture of tn
consequences. Rather than this fatal result sh u
take place, that it should be hazarde1; rather tina
see division of Virginia. or that state of thing
When one Fec1on OF the commonwealth should a
tempt to put into operation Government Of its
framing, every good ought to be wiling to relir
qush portion of What he Individually wants. Som
or all of these consequences probablc they al
unavoidable did that event occur to which we bnv
alluded above. Nor any man reflect without al
Prehenson, upon the effects of either sides carryn
their wishes on this momentous question, by bar
aud chiefly, sectional majority; victory whic
would leave one or other division Of The state, utter
NAL content, and ready to engage in fresh ard ST
G more embttered contests. TO all these anticipate
evils, compromise, the foundation Of American Co
eminent, presents the only preventive, Did TIN
allow it, would press these views more fully uPc
tue public, and urge upon all parts of the state II
proprety of instructing their delegation upon then
u This question out Of the way, the path IS compar