Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-02


the gentleman from Frederick (Mr. Cooke,) and the
merits Of hch must be weighed In determining the
present question, feel II to be duty which to
myself ard my constituents, that the motives for my
conduct should be distinctly understood. There are
some gentlemen on his floor who, entertaining an en-
thusssc and, doubt honest attachment the exist
ing Conuiion do no, seem disposed to view the
pursued by their adversares with sufficient induly
Hence we have had charges which 1t become. those
assailcd TO repel-charges of such nature may he
bet repealed bya free aud candid exposition of our
tves aud conduct
Though 10 not profess, sir, 10 have made roii-s
my study, to have had much experience in public
af,irs there is truth deeply impress ed my mind
which cannot escape the casual observer. Who
ever acts the part OF statesman, however humble
however distinguished, is compelled if he be honest,
IN make great sscri6cc On this OCCASION feel nv
self constrained by sense of duty 10 make sacrifice
Of opinion, OF feeling, even OF consistency itself II
shall he nsde, freely made-upon the altar of my
country. without be.ta,iDg moment to consider the
consequences personal TO myself. My only answer,
Therefore, to the charge of inconsistency is that con-
tess and ustyit What is my justification The peac
the happiness, the safety OF Virginia. Mr. Chairman
this is u ementous crisis in the destiny of our state.
In this Assembly convened bv hs highest exercise Of
sovereign power the waves Of controversy have risen
toa great height-thcy have extended beyond us in
every direction. AMI threaten 10 overwhelm the whole
Commonwealth. We are now TO determine whether
we shall pour oil upon those waves. permit the storm
rag. with reckless and ressess fury Is this time
to indulge the pride OF opinion, the spirit of party the
love OF consistency; does the demand the
Influence of widely different and far higher motives!
IL must now be obvious TO all that, il this disagree
able dangerous controversy TO be happily adjusted
the only practicable IL that of com promise The
psrtiss thi. floor may be regarded equally ba.
Ianced. We have a majority OF two I'm favor Of the
white basis i'm the House of Delegates but il is well
understood that there is an equal majority opposed to
similar basis in the Senate II both parties should re.
main nlcNb:, what hope il there of profitable ter
mutation of labours! L. the contest TO he contin-
ued throughout the whole o. The session, and upon all
the details of the subject Il this que ton Of relative
political sower TO m;nele il ef with anil influence the
confederation and decision of every proposed amend
men ia the Cons'i:u'ion' Shall exhaust our own
patience and that OF The people, and finally home,
not the hsrbirg-rs OF reconciliation and pe ace but OF
in'erminable iiscord and hatred?
These consdera ions have forcei uron my mind the
nece s'ty Of compromsr, and have Welded TO lha,
necessity, though not without great repugnsnce anil
difficulty. act upon my own responsibility, without
lledging or committing my constituents in the slight.
est degree. They will decide for themselves; and are
capable of estimating The magnitude of the proposed
concession on tier part and OF the mi chiefs which it
is intended 70 obva;e.
have been much surprised 10 hear il repeatedly as
serted, that we have shewn spirit of conciao, en-
our part and disposition meet the adverse marty
on middle ground. What, Sir was the oripln,I de.
mand OF the Western members, and those associated
with them! They contended for the bas. Of white non.
NlAiion IN both bran' hes of the Legs "a required
by Justice sound policy, and the fundamental prnci-
piles of our republican system. They were vigorously
re'iSte, on the ground, that property Guild he rem
dered insecure, by looking only numbers in the ap-
portionmen' OF represen alton. II denied but
on the contrary admitted, by several of the Eastern
members that, as general rule, the majority QUO bt
TO have the ascendancy in a Republican Government,
But, The conflicting interests existing in Virginia were
appealed TO az ius' flying departure from IN Al rue-I
ask, security Tor property not the great and only
OBJECT declared by ,ho'e opposed TO the basis of white
POPULATION; and il that security by me ans of represen
,a"on all 'a' IL dt'ire, whether II b. furnish
by he concession of federal numbers in the SENATE,
We hive been charged at moment with incon.
sist'h"v and at another with inf -xibie per,inaciv-
Ihese lnpu'aons may be retorted, with much more
p'opriety, against those from whom they have pro-
ceeded Repre+en' a'ion, according federal mum
bers was not, in The first instance demanded in this
Assembly by our aiversaes IL was not proposed I'm.
I'll alter strength had hecn gained here and with the
peope, by The powerful efforts made to excite alarms
Tor the s"cnrity OF property. AT first nothing more
than The mixed basis OF white population and .xa,op
was required think may conf len'Iy as.-r,, that a
coHproni'r might have been had early in the Session
Ivy yielding the mixed basis in the Senate-at al events
by yielding the hais Of taxation in that branch OF the
Legi'A"re The latter prcpo ition, will be recocct-
cal, was oil red scheme OF compromise by the
tIeman from Fsuqui"r (Mr Scott
But, even il The federal numbers for both branches
oil tn Legislature had been originally demanded on
this Hoor, we surely meet our aiversses on middle
ground when Offer 10 yield that basis in the Sen.
ate, and insist only upon representation according 10
white popu'a'ion IN the House OF ID egaes. Genl.-
men must not re gard u' concrdng nothing on our
Par' because they choose TO consider pretensons
dangerous or visionary. They will gain nothing nv
teatns all propos ons fer alterations of the cx ip
system a. the wild schemes Of revalu,ioniss and mad
rcform"r'. Let every proTn.iion he examined uron
rs own IN 'rs, and adopted, wi-e or rejected if mis-
ievou' For mv'e can freely de clare ,hat the, ar
lew meners OF this assembly no estimate the exist
ing con ''niion more highly than 10. So far from
having any thirst for Innovation have been uniio mi y
opposed 10 the ciil OF Convenon lieving the ursc
neal operation oil tn govcrnm nj TO have been ubsan-
TALLY COOL and fearing 10 hazard hle- sings attained ia
sS"rch ii others, perhaps unai:ainab!e am not dis.
roed however, 10 shut my eyes against the defects oil
the present constitutions and there is surely none 50
glarng - the incq Iay If representation. On thi.
al MT 4 rstOr m.
existing plan ct couny representation has advocates
in this Congcnon-no che here will raise Liz voice in
favour Of system which gives third of tn. peo
pie The esc OF one ball the rcprtscn natives in the
moN n"mcroIs branch Of the legislature; which nj ,ce.
the sm Hest county on equal footing regards 10 iii
cal power with Others ten ines superior in populaton
territory an. wealth. Even my worthy and eIoquen
friend Om Charles City (Mr. Tyle) whose consiituen
have much to be psrIis to the present va.
ien tel; himself Compiled Yesterday to SUR ennet
the undue advantages which they now enjoy 10 VIVA
he cOn.iaers The common good
IL being conceded on all hands that the present plar
oil representation is defective and oughtto be reformed
the question has p arisen in what mode the Oh
Jcct ought to be effected? question which neces ariI,
involves the prin ples by which are to be governed
came here, sir with the most perfect convictions cl
sun remains mistaken, that represcn alton ought 10 Ia
app)rtioned, with all practicable equality throughout h
Commonwealth, amongst the qualified voters and tina
no regard 10 relative wealth oher considerations ca,
just bcsueciien oil The ma y TO the power and do
Dinion OF th minority. la common with the othe
members from the western part OF the State 1 hay,
bcou induced for the already suggested and in
the hope OF quoting the public mind, now so greatly
agitaed, make concession which il was hoped woui
would he satisfactory TO most OF orr eastern brctrea
The compromise proposed by US, while il does not sur
render the principles for which we have coBtendcd fur
all Tho ito s,,.s. -