Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-02-13

many oil our attacks had been repealed. But wer,
neher routed nor dismayed Thus much, at least w,
mad attained Ii given up on all hands that the nc
ua dSir button OF political power through the territory
ana among the people OF Virginia, under the existing
constitution was too grossly unequal 10 be longer en-
cured and that a more equitable plan of distribution
was ndispensaby necessary. The dsranchised class
inc ho-rechoders too had found favor in the ewes of
majority oil this assembly; and il was ascertano that
constitution would receive its assent bv which four adj
ditonal classes to wit small freehoders reversioners
ana lessees for years and
paying should be admitted participation in the So
veregnY oil the country. Il had also been ascertaned
10 DO the sense OF majority OF this BODY that our un.
wiedy House oil Delegates should be reduced in num-
Der, and the expenses of the government Diminished
Other useful and economical reforms II was Lnown
would receive lis sanction Ii ascertained IT, short
mat although the equal representation of the pcope
couu nor De carried, great approximation towards i;
was att Unable.
Under these circumstances the alternative was pre-
cu 10 he hiends oil REFORM on the hand of aban-
donng the contest and dssoving this assembly with
o" forming any constitution, the other, of en-
dcavoring TO effect something like fair compromise ON
me great and vexed question of the basis of represen
tation
" contemplated, as was my duty, with steady eve
Tue alternative thus presented. saw, the one hand
ne continuance Tor an indefinite PERIOD of that gross
Inequality oil representation which has kept Virginia
oI lreen years, i'm state OF turmoil and confsion.
saw the hopes oil my DISTINGUISHED blast
ed and their passions aroused and cited knew that
large majority oil the people of Virginia considered
themselves nquously held i'm state of political bond
age. knew that threats had been uttered within the
last eighteen months-nOt loud and brawling mesaces
ou when by the manner in which they ut
ereu manifested cool stern, deep and determined pur.
pose hreatS that the nirceholders did no, obDin
ce, IN the convention then anticipated thew would no
longer submit TO the laws and the constituted authorities
-hat they would refuse TO labor the roads "a rank
and papabe grevance)-'bat they would refuse 10 nav
county leves and taxes and perform militia uv thai
II the constituted authorities attempted to enforce the
Paymento oil tho taxes. levies, fines and penalties thew
would resist force with force-I knew bv The resul, S
private census, that in the county of Frederick alone
mere was no less than ttcO thousand tco hundred of
Lese dsiranchiSed citZens-men of full aoeand tia,
uey pore 10 tile freeholders the proportion of nearly
nine TO five. '
" shuddcred at the probable result OF a conflict he
gun by stubborn refusal to obey the constituted au
.nornes' proceeding next to attempt by those au-
ulorues 10 enforce obedience by the posse coD,ita,s-
men umultuary and successful resistance ripening
last into organized urrecon-mtarv array for lilo
passions OF the oppressed and di> fran
chsed classes at length aroused to renzy-and
civil war with all its concomitant horrors-houses vii.
saSGS ana towns reduced TO ashes, and many stricken
nelh strewed with mangled crpscs of our citizens and
arenched with the best bloodof Virginia.
neeve me, sir, this is no rhetorical war, no fancy
picture tell you, sir, for kno,o it, that so sure os
Goa IN heaven, the separation of this assembly with
out redressng, in at least the Grievances
oil the non-reehoders, will be the signal for resistance
passive az "$t' TO the constituted authorities. And he
mas read In vain the history of past ages and other times
and the history of our own revolutionary .truqple
more especially, who does not that even assipr re-
sstance must and will produce an attempt on the mart IF
hS government TO enforce obedience-that that ATTEMPT
VIII arouse the passions of the & that civil war
will be the result ~ '
" This, Mr.. President, was one of the alternatives
carried out to its results, presented by the refusal of
majority of this assembly recognize the canal obts
" me people TO representation in the Legislative bodies
inc DINER as have said, was the abandonment of
long cherished hopeshe sacrifice of great principle
"a principle coeval with the republic itself and en-.
deared tous by its association with all those early feel
gS oil enthusiasm inspired by the story of the rcvou-
oh' nut IN abandoning those hope we did but bow TO
me supreme la OF necessity,-in sacrificing that prn
choice was painful, hut not difficult"
In conformity with the views expressed in tbi, ex
T"c' me W. oil western deiegat n determined 10 ac
ceP' reasonable compromise basis, if such could b..
obtained, in lieu OF the "whe basis in both houses
OF ne legislature. | will not repeat here i'm detail
me history have given elsewhere Of the events of
the three weeks which followed this re solution Sur
nee TO say 'ha oil the compromise plans and there
were several. offered by the eastern members were
excessively Withdrawn reiec od-that i, soon he
came obvious that the choice must be made between
the plan recommended, in the first instance by Gov
fIcasants, which made white population the basis of re-
presentation in the House of Delegates and federal
numbers the basis in the Senate and that recommend
ed by Cen Gordon and forming at present part of the
amended consution-that there was at first consider.
able difference of opinion among the forty-ine as TO the
relative merits OF those pians-tha the 2Sh of No
VenoSr all the members of the ortynine residing east
OF the Blue Ridge Except Col. Monroe whose opinion
was not KNOWN concurred i'm formally Recommending
to the thlrty-sX western members plan of representa-
lon essentially the same with Gen Gordon's shat the
Western meinDefs generally rejected the recommends
on ana expressed their preference for Gov Pleasants
Panthat the greater part of the eastern members of
ue J0TtynHe, thcreupOn expressed their willingness
20 unite with the west in support of that pIan-that Mr.
henderson and myself expressed our preference for
me plan recommended by the eastern members or Gen
Gordons but promised to Tor the other as a COM
promise plan which we hoped would unite all parties
mat the western plan four times offered TO the
house, IN one shape other from the 3Oth of Tovem
per TO the 18Th December inclusive-that it was each
Tune rejected, though Mr. Henderson and myself each
mo pfaH f,r .,J I.gNI.- a.. i
ber Immediately after its fourth rejection Mr. Hender-
son and myself. Gen. Gordons plan being then under
consideration, sgDed in the House our indi dua pre
terence TO the aforementioned plan, explained the rea
sons which had t that time induced TO vote against
1t, and vo:ed fT it, IL carried by vote of 55 TO A
and finally became part Of the constitution now sub
cember ill the final vote the nth ofJanuary zeal.
ousy supported as have already told YOU, the cons-
tuition continuing this compromise plan of representa-
uon. !, alone, OF the thirty-sx members west of the
ridge, voted Tor its final ado ton; Mr.. Johnson who had
on the 18Th December, sgnifcd his intention 10 give
reluctant vote in its favor having been finally driven
from that determination by his disapprobaon, il was
SAID Of the article respecting the right Of suffrage
My reason for zcalousy supporting, and finally voting
Tor, the amended constitution, may be stated in few
WORDS Finding that the true principle of representa-
ton could not be obtained, voted for and supported
the plan Of representation submitted to YOU beca
thought 1t the nearest approximation TO the "whitc
basis which could possibly be obtained and so near an
approximation as 70 be equivalent to it, for the present.
in practical results.
'hese views were sound and correct. And it, in max.
Ing enpi, shall develope advantages in the pro.
posed plan Of representation which did not disclose
while supporting that plan in the convention and IL
s sli to any TO ask DhV jealous e nd
Of the comp onise, did not there disclose lhem will