Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-02-20
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MT. LIE was SuTpIlSeu UI tnC iSStS'. rpl.
ordinary course Of proceeding on inns Din. IN.
bill was very different from The one before IcJectea.
He hoped The members, in defiance OF The star ", "a
ton law" would be willing 10 remain ana ais'
pose OF the important business before inc f1ouse'
Mr.. FLOWERS had been satisfied 81 Inc re-.
marks OF gentlemen from the East, lhat 'l'e,s
would be no Convention upon a plan acceP'dul,e,
10 the West. He did not believe ina. the ~,
would now pass in an acceptable form. II Wouia
only result in Convention on the mixed Dasis,
ami he as Western man was prepared now 10
vote against The BILL MIR. Flowers moved Inc m
definite pos,ponment OF the bill.
MIR. EDGINGTON concuTed in opinion win
the gentleman from Harrison. Every days e1-
| perience had satisfied him that no bill would De
passed which was calculated to allay Inc eAcNe-
| ment in the West. He called upon gentlemen
from the Eas, and from the West TO unite with
him in preventing this bill from being loreed upon
| the people.
MIR. BANKS called for the previous question.
Mr.. MCPHERSON hoped The House would
NOT sustain the call If the gentleman would
Withdraw il, he would promise not TO occupy as
much time in The discussion OF the bill, as ne
would in opposition TO the call OF The previous
question.
Mr. WEST asked the gentleman to withdraw
| The call. The gentlemen from the West were in
| peculiar position and should be fully heard
upon question of so much interest to them and
10 their constituents.
Mr. SCOTT remarked that The Eastern gen.
llemen held majority on this floor, yet he did
not think il right TO prevent gentlemen from the
West from explaining and defining their positions
Nr. DAVIS would oppose the call Tor the pre-
vious question if he believed that the house
would be edited by the discussion. Members on
this floor might adopt the language OF witness
on a certain occasion, who after being examined
| tn
thing more Of the matter in controversy, and re-
piled that he had already told all nc knew and
little more besides.
Mr. THOMPSON of Boletourl, believing that
the people were the source of all powers and ca
| bic OF selcgovenment would vote for reie
renee of This subject TO the people and abide by
| their decision.
NJ. MCPHERSON said, that the question 10
be submitted 10 The people was, whether they
would have Convention or not. He was will
ling 10 trust the majority OF The people, and was
not disposed TO assume 10 himself the right OF de-
termining the question of organization for them.
He would proclaim TO the country that if this bill
should be defeated it would be the fault OF gentle
men from the West.
Mr. SCOTT was in favor OF open and fair
dealing, and was opposed 10 any measure that
excited hopes tina! would never be realized. This
bill does not determine the plan upon which the
Convention is 10 be organized. Are the people
10 expect that vote in favor OF a call oil Con-
venlion will De any guaranty OF a cal oil Con-
vention on the white basis2 Is there any proba-
bility that the Eastern delegates in the next Le-
sislature would sanction Convention organized
on plan acceptable 10 The West2 He would
vote for the poslponement, and if il should no, be
carried, he would then propose substitute TO
the BILL fixing the organization OF the Convention.
| Mr. WADE could demonstrate 10 any gentle
man that The passage OF the bill, or substitute,
| would result in the same consequences. Let Ell
Their bill be passed. and the question at the polls
| in the election Of delegates 10 the next Legisa-
ture, would be decided by the people, with view
10 The important consideration of the basis Of re-
presentation. The question would be annually
asa,ed by the people, and the people must either
unite or divide He was in favor Of an union on
principle, Of the East and the West. He called
upon the de esates from the West to unite in secn-
ring their object He called upon The members
| from The East 10 unite with The West IN securing
| union uflhe State. In union there was strength.
Mr.. WEST fel, responsible alone TO his con-
slitucnts, and claimed The privilege OF speaking
| his sentiments freely. He deprecated The SEMI.
menr which had been expressed BY the gentle man
from Halifax, that division OF the Stale would
be preferable TO concession 10 The West OF their
claims He felt Il TO be his duty 10 dissent from
The opinion or gentlemen from The West, that the |!
simple question OF The call OF Convention |
should not be submitted 70 The people. There
we're defects in The present Constitution requiring
a remedy, and be did not regard The equalization
OF representation at this lime, but was willing 10
submit 10 the decision OF the people, who were |
capable Of self government.
Mr. WEST spoke at considerable length upon
the defects OF the present Constitution, and con-
cluded with warm appealto Western members (
10 unite with him in obtaining Convention.
Mr. BOCOCK called attention 10 the views
expressed BY the gentlemen from Harrison and
Washington, when this subject was before the |
House on a former occasion. They then ex- |
pressed The opinion thar the bill would not aay |
but increase the excitement, and there was no
reason 10 exnect a bill al this time differently |
constituted Those gentlemen were under pledges
and lie hoped they would molly redeem them
He would vote for The bill before rejected in pre-
ference 10 the one now before the House, II The
latter should not be rejected which he hoped wonid
be the result.
Mr. GoODsON had taken the course before
alluded 10 for the purpose OF relieving gentlemen
from the East from the necessity of voting against
bill introduced by themselves The West were
unanimous upon the subject, and he had promis-
ed 10 use his eXertons to allay excitement
Mr.. NiARTZ observed, that he did not rise
to enter into this discussion, although ne would
have been glad to have had an opportunity OF ex-
pressing his views upon this important and ex-
citing question; but as SO much time had already
been consumed in this discussion, ha would de-
sist from doing so. He would take occasion here
10 say, be regretted very much that the motion 10
postpone Indefinitely had been made bya Western
gentleman; but as that had been The case, ne
would do what he rarely did-he would move
the previous question, 10 cut of further discus
| sion, and 10 save the time OF The House.
AT the earnest request of several gentlemen,
MIR. Martz subsequently, Withdrew the call for
the previous question, TO give gentlemen an OPP
portunity of explaining.
MIR. COWAN said the gentleman from Buck
insham seemed 10 think that there would either
| be no Convention, or Convention on the white
basis. He wished 10 pour oil upon the waves OF
The West; but he wouli assure the gentleman,
that he had mol poured oil upon his waves. The
gentleman from Fauquier said, that The people
would vote in the dark on this question. he
would tell the gentleman, that the people were IN
,elligent and capable OF selfgovernment. The
gentleman feared the overwhelming vote Of the
people, and the moral influence OF their decision
al the polls. MIR. G. concluded BY calling for The
previous question.
Nh HARvlE opposed the call as unjust 10
the gentleman from Fauquer. That gentleman
| had resisted the call when before made, for The
purpose Of allowing gentlemen from the West to
be heard, and il was bu, fair that he should be al
lowed TO reply.
MIR. COWAN withdrew the call.
Mr.. SCOTT wished TO say few wor's to
the gentleman from Washington. He acknow-
lodged The uniform kindness OF The gentleman,
YET he did not know that he was under any obi
CATION 10 the gentleman on the present occasion.
He (Mr. s. had been The open advocate OF the
bill reported by the Committee. The substitute
had been rejected BY decided majority. TIE
agitation of the SUBJECT came from the West. and
gentlemen from that quarter, when they found
themselves in difficulty, in danger of having an
obnoxious bill thrust upon them, declared the bill
incapable OF allaying excitement, and requested
the East not 10 force il upon them. He then an
nounccd, that although in favor OF the bill, he
was unwilling 10 force il upon The West.
Mr.. LYONS wished TO explain the misconcep-
lions Of his opinions. What he meant TO say
was, that il Convention organized upon the ba
sis OF numerical majority, should be called, it
MIGHT resnlt in nj ysinn nj The Stale He waa