Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-11-05

OF the uStlct that gave me lle advantage III the Nole
which obtained. And, sir, mean to carry out in
good faith all that | promised to the people How
shall accomplish it In the first place go for the
mixed basis, and ii was upon that principle was elect
ed. am in favor of basis which shall be composed
of white population and taxation combined rs the
true elements OF safety and protection to persons and
TO property and it was 10 sustain that principle Oh re
presentation that was sent to this Convention
The question now pending is, whether we shall delay
the consideration of other questions sprnglng out OF
this proposed work of REFORM and for what purpose let
me ask? listened with great regret to the argument
of my friend from Spotsyyania that this question of
representation must be settled before all others for in
my opinion, ii is the last question to be settled come
when it nlar And sir | appeal to the West, whether,
whichever side OF this Blue Ridge of mountains the
census returns shall show the majority of white popu-
laon to be, they would not adhere to their prefer
cncc for the white basis know that such consld.
Grafton might influence my friend from Accomac, but
appeal now to my friends of the West and ask them,
whether, if they found that majority OF the white pop
uiation was on the Eastern side of those mountains,
there is man among them who would not vote for the
white basis! Ifthere is, should be glad to hear him
say he would not The white basis you will cling To-.
on whatever side of the mountains the returns
may show the majority OF the white population to be,
| and nm willing to concede that il viii beyond the
Blue Ridge. The opinions and the preferences of not
sing lie man among YOU will be changed by the returns
of that census and then my friends Of the West ASK
why do YOU wish to wait for those returns before You
proceed to the discharge of the work for the pcrorn
ancc OF which, we have assembled together:
Mr.. WISE Will the gentleman allow me, NJ lie
asks a question. TO answer it now!
3lR. K. q. ScoTT:-l ask il OF the Vest know
what Your answer will be. (Iaughtcr)
Mr.. WIsE:-I doubt whether the gentleman does.
Mr.. r. q. ScorT:-lt might be modified, then, since
the last occasion appeal to my friends Of the West
and ask YOU what art you TO gain by waiting tor this
| information You White basis men now, one and
a OF you, and these returns will not change
your opnons or influence your action in the slightest
degree. Nhy then, should this Convention adjourn.
and why should W. its members be sent back to the
people with the acknowledgment on our lips that We
are as Vet lacking i'll the information requisite for the
| formation of Constitution! . r.,....-....
But if there be nothing in this view, the Convention
will excuse Inc for few moments, while present some
l. other considerations why the Convention ought not
to adjourn. My friend from the county of Franklin,
Yesterday made appeal to the house in regard 10
to the immense expense that would be incurred by our
remaining here lie made it. | think-and nv friend
from Accomac adopted his caculation--at 100000.
The elements OF his calculation were composed of the
expenses of the Convention for two months and the
penscs Of reporting the proceedings Of the Convention
for two months and BY way of passing hit, tile gen.
tlenan from franklin chose to characterize the attempt
at getting report of our proceedings effort to let
off some of the gas of this assemblagc Now, if We
to have report of the debates and proceedings of
this Convention, will il cost TO have it done for
the months Of November and December than il would
cost to have il done Tor the months OF January and Feb
ruary! And then again. if the expense Of holding the
Convention is to have weight in this considerations will
not the expense be just great for the months OF jan
uary and February IS for the months of November and
December! You will have to take the time and incur
the expense; and the only question Is will you take
now, or during the coming year, VIII you discharge
| Dni may we not most proftahly employ these two
months in the consideration of the important sub bects
before us Ny friend who sits my extreme right,
my colleague, Mr. Lyons) alluded to the County Court
system which would require action and il is
one which would be considered without reference at all
to this question of the basis of representation. But
suppose should 90 home without action this ques
ton now, and perchance nv friend from Accomac upon
landing at that beautiful estuary known Cherrystone,
should meet one of that intelligent constituency Of his
He would greet my friend most cordially, and tell him
he was happy TO see him, and glad TO find that his Ia
bors had so soon closed "You made for us good
Constitution, have no doubt he might say, and
you did it in admirable haste" "Oh, no, must bo
the reply Of nv friend, IL have no Constitution for
yoI-we have made none-we had not obtaned the
necessary information the subject. ~Wcii, what
have You done, them" would be the first enquiry
"Oh, We have done nothng-nothng ut all; we elect
ed President elected scrgeant-at-arms, appointed
few officers organized committees, and called on the
auditor to furnish n volume of 1000 pages Mt least,
md when shall have done that We shall be ready to
ro back and make you Il Constitution. i" But" will
say my friends constituent "ye you done nothing in
regard TO that great and crying grievance in the great
county of Accomac, which worked out so as;onlshingy
great a majority there for the Convention-thc old
County Court systemhave you done nothing in rcla-
ton to that" "No, must be my friends reply; we
have done nothing in relation to that; we could not
l. fhn
tire white population Of Virginia." And with my
friend from Halifax when he is called for account
Of what has been done; his reply must be- that he
could do nothing III regard to the questions entrusted
to his because the basis question was not settled
Sir if gentlemen felt as do. in relation to the heavy
responsibility in this matter, they would not feel salts
fled with such reasons for the immediate adjournment
Of this body.
Why, then. shall We not go on in the work We have
commenced! Why, Mt least, cannot We commence and
reform the County Cont! The committeearc engaged
in tie consideration Of that subject and will be prepar
ed to report upon in eight or ten days at most and
why should we not proceed to its consideration This
work has 10 be done, and we canuot get away from it,
either now or during the coming year. Why then
should we not commence upon il. What possblecon
nection can there be- ask between county court sys
TEN and basis of representation What connection
can there be between the regulation Of a count, police
the election of clerks, the appointment of shers, and
OF ana eslaDilSDlucIl
of basis of representation The census returns
shed no light information those subjects at lcas
and why should net enter upon their consideration at
once 1t does appear to that there cannot be any
necessary connection between the returns and
the organization of the courts Tskc the Circuit Courts
for example. Does my friend from Halifax mean to
say, nregard to the organization of tho Circu Court
system and the basis of representation that there is
anything to connect them i conceive somo con-
ncctiou between the election of the Court of Appeals
hy the Legislature and the basis OF representation, and
when that connection is pointed ont, say at once
that us member of this Convention viii never be
influenced in the determination of the in which
they shall be selected, b. any Of that deserp
ton.
Upon this subject Of the basis of representation
will make remark at once. came here to struggle
for political power, and SO help me God mem not
to eng, &c in any such struggle take il for granted
that my constituency sent me here for no such object,
and they must have sought different end for the
ertion Of my feeble efforts prefer the mixed basis
Of white population and taxation basis of repre-
sentaton and it. in fact, in its application with its
servavc features ii shall give the power to the West
in Gods name let them take it, for they will ba entitled
to it, Let it go where it belongs All desire is that
the principle slall be guaranteed word more, aud
| dismiss this subject. In regard 10 the choice of