Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-11-11
STATE REFORM CONVENTION.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
DEBATE ON ADJOURNMENT
SATURDAY, November !

II yin ADJOb EeIs W. ELN
SATURDAY, November 2.
Mr. r. G. ScoTT Mr. President those who
know me, sir, will testify am sure, to the sin
cerlty Of the declaration make, that it is with
no ordinary reluctance present myself at this
moment as participant in this debate. am
| about to give vote, however upon a grave and
important question, affecting, i'll my humble
| Judgment, the moral influence that the action
OF this body will have upon the good people of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, let the final ac-
lion come when it may and | desire to ties
pass little upon your patience and that OF the
Convention, in suggesting, concisey and briefly,
the reasons why shall give that vote.
During the last summer the people of this old
Commonwealth were called upon 10 select men
who, in their belief, would be capable, from
their information and devotion to the interests
of the Commonwealth, to come here and reform
the Constitution of the State. There sits here not
a man that did not 90 before the people ANNOUNCE
duct when he came here, nor one who did not
explain the reason for the adoption of those
| principles. No one, Sir. We were all we'll pre-
pared to make a constitution. My friend from
Accomac shakes his head, but think he stands
on record as protesting his ability and avowing
his preparation 20 enter upon this labor of max
ing Constitution. | learned some doctrines
from his appeal to the constituency that sent him
here, that very early startled me-doctrines that
heard repeated again on yesterday-and doc
trines to which. before get through, | shall al
lude, as hope, in the kindest spirit towards my
distinguished friend from Accomac ; but in that
manly open difference of opinion which he not
only here, but under all circumstances, so well
understands and appreciates.
Mr.. WISE: The gentleman will allow me
one word. | meant to startle the gentleman, and
if could the State, and will bear with great
deal of patience and kindness, being the subject
of any remark which my friend will make
And hope he will go to the extreme in the diff
ference of opinion between us, for | suspect ia
the end, that perhaps extremes will nearer ap-
proach meeting than he now surposes.
Mr.. r. G. SCOTT Il am afraid the extremes
which will never bring them together,-unless
my friend shall change his opinion in some de
gree. That is one thing learned in the mahe-
matcks was taught He is travelling one
path & another, & we never will get together
if he stands by what he has put in print. Wha,
did he announce? Why, that he would shake
down the pillars Of this temple That was the
language of my friend yesterday. He would
break up the foundation of society
Mn. WISE No sir. never uttered such a
sentiment, & appeal TO the house to sustain my
denial. | said would break down the pillars
of the present state Of things and did utter an
expression, which was perhaps, too strong, but
which will repeat. | did say that would dis
urb the buzzard roost of distractions.
Mr.. r G ScoTT: Yes, sir, and when you
break down the present state of things and break
down the pillars of the temple, take it, you
strike at once at the foundation of society and
set everything at large There is no halfway
house, no common meeting ground-that is the
inevitable result Of success in such a course
He would break up this sbuzzard roost CT abb
Istractions," and set US adrift upon the open sea
OF mere experiment. with ne compass, pilot, or
guiding star for the voyage. ] came from
constituency who have sent me here to perform
no such destructive work as that came here
to reform and correct errors existing in the pre-
sent constitution. | was seEt here to do what
Not to abrogate everything, not to seek out
'buzzard roost OF abstractions,' not to upurn
and destroy every thing, but to save what
could of this good old ship of ours, and to cling
to the last plank that was valuable in the work
given to us by our ancestors. Aye, sir, and for
this stood up before the constituency that sent
me here, and battled. The gentleman asked if
there was not conservative and all ultra party
who canvassed this district, and | inform him
that there was; and |, sir, belong to that party
which went for reforming, but never for des-
troying. That was the ground took, and ii
was, perhaps, because was little too conser-
vative for all the ultra men Of the district, that
gave me the advantage in the vote which OBJ
tanned. And, Sir, mean to carry out in good
faith all that promised to the people. How
shall accomplish it! In the first place I go
for the mixed basis, and it was upon that prin-
ciple was elected. lam in favor of basis
which shall be composed of white population
and taxation combined, as the true elements Of
safety and protection to person and property J;
and it was to sustain the principles OF represea-
tation that was sent to this convention.
The question now pending is, whether we
shall delay the consideration of other questions
springing out of this proposed work OF reform,
and for what purpose let me ask ! listened
with regret to the argument of my friend from
Spottsylvania, that this question Of representa-
ton must be settled before all others; for, in my
opinion, it is the last question TO be settled,
come when it may. And, sir, appeal to the
West, whether, whichever side OF this Blue
Ridge OF mountains the census returns shall show
the majority Of white population to be, they
would not adhere TO their preference for the
white basis I know that such a consideration
might influence my friend from Accomack, but
appeal now to my friends of the West, and
ask them, whether, if they found that MAORI
ty of the white population was on the Eastern
side of those mountains, there is a man among
them who would not vote for tie white basis o.
If there 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 census
returns may show the majority of the white
population to be, and am willing to concede
that it will be beyond the Blue Ridge. The O.
pinions j. the preferences of not asingle man a.
mong you will be changed by the returns Of that
census, and then my friends of the West, ask,
why do your wish 10 wait for those returns be-
fore you proceed to the discharge Of the work
for the Performance OF hich we have assembled
together?
Mr.. WISE will the gentleman allow me,
as he asks question, to answer it now
Mr.. R. G. ScoTT II ask it of the Vest
know what your answer will be. (Laughter.)
MIR. WISE Il doubt whether the gentleman
does.
Mr.. R. G. ScoTT 1T might be modified,
then, since the last OCCASION | appeal to m,