Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-22
For the Enquirer.

PIC u'o. ,I van , e editor Of that paper would wilimy
compose ans, publish what was NOT rue a" ' ,i cd
attribute the cross ~, , wh,h
,oral alluded To- 10 ignorance o INC ~; C, &c
voted raher man 10 malice. The truth is, that TINS uio 10
bur for two things stupidity ana eoo
And the main purpose Of this communication "
his ,,I nno,,ncc of what is Transporting III Tue
r bic @ ST., in order that his readers may know what
degree of confidence - 10 &c i ''a'eu -. III ''
So ,;, SINCE his sapicni Editor informed his readers
that the Democratic Senate 81 Virgins" '"'
a,,; -, ,l Uuuse of Delegates 10 receive Nif9lhla
r c , ,nJ fund distributed hy Congress; ana ne 'ooh
that occason 10 read me lecture upon my vote IN ihc
Uouse Unfortunately however, II" such rcsol"'oh csei
PASSED the SENATE The Editor only mlso"k me ia"Ie "
The ,,o,, no indefinitely postpone in the House. ior the
passage of the resolution IN Inc Scnalc. ada
In the editorial above alluded Il" ma his passse , H.,
the foo,np proceedings the House Of Delegates on 'e
10Th inst il vii IL, that convention Is lcced upon "
whether MAJORITY .: the people are Wiling vi NO. ~,
sovaIIs bill taking from The people Tie md ~ mon
whether they desire convention now or moi ana 81 u -,
what basis the representation IN said convention sun ~
ormed-has passed the House by vote OF IS to - .o
This statement Of the provisions o the ON, i' i"o
ch,roe ma with being "lost 10 Of duty 10 my CON
slituents and ecreant 10 the honor OF the West III s
for this bill ii Mr.. Newton was correct IN MS pr ,
misses there would br some lofce I'D ms snn falls
his premises are false aud OF course ms , O.
to the ground The bill of Mr.. Sovall Is mol Hun ~
either of the objections urged against II. oh 'o "
trary il submits the question directly 10 tue l."p r.
.av whether they will have convention or nor u'iu
they decide for convention il provides iof tue ec.',
delegates III the said convention upon INC icP a. 49,
,,I,
when the question of convention or no conSero, :.
ned to the people al The polls, those VINO aie M ,o
take convention upon the proposed basis WIN nn
convention and those who are not Wiling 70 aA. :. -.
that basis will Of course vote against H. bul ~ 10 ~
purpose in this communication TO attempt utiene. - i
vote upon this bill shall content myself III hai
with the remarks made in the House upon me pssas
the bill copy of which send you, ara Wileh wv iI
please publish with this communication ihoso ~ s,no
fske The trouble 10 read nv remarks, will al once SEQ 'c
,osn ,,h; nluencc me 10 vote this BILL and they VIII
likewise that its provisions have been grossly nor
scented by the kanawha Editor But mere -
ton of this editorial which demands lhtue""i "
.hsc seems now TO be but way for the West peace
ably 10 resist this outrage and desradatloi-u"' -
no participation in the convention la ,., ~.
have no fears that the course here TecomheIuo IN ~
pursued by The Western people, or ha' no.oa nn,ion
The wesr will refrain taking seats IN the
and venture the prediction that honorable men, even AZ wy
cery honorable county OF kanawha, VIII DC iouo NJ -
tbs office. But my OBJECT in noticing these Nj;
strip the mask from this Editor, and, 1t possible eSlose s
rrni feeling ana principles upon tho subject oil slavery, "
the public gaze that the value OF snch frcon.n"
lions from such source can be properly apr Ian
This intend 10 do by popounding 10 him lew pam fue
tons which hope he will al once proeeeu 20 a VII
lst " hat are his views upon the subject OF ue VIM
Provso Has Congress, in his opinion. INC power ~ i
il, And j. lac in favor OF the exercise OF tnal p""
it is necessary prevent the extension 81 slavery
I'd Does he maintain the power VI Congress -, =,
slavery in the District of Coumbia' and is he IN iSo VI "
exercise? Ut. =. ,a,.,r, IN yr
81. Is hc Tor or against the aooh'io" " '
I'm In cose convention cannot be had upon the wl'
hasis Is he not in favor of division OF the STATE anu W
formation OF a free State in the Wesli aud, :, .
9Th Did he not give aid comfort and encouragement
distinguished citizen the Valley, some two or hiee
since who proposed establish un eiiancim'oh P"P "
the town OF Saunton! -, l.. c,raiderc,
sc exactly pertinent the subject in hand but thcv are SUI
ccts upon which many OF the people IN ou s'.'' Wv
country desire light, and they wi aoru AZ,
por,unty Of explaining himself and remove SOM "a
now entertained against him, these pfe1udces hit u
founded lie be aware that an implessl"
very great extent in kanawha and the surrounding "n
ties that erac:g sound upon ue H. III
This impression has been created 10 some extern ~ ' ~
ure during all the turmoil Of ihs slavery
one line in defence Southern nights ana MS pun, H.
NJ ridcue every time the Legislature oi MS olao 'u "
subject under consideration. And here must propounu
my friend another inquiry which Is Would nc JON 'hsi'
- rsia,ino rho law in case Of passage by Congress
the Wmoi provso, OF law abolslns slavery III VII
District Of coluE!5iai -.:.c,,;a, az III.
readers then his views and opinions upon The proposed
ycntion will have doubt have .ieir ptotef Ise III,
influence with the people But he snows' m',ss shI
sspcc, he will that he has an Interior obec IN view H
- nothing more nor less than the dsnelibeiihen oi '
veneted Commonwealth and the erection ct non shVo
holding in tho West ih,n ms rasss anu VS. no e.
Idle wind for my word for it, the people Of the "es art
prepared i'f no SUI" ""''""'' JAMES II FERGUSON.
s,h,,,n,, of III, remarks NJ M FERGUSON, @ Logan
lin Tie House OF Deegates,) apon me oih 10 t"e e ~,
or me peopic upon The call u Coarehttos Ia amen" q"
Constitution. a;,;,, H.,
Mr.. Speaker The great Importance 81 The poposEi VI
f,ro rho ose and III. somewhat peculiar osl'l"n "'
oc,unv in regard 10 H. renders il necessary maj Si""
s,9,t lime mon the patience Of the House, In 'N
planaon of the which feel my dus !" give "f''
this occasion. - . .,oa,;or al
reoret that fe,, nyscl compelled, upon question o.
such vital importance this differ WIN most Vi NY
Western friends upon this floor Know tliat my aco
be nssaied as an abandonment OF Western interests ~
som. of nv ultra white basis friends IN my region VI
rv whose Interior object in insisting upon 'ne WHO
and nothing else is something very different from
ol the present constitution But DC s as nays on
vote for the bill now under consideration not ~
nroye of it, but because is The best bill can GET oPon W.
ouestion OF convention convention, mere 49, aos ~
Of The West no division. We all agree 'ha' Tue iese
~ s, nnr;ur,,ed constitution tolerated in H.
nublican goycnn,cni We all agree that tie Iig. o s's.
nuuh, 10 be extended every free white ie ci'nch VI '
are of twenty-one years and upwards-lt Tue
- no lnrs ought 10 be a5oshedthat the county courts
ough 10 he that all officers IRON me cover
nor down ouph 10 be elected by the people we an naN ~
view one great end which s inaJorltv oi repre-
,h VS. I'm, We differ The speedcst method OF ait-
inc that end \ majority say wa say acl. Nom, -. =.
scc which course Of policy theirs or NINE, IS NOS h,
,in a objects wc all have in view. By me cAe'i s'a'
Of things East have majority o. twenty a ~ wv
House OF Delegates and SIX IN me seha.e W. 49,,
constitution recognises no principle rs oasis ~ I ~
ton 1t divides the State into four grand diVlso du Il"
signs certain number of delegates and senators 10
Ii requires reappoiiionmen but merely authoses oh''
two-thirda Of each house concurring
II matters not how much population and taxation may III
crease in the West a diminish i'll the East representation
remains the same unless two -thlds oil each HOUSE, 'o"
sale 10 cnalS' u.
lmve therefore, my reflections upon this subject ask
cd myself this questions Is II probable that t""-ims oil
both Houses be prevailed upon To re-npporoh r.
presentation under The present constitution so as to give e
West majority in tho Legislatures and without any ncslla-
ton have answered myself in tho negative Again nave
asked myscl when could prevail upon this majority u
q in one House md i'll the other TO give us convention
based upon white population; and have come TO Tue con-
cuson that reasonably calculate upon II IN less
time than halfa century ii am wrong IN TINS suppose
ton hope be corrected. viii the gentleman from Al
pusta and the gentleman from Greerbricr, who contend
far The white basis and nothing shorter, please enGhtcn me
~ 10 the probabilities Of getting Convention upon That
,sis and when il 30 obiaincdi Ii they can convince
me that we can any reasonable time got convention upoa
,h, whit, basis then will 10 rdubut until they %
This the path of duty my mind lies plain before me- ana
snail mrs,e its course fearless OF consequences 1t Is not
my purpose al this time discuss the merits or dement's OF
he bin under consideration shall postpone that discussion
n,l meet the assembled ircemen Of Western Virginia ~
Inc Hastings shall there defend the course have felt il
NV duty 10 pursue upon this vital question: trust
ruIIv / hone shall there my worthy friends from
Kanawha and Greenbrie and shall give them the fullest
onnnr,unity of exposing the have fallen nto If
as IA say hey will only oppose the call of convention
under the present BILL but that ii majority shall decide III
favor of the proposed convention they will persuade hciI
on moi TO send delegates it, Ny will be differ
en shall defend this bill against Misrepresentation and
;sconc,piion and shall advocate The proposed convention
Mr.. PATRICK ] desire TO ask The gentleman qucs-
on win he advocate the proposition tllat TWO wlc men,
,,,n ~ half negroes the Last puua To i've