Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-21
speech Of DIR. James Saunders,

Deferred in tie Virginia Rcto1m Coaren-
tion pending Mr.. Raadolph's motion to
reconsider Tie Basis Compromise
Mr.. President, | desire to say just a word
pending the consideration of the question
now before the Convention:
have nevers supported this compromise,
but have been throughout opposed to it,
Yet sincerely believe other Eastern mem
bers who did support it, gave it that sup
port upon the most patriotic motives. |
have been opposed to it because | never
have regarded it otherwise than as an I'M
fortunate settlement Of the apportionment
question, as far as the section of country
from which | come is concerned. But it
is no part ofmy purpose to detain the Con-
venton now with the reasons that have
brought me to such conclusion.
was, however, the advocate of parti-
cular scheme Of legislative organization
which has been called scheme Of COM
promise: and for bringing forward, and ad-
vocating that scheme, have been misrc-
presented, abused, and denounced, in the
District which it has been conhded to me
in part to represent on this floor, and |
have been thus denounced upon the plea,
that in my course here L abandoned tic
mixed basis.
The scheme advocated by me avoided
any increase of numbers in either branch
ofthc Legislature. and was based upon
Federal numbers for the Senate, and Of
the qualified voters of the Commonwealth
Far tho nthnr II IL Al
and purposes ''mired basis" both IN pre-
senti and in tuturo. Nor did it make any
odds, as it appeared to my poor under
standing ifthe elements of apportionment
were wisely mixed up in the Legislative
government, what proportions of the one
mixture or the other in either branch was
to form and Constitute the whole.
Yet have been condemned and de-
nounced for departing from the mixed ba-
sis, while the eastern members mainly are
said to have stood up to the racket, and
been faithful
And tins brings me to a small scrap of
history which in sheer self defence l de-
sire the country and the. world to know
and understand. 1t is very small con-
Germ, but desire 1t to go out to the coun-
try; and | will bring it out as proceed
The original proposition called the mix
ed basis, brought out by the committee
appointed by the Convention for the pur-
pose of forming a basis report, was sched-
ule "a" As far as tie mixed basis is con-
cerned, or ever has been concerned. / un-
dcrstand schedule IA" to have been tie
mired basis scheme of the Convention;
and | suppose it was so understood
throughout the country: and if there be
such a thing in this wide world as an only
mixed basis-single, isolated, SOLITARY
and alone" the proposition contained in
schedule "A' was that very thing, tie
mixed basis: and no proposition offered by
any particular member of this house--no
more by others than by myself-could, as
according to the logic of some men, be
entitled to be called the mixed basis
| make these remarks, Mr.. President, for
thepurpose,especially ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ing the substitute of the gentleman from
Fauquicr from the original mixed basis as
reported by the committee, whose business
1t was to bring in basis report-and pre-
sently l would like toask the question: how
many members are there in this Conven-
ton who can stand the ordeal which has
been undertaken to be applied to few only
ofthe members ofthis body-to me at least;
and | speak for myself, in particular, only,
in this relation.
Did the defeat of the substitute OF the
gentleman from Fauquier authorize and
require the snconr' oDaising friends Of the
mixed basis-the unqualified" and ''un-
miiigated" mixed basis, as ii is called-to
abandon the mixed basis before i, was fair
ly defeated
What is the real and true history of this
thing ? During the natural lifetime of
schedule "A"-subject 70 any amend
ment By IFS friends when it was there on
your table, sir. IN Hits strength, its vitali-
ty, and its majesty for the friends of the
mixed basis to rally around--in this stale