Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-17
An Affirmative Decision.

space 1Or comment upon the important proceed
ings of yesterday in the Convention. They re-
suited in the first affirmative decision yet reached
by the committee of the whole on the basis ques-
ton; and that was an affirmative vote in favour
ofthe Compromise report which was rejected on
Thursday. This result was attained by the pro-
cess which we briefly alluded to in our remarks of
yesterday, namely combination of a few East
ern members with the whole white basis party
Eastern Virginia, we doubt not, will be astonished
at the tidings that any of her representatives
have pursued course so extraordinary; but her
people will be still more amazed when they learn
the circumstances of this AFFECT surrender to the
proud demands of minority
On Thursday, as our readers have seen, five
Eastern members, Messrs Bolts, Bowden, Chill
ton, Saunders and Martin of Henry, voted to
strike out Proposition A, or the mixed basis re-
port These gentlemen acted they all said, upon
their conviction of the necessity OF Compromise
Yet, if they had voted differently the mixed basis
would have been sustained and engrafted upon
the Constitution. They are therefore responsible
to the country for defeating it, and for the neces.
sity for compromise which they plead. Yesterday,
sitter Mr.. Wise's proposition had been voted
down, Mr.. Chiffon introduced the Compromise of
the select committee, with an immaterial modf-
cation. Mr.. Scott of Fauquier, moved to strike
it out in order to insert proposition. which he
stated would be acceptable to a large number OF
Eastern members. The motion to strike out was
lost by the votes of Nessrs Boaeden, Chilto,,.
Martin of Henry, Randolph and WiugGe7d,
united with the entire white basis VOTE
These five gentlemen, therefore, assumed the
grave responsibility of aiding the advocates of
the white basis to force upon the East so-called
Compromise, rather than join the East in propo-
sing Compromise that was more than LIBERAL
and this notwithstanding the assurances of at least
Messrs. Chiffon, Martin and Wingfed that they
would sustain no Compromise which did not
receive large Eastern support. Afterwards,
the same gentlemen cinched the nail of their
determination to pass the committees plan, az anst
the wishes of their Eastern colleagues, by re-
fusing to let the committee rise that the always
courteous, the wise and distinguished member
from Loudoun (Mr. Janney) might introduce
new plan before positive decision was reached
And so vote to insert the Compromise report
was FINELY forced, Mr.. Arthur and Mr. Claiborne
adding their names to those of the five, who
separated themselves definitely from the East on
MIR. SCOTS motion.
The Compromise plan thus nchoately adopted
is still open to amendment, in committee of the
whole, but we have no hope that any proposition
to alter it will succeed There is possibility of
its modification in Convention. With some va
ration, we should ourselves prefer the PROPOSE
ton of Mr.. Wise. But no plan of the kind is real
lya Compromise. After what has occurred, it
must be nothing more than the terms graciously
rendered by victorious minority suddenly be-
come majority. The threat of breaking up the
Convention has been thoroughly successful, and
we have only to thank the magnanimty of wes-
tern members for not demanding and securing the
white basis itself as the condition of their remain
i ng on duty. AS we should have been for sub
hitting gracefully in that if it had prevailed, 81
we shall quietly and cheerfully support the gov
eminent with tn e modified form of it which is t.
be established. The West has shown so mucI
pluck, and the East so litte that we begin It
think it on that score entitled to supremacy.