Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04
,donnp the report and for striking out both propo

Cor 5ootinp thes report and for striking out both propo
sions A and 3.
,annr il was The least OF my expectations to occupy
o,,enf time this Convention. lregarded the que.
io" Of ba,is a, settled had supposed we came here
Ibis morning rely to register the proceedings OF our
'os session thought the only thing reserved for my
aIs md the others with whom have been acting was
,b., VIZ should have the qualification of seeing
c;,ds mon the other side who have so long and
,nfnv batthd for their suffrage basis themselves this
a;uG turu their back upon it. repeat that it
the least of my expectation "heh cso ~ my scat Ills
Mr WISE Will my friend from Fauquier allow me
10 ask him, as particular favor not to debate this
ouestion now Let us get at the vote
A. CCOTT | do not wish to debate it. should
-, quietly in my seat, but for the reference made
10 mo and the proposition with which am connected,
! w. ,ho gentleman from Henry, Mr. MARTM.) What
propose to say now IS dcsigneo exclusively 10 explain
h se Of action that have pursued upon this inter
stno n,sestion in or!cr that those to whom am
cons,bl elsewhere may not misunderstood the prnci-
ME that has governed ME.
iI Is.haro he constituency within the wide limits Of
III. comm u7wcalth whose judgments nre unalterably
Gxcd in IA yor OF the principles of the mixed basis the
.;tnents whom have the honor in part to represent
are such IT is with them no new question. As long
ogo ., 1929 this question OF basis was discussed before
-, md I'm derstood BY them, and whatever difference
nr nnnion prevailed amongst them at that day, when
tIis discussion came to be revived in the canvass
which resulted in my election TO seat in this
BODY, SO far as | know-so Tar as ] believe that
GEsrence has faded away Amongst them now | do
M, know three individuals in the counties of Rap
nobannock and Fauauier whose opinions are not I'M
ptrraby fixed in favor of that principle of representa-
ton that have been advocating here When offered
myself as candidate for their suraScs, IN the EXPOSE
lion of nv opinions made then, expressed myself in
favor of this principle Of representations and upon what
sincerity belongs to me, now say that Il my sound
ness upon this question had been suspected, another
would have occupied this seat. -
Mr. MARTIN If the gentleman will allow me TO in
te rrupt him, stated expressly that would alude to
no,b;nr whc had occurred outside Of this hail. and
referred to the declaration OF the gentleman from Eau
nuier made in the Convention Monday morning last
and TO events which had taken place subsequent to that
ayowal.
Mr.. SCOTT. The gentleman had abundant warran,
for The decla ron have stated ii from nay place here
on more occasions than one, and trust my friend docs
not understand me making any complaint upon that
point As was proceeding to say, he has stated this
morning that have been amongst those who nave been
for time in favor Of compremise and he undertook
10 makea contrast between thu report OF the commit
tee of which he vas chairman, and proposition subse
nuently introduced into this body with which had con.
necton Vow, beg leave to state that came here a
friend of the mixed basis principle. With all my opin
ions with all my convictions in favor Of that principle
of representation every conviction and every opinion
with which entered this body; has but strengthened
day by day during the progress OF tins discussion
have been for compromise That is true.
This debate had not progressed through many months
before began TO entertain doubt as to the practicable
tv of carrying the mixed bash through and it was
der the influence Of that doubt, that turned my atien-
ton 10 this subject of compromise Some gentlemen
are constituted so that they hold to the bitter end OF
their first choice and would sooner see all lost than
ccdc from that | am not Of those. am dis
posed to survey the ground upon which stand under
stand the difficulties that surround and grapplc with
bcm to the best of my ability and make the most my
condition So as soon Doubt respecting the sue
cess of my fayortc scheme found place in my bosom
ur ned nv attention to this subject OIL compromise Now
what doubt for long time, rPened into conviction
nearly when by the vote Of this body the substitute
which had the honor 10 PRESENT. the committee Of e
who'll. was defeated That substitute was Invested Of
every embarrassing detail, and it was presented in
form in which every friend OF tho mixed basis could vote
for it. And then the pure isolated question Of the
mixed bass Invested Of every embarrassment cacu-
lated to distract our counseIs, voted down in tl;
BODY despaircd them or almost despared, of our ab
ity 10 carry that proposition through and turned IN!
mind more ana more TO the subject OF compromise.
knew or thought kne>i that i'll ranks there were
gentlemen who preferred compromise OF this question
10 the success of the unadulteratcd mixed basis Despair
ing of the mixed basis which was and is M favorilt
scheme was DESTROYS OF cooperating as far as could
with those gentlemen who were in favor Of conipro
mise in order that we might get the best compromise
that was practicable still desired and earnestly de
sired successful vote upon some proposition cmbody
ing The mixed basis and cntrcatcd some OF my friends
who were in favor of compromise to stand with il
the committee Of the whole upon the proposition Of tho
mixed basis in order that by successful vote in
mittce, we might obtain vantage 3found upon winch
to make the terms.
This statement will explain, trust. satisfactorily il
adced any explanation of my course bc needed why il
was that on the Saturday before the last wien il seemed
within our power 10 vote through the committee o.
the whole the proposition a, united with my friend
from Rappallannock (Mr. SrRoruER) in giving an op
! portuny to make this compromise. had become sat
i,fied fully by information upon which was bound IL
rely, that though might succeed in voting PROPOSE
ton through the committee ofthc wholc still we could
fhp pOw n he
ton | may be mistaken in this, but such aud i:
my belief and think the facts that have disclosed them
selves since verify the belief upon which my opin
ion rested. Upon the adjournment of the Convention
that day. went with my eastern friends into consul
tation, and was one of the committee appointed b,
them to meet committee to be appointed upon the
other side for The purpose of comforting in respect to
compromise. These committees did meet, they die
confer they did interchange propositions and then
ported back to their respective bodies their inability tc
agree.
action Whsn proposed to go for compromise,
did it in the best faith willing and DESTROYS that ami
cable adjustment should be made. believed that il
upon our part rendered reasonable compromise
offered fair grounds upon which friends the other
side could stand and they then rejected it, all upon oul
side would then stand united and in concert and
that way we would secure principle representation in
the constitution according to our desires was never
arerse TO an arrangement even from the first, by which
the two houses should be divided by which the principles
applied to the popular branch if they would only agree
apply the principle of taxation in the other branch
was always willing for that, though personally pre-
ferrcd to constitute the two houses the basis
yet if desire had been entertained and expressed up
on the other side for it. stood at any moment ready
do this much and TO concede 10 them their principle in
the popular branch My idea of q compromise may
perhaps be better understood by reference to the
propositions made by the eastern committee to the
western committee that occasion, than by what may
be found in the proposition that subsequently offered.
We rendered those propositions embodying opn-
ions of what compromise. When they were re-
iected stood ready and willing to go back into the
Convention and vote for proposition A. and if possible
to carry it through with my vote.
But another movement was made. My friend from
Henry (A1r. MAR7rN desired to make another effort at
compromise. When that made in the face of the
rejection by the west, Of the terms proposed by our
eastern committee, saw at once, or thought saw the
necessity of abating somewhat from our previous de-
mands because feared that if stood out for what
seemed be unatainable TO yield less than my friend
! from Henry (Mr. MAKrIN) willing to YIELD there
was danger that should at last be subjected to the
condition of having obnoxious forced upon