Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-10

d at present Hereafter these towns may be entitled
more than FIVE or ten Now, can readily imagine
state of things may exist in which it may be proper ft
/ every man coming from any quarter Of the country,
impose limitations urnn any community occupying
small space, with great number of people and
large amount Of taxation, which may enable them
control the legislation the State possibly But ther
's no such thing existing at present at all desire
understand Of the member from franklin, (Alr CLAl
BORNE how the COUNTRY is to be Ecnctittcd i'll that re
sPect, by taking the one basis the other viii no
the white basis party do precisely in that respcct
mixed basis party, and what will be the difference
ger the two systems of basis
W.T. CLAIBORNE. | do not wish to discuss thi
Question. discussed it in connection with the basi
question before the people of my district am unwil
ing TO give to any city in this commonwealth its full
representation upon any basis. do not believe thu
cities should have the power to control the legislation
the country. donnt wish to enter into argument
no not intend to be forced into argument have
explained my position before the people Of my district
ao hold myself responsible to them and one else
~ not matter of any consequence to me. whether
explain my position satisfactorily to the Convention
NOT | am Instructed BY my people to vote against
giving to the cities their full strength upon any basis
shall do it and hope that there is a sufficient num-
Der OF neznbers here who will with that the
cities shod not have their full weight and who will
sustain me in tackirg lhe amendment have offered
upon proposition a.
-. IAN DCRooN. i wish to submit lew rcliaTkS
IN explanation of tho vote shall give consider this
attempt To limit the vote of the cities as a serious
dow struck at the Of internal improvements and
INC interests of the west consider not only the cities 81
sAe east but especially the central west deeply inc
rested IN giving the cities their full represent iou.
consider every vote give tn the cities of Richmond
Norfolk Petersburg and Alexandria, but particularly
Norfolk, Petersburg and Richmond rs so much infu-
ehce gwen 20 my constituents shall consider myself
Just as dercct in my duty to them, to vote for
TINS restriction upon these cities, If to vote for
restriction in the representation of my district
II 1t is the pleasure of the Convention to adopt the
mixed basis, consider it much more important to my
section of the country that the cities should have full
representation than il they to adopt the white ba-
SIS shall therefore, upon all occasions vote against
any restriction whatever upon the cities cannot for
my He, Sec how mixed bass gentlemen vote tn
strict the cities. understand they advocate the prn-
eipe Of the mixed basis upon the ground that it Is
ccssiry to give to different sections representation to
defend their peculiar interest. should like To know
whether the cities have not peculiar interest dis
tdnct commercial interest would like 10 know if If
not Just AZ Important to protect that interest pro
tcct the peculiar interest the slave interest of the
cannot, for the life of me, understand how gentlemen
VINO advocate the mixed basis upon that ground, and
!hat the only plausible ground have heard urged
III s favor. can turn round and III the same breath vote
or limiting the representation Of the cities. Whose IT,
crest are rs peculiar and important those of the
slave Interests of the cast
Dir. STRAUGHAN. The very reasons which induce
the gentleman from Botctourt (Alr ANDERSON to ar.
rive at his conclusion the very REASONS To induce
me 10 arrive at very different conclusion. He stated
II We restrict the cities, it will he restricting this wild
scheme OF internal improvements. Now he alleges that
the interests Of thu cities far regards the qucs
Ion OF internal improvements identified with I'll"
interests OF his constituents That being the case they
are Numerically opposed the views of my constu
elils an therefore. shall vote for tho restriction.
Fl MT FERG USON. desire to say n word too in re-
gard to this proposition The gentleman from Botcour
Dir. ANDERSON has distinctly announced his policy and
mean a5 dl.uctly To announce mine lie says he rlla
80 for giving the cities entire power under this xeG
BASIS because it will advance the great interest of the
internal improvement party. presume 1t IS unne-sa
Tor me at this hour and this day to express my dsvo
ton to that great interest. But what have the dele
gates OF tie city OF Richmond done to day by then
votes They have voted for proposition A, which take
from the city of Richmond delegate to which sha il
S legitimatey entitled.
Dir. Bolts. The license tax out
: Mr.. FERGUSON. The license tax out and TpoI
the basis they have adopted they have deliberately
tod to rob their constituents of delegate 70 which
they are lcgit!mately entitled Tho county OF Henrlc'
has of T2 per cent, which would legitimate Il,
, ente it to M additional delegate, but they have pre-
icrred to rob that county Of this additional delegate
d " lie am an internal improvement man, beg leav
in this connection call the attention of the Commit
tie t, the fac. that this power of the cities is sough
after for tLe purpose of enabling them To govern an
control the constituents OF the gentleman from Botetour
o CIR. A.nErsoS,) and my constituents. do not mea
to give the cities the power Of controlling this ntcrna
impr ovemcnt question Mt all If they vote TO deprlr
themselves of representation, mean TO aid them i'll tia
n effort to give the country the right hereafter
At they see fit direct the system OF internal improve
ments And there is no other way to exercise tina
right but in voting to deprive the city of Richmon
hereafter beg leave to say and wish it to be distinct
" I'm lerstood that will vote to carry out tho prncp
: which the delegates from the city of Richmond har
Ii this day endorsed BY their own votes They have 20
ted for proposition to deprive themselves oil one III
's delegate in the county of Hcnrico. In voting in utur
ONLY 20 carry out the doctrine they themselves hay
IN this day established BY their votes intend to ns.
o. that never shall any city of this commonwealth az
uuuc the power the country that wealth 8 yes
c. the cities. We III; know how wealth increases i'll tn
cities over the country Take the cities of the
ID tmouwealth and YOU find larger proportion of take
: there than in the country. We all know the tcdenc
of wealth is concentrate in the cities, and am ne
70 willing to sanction, By my vote, the doctrine that II
y only wealth shall be represented but it shall have a
the advantage which its increase the coui
IS try l. therefore, cordially cooperate with my ant
internal Improvement friends to put this bride upon til
cite. if all internal improvement Coca to the dogs, fc
r. it will not be bvmy vote but that OF those most interes
10 ed in il.
~ nal improvements has nothing to do with the questo
10 under consideration. Gentlemen have been llsh
RI np with each other for weeks to who WAS the bolt
80 est and most eytrarngnt advocate OF proper sche
cs Of internal improvements Now, cay to the gentle
re man from Fauq uicr (llr. Scor1 and to the genema
III from Logan and Boone AIr FEnGusoS and would sa
to the gentleman from Accomac, DIR. WIsE) that ST
oil home this poor might almost say despsed lection
. Tle.water may yet secure limitations upon the powe
nj n construct works ofinternal improvements which sha
O. ,Iisappoint them Of their contemplated object
MI FERGUSON. beg leave to correct my trcn
II seems 10 be supposed that Hive in two countlcs
. live only in one and that is the county of Logan.
i' Mr.. BEALE. ! shall vote against any anendmel
in this Committee such has been proposed while.
tLe same time freely confess that am unwilling, VI
der auy basis which may be adopted, that the cities
Tho commonwealth shall be entitled to their full shaI
10 Of representation whether under the extended rgl
Of suffrage, which suppose this Convention viii adop
wc shall have the suffrage basis the mixed basis undt
anx of the various forms Of combination which are a,
" vncatcd here do say The time has not arrived when
becomes necessary should vote for restriction
Is Mr. Bolts. havc no idea Of entering into dl
c.son upon this question. because my opinions are c.
IL pressed in regard to internal improvements, and thos
views are spread before the people OF Richmond Inc
az, TO fudge for themselves and if they have rot take
sbs trouble and thought it with while to cxanll
&c r:,em have discharged my duty as we'll as | cou
IL wish TO vote Understandings upon this question, an
desire to understand the object gentlemen have IN d.
VIM TO the city of Richmond, any other CITY, II