Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-20

taxation. offered compromise which secured to III
east and west alike against unjust appropriations,
requiring ma ority of the whole numbers elected
poln branches OF the Legislature in order tnIaEg nj
appropriation .a.s !: - -
Now, what are the advantages Of that pfpos:tion L
'ae east over the proposition that as just hcr veto.
down! What security ,laes the latter civ. to tb.
~ proposes IN the first place, to establish House o
Lords ana House of Common AMI whenever .yo,
establish that House Of Lords and House of Commons,
sh'u De prepared to establish the other branch Of GOV
erment, and give the kihgly powcr-the veto power
10 the Governor Let ushavc mt once Il king lords
commons will vote for the white basis 1T INV mo
eht The question ~ presented to INC, bcfre vii vot,
ior proposition that draws this distinction between
one branch of the General Assembly and the other
what more did that proposition propose to do that Sc
cured my opposition to t Why, it proposed to dc
th"t at future day which refuse to do now fer oui
own constituents 1t recommends the prnript.that il
Will be right at future day to submit this question t.
The people i'll order that they may determine for them
serves what constitution they will have and upon what
oasis 1t should rest If nm prepared to adopt pro
position that the people of 1862 G5 or 10, shall decide
Tor themselves upon what principle is it TINT can re-
fuse to allow, the: people ana representing how to
decide the same question for Themselves If The cues
lion one based upon principle and it is n correct
principle that the question shul be submitted to the
people in 1865, why should it not be submitted to the
people inls5li Why should ! be asked to withhold
That privilege from the people that am representing
now IN order to take care ohe interests OF the people
nt II future day, and Of future generation
Sir beg leave to say to my friend from, the county
OF Accomac, that the day for compromise has not
are just now beginning to dry light upon that
question You have had vote of 81 to 55-one only il,
the notwithstanding what conceive to be the most
Objectionable proposition for compromise TINT has
been or is likely to bs submitted to this house There
are other propositions for compromise upon which a
vote has not been taken. The time has now arrived
when will break through that wisp Of straw that has
hound my hands together for the Inst week or ten DAYS
and will take the responsibility before nv constituents
OF violating what seems to be record against me upon
tins question: and come forward again to propose
compromise upon this subject
Mr. WISE nm willing to give every opport snitv to
settle this question. will sit here till midnight If it
will do any good. am determined so far as ,ln con.
terned not to leave this hall until We have voted twice
thrice, nay thirty times We can upon the subject If
any gentleman will offer compromise will try it this
day and this hour.
M. Bolts have shown You that will discharge
my duty Let every gentleman upon this floor discharge
such duty to his constituents, in his Judgment he
ought. mean to assume the responsibility before nv
constituents {" doing what it appears by the record
they have instructed me not to do The responsibility
upon my part and upon the part of no on. else nd
here take occasion to say that it shall fall upon no
one else and shall fall upon part Of this district It
shall be personal and not political responsibility.
And if necessity should require it. | nm prepared 10
abandon the post occupy in this district rs candidate
Tor Congress- that the whg party shall not suffer by
any tlng NAV do in M honest discharge of nv duty
IN an endeavor to save the interests Of the common
wealth. And it seems To ME to he proper time
To bring forward the proposition that have already
submitted ana to ask that vote may be taken npol it.
lit is rejected shall remain content with having at
tempted at least the discharge of duty honestly and
faithfully to the country. now offer that proposition
Thp 1ha first nf
proposition of the committee still remains the balance
having been stricken out Does the gentleman propose
to insert all but the first section OF his proposition in the
blank.
Mr. Bolts. Will the Secretary read the PROPOSE
ton.
The SECRETARY then read the first section Of the re-
port Of the compromise committee, as follows:
|. The Legislature shall he formed Of two distinct
branches which, together shall be complete Legsla-
ture and shall be called the General Assembly of Tr
snia.
Mr. BOTTs Now rise for the purpose of express
ing the hope that there may be distinct vote taken
upon every proposition which to be submitted here for
As far as am individually concerned,
shall endcavor enbarrass the proposition of gem
tleman by any amendment If the house is in favor Of
compromise let them take it. If they are against it.
let them reject it and then let each succeeding PROPOSE
ton for com promise up and stand upon its
merits.
Several MEMBERS Th.t is right" :" that Is right.
Mr. SHEFFEY. | desire simply to say that if that
course il to be pursued gentlemen should show their
hands How can We choose between conflicting com
promise propositions until what compromises are
to he offered Here is the gentleman from the city of
Richmond who offers his proposition So far that is
concerned if it stand alone. may he preferred
BY certain gentlemen upon this floor to proposition
But there may be in the pockets of distinguished
Gentlemen other propositions which members of this
Convention would prefer instead of that of the gentle
man from Henrico. l think if we are to vote TO hill
blink in compromise proposition, We should know
what the compromise propositions are in the pockets Of
gentlemen
Mr. BOTTS Will the gentleman from Augusta
allow ME to say to him that according to the decision
made in this Committee that if the Committee should
now adopt that proposition it is open to amendment,
andcan be stricken out and that fany other gentleman
should at any future stage OF the proceedings offer
more acceptable proposition, it is in the power of gen
tlenen to vote upon 1t.
Mr. SAUNDERS. l desire, whenever the npPortu-
nv shall offer to present to the consideration of The
Committee the scheme of compromise which brought
forward few days ago. do not purpose to enter now
no any detailed explanation Of that scheme, but be-
iieye it proposes fixed stable system of government,
20 far a the legislative depnr Is concerned re-
ard it n fair scheme Of compromise, and 1t presented
ts,, to my mind in the beginning OF the debates upon
this question as the best should get. wisht were
in nv mower to impress upon this COMMITTEES the de-
tails of that scheme, and the merit that 1t seems to me
10 possess but the few moments shall address the
House will not enable me to do 80.
Idonot see how this scheme is in the ghtest degree
obnoxious to the objection advanced by the gentleman
from Richmond in respect the establishment of House
If Lords and House of Commons, unless indeed weare
10 learn ut this time in regard to the history OF our ma
tona government and of other State governments 10
his Union some things We have not yet learned:
should like to know if the citizens of the State oi New
York regard this rs any other than republican inrfa
If government and whether they regard the national
rs composed of House of Lords and a
Imse of Commons when in the Senate OF the United
sotes one man in the State of Delaware has MS much
.;pht as ten men in the State Of New York! DO the
jtzens of North Carolina where one branch OF the leg
.atureis based upon transformations and the other
anon federal numbers-wch is stronger than the mix
i basis proposed bere-regard their government any
other than republican in FORM
have not risen to debate this question but desire
70 nresent to gentlemen so anxious about the rights o!
The minority and about the taxation of peculiar sPe
lies OF property form Of government We can ADOPT
until it shall be changed by reapportionment according
% the plan fixed upon in this compromise ldesire 10
NOV K a protection of eighteen to fourteen or fourma
ority in the Senate, protection Of between twenty
yeand ythree audathrd per cent. in the power
nf the east against the west will not protect the aton
If all portions of the commonwealth! Can any netlef
guarantee or safeguard for property be offered. me
Scheme presented is only skeleton; all the safeguards
and guarantees for the protection Of property taS,
ha;up tO be worked ON III