Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09
reputation rather than to any question of the basis of

nf th;s Convention But l find upon reference TO the
nroceedings Of the last Convention that while upon the
basis of representation the members from the west pre-
sentcd united front yet upon all other questions Of
form they divided, and while the distinguished
gentleman from Northampton, (Judge Upshur was the
advocate OF the extension OF the right OF suffrage, yet
Mr. Powell Alr. Johnson, Mr.. Baldwin, and others
advocated limitation; and when they come TO the
limitation of the tenure Of Office Of the Judiciary, find
MIR Thompson and Mr. Upshur going for the Limitation
and som. gentlemen from the west for the life tenure n
ice and when effort made in that Convention to
infsc into the county courts more OF popular vgor ana
energy you will find eastern men, to some extent voting
for IT, and western men voting against 1t. And acre
in this body while upon this question of the white basis
OF representation the west comes up with one voice IN
its favor still upon all other questions OF reform we
find some gentlemen as conservative in their views ~
the ives, as any in the east. II has been stated fire.
ouently in the OF this debate that the PROPOSE
lion OF the eastern report in reference to the reap
portion1at of representation, had been tiesqntiE 81
worried as enable us, for ali time come, To hold IN
to the power, notwithstanding Any subsequent increase
Of population and taxation i'll the western portion Ct The
Commonwealth. | think the gentleman lrom Wood,
(Mr VAS WEELE,) TO some extent, expressed that
opinion That inference think is unfair for although
am authorized 10 answer Tor no one but myself, II /
az. ri, in my recollection, the opinion entertain up
On this subject has been expressed by other gentlemen
who have preceded me in this discussion. ] in
tend whatever hasis Of representation may be csaD-
lised to vote for proposition making II mandatory
upon the legislature 10 make fair rc-apportiommcn
Oh whatever decade may be agreed upon by the
committee. That IS my purpose, and | mean 10 s's-
tain il By M vote whenever the proper time arrives
will 60 further. Some gentlemen object that the re-
apporiionment according to the report and the PROPOSE
tion Of the gentleman from Fauguier, is to be made up
tho average tax and population Of the ten proceeding
yea and ask why is it that do not give the west
what they will be fairly entitled to upon their future in
crease Of population and taxation; If gentlemen pre-
fer that alteration shall vote 'yth them If they wish
re-apporonment. according 10 the taxation of the
year preceding in preference to the average taxation
and population Of the ten proceeding years far my
vote goes, they may have it cngratcd in the consti
tuition.
have thus, sir, as briefly as well could, presented
to this committee some of the views and considerations
which will govern me upon this highly Important
subject of the basis Of representation. Aud allow
here to say, that while | might be prepared TO yield
much TO just spirit of compromise bat 10 the strong
demand set up by the west for the Suffrage basis have
nothing to yield. | might hare elaborated the views,
which have presented, 10 an extent bordering 10 The
close of daily session, but had no such intention
when | commenced, and have 10 such purpose HOW.
But ii the committee will bear with me for moment,
will notice one other vicw!hat has been taken iii coa
nccoa with the propositions under consideration.
The very distinguished gentleman from the county of
hanawla, my friend, .fir SUMMERS in The conclusion
OF the able and eloquent speech with which he favored
Lie committee many days ago, SAID with rather en- ar
OF confidence, thought, that matter how this cues
ton may be decided, matter what may he the result OF
our deliberations the subject, that cannot hest
tate TO submit to the people two constitutions each
tanning the same reforms, upon the white sHf
fragc basis of representation, and the other upon the
mixed basis, and to give them an opportunity 10 decide
between the two. Other gentlemen, who have sue
cecded him, endeaTcrcd To impress the same view upon
US. am aware that no such proposition that is
pending before the committee, and ii may he time
enough to discuss the proposition when il up for
our considerations but will tell gentlemen in advance
that unless fail to reflect the views and opinions oil my
constituents upon that question: can scarcely vote with
them when the proposition il presented. According to
my present recollection during the session of the lcgs
laturc OF lSi3-l4 or 1S454G, proposition vas intro
.uced 10 submit to tn" -t.U organizing
convention upon whatever basis they might designate
refer 10 that tmc because remember very well that
in the county OF Patrick, one OF the counties which
represent that objection was raised 10 the then
delegate from that county upon his return nome by MS
upon the ground that he had voted TO or
5anZc convention upon the mixed basis and against
the question of basis TO The people.
Mr.. STUART, Of Patrick. Will the gentleman tell
Us the name of the member and when the matter took
place: never heard Of it before.
Mr.. MARTIN. Certainly | will crafty the gen |
eman. ! am not ignorant of the incidents of public
character which have taken place in that county for
fifteen years past. hold my commission in this body
part BY the voice of three hundred of the voters OF
hat highly respectable county, and there has not been
compliment paid that pcople-and they have received
many during this dcbate-that has not touched re-
ponsivc chord in my bosom. But my colleague should
rave known that would not have venturcd the asser
ion unless had been sustained by ndisputahlc evil
1ence and though he may be ignorant Of the fact TO
which have adverted, he will find my recollection full
) endorsed by constituency in that county
certainly should nol have descended to particulars
)ut for the gentleman interference in answer 10 his
ntcrrogatory. will inform him that mutual friend
Mr.. Edward Taum was the delegate, and my highly
,stecmed friend and relative, Dr. Handy, was his com
octitor, who made the objection, and whatever other
questions may have entered into the canvass certain il
IS that Mr.. Tatum triumphantly re elected In
The legislature Of 1S49'50, a similar proposition
submitted, the delegate from the county of Henry.
and the two delegates from the county of Franklin voted
against it, and were all easily reelected and in Tho
for seat in this Convention the objection
made Ia my young friend and colleague from the county
Of Franklin, that he had voted the year proceeding
against submitting to the people the question of the ba
sis upon which the Convention should he organizcd:
and he too elected by decisive ma orty as
Der Of this body think these facts afford pretty strong
prcsmptivc evidence of what the voice of my district
would lie upon the proposition 10 submit The question OF
the basis of representation to the people Of the Com
But, sir submit in all canto: and sir
cerlty, after we have been engaged in the discussion OF
this exciting question for period of more than seven
weeks, when an anxious, excited and impatient coGn-
try, feeling deep interest in this and either questions
of REFORM looking forward with great anxiety to
the close of this debate and the termination OF our Ia
bors-when nearly all Of tho old thirteen, and every
new State coming into this confederacy, have establish
ed governments, framing their constitutions more upon
the broad basis of popular intelligence and popular s'
premacy Than is ours-when by the onward progress OF
free principles, the prediction Of the sage Of Monticello
IS about to be realized, that countries sooner,
and others later, but all finally will find out that the
mass OF mankind not norm with saddles on their
backs nor a favored few booted and spurcd to ride
them legitimaely by the grace of God-when by the
same mighty influence throne after throne is crGmbns
pillar after pillar OF the temples Of despotism is going
down, and rs the mighty fabrics toerng in the
tempest and cxuting millions are reoiced at The pros
pecl-sial il be said that in this the nineteenth CEN
tlry in the Virginia Reform Convention, in that proud
Commonwealth, whose voice was once potential in the
national councils, when we have convened TO reform
our government, that upon this the most important ara
difficult OF all the questions likely to engage our debcr
question Of the basis of
We arc incompetent TO the TASK and that b. it can
not he adjusted THAT II must again he referred TO the
people, and the entire Commonwealth convu!sed, not
ony by appeals 10 sectional preudices, but by nilam
maory efforts TO array classes against classes, has
been done upon this floor: In my humble opinion the
people desire no such thing anticipate no such cal
anxious result OF our iabors. am prepared to
claini-
Age! thou art asiiamsd-
Rome thou hast lost the b.ccl Of noble blood"
believe there is wisdom, patriotsm and statesman
ship enough III this body 10 settle tbs question here, and
indulge the .dpc-thc confident hope-.hat it will be
adjusted, speedily, fairly, and satisfactorily adjusted