Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04

When submitted the proposition lor the election
committee to soc whether not il WAS practicam t
ADJUST this question, it proceeded from no chang
opinion on that exciting subject. However PAM I'll
may be- and has been for three or fouItday to b.
from my eastern associates upon hJ oor
the Tact that have taken position which disco 1nect
rue IRON them and throws me- not into the hands o
some foreign alliance but TO extent in COZ necol
with portion of our brethren Of different " con o
the State. shall not deter from pursuing thu
which think Is not only due 10 those whom have the
honor to represent upon this door, but which, think
Will protect nil the great interests of this roud com
monweath, and will harmonic and fraternIEe the feel
inss OF all portions Of Virginia Upon it. il we giTe til,
people the reforms that they de nand constitution
be erected satisfactory to all and protecting the Interests
of all. The mere fact that thrown in my connec
ton here from section 10 sther, will not deter mt
from pursuing thatc which, think is not oav due
TO those whom have the honor TO represent, but rhl
in itself -"',
Mr. CHAPMAN. L must confess that lars f,sen
greatly surprised at the of portion Of the East.
delegation this floor upon his cOupraise re, r,
Of your select Committee They psave con,enaed her,
from the beginning that their only object pro cure
protection anu that they believed the only manner il,
which that protection could be oh aimed aud =reraise
with certainty, was through basis af representation
which property should be material i9grvdien-or On
SIS i'll which population and taxation should be comb
ned. On the other hand of tho west together with
few, noble, gallant liberal and patriotic spirits :ril the
East have contended that the people Of this common.
wealth should stand upon conaon equal platform,
and that every freeman each ;sd every 20 rtion
this old Dominion should be entitled to the rights
privileges and inmuuites, individually and politically
but the Eastern delegation generally denied II the pco-
pie Of the west equal rights and privileges. ~ OF
the fact that the cast had large peculiar property
which was no: 30 common to the west and that their
only safety i'll retaining MA ory Of the members
of the Legislature; aud tho plan proposed aud
ted by them which gives to per cons and ta8cs ~, ul
number of dclega.s-gare TO - the east fourteen uf
majority in House Of Delegates composed OF 80
Der, and five of majority il Senate composed Df fifty
members and this they conceived complete and
perfec; protectiuu-nd they desired nothing more than
protection for they abhorre the. idea Of retaining power
for the mere sake of power. Well sir, in this were
compelled to believe they We're sincere-and that auv
plan which gave them what they protested 10 desire,
would unqucstionaby be salts factory TO them but |
much fear that those gentlemen hav. not only deceived
themselves but deceived this question and that the
least they desire is that which they profess naI1ey pro
lection to property Let then. loas. for AomeIt at
the facts and gentlemen consistent with their
professions committee OF eight members. four from
the cust and four from the w.si side Vt the Blue Ridge
mountains, few days since BY vote Of thi. Con-
vcntion appointed to bring in scheme of cnnro
mise of this vexed basis question wthci might presc
ceptable to ma ority vi this COn.,entnn and after
lew days consideration the said unit brought in
proposition by which the people Of the vest side of the
Blue Ridge (beng majority of on. hundred thousand
of the citizens OF the Snte) should b. entitled to four
Of majority in the House Of Delegates to consist
of $50 members and the people of the east side Of said
Ridge beng minority Of one hundred thousand Of the
freenen of the State should b. entitled majority Of
members in Senate 10 coas'st 0f fifty members
This is The compromise ESQ caedl which has been propo
sed by select comnittoe and nm bound to acknow
edge with friend from Rlchmn.d city, that it is
Compromise which for the present gvo every thing
partv-l compromise in which the east gets more
than she has asked yet still number nf eastern
gentlemen streuuous to oppac this proposii
settlement and gentlemen too VIII" were ever willing to
rely upon the nike sis majority, as ample protection
But Mr. President il Their object Is what they profess
docs not this proposition of the committee give them
greater and certain protection than the mixed h
itselfl Let for rnomcut examine 1t. Bv the
mixed bnss principle before stated. the east would be-
entitled majority Of fourteen in House Of Delegates
numbering l5O andto five ola in Senate Of fiji
ty menbers-now this prnc pie would be applicable
to both the House Of Delegates and the Senate ne Very
people that elected fourteen OF majority IN the
House Of Delegates, would elect I'VE oil majority ~ the
Senate and in u probability the sentiments and 0pn,
ions Of the majority the House would be the scti
ncuts and opinions of the majority in the other they
would reprrsct the sentiments and opinions of the same
people and consequently there would be the same 80
curty to the eas in the one house rs the other ana just
the came security il they held majority III only one
Huuse as in both And that security would be- precise
IL equal to majority Of naeteen i'll House OF, 200
neuers-but what does the east get by this proposed
compromised III o III ..sso {
bers 10 which they would b. entitled By the mixed ba
SIS but they actually get ten o majority in senat.
of fifty members. thus doubling the maorityto which
they are entitled BY the mixed basis principle aud eing
equivalent to ma ority Of forty members in house of
300 when by the mixed basis principle they would By
entitled to but nneteen Can there, then be any wG
opinions in regard the fact that II the object OF the
east be what they profess that this scheme gives teip
double the protection and security Of that Of the mixed
basis; and it docs seem extraordinary 10 me tha geu
tIemen from the east who have advocated the mixed
basis principle should for moment hesitate III giving
their support 10 this proposition and stranger still
that the antiprogressve and antinternal
party on this floor from the east do not with avidity,
embrace il, for it much certainly destroys all
nrospert of anv appropriation for the development Of
The mighty resources Of the State than their arorite
mixed basis principle; it gives TO the representatives Of
small minority Of the people the power OF defeating
for the next eighteen years all appropriations 10 works
of interim, Improvement although such appropriations
may b. 4aucinne By the votes nj the representatives
ri nenr ee-,ourths of the people OF the State.
But vet Mr. President. notwithstanding those serious
objections to the proposition Of the compromise COM
mittec have, after much hesitation, Drought myself
IN tbe determination to for ia determination that
shall execute with more reluctance than any leyi,la
tive net of nv life for by It feel that nm compro-
missing for time at least the rig ITS and interests OF
nv constituents, and giving to the east more than on
any principle of right and justice she can be entitled
TO- bus 40 strongly / impressed with the lnpor,
lance of the settlement Of this yexed question, bat
have determined give up more than justly should.
with n view Of accomplishing it. | am satisfied that
unless this proct of the compromise committee shall be
udopteJ that none that will not meet wththe hearty
di.approbstion of large majority Of the people ! am
aware that the people of the western portion of the
state will never submit to the odious mixed basis prin
c;nle nv which they will consider themselves degra-
eJ They would seek division Of the State, as much
an they NAV deprecate it, before they would submit 10
such dishnror. - = = ',..-- :.
shal vote then for this scheme, becsuse believe 1t
ia the only plan now left by which the integrity OF the
S,ote can be Observation-Disclosures In branch oil The
legislature it does Justice to the people who have te
honor in part to represent because, after erh OF
it will give to the Whole people OF the State the
nrivee of settling this question for
the ballot box, when they will b. able to Vindraie anu
the equality aud the rights of the Oh te
State which have been so long withheld because e
neone of the west whose rights alone are
NAV be Induced in this propos;oa loo Inc
present and will thus restore peace anu tae
Country and BECAUSE the plan sitsef has bsth seen
mended by committee Of gentlemen cum ing IN eqaai
numbers from thetuo grand divisions OF me
Ihave for some time felt how abhotuteiy
and necessary it WAS in f.;a,,s1
of this Question thata liberal compromising ana
spirit should be e1bitedbJ members compospg
reutiou from all portions of the State ami IN
have been willing to compromise ahis question epah an