Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-29

under which they lived would not be disposed TO let
well enough alone rather than introduce fresh changes
ana enter again upon rev and untrled experiments.
In such state Of things, no one | apprehend, not en-
dowed with the gift of prophecy; could undertake to
p edict what would he the decision OF the people
the issues that would have been presented to them-
But in lieu OF that issue, this Eastern committee APP
pointed by Western votes, has brought in (and
that too in the name OF Compromise,) a scheme
by which the West is 10 have the popular
branch and majority upon joint ballot, and in 65
you are to submit to the people tor the first time the
question whether they will have the Legislature or
ganised the mixed basis that is to say, whether
they will have both branches of the Legislature organ
ised upon principle which up to that moment had
never been applied to either, and Of the practical wor
king and operation Of which they know and can know
no hing whatsoever For be it observed that by this
Compromise scheme you do apply the mixed basis
to ither branch OF the Legislature. The suffrage ba
SIS, or something beyond The suffrage basis, is applied
IN one brasch and an arbitrary principle in the other
branch and under this scheme, therefore, the ques ion
is not whether the people shall adhere to a prime ple
tina had been tried and found to work well, but whe-
Their they SHALL in 1865 adop or the first time prin
cple till then unknown and rared. That, sir is the
question submitted in 1865, by your Compromise
scheme, and that must be sanguine indeed, who,
| under such Gycumsances can look forward to any
other result nan the establishment OF The suffrage basis
in both Hou just certainly as if you had made it
mandatory in the constitution.
Sir, the gentleman from Accomac may dismiss all
apprehensions this Under the propositions
made by the West, we did stand some chance; under
the Compromise we have none. BY that scheme the
advocates OF the suffrage basis have, indeed, made
assurance doubly sure, and taken a bond Of fate"
This, then, was one OF he propositions made by the
Western committee but not The only one. BY anotl-
er proposition they offered to give both houses on
the mixed basis till 1862 with mandatory apportion
men then on the suffrage basis-and leave it to any
candid man, with The facts before him. to say whether
either OF these propositions is not decidedly better for
the East than this thing miscaed Compromise. Sir,
glad tina these matters have been adverted and
that facts connected with themhav been brought out
and have gone to the country. wish the people to see
and to know these things, and invoke their judgment
upon Them rejoice that opportunity has been az
forded me to meet the i7ue that gen emen have ven
tured 10 make this floor and leave it TO the coun-
try TO say whether upon exhibition of these various
propositions contras'ed with this mis- called Compro-
mise, not fully borne out in the declaration that so
far from lis being true that Eastern men who vo-
ted for the Compromise shield themselves under the
action OF the committee OF conference upon the part of
the East, the record (aye in the very record which
they themselves have appealed) shows that they have
gone beyond what offered by The conn ittee OF
conference on the part of the West, and have fixed
upon their own constituents and The whole of Eastern
Virginia about the very worse system that could well
have been devised.