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

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CT. II were western maI. if | were white EaS
man, uinier the present circ,m tances that exis not
only III THIS State, but in this Union would forbcar Il
exercise the privilege the power which thcy claim
would forbear because they cnnuot exercise that pow
or without dissatisfaction without creating hostility nn
prejudice in the cast and because cannot conceive r
any proposition that could submitted to us that wnuld
ne more disastrous to the general interest and welfare
THIS Stale, mt this time looking abroad to the position
the slave question, than TIE recognition OF the principle
o inc white OASIS throwing out Of view the recognition
OF our sla"e property entirety aons and not as prop
erty. happen to know fact which presume is h, XXI
to large number Of other gentlemen upon thi, floor
tat therc IRE two great subjects of interest ut this
met occupying the most anxious consideration of that
whole tribe OF northern fanatics and madmen The first
Is the recognition Of tho white basis the part of thj,
Satc-the first great loading slave State in the nnu-
and by it the declaration that slave property i. under
no circumstances Ill no form TO BE- recognized ~ cti
tied to representation The. other question is that i!
the white basis is rejected it will or later ir;
about the division of this State and be the means of in
reducing INTO The Union free State upon our western
border. SO Tar IA my elrs upon this floor IA one ni
the representatives Of the people OF the State of Virgin
ia, and of the people of this district ara concerned
these gentlemen Of the north shall be in;uscd in neither
Of their anticipanns.
We have had a lesson this morning. We have had u,
adnoniliun that wise, rejecting: considerable men, vii
not disregard We have 'lad aaEolt:ons before. mn;
they ure thckcning fast Upon US every day, willie We
are sitting here We arc admOnishcd daily upon Il
tsscnDlagc III tins hail. that county after county. in the
western part of this State sructns their repre-
scntatives if this iaixcd basis shall be cs aiishc
retire from this hall, and form constitution of the r
OWL and present that constitution side by side with the
constitution that may DC adopted by Tie ma u.i;y of
this body ana present it 10 the voters OF the people and
IT, by the vote of the majority of the people of this State
their constitution recognizing tho white basis shall be
adopted is to be put in force Whit is all thi- and to
1.uII nt l.n Al.
these gentlemen stand in the position in which they I'M
agIe themselves to stand degraded part OF Il e
community IL il enough for he To know thai they 20
entertain that opinion. Now what is this proposition /.
1t il Dorrsn i'll its most unmitigacd form the cu,lsc-
quencc of which will be- il carried out to oige the c,>
to do one Of three things Either to resist BIZ force
tn submit to it, or to diridc tie STATE.
have heard gentlemen upon ,I- floor mud beyond tA.
walls Of this capitol say, that there i, danger to hr
unprecedented that this Is Nil for effect. Now lave
vet to learn tho difference between Nrgia md
aother-I have yet tn learn that the politicians Of
western Iirgnia urc less bold less Courageous !rs
faithful to their constituents less honorable in every
respect than the politicians the eastern side of Ike
Now what would be the consequence if de-
ICcrate inst ictions were sent to us here from the east.
if the people should Instruct and say that
longer hilly represent their interests upon this floor
and We ere instructed to retire frcm this hn!l il, boil.
would any gentleman not obey! For nm prepared
to SAY. that If my constituents In give such Ill
structioIs would not hesitate TO ohcy an their
representative aud they placed here for rcir own
purposes, and when those purposes arc in their ims:
ncnts fulfilled they are 1T liberty TO recall me wlc.
ever they think proper. wish to impress il upon the
minds Of The members Of this Convention and also upon
the minds of the people II eastern Virginia that il this
purpose is carried into effect thcy forced 10 .!
three alternatives Resistance submission or division
am against them aU Cod forbid that ever slo,l,d hc
forbid that should ever PERM; NY
self to be made instrument in any fcrm for bringing
such calamity upon this Commonwealth as civil war;
submission to Dorram or division Of this State
will have to cay in relation to this later
period in nv remarks will only say here that arc
with which gentlemen have talked about division ni
this Commonwealth. Why, sir of the representa-.
tives of this city (Afr LYoSs has taken the ground that
it is the sentiment Of the people whom IN part
represent that if the west should propose division they
would accept it. Not 80 with NE, not with the pco-
pie whom represent. Not so AS long as have
tongue to speak, will resist it, will resist it long
rs have to raise. let it come from what quartc
il may whether from The east the west notwithstani
ing tile Wanting farlessess expressed By other gentle
men en- this subject confess have strong apprclcrl-
,ols of the consequences that may result from the
pursued | have confidence enough III myself To lie
eve that they proceed from no improper Or unworthy
motive do not know what estimate other gentlemen
nav put upon my boducss upon my courage but
,ay her. that if felt deficiency in myself in that
proper courage and proper bedness than any other
who lives or ever did i've would lie ashamed TO
,ud up my head again in heorat9c society. Tut, mine
IS not that sort of courage. cou(ess stand ajpa1u
the contemplation Of any of these three alternatives
But puss from this for the present.
Now, l propose to go uto the examination Of The
cra propositions which have been presented here for
consideration And first begin with proposition \.
What itl Why, it proposes to allow represents
tive for every lo0 white persons, mud one for every
900 of taxes requiring 1000 more men than dollars
should however, preface my remarks with The dccai
,tion which made in this Convention few evenings
,mo TINT hold property to be most importan: md
,sseutul element in society, and that no government
mn be lasting and enduring government which dors
,ot furnish the most ample and abundant protection /"
,ronrrty Your white basis, alone, does not il is
hoght, accomplishing object But, what is tie PROPOSE
ion A. That property is not only nm important cr-
uent in society bit that is more important than per
more weight influence and r"pre
entaon is to be allowed to property than to free white
PERSONS This is government Of persons, and not II
and before would vote for the principle that
,ropcrty should have more power III this government
liam me-I hope shall not DC offensive to gentlemen,
,cc,rse differ with them n principle when cXprcs;
,,vself in strong language, but strikes my under
tsndnr-I void soon vote tomorrow for men.
rcbv ma would vote for principle which gives mere
neuce weight and representation i'll the halls Of Legs
alton, to property than TO men. 10 not know, if
vas large property hoidcr Johh JacOO Astor, What
might br tempted to so-perhaps | may not knew
nyself. Every man loves power more or less and
niht fall but belong to that class OF persons who
constitute large aMjority If the citizens Of this Com
who have little property TO protect: and
will not give power to mans wealth over ae and mine
But. while will afford to the property holder all The
,rot.ction he demands, too have few demands to
make upon him for the preservation Of my rights and
n. rights of The large class of czeus to which he
oug Wealth has already TOO mich influence in every
.esIect without eusrafting it constitutional r!n-
siple.
Why, in what are du we live? Are we in the nli'e.
ccn.l century when lie scloolmas;er is abroad all
nycr the face Of tie civilized globe when men ar" asset
ng their own rights and throwing off the shacSics oil
cspotism when thrones are otterns an, un'bng into
the dust before popular freedom and papaInr rights
Is it for rs here in the Old Dominion, III this old Com
of Virginia, TO epgrat upon OFT Con5tu-
tiun principle that property is entitled to more weight
to more representation i'll our government man men
II stood alone ont of the one hundred ana tDiEy-"c
members upon this floor huul1 stand perfectly erect
among my constituents, slare-lrlding aud property
b. hins constituents and say. Il trample that rncipe
in the dust Under this rule under this prncp.e Inc
east are 10 be allowed crty-n!ne upon taf
alton aud thirty only upon her entire ~e popla
tiou This is the mixed basis, il is called; thai am
asked to vote for and such mixed basis rs II Is tco ID
another aspcct Ii We are TO have mixed basis al ail
want lust and fair and equitable apporonn'ent 81
tho yca basis want no democratic mixed basis in
this commonwealth 10 the exclusion of the wing Ia Eca
yrnr