Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-27
.,.s 81 Mr.. F.ERG US0N (cf Logan} in tie Go''
'i''''' ion uppn hc. Basis Of Representation.
TurRsDAf, April $rdl, u O'clock, F.

so.,eh Of ,fr. FENG CSC' (ct Logdn3 az me eo"'e"
>i'S''' tj,. vppn the. Baais Of Representation" i
..s TurRsDA4, April srd, Il O'clock, Pm
" charman.-When made the motion to-day that
aoUrai,,oo rise snted that if any gentleman CT:
w. Ier side of the question desired the floor tonight
.onld cAeerfuiiy yicldsit; in fact Gscde'y Irc!"r
INIT soue eastern gentleman should cnnnre the dis
ss;on tonight andif any one ID prepared 70 enter
NON the discussion this tine present ihmthe OPP
,r,rtunty to do 3d. go. -. -. = VI
IA no one presents hnsols shall proceed with what
have TO say upon this grave and n,onentous q"e:t"
In entering upon the discussion Of this great question
Il this time tits scarcely necessary for nc to sal that
10 suwish no nconsidcrsbie degree OF
First becauscI come into this discussion at an eaTer
lay than Ind altcipated Secondly because OF con
cisness q. nv part that shall not be able - a!r t"
he comn.fttee InSthing new Interesting E;"!l 4;-
ec that has already been discussed b. Virginia great
st wisest and most renowned statesmen; men whose
memories will live fresh in the hearts OF their cnntry
men wucI mine shall have been elaborated aust Forgot
en-. ,My,,uties III the House Of Delegates lave bycn
uch tut have not been able to ATTEND the ti:hGs {"
his btsiv and hear IT'S tsct.ssons llCr have id .He
vra to read but three fur of The spttcht9 which
auy. been made since this dcbltc Commenced ilHl
therefore necessarily ana without SHOWING IT, occI?s
much of the greand that lts already been occupied Nv
others who have gone before nc lEopc low.rcr the
committee will: bear with Ill while ATTEMPT ~ ny
,yn way present my Views upon tals al-n'P"ta'
cstuu, look upon the basis representation - lhe
,elt question thatl,rs brought t,s together cine III
s,nnarisou with which all offers tlwiS!le into t,@ T.
<ir;icance,; And for one if ynn d*c'c his question
tg;,t the west care rot what way yt'r drc.1t al
others Isn areorncr ttloroue YES SIR,
o use the ani of the gen. eInan fro. -AccI:lac
Mr. WIssl l:a.a nh infinite faicil: bat tell son nov
hat ii you incorporate Into the constitution yor mixed
r,si o: any thing like it. you NAV incorporate every
thcr ina inary reform. YOU n.ar gid the psi ~ ihuch
IS you p.easc still shalhtsu everything innT r"#er
% prevent its adoption by the people. have 70 some
Xten! been identified with this convention ,"7"'@nt
W YOU sir, al tke honor Of a seat III tho tl"iise
IL Delegates when the luw providing for this co:Tea
ion passed. It was ny misfortune ION tlF! PC;
ion to DE-, with YOU We! wih:. large Ru:titT@
5estern :i!embtrs as 70 the course proper |" o R:
,iedby the delegates from we>cr Virginia. In tn N.
.cieli.io,s discharge nv duty :ira Iny rGtc = that
,awI gave Tint vote REASONS satisfactory l2yself
utthe tide and have Seen reason size ~ dYut
he prorrcty of IN c0,;rse hut Oh tte euul:aET SEE
constantly before e?erT thing 20 justify r. IS IN"
.;tw~under' convtnGA Eastern y !:a-
j, majority of seventeen members upon hi; for The
proposition introduced by tho gentleman fro:a &c
omac AIr FlSsEY) then member Sc the House 81 De!
gates, s,i hind "a hot <e:te;i
Iurpuse the part Of Eastern Firsihiao pass some
III relation to the subject. viewed the, matter in
Ill is forms and in all phases. 1t WIS; Win n!r.
,uboct of long, an:ipas and painful reflection i be
ame riecty satisfied that il 4 Dill liking tire ratio Of
representation east l;d West dad n,i pass li:at bill
;5;ittng 70 the people the isolatrl question: q! coi'
Tenticp or convention and leaving it to t!esnccced
y general assembly, to apDar;ion the representation
would pass-iu, fact. q nem4pr from the north vest
lowed his purpose to s2bit such proposi'io ii the
me then before US should be deeated. This propt on
would havs been yn:rel, acceptable tethe East llher
would huy Geen perfectly willing To- call the Nonve-
ion first and fix tLe ratio Misrepresentation dtterwass
so one doubted what the vote of the people wonla &c
Upon this isolated proposition Tho call sor:rruuycn-
ION would hare beSn sanctioned have uodois,s iir'
-twe,iiets Of the voters Of the Stale, -,r-
uhly had the peppe BECOME dissatisfied with the ex
sting government :. 49,. ..,f@ -. . ;:'.'@ -
What then, would have been the condition Of tnss'
Ths General Assembly which has just adjourned
AVE been called upon to airport representation iii
he Conventions. lu sthe mean time the CENSUS %nnl2
nave been TAKEN the lands world have been as&csscl
,n eastern gentlemen would have ascertaneI TIA. by
heir f.vorte MIXED basis of representation, their
rity in the convention would .but eleven. Anshaa
az one hers believe that Eastern, Virginia would have
Trusted themselves IA go ia;Q convention with w, with
ma ority Of eleven members No.. sir MT one::I
nade calculation at the time of probable increase
i population and of taxation under the new nsse&-
dent aiid nj opinion was that their majority wohld
,ot exceed ten, aud had not tue slightest confidence
int when the game npporion representation in the
convention they would b. satisfied with majority of
zen or eleven either On the conrarvs L,knew that in
trrate many Of ;hen deciaredthe opinion that they
we're entitled to the same mprity.i convention Of
tEEI CJnSttutltn IN the
inrse 81 Delegates which WAS. twenty three and their
believed (what now know that when the. effect Of
their atorite mixed basis was sceraaiueG they would
ith9r adopt the asis Of the House of Delegates or the
federal basis which BY the way woulA have given them
precisely the same majority they now have Ii any gem
lemdu doubts this let ne refer him to thu remarks of
HE gentleman from Buckingham (AIr EuqrA) who com
blamed most bitterly the other day that the Eastern
members did not insist upon majority OF twenty nine
hat being Their majority in tho General Assembly OIL
it ballot Of both houses Instead of seventeen TN
Ter these circusances voted for the bill and IN like
circumstances would vote for it again Idesircd,that
lh6n the People Of the west were called upon to- sane
icll the call ftr Crenton they should know tile mn
GRITTY theY were to contepl With l. was willing to
onanhtlGd INTO the power Of Eastern Virginia Ivy first
F5rpeing 10 the call OF CUuEenton5 and then leaving
to Their tender mercy to aIopt auybass Of ropresen
aton which a' arbitrary majority of .uenty-aine in
he General Assembly representing, minurtv.of. the
people saw proper to mP9ae upon These wnre.the
easons which influenced me when endorsed the call of
his Convention, and hereafter when Eastern reptlcmen
efer to the fact that l. with other Western men, voted
jlr that law they may, make the most of it,.
With these preliminary remarks ] come now to the
consideration Of the various propositions before the Com
uiittee aud first in order stands proposition A. This
PROPOSITION provides that half of tho members of
Zach house Of tie general Assembly shall be baeed upon
taxation, and Tire other hale rpnn white, population
pfopnsition : is moved asa substutefor a. 4s pro-
position proposes to base representation upon the a!i-
ned voters OF the State without regard to section or
wealth. 1t declares that gs individual sfraoc sbuuld-
bG equal without respect to individual wealth SO an
equal number of9aaed voters shall be entitled to esua
regard TO their aggregate wealth
The gentleman from Fauluier r Sco1T) moves pro
position in blank as IN amendment to B. md which is t.
irst proposition 70 be voted upon by the Committee
The proposition e substantially the same MS proposition
A. Itpropdses TO give 10 each county and city nne del,
egpte for each blank part Of taxes and one del.vat
lot each blank humbero its inhab tants D. urL hos
ertr TINT the Number of delegates to which n,- CITY
.nay i've entitled Shall never cxcecdthe number f b.nt
and that the excess to WHICH CITY would be- ent;tleJ
shall baSttibuted hmon, tile counties Of tho section i;
which such city SHAH be Situated II, nronoses i, nIa
English to do that which proposition does w;t P,
expressing it, anu witch nothing ess than to rob thai
cities of portion Of tue REPRESENTATION TO whh tLn
would be entitled BY What they affirm to be the 'fIa.
mental prnrpe Of republican government and 10 trans
Ter the surplus of which they ;,rc robc to the cnnn,s
the section where the citc happen to be- Tpon VIA
ID be distributed i no. .t,.aJ
oat if i'might be allowed to conjecture wonJsa,,
Judging from apportiohm i that would he us.
political Eobtng :hnd IfGemocraer .bni, no.
pen 70 BE- irthe 1scehda NJ III, time this snr-,,,s ;i
d.pcssd ef thin wfh IL given i, liz *ir,s. ,.o
,criti: COMMITTEES tu: ii wligsry bv ii Ii. scens'
s ben il goes tothe Wig i, ecantis. =.
49,. II :. i" .rE.6:-... s. ~.
~.- =, ): -. q. - '..".' Il.