Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-24

side, which gave the present anporto'het uloh th(
mixed basis in both houses for ten year, rppos" hat
if we yield no,c the apportonment in the popular
branch upon their favorte basis and give them rts"
majority in that branch they will be content i'll con
Grafton Of that concession our part TO yield 20 lis
majority in the other branch for double the period OF
ten years 1t seems to me that our friends will in
that modification concession which will assure them
of the presence of compromising spirit upon our side
Take it TINT they willing to give present majority
the east in both houses for ten years propose in
s.ea Of that to give them present majority in one
house and take majority in the other house for double
that period and Mt the expiration of that time to leave
it to the two houses of the general assembly TO reap
portion representation without any prescrptvc man
dates and if they cannot agree upon plan of appor
tonment that 1t shall be the duty of the general assem-
bly, ts submit the competing plans of the two houses to
the determination of the voters Here il prospective
settlement of this question upon the terms and in the
manner insisted upon by western associates 1t is
detni,ve settlement, though prospective. repeat II
Ia settlement in the and upon the terms pre-
posed by friends upon the other side Ny PROPOSE
ton extends farther 1t contempates an anp"rtonment
upon the suffrage white basis, ns gentlemen may
choose in the house of delegates and mn apportionment
the taxation basis in the Senate, excluding the license
tax the tax law process and the captaton tax paid
by free negroes 1t proposes reapportlonncnt at the
end of ten npon this rncpe by which the west
en majority in the house of delegates may increase and
the eastern majority in the Senate decrease Il gives
to our eastern friends protection against that power
from which they appreheld danger 1t gives 1t - them
for period OF time which will allow the system of III
terna improvements to be adjusted gives 1t 70 them
for period OF time, when according to my hopes anu
anticipaions will say. circumstances will have reno
we'd from among us the causes that give rise 20 this
distraction trust that friends upon the other SIDE
will see this proposition secit-wi see 1t as com
promise Welding to them their principle IN one house
immc atelv and prospcctivelv submitting the question
of the basis to the de crmnation of the popular vote
Now beg leave say that so far rs am concerned,
ana believe "a far rs many others who act with me-
ar. concerned content to go farther IN adjust
the number of which the two houses shall consist so a.
10 give 10 the numerical majority the control on JOINT
ballot and in that submit it To the popular majority
to confer the honors and emoluments of those offices
the appointment of which may be derolved upon th.
General assembly Now, here ia compromise that goes
to an extent, apprehend beyond what sons propose
| and beyond what many of associates willing to
70 10 this extent am willing to go under the circum
stances and have authority for saying, that there
others who have been acting with me upon this qnes
lion willing To go-not one two three, but many-a SUI
ticien number tn bring the proposition to the caicSr,
that would have it. To make it partakc the nature o
u compromise. Permit me to ask m friends upon tae
other side in what the proposition differs from that
ported by tho committee of compromises ailnie now
40, 10 those details to which have already called the
attention of the committce-but in what does IT !'iicr
in respect the settlement of this question: The pro-
position of the committee gives understand present
majority OF ii in the house of delegates to the wcat
aud majority OF ~ the east in the senate My pro-
position would disturb that arrangement. 1t would l"
sen the difference between the orti"s III the two
bodies but still am content to give Certain. fixed
and available, ao.tv, that the popular voice may
govern. in all matters of legislative appointments But
what is it To gentlemen upon the other side II they
nave this certain. fixed and available majority. say
what il il TO them that the relations between the ma
ority in one house and the majority in the other shall
not be as the committee propose! The purpose - 10
give all active and available ma "ritv in one house tt
one size and active available majority IN the other
house the other side. And are gentlemen 50 Wrd4cG
10 their own opinions to break off an adjustment OF
this long debated and much agatcd question: because
OF difference i'll respect to this! Gentlemen upon
the other side will probably say, if the difference Is
small why do We not yield! can only retort by ask
Ing the Question since the difference is small why may
Won not Weld. 1t is sufficient for to know that ac
corling to the plan propose much greater strength
and much larger support will be obtained for til" pro-
position from eastern associates humhy think
that upon this question: seeing that according to both
the east is to have the con,ro! n the
and the west the lower house. ii give controlling
majority upon Joint ballot, there ought to be nothing III
the diversity of the proposition which shond turn the
hearts OF our western friends from it. Then a:""r
difference respects the time at which this Submission
shall be made to the people. ThcT propose lS'5 We
propose lo12. making difference between Us of seven
wears. Now, tkr end Of the time which my PROPOSE
ton contcmpltes. extending only seven years beyond
wa: the proposition OF the committee contcnp!a.es
We hGvs q settlement authoritative settlement
of this question upon the terms and by the power con.
tended for ly western iricnd- ami can they not
take compromise proposition that comedies 40
much To them
am proposing that which in the estimation OF some
comedies all them, because it comedies the present
ontrol house and the prospective contr" IN both
Can not they take that and regard 1t a. fair ana al
Missile adjustment. Ii appeal in vain to my friends
from TrAns-Allcghanv. shall appeal in vain I" M
friends Of the Valley Those gentlemen have SAID that
they occupied upon this floor rather the character Of mod
orator. between the extreme east and the cx:r"p: vest
Here is opportunity for them to step forward ~ the"
capacity n moderators. The have lis here month
after month engaged IN earnest discussion npona c"pe
/ tiny, and if you choose of extreme views, and now,
when upon trial OF strength both sides have failed i'll
achieving their cherished object, and the point l. attain
ed ut which compromise il practicable. call "pan
hen-upou mv friend from Berkeley. upon my friend
from Jefferson upon a nv VALLEY frirnds-:o for
ward row not to take the responsibility but the cfd
and the honor of settling this dlstractnS Question
| Here are the terms OF compromse-the TENS 81 an
misunderstanding TO them their demands N the one
house ia PRESENT. and III the other ~ J"ro which WIN
IN adjustment Of majorities will give 10 the
great popular power of this State the disposal of the
on"rs AMI cmruments of office. Here is an opportu-
nifty OF achieving this upon proposition that am au-
th"rzed to will receive the sanction OF large r-
ton Of the eastern delegation.
trust that this call upon the Valley will not b. nm
heet"d earnestly, an%iously, sincerely hope that
those vii" have 1t i'll their power {" settle this matter
will come forward now in spirit Of concession AMI Of
iect an Adjustment III call IN the alley.
will my voice fall unhcccd upon the ears of my friends
from Londnnn: Why should my fr"nla from Loutln.n
withhold themselves from this adjustment, If i will
not sa:i>fr the east to every extent it will 10 a very
great extent. They have a!lni,es AMI eastern
constituencies have, and that taking hi. cal!
in the spirit in which il is made. that worthy an re.
spective friends fr" the county Of Loluun will find
il compatible with their Of duty their c"-li..
EMS aud to the west. forward and give Us
their aid in accomplishing this adjustment. ! tell nv
friends upon the other side that it will be adjust
ment of this distracng controversy which either side
imposes upon The other by the scanty majority If
two or three. Srch accomplishment will be III"
suit Of voting by divided delegations. and we will only
remove the clmtest from thcse walls to the country
from our midst constituents should deire il
deeply if the result should happen as hav" predicted
and should depore the excitement the irritation and
ill-freug in comparison with which all that ha t"d
amongst will he nothing. We are ut point When
we eau accomplish this A. my friend from the county
Of kanawha has 90 often said these decks cleared
laughter We have now h,5lH raso; The suffrage
basis gone the mixed basis gone! We are now III a
land Of compromise and trust it will prove " land
Of promise and that il is not in our view only hut
H.. lnn | nf ln.-