Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-08
The RaSiS Meeting.

Clerk.
The Basis Meeting.
| The African Church was crowded to its
full capacity on Friday evening, in response
to the call through the papers for a meet.
ing of the citizeLs to consider the basis
question. The opponents of the mixed
basis soon proved that they had made their
arrangements rather more skilfully than
its friends. DIR. Dove having been called
to the chair, Mr. Martin, who was the most
active person in getting up the meeting,
called for Mr.. Geo. w. Randolph, lately
Of Albemarle, but recently become citi-
zen of Richmond, to address the assembly.
As he was coming forward, Mr.. Thos. p.
August rose and suggested, that as the OBJ
ject was to take action for the purpose OF
insiructing our delegates in the Convention
as to the sentiments of their constituents, it
would be well, instead of having general
discussion of the basis question, that some
definite proposition should be submitted
for consideration. Mr.. A. j. Crane then
offered preamble and resolution declar-
ing the basis question to be one peculiarly
fit to be compromised, and expressing a
preference for the plan proposed by Mr..
Bolts. Mr.. August offered resolution,
the effect of which was simply to leave the
delegates to their own discretion. Mr..
August's object in interposing at first was
unfortunately misunderstood by those who
had called for Mr.. Randolph, and great
deal of confusion was the result.
Mr.. Randolph finally took the stand.
and delivered an argument to show that
the peculiar interests of Richmond should
lead her to sustain the suffrage or white
basis. The course Of his reasoning was
simply to assert that whatever good. Rich
mond has received at the hands Of the
Legislature has been due to the West, and
whatever evil she has to complain of is
due to the Eastern majority. He laid par
ticular stress on the fact that although the
city contained $4,000 white inhabitants, it
has been permitted to have but one delegate
in the Legislature, whilst counties with
only twoor three thousand have one. He
did not advert, however, to another impor-
tant fact, viz: that the Eastern majority
have more than once offered to reappor-
ton representation on the mixed basis, I'M
der provision of the present constitutionthat
two-thirds of the Legislature may SO re-
apportion, and the Western members
would not agree toit, Wherefore, if our
single delegate is grievance, we unques
tionably owe it, not to the Eastern majority,
but the Western minority. But we re-
greet that such arguments were used at all.
Our city has no reason to be prejudiced
against either section of the State.
Mr. VIM. B. Chamberlayne replied to
Mr. Randolph, but the noise was so great
we could hear scarcely anything he said
Mr.. August followed in strong speech.
for the mixed basis, but, we are sorry to
say, he was very rudely interrupted, and
that so frequently, that it is wonderful he
was able to proceed at all. During his
remarks, the meeting was larger than at
any subsequent period, and we thought it
evident that the manifestations of feeling
in his support, proved that large MAORI
| ty ofthose then present were with him in
sentiment. The Church, at that time, con-
tanned probably fifteen hundred persons.
Mr.. Crane replied, briefly and with much
spirit, to quotation of Mr.. August's from
his "way-bill," where he declared himself
for the mixed basis "per Sc" and advoca-
ted the policy Of compromise, as the only
principle upon which government could he
harmoniously conducted.
Mr.. Joseph Mayo and Judge Robert
son were next successfully called out, and
each supported the white basis, pure and
simple, as the French Legislators say, and
with no reference to compromise. That
portion of the meeting that cheered Mr.,
Crane, cheered Mr.. Mayo and the Judge
with still greater vehemence, and called
upon Mr.. Mayo to offer white basis RESP
luton.
1t was aftertwelve o'clock before Judge
Robertson left the stand, and then he de-
sisted at the suggestion of the chairman,
who, saying he was not well and was O.
bIdged to leave, proposed an adjourn
ment. But the friends of the white basis,
who had steadily remained in the meeting
(by this late hour diminished to the number
of not more than four hundred and were
now in a majority, insisted vociferously up
on the question: Mr.. Wood Bouldin
moved an adjournment, SO as to obtain a
fair expression of the public sentiment,
and addressed short string appeal to the
people of Richmond to stand by the princi