Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-24
STATE CONVENTION.

mixed basis OF representation and in opposition to the
scheme OF compromise submitted by his colleague, Mr.
Bolts. which he argued would establish government
OF the most Objectionable character He contended
that persons were not the only, if indeed the main OBJ
ject of government and rebued the doctrine that the
white basis or ght OF the majority, sanctioned
Jure dipino. There was no natural right of one to
govern another. If there such right ia state
OF nature could not be created by entering into state
fsocety, which could only exist conventionay Then
il there was natural right of persons over persons
still less there natural right of one mar or set OF
men to control the property of Others. Mr. IT, in good
humour corrected expression in, what he called the
laundering Supplement reporting Mr.. Wise as saying
something about their fighting, but the two gentlemen
cordially agreed that should only be in the foray OF
debate. He quoted passage from Locke relating to
the theory Of man in state of nature and sustaining his
view OF the wholly conventional character of the social
compact, and the rghulness OF making securities to
property part of the compact
1t was the alleged natural right of men to govern
each other, which was the foundation of the claim
of Western gentlemen, and here, he thought rwas
their fundamental error. If it was true that all men
are by nature Tree and equal, how did it appear that
when they come TO form society," their equality u.s. by
natural right, destroyed7 Gentlemen conceded that
in the case of separate cotermnous States equality did
not necessarily involve absolute controlling right in
the majority He earnestly discaimed the slightest dis
position TO say anything disasteiu TO his Western
friends But he must perform bis representative duty
of discussing canddy the questions connected with this
subject. Old Virginia, this Old Dominion was cham.
payne country, suited to slave labour while the West
being mountainous had different kind of popvlaton
The East had the majority of souls-be used the word
sd ritv ofr Job;l
dowed with hum anity; and it paid much the largest
proportion OF the taxes. The West needed greater
expenditure for its improvement than the East
and paid about third of the taxes In this
state of things, the West claimed to hold the helm
of the ship, and cried out against the East Tor no,
yielding it. The greatest men of The nation had in
former times, sailed along the came coast and they as
the East does now, claimed the principle of the repre-
sentaton Of property. He referred the high autho
titles who had sanctioned it, AT this point there was
an accidental interruption in Mr. Lyons remarks and
he was constrained to dess The committee rose and
the Convention adjourned, but just as members were
leaving their Seats Mr. L. found the me ans of proceed
| ing The adjournment was annulled, the committee
rensaed and he continued his speech as if nothing had
happened.l He cited, in support of the principle tina,
property entitled protection BY representation
proceeding in the old Federal Congress described bv
Marshall in his Life of Washington also the debates O,
the Federal Convention, showing the opinions Of
George Mason, Washington, Madison, Gerry, &C.
The sentiment had been expressed by the gentleman
from Henrco that the representation of property was
degrading Then those iIlustro men suffered them
selves ITO be degraded, and, in such company Mr. l.
could consent to be considered degraded kewise He
read from the speech of John Randolph in the Copyen
ton 1890, TO show that he could not be quoted Of
authority for giving up the mixed basis. Like Mr.
Randolph he would never consent to take the basis o.
| mere numbers. Then, as now, Western men threat
ened DIVISION as seriously as now And the reason
Eastern men showed willingness to compromise was
that they were defeated their own proposition, Now
those who elected to sustain the mixed basis wert
in clear majority, though Mr.. Bolts might not 90 witt
them. Judge Marshall expressly assigned as his rea
sen for compromising that the jority was not large
enough to carry out its policy. The gentleman from
Henrco had declared that he would put his foot upon
the doctrine that property is entitled to represent alton
Then he would put his foot upon what ohm Marshall
considered ust and Mr. L. could imagine that the gem
tleman S frame would receive electric shock when he
undertook to trampe upon the honoured grave OF that
illustrious man. He replied to Mr.. Faulkner's arpu-
ment drawn from the authority of Burke in his letter
on the French Revolution. Mr.. F. was compelled to
discard John Marshall and all the great lights of his
own country and Ind support for his doctrines in the
writings OF foreigners Burkes famous letter was how
ever, only scathng sarcasm upon the French reyo-
luton and III repubicanisms. 1t true he condemn
ed the protection to property which the Constituent
Assembly proposed to by giving it representa-
ton, but why7 Because he thought il did not give
protection enough He utterly scoffed at the prncipe
OF Western friends Of the natural right of the ma
jority to govern.
Mr.. FAULKNER explained that the point he made
was, that Burke the great advocate Of property did
not think the representation of property any security.
il property was rejected qualification for suffrage
Mr.. LYONS repeated that The extent Of Burke's au-
thory was, that the representation of property was
not protection enough. Did Western friends bro.
pose to give us morel II co. he would not offend
them by refusing it. They proposed to take possess
sion OF our property and give us guarantees that thew
would not abuse it. But they could alter their euaran
ties at will More than gentleman of the West had
limited that if power were denied them because of the
slaves OF the East, they would become the enemy Of
the slaves. This was plain intimation that every
life IN the East would be put to hazard if the Western
clam were Denied la regard to the guarantees Mr..
Il. saio Inc west wanted power, to get money, and
wan ed money to make their roads, Could it be be.
eved that when they attained their object of securing
from
to the top OF Mount Psgah to view the rich plain be-
meath, would they be likely to deny themselves the
satisfaction OF enjoying it, Would they not cry, away
with your guarantees For himself he would TO the
last defend the principle on which the American reyou.
ton hung oil protection to property by Representations
1t was sad the East had used its power vey IMPROVE
oently; that improvements had been unwisey undera.
ker But this was no reason why the East should sur
render the power to the West. If Mr. FauIk1xr
should be a bad manager OF his estate (Which he
was noD how would he like his neighbour TO say
to him, you are doing yourself great injury: You
are running your property AID will relieve you OF it.
Would he submit quietly TO such an ofcous intsrfer.
ence with his rights The young Giant of the West
had been referred to- But gentlemen proposed to bring
him forward in shackles. and Mr. L. imagined him por-
rayed on canvass with chain passed from his neck to
bis lett leg, wonderful picture OF Liberty in chains