Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09
,r,s,,,.3 from Fourth Pugt.1

,rincine which enumerated IN former part OF my ie
mo~s they established representation As to gnro
s ro,ect all the diversified interests of this great
commonwealth l will not fatigue the Colnihit'ee "
history Of the mode of representation III Tue "o
teen States will not travel over the groIhu Mu'.l'
has been already occupied SO ably by o'her geilee.
ty showing the III which feprSse','".' ".
based nndcr the federal government. hope shaii ne
.ycused for saving however, that Ii IL re'nafkaee
fact that if you refer all the governments Oot oate
and federal to the organization OF the legislative NC
1ortn,nts of them ALL framed as they were. by men
8esb from the fires of the revolution and influenced by
rho nroper principles of free government that to some
extent YOU will ind this principle OF the mixed basis
or the connection between representation and taxation
was recognized III them all Whatever other gentlemen
may say or think about those those institutions
venture the opinion in looking back TO the history OF
past ares that there has been such body o.
meu with such uncxamp!ed wisdom and matehess VIZ
tue as was presented By the history oil those reToiu
Eonary patriots. was struck few days ago III ooh
ino over the reflections OF distinguished counirynui
of our own. upon the federal constitution WIN t'I
high compliments which ne paid to the men WIZ i'1
that the fuirest Fabric OF human WISDOM nas uie WIN
has ever seen--our federal constitution hope ,n.
,nnrnnrote renarks which he male in speaking OF t!e
difficulties which that Convention had to encounter IN
framing that immortal instrument. Inc extract Is iio'
IN address delivered b. Henry y. Boardnan on the
value Of the American tni0n III reference 10 th''e
men he very eloqucntiy says:
q Enough has been said to show that the convention
which assembled to frame constitution had an herc-
lean task perform and that without the sPeraI It.
Illumination vi Divine Providence they must nave e3
saved in vain to frame instrument which should unite
in ;s support majority OF the States 1t IS an addi-
tonal consideration Of great weight bearing upon uis
mint that they were without 4 model. mere was NO
existing government which they were Wiling !" tpi!
rbcr, was no government OF antiquity which would a!
all answer their purpose They We're III truth, not only
in advance of their own age but Of all ages in their ideas
OF civil government We may apply TO them WIKI;
Milton has said of the Hebrew prophets; they appear
AZ men dyiney taught and better teaching
The solid rules of civil government,
In their ma este, unaffected style
Than all the oratory OF Greece and Rome;
In them is planest taught and earliest learned,
What makes nation happy and Keeps II 50
Now Mr. Chairman. am well aware. withstand
ing this eloquent and mcrited compliment TO those IL
lustriuus sages and statesmen, that We're 700 an
nounceI to this Committee that was prepared %
sustain here the basis of representation which Is lhe
cornerstone Of this conederacy, and which was adopted
in spirit of compromise, and of patriotism and 1t
brings abon the result and gives about the sane
distribution of political power in this State a> does the
mixed basis the moment made the ai::ouicc-
ment would be assailed by gentlemen from all sides,
upon the ground that WAS supporting propoSt"iI
which would make five rueS cqua! TO three while men
Bat hav, d,rcsscd from the history was giving OF
the basis of representation III the State ot irg'a
had progressed far remarks as to state that
for the frat time in this State tho question OF the hSs
OF representation arranged by the organic law n
1773 BIZ, the question of the principle of the basis ="
REPRESENTATION allow to say, a. distinct rnclie
Of Representation was discussed IN the State OF
Virginia until after the assembling of the Convention in
1929 70 remodel the existing constitution OF the State
knew that MT the Situation Convention the question al
white basis raised and also IN the year lsl III the
re.appart CT the senatorial districts But saT,
that in all parts oi Virginia State qnealon-a quca.
is,u which the people OF Virginia were Interested ~
,r.a, question Of principe-thc basis Of representation"
in our organic law discussed until after thu
assembling of the Convention III 1929. ! know thai
the inequality Of representation had been for year.
previous 10 that time q matter OF great complaint
know in all portions Of the State that question perhaps
as much as any other, led to the calling OF that Con-
4ention for complaint was made that the small c"ln'
lies or New hent aud Charlie city had much power
rs the large counties Of Halifax Lodoun. Il To
eoualizs the representation to extent that
venton was called, but the basis of representation,
the principle upon which that equality should be
tab!ishel was never deliberately Investigated in the
State question OF State policy until after the rs.
sembing of that Convention
Mr. SEYMOUR. Will my friend from Henry per-
NIT me interrupt him to inquire ii he is familiar with
the debates which occurred in the session of the e:s
1ature in 1924 which fixed the terms upon which
the convention to I've held If he is, and he will
refer to the the discussions that grew out of that sub
;ect he will find that this matter Of the basis of repre-
senaton occupied the House of Delegates for more
than two months and that not only the basis frepresc
tation in the convention but the basis upon which the
was deliberately and ingenously discussed for a
period of more than two months.
Mr.. MARTIN. VIII the gentleman announce fur
ther what the result Of that discussion wass
Mr. SEYMOUR. ! wall announce that the result
was, fear the result of this discussion will be-
there was packed majority against US, and the result
could easily have been foretod.
Mr. MARTIN. Still that is not an answer TO nv pro-
nosition It was discussed 4 great question:
which was 10 20 the foundation oil this government
1t was not question upon what basis the Legislative
department Of the government, was 10 be established
That is the proposition, which announced; said that
The basis Of upon which the Legislative
depart ncnt of the government was to be organized
mad never been, question @! State policy, discuss
ed in the State of Virginia. until The assembling Of tue
Convention of 2930 but if the view of my friend l:cm
Hardy be correct, it only adds additional Legislative
precedent against the propriety of establishing the
.shitc basis Well now it is a,qucstion of some curios
It's, more particularly after the views taken by SOME
gentlemen in this committee, the views TO some extent
relied upon by my young friend from the county Of Ma
rion (lir NELSON ! and my friend from the county Of
Bcrkc icy. Mr.. FArLIS Err, to hear what was the result
Of that discussion.
I, is known that il was question OF aborions and
painful investigation in the capitol of Virginia. among
those distinguished patriots and statesmen for period
Of many weeks For 4 long time public sentiment 10th
IN and out Of the cap,o was convused N the com.
.nonweallll Of Virginia. Many portions Of Eastern
Virginia led astray to some extent think, by
7hat beautiful theory of the white basis OF representa-
ioa, Eastern gentlemen voted Tor that PROPOSE
iion but what was The result ot that discussion; beg
the Committee to bear with me for moment, and see
ftheir deliberations to he relied upon authority
in this discussion if not invoke the result of their
deliberatonS-the decision Of that Convention that IT,
luslrious body Of men in support OF the proposition
whick am now maintaining before this Committee. J
am sure that some gentlemen have maintained tina, the
result of that discussion, the adoption of Mr.. Cor
don : proposition, and that Mr.. Gordon's proposition
was founded upon the white basis of representation.
Now wish to sec how that matter stands The gentle
man FROM Marion believe noticed the debates OF the
Convention Il. the purpose of showing that that basis
OF representation ihc Gordon compromise, as it was
generally understood recognised the establishment Of
the white basis Of representation. Now what was the
history OF that compromise Tic Convention as have
said before had discussed the question OF the basis Ct re-
presentations day after day and week after week, aud
;yhen in The Committee for weeks tie vote had been
:ortv-e, ht oriy-eig The venerable chic: justice
Hlarsia 1.-THE distinguished member from the county
ur Chesterfield, Mr.. Benjamin Watkins l.righ.-the
gentleman from the county Of Northampton Judge Up.
shnr and Mr.. Gordon, the Gc,nhcr IRON the county c.
Alhemarc, all had Submitted propositions Of romrro-
mise 10 the consideration o. that Convention. 1t is not
nv purpose go INFO minute Investigation OF these
different propositions OF Compromise. wish 10 call the
,.o,t;s. IF tbe Committee for moment and cor;parc