Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-05-21
VIRGINIA CONVENTION

MONDAY, May l2--Mr. Martin. Of Henry of
fered resolution for the appointment, of Commit
Tee of eight persons to report plan Of settlement
of the Basis question. After much discussion tho
resolution was agreed to, with an amendment nro,
yidng for the vote on its appointment being taken
bv ballot The following members were cboseo .
From the West, Messrs. Summers, Lucas. Cane,
ton and Letcher from the East, Messrs. Martin
Wlngfield. Finney andChllton
TuEspAY.-Convenln met at IL O'clock. Nh
Hoge. OF Montgomery. by request OF one OF tbs
Committee OF eight, chosen on Monday evening
stalled that the COMMITTEE would not De ready Il
report until "Wednesday, 50 the Convention adjour
ned until 10 O'Clock next morning.
WEDNEsDAY.-Xhen the Convention met a
10, the committee not being ready with lis report
on motion, it took recess until r. When it re
assembled, Mr. Martin, Of Henry, the Chairman
of the Committee, submitted the following as the
plan of Compromise which had been agreed upon
by 7 out Of the members which composed it. II
was understood that Mr.. Finney was The only one
who did not concur in its recommendations.
The plan provides that the House Of Delegates
shall consist of one hundred and fifty members, To
be chosen bieniay. of whom 81 shall be chosen
by ,he West, and IS by the East; the Senate &c
consist of fifty MEMBERSHIP be elected for four years
90 by the West, and 80 by The East majority o.
the West on joint ballot, of four. The General
Assembly are required toreapporlon representation
in The year 1865; but in case they fail TO 90 So the
vote of the people shall be taken as 10 whether rep
resentaton shall be apporoned according 10 Suffrage
or Mixed Basis.
The report having been read by the Secretary it
was ordered, on motion Of Mr.. Martin to be print
ed-whereupOn, motion OF MIR. Sc0ggin, the
Convention adjourned 10 Thursday at 10 o'clock
THURspAy.-The Convention came to these re-
suits, in Committee of the Whule
|. The Report Of the Compromise Committee
was stricken ont. ayes 81. noes 81 all The white
basis votes, and thuse of Messrs Martin Of Henry,
Wingfed, Chiffon and Bowden, being given for
retaining il before the Committee.
g Proposition a, the original mixed basis report.
was stricken out, ayes 81, nves So, by the united
white basis vote, and the vote of Messfs Bolts,
Bowden Chiffon, Saunders and Martin OF Henry;
the last gentleman changing his vote after the roll
had been called as to reverse The first decision
8. Mr.. Bolts proposition was offered and slrick-
en- out, ayes go, noes 80; all the Western mem
bers, together with Messrs. Wise and Stuart (whie
bass) and Messrs Bolts and Claiborne, Of the East
voting against, whilst Messrs. Garter and While
Of Loudoun voted for striking out. This division
was no test of the sense Of Western members On
the merits OF the proposition itself.
The deck being thus entirely cleared, Mr. Wise
went little beyond what he called the ultima thule
fthe Compromise committee, and proposed mod
flied scheme Of putting both Houses on The mixed
basis for len years, after which the suffrage basis
to be established, the question submitted to the
qualified vnters.-I Times Of Friday.
FRIpAY.-rhe question being on the adoption of
the plan of compromise Of Mr.. Wise. Mr.. FInney
moved a substitute giving the East II majority iu
the House and in the Senate, also throwing GER
tain safeguards around slave property and appro-
pratons aud loans for internal Improvements.
MI. Stanard called for a division OF the question,
wben.Nlr. Wise's plan was killed, ayes SO. noes
SO, and then Mr.. Finney's plan was rejected.
After much further talk, Mr.. Chiffon, OF Fau-
quier, re offered the Compromise Committee report
rejected on Thursday, So amended as to provide
that the white suffrage, mixed aud pure taxation
basis. shall all be submitted 10 The people in 1865
Much wrangling took place upon mmaserial
points. Mutton after motion was made that the
committee rise, and ayes and noes were regularly
called Finally, The Report of The Compromise
Committee was adopted by eight majority The
following are the Eastern Mixed Basis men who vo-
led for it, Messrs. Arthur, Bowden, Chiffon. Clair
burne, Martin of H., Randolph and Wingfield.
A plan of compromse Of Mr. Scott, of Fauquier
was also voted down during the sitting.
SATURDAY.-Varlous attempts were made to a.
mend the Basis Compromise, all Of which failed,
and after determining TO 90 into Committee on the
Legislative Department on Tuesday, the Conven-