Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-23

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Du6ys Magazine
From the Parkersburg Gazette.
THE COMPROMISE
To the Editors of the Gazette
The adjustment of the question of Represe ntaton in
the Conveniently which the West secures the House
OF DELEGATES, and the East retains the Sepae-it is
Is gratifying to find, is approved by YOU and is to be
| presumed, by those OF whose views upon the subject
your paper has been heretofore the exponent After
ALL there is found greater unity of ointment here than
was supposed to exist Opinions dver,e and irrecon-
caoe' was thought were entertained by the advo-
Iates on the one side or the other do not imagine
la 'uefe Is any abandonment OF the ground taken bv
you but it is clear, there has b. On misunderstandi W
Wh. Rer;s OF the views of the friends OF the
w my basis Or OF thoce who differed with them
mere would be no difficulty in accounting for this
9nDed appio9aton OF the adustment-asa Compromise
Can absonte s yoa however to designate It rather
au aIsolo.e ana complete triumph of the White Ba-
as the utter wreck" OF the Mixed Basis II it
Dc SO, II can not be otherwise than that somebodv ha.
| no cause for rejoicing. y .i'a'
| What is the character and efiact of H.. - ;,.,
Undoubtedly has advanced the position OF the West
SO tar as respects the House Of Delegates Hence he
| west HndIng 1t impossible to CONQUER mora ~ this
time, sustained it. 1t is regarded by it, however ans as
falling short Of the acquisition OF its just claims. me
East opposed It,, OF course-actng the defensive.
contending tor all and struggling to retain the mower
in both branches, as rghlfuy belonging to it. p0"e'
How does it affect u.s. in reference to the powers of
taxation and appropriation This people were admit
the
question in those aspects The result OF their consde
ration OF it was such-so decided, so unyersal-hat
although Western District and by hereditary influence
SO welded to the abstract doctrines OF the White Basis
as 10 have never conceived the idea of constitutional
protection against appropratonc-yet, its views be-
came SO medlled as, In the vote which it cast in the
selection OF its delegate to the Convention substau-
ally to nave instructed them to insist upon such pro-
lection.
That was the great object. Scarcely District in
the East-ifone-was as much Interested as ours in Sc
l protection.
any one IN this District claimed The power for the sake
its exercise Protection by the possession power or
providing It, there existed various views. Some eseem-
ed necessary that the East-paying two thirds of the
Revenue-should have the eontrol-that in no other
way could protection be certain and permanent 9th
ers insist that constitutional limitations upon the
Legislature, in the hands of the West would be su-
Gent.
This gave rice to discussion among us of the pro-
po-ed restrictions or guarantees. Serious difficulties
presented themselves to some as to the possibility
devIslng any proper OF polite guarantees. A still fur
her difficulty, however, pre- ened ITSELF even if such
guarantee could be found If the power were trans
eired to the West, was perceived that another con.
| yenton might be called annuL the guarantees
Goaa iurlher provision be in srted in the Consttu-
ed, could probably be done.
Those who thus anxous!y considered these difficult
ties with the hope, po ble OF removing Them at the
same time announced themselves advocates of The
White Basis, the Stale could be protected against
excessive appropriations in any way; and yet, their
orally understood 1t was the policy of their oppo-
nents, regardless of their expressed views to repre-
sent them as unalloyed advocates of the Mixed Ba-
sis.
| What was the relative position of parties then?
| On the one hand, was commended in the discussion
referred to, that it was most material us 10 guard
against the adoption of the White Basis "ifhose pro-
visions should not be embodied in the Constitution
provisions not only OF guarantee but preventing the call
OF another Convenon-unless the guarantee adopted
should be that OF GA HOUSE THE WHITE BASIS AND
| A SENATE UPON FEDERAL NUMBERS" 1t was thus dis
nctly assumed that such organization OF the Legis-
lature would be Just and wice-becaucs it was consd-
both Houses.
On the other hand, it was insisted that the Repre-
sentatlon in the Legislature should be upon the White
Basis -with guarantee to be sure ifthey
could be obtained-but, STILL unconditioaalLy upon the
White Basis The Mixed Basis principle stigma
ts ed as i-Repubhcan, odious and degrading
the freeman to level with the slave. How stand the
parties now! Ihos. who regarded the guarantees as
of primary and everything niporance-who were pre-.
pared to adopt the M xed Basis, in other way they
could be icured-who, in pursuit of their avore pur-
pose, approved as mode of accomplishing it, of
House upon the White Basis and Senate upon the
Federal Basis-and who found themselves and their
suggestions reprobated and essailednow stand vindca
ted by the adoption OF scheme of euarantee-that
scheme which, being approved by them then, the ad-
vocates OF the White Basis here, it seem approve now
"a scheme which gives the power 10 check wild and la
wish expenditures OF The public monies, 10 the Senate
coordinate branch of the Legislature possessing alb
seute discretion and Independent control of the passage
l
era Members. The scheme possesses another feature
OF essential importance Those most Interested in
checking such expenditures, holding the power III che
Branch, cam thus preoent the call Of another Conpen-
t0n. This was regarded in the adoption OF any other
plan OF guarantee, as Indispensable to its permanently
| have said Senate upon Federal numbers, becaus.
the East and this region Of the State similarly situated
with it, contending only for the power OF sefprotec-
| ton, cared not hO,o it secured, provided it was
efficient and lasting nor by what 1t might be call
ed The Mixed Basis and Federal numt ers were adj.
mitted, on all Sides in the Convention of 1929 to be-
the same-and, now, in Senate of fifty, provided
by the Compromi:s, and in which twenty Senators are
signed to the West, the Basis of Federal numbers
strictly would give it no more than toenty-ttvo and
fractionto that the Senate is, to all inens and pu-
poses, promo ed to be constituted, substantially upon
the Fedora Basis.
The ultra advocates of the White Basis are sought
| to DO soothed by their champions-who like them
deemed any other Basis degrading and anti-Repubcan
by the consorg provso, which allows the voters of
the State to determine in 1865 whether the representa-
ton shall be- thereafter, upon the White Basis solely
Degradation and insult should never be submitted for
instant upon questions OF political right and dignity
1t not resented aud resisted for year-much less
ftteen-t looks very much like pocketng the airont
and, after all, is quite conclusive evidence that the
tyranny and opprel sion are not ntolerabe.
Fifteen gears is long breathing space for Virginia.
with her twenty millions OF debt In that PERIOD mut n
of the debt will be falling due. The improvements
will have probably, traversed the Valley and thus tho
inducements to extravaganza will have been removed
from that influential section of the State 1t will be
thrown more with the East-as the Piedmont District.
formerly luenleu win the west, mas IN The
oil improvements changed its front and arlayed itself
| with the East The Valley may, to considerable ex-
tent, cooperate with the East 10 1865 Indeed the
West ITSELF in fifteen twenty years, will have much
at stake in the matter of taxation Increasing in wealth
and population, and especially under the influence of
the improvements begun and authorized, and OF such
further aid as may be judcously extended to ii, WI
moreover, then be entitled 10 the power in all pobab IL
y, upon The Mixed Basis principle MISREPRESENTATION
al protection being insisted upon only until the proper
ty OF the West should justify" its withdrawal. Then,
too, the immense resources OF the entire State will bet
ter enable it to bear the burhen Of appropriations 10