Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04
Icant;nu.d from First Page.

has and with that feeling they entertained the se,
mept that tho adoption OF the mixed basis woulu
dues greater excitement IN the west they "eir taken
bvth.ss motives to take the step they nav, ,%e."
Now wish to say TINT differed III opinion osn's
gentlemen Proposition was stricken our II 80 ia s,
OF tho practical opposition to it, but ;a;i
Tint many gentlemen upon this floor liao tluyiuuui
chaues Of their own and they wished 10 create oah
viii view to the insertion Of thcr own seneiies
Relieving that many acted in that gay ASKED l!s 10
30 back now after they have ioEnu Iu' INA. iiet ean
.hawa which ia favored bya large porslou-n large
r;tv az the eastern nelbcrs here-and not continue
,hr aihsreuce to the proposition which is introduced
i by the gentleman from Fauquier (Mr CnLroS.) and
which he must himself perceive, is fayorlte with but
a very small portion Of this Convention.
- Mr.. CHILTO% do not yet see the propriety Of
the remarks of the gentleman; and in using the word
propriety, mean in the fitness of things: claim to
Gave looked at this question anxousy to the very oe
of the ability that possess and to have locked ut 1t
upon all sides. have felt rs much disPositi"-'hn
will say more-to respect eastern ieeAhs ana eastern
prejudices, as western. have endeavored to stat!
here looking to the interests OF the whole State and II
possible BY making large concessions upon my part and
upon the part Of those represent herc-cohceS7"ns
within which their safety secured possloet9 restore
peace and quiet to this State. But am told by the
gentleman from Southampton, (Sr. RlDLEY tlst that
cannot DO effected ! suppose the gentleman speaks
for his own district AS far my district Is concerned
Feel an abiding confidence that it will be effected 5"
hr understand this proposition OF compromise IT.
ought to be satisfactory every where have the assu
RANGES of nconsiGerabo number of eastern gcnte.
men this floor, who have never voted Tor thus com
promise that in their judgment, it Will be satisfactory
to the people whom they represent These gentlemen
not from one particular section OF the east but
from all sections. ! have seen since the matter wa.
agtated gentlemen from different parts of the east
have conyersed with decided mixed basis men, vi
the most intelligent men i'll this city, and many OF them
in the opinion that il will give satisfaction and
that it ought to give satisfaction. Believing t;ss
upon the camest and fullest consideration, that have
been able 10 give to this subject, believe that when
this state of feeling has passed away when the existing
lines that separate US have been wiped out undy
hope they will be- that the gentleman himself aud
The constituents OF the gentleman will come to the
clusion that this compromise, under nil the circun
stances Of the CASE the best thing that this Convea
ton could have done. 1t may not be so. know very
little OF the gentlemans constituents and therefore
can express no opinion in regard to their preaic.s
modes OF thinking. lie knows little OF my col'-ti
taents, and cannot speak Cor them here. can nnl,
speak lof the people with whom have been III the
ao OF associating, and with regard TO whose views
,o ns o. lhlnang preudices auo feelings profess
70 Know something. have not dot. bt, though Iuay
o. mistaken that this proposition will the
~ aiaoy II not large majority of tie people that
cut mere. believe it is best FOR til. ir Interests,
bsst for TIM ,n,n,. Its of the whole State a"wcveE
much may feel the appeals that eastern GENT
for whom I have the highest resPeet-n'sSs r,ar
however much might feel disposed to conSu1F ''''
feelings vet looking 10 the prospect which was ~ re
me not long since and which fondy hope - b';AA
now. offs disruption of this State aud believing th:
this is the rainbow of peace on tins SUBJECT e:'os
consent to change my position | must disregard 'hes"
appeals however unknd II may oe considered IN 'ne I"
do So :
Gentlemen talk about the mixed basis. The scutie
man from Southampton says that the mixed basis w:hc
we were all pledged to support was the oasis Of iS'
+ aoas seen 70 me that from the discussion that ills
subject has elected what the mixed basis OF le2F
10 but very naccurately understood-it there was am
mixed basis at all which was the foundation OF The set
Element mt that time. / have heard many gentlemen
on this floor who confess that until this subject was dis
cussed here they did not know what was the mixed
basis contenied for in 1922 There is no charm IN the
words "mxed basis for There Is no charm IN tie
white basis or any other BASIS nave s'd over
and over again that look this basis question as 40
expedieni to accomplish an end When the eHpedient
does not commend itself fit one to accomplish the
end whether it be called the mixed basis the suffrage
basis or any other basis will discard it. will take
MP that which in my Judgment practically acc9mp''shes
the result am in search of care not by what namc
it is called. do not BY this cry OF linked BIS
sis and pledged to the mixed basis to pcri myself
to be turned aside from the course that my judgment
dictates that ought to pursue IN regard In this
matter believe there will be general acauiescence
Of the State in this arrangement OF this perpeXh and
dstracng question; and will not permit the general
feeling in regard to it to be disturbed by any Johnny
Hook who may cry beef. beef, beef" mixed basis.
mixed basis mixed basis" Laughter cannot look
at it in that light. will not do IT. have taken my
position here on my own responsibility. Those whom
i represent can express their opinions my
Whenever they shall and take poll in regard
to the proprety of my after having heard the
reasons upon which | stand, and a majority of them
shall disapprov that course, shall never be found
standing In the way Of their will. If my convictions
arc of character that will not allow to carry
their will will give way, and they shall put body
here who will.
Nix WINGFIELD. The gentleman from Southamp-
ton has alluded my position and to my relations to-
wards my constituents. The gentleman from Prince
George (Mr. RIvEs) the other day with still more
nestness Of manner visage and gesture made the
illusions and intimated to us that we should have
dreadful day Of reckoning when we went home to
constituents. wish to say, with the leave OF the Con-
yenton, few words in response TO these suggestions
and few words in reference to this compromise itself
am not unmindful of the responsibility that TO
my constituents, in the position that have taken
have taken that position after due reflection upon what
is my duty here and towards my constituents. shall
meet those constituents and that day of reckoning and
its consequences, and whatever be my fate hope TO
meet as q man should mcetit. have taken my posi-
ton; to use homely phrase have put my foot down,
and having taken it. mean to stand BY it AM; abide the
consequences, whatever they NAV be
Now, have no doubt thatI represent upon this floor
constituency who were in favor Of the mixed basis
have not the smallest doubt about it, but have still
as little doubt that if those constituents here if
they saw the questions here them, If they
all the difficulties of this question: fthey saw all the con-
sequences LIKELY to ensue from settlement Of this 1ues
that nneenths of those constituents would say 10 me-
compromise this question upon the best tc!ms that
you can get" That is what believe NV Constituents
would say to and believing that and that tie ir,eg-
ry safety and peace of the State depended upon it,
lsha act upon as long have seat in this body
Now as to my pledges tony constituents before my
election. do not consider that pledged to go for
mixed basis at all hazards for the particular basis
esntended for by gentlemen here. put this question
before my constituents the ground Of propriey and
justice commended before my people, and stated in
my published address, that no restraint should be laid
en- the will of the people futher than necessary for
the protection of each citizen in hi, rights of
and person. that so far every just people would be will
mig 10 60, and that further than that, did believe
that they would ought 60. contended for the
mixed basis ground thait
to be laid on the majority in the legislative apartment
cfthc government orthe protection of our slave prop
erty in the eas and claimed in order TO protect our
serves against undue legislation the part those who
had majority and had not identity of interest with
U.S. upon no other ground it be justified Whenever
get that protection for my people in the legislature
have fully attained the that undertook be fore