Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

vrgniaS sense of Justice gone when they DENY ha,
which enc OF her most distinguished admits
sill not half rep"; US Where is her Justice gone
wh.n lcv treat unworthy Of confidence ana political
equality those who haze defended them through TOT!
and dongcr disease ana death If gentlemen disrnSi
those hardy Of the mountains, II Il because they
know them not. They knD:T cir love of liberty.
t.cir deep devotion the ghts ii their strong
sense Of Justice and equality, and Their nnyins patriot
ISM They always have AMI always will be rs devoted
to their country and lis liberties rs the needle TO the
poles. And if tie period should ever come (Which may
God in mercy iorhl) i:hen The liberties OF This countrS
Shall be destroyed and the sun cl hope To the world shall
sr In rise no more forever then anid the rcrv desc
ations OF that darkest hour those same people will be
found keeping their holy vigs around the alter Of free
DOM bathing its feet with their scading tears, and
watching with painful anxiety the last lingering ray
that shall be emitted from tha; lumnary.
Remuras 4f lfr. .HIR7Iy. Of Henry in Committee Of
III" Ii.ho|'. !iedn.@ioy -iprH "M. 1851.
Mr.. MARTIN, Of Henry. have been patient and
not inalcEyc listener for large portion Of the time, TO
the able scli.-ion that has occupied this Committee.
Tor more than weeks. had determined! from
considerations. deemed proper b., myself, not IL take
any part in this dSrrsson--a dctcr:niaa.loa--ir0m
which. in I'll probability should moi have departed. but
Jr the irCqUcn! t!: tircc; alisiuns. which have nee"
made 10 the district. which, Iavc the homer. IN r2r I"
represent upon tbs :oor If other gentlemen, and dis
tingushed gentlemen. have expressed their "nbarrass-
mcn at earlier period of this discussion IN speaking
upon exhausted subject and toa wrared auditory,
assure Mr. Chairman that it is with no affected dill
idencc that engage in this debate, without that prcpa-
ration and arrangement oi views. which Is not only
due TO myself, hu 10 tic sihect and 10 this body: or
whatever may have been said in certain quarters abo;
The character Of this Convention, will venture the opn
ion, that gentleman has participate i'll TINS discus
iu who has not it impressed with The fact that
he was address sing a highly intelligent ascmbage.
! complain Of gentleman. who has thought proper
10 refer 10 The district which in part, represent 1t
has hccn done in courteous and legitimate course q!
debate. ana only the rlu .daon and presentation
their views after the manner which gentlemen have
thought hest. Allow me 10 say that the peculiar inter-
ct. which gentlemen from certain quarter feel that
section Of country, from which come is Of no recc;
origin, for perceive by reference 10 the debates Of that
distinguished body Of men, who assembled in the city OF
Richmond. some twrn" wears ago, 10 revise the State
Constitution that the great Captain of the Western for
rcs The late Philip Doiri,lgc, in tho presentation OF
al views IN his opening speech Upon the question OF the
baS: Of representation, refers With peculiar interest 10
The counties OF a,rc;i and Henry, and that he makes
IN effort, which i carried out to extent in the
o: discussion here, TO identify their advocacy Of
reform with their support Of the white or suffrage basis OF
representations Standing in the Relation do Ia Ike pco-
pic of tho three counties which compose my district
Patrick, Franklin and Icnrv-onc of them the county
Of nativity AMI present residence, another for
the county OF my adoption, and having been prose
cutting my profession than fifteen years in all OF
them and thrown continually into direct Intercourse with
the people Of those counties under such crcm-
stances 10 Nc 'or4ni Of their views. upon this or any
other subject, should regard myself wholly ncxc,l-
sable. but. were 10 rome here and knowingy misrc
present their views. wishes opinions upon this or any
other great question, likely TO he made the subject Of orr
deliberations should regard myself
~ principle which should control faithful representa-
and every consideration which should govern the
conduct of an honorable man.
was not SO fortunate in my some gentle
Ill, -,
NY good fortune 10 have been honored with scat upon
this floor, without announcing myself as candidate and
without participating in the cagyaSs--nor did adopt
iii" policy rcsurc, TO By various gentlemen from different
parts Of The stale, oil presenting chart card in which.
contained mi opinions upon the various que icnt
of reform, yet will venture 10 assert that in no iii, tries
III this Commonwealth, were all the great Questions OF
Constitutional reform canyasScd, more extensively than
ihcr ~ the district from which come Early in
the month 81 June last, in company with ten her
gentlemen OF my district commenced the canvass
which kept II? through the osays. until the ourtI.
Thursday N August and the people By each and all oi
addressed nol only al every Court house in the
district, bur, il: Hearty every ncghborhood from the to-,
otlhc blue mountains Ill the county Of Patrick. 10 the
S;alon river III the county of franklin We we're IN
vcd TO barhacue- gotten up b" The people themselves 10
come and present our view. upon the various questions
Of Constitutional reform There three .cpc:a.r
tickcts-thc Conservative ticket, embracing rcc gen
t!cincn OF characrr and distinction, the white basis
Is Of Patrick ably supported b. Young gentleman Of
ability and cXtcSYr and influential family connexions
!:um the same rolaiH-a!da Gentleman. Il member OF
The bar from the conv 81 Henry Who cocsscalr gn.-
tanned himself ably, ard five mixed basis rc;ormcrg in
the field, and not only IL" question Of The basis of repre-
scntalior discussed fully a; every meeting, but all
the questions of Constitutional reform y debated
in every county. in my district. In the very first speech
made, announced that the principle OF representa-
ton, which would govern my conduct should be
honored with their sn!rages. must he such principle
a. would protect all the diversified interests Of tie
Commonwealth, and that should not under any stat, Of
things, support any basis of Representations which would
not afford full and adequate protection all the rights of
Eastern Virginia. maintained throughout the district
and during the entire canvass that if the mixed basis OF
representations or the basis of white population and tax
atom combined effected that object az believed ii
would. not having lis details. that should support
IL as The correct basis OF rcprc sntuton. This state OF
Thing, was MIA nned in the district do vn TO f. DAYS
before the election. II was perceived all sides tha,
We had an unequal contest, long as the conscrvatn
anu white basis tickets organized. with each fhree
candidates. il was therefore. thought best 10 arrange
Ticket win three naked basis rcformers, 50 they nigh.
be upon equal footing with TIC three mixed basis co,sr
vatIvcs and TIC three white basis rcforncr5. The cns.,
WIS: That ono CT tic candidates withdrew, lea ling c.!r 10,
u!'!c reform xcd BASS ticket, against lrcc Mixes. ba
SIS conservatives ui trcr white basis -ctorn.rs he r
suit OF The election the selection o! INV yorr friend
and colleague fcon. the county Of Franklin lAr C:n
hIHNE ana oil my venerable friend and colleague from
The coI!ay OF Patrick &lr. SrvAET, and of rnysclf
Il Is the case every where ant in that district as else
where, that other than the questions Of principle enter
cd 10 some extent MO the canvass. | am aware thai
some h'c bass men voted 70: me- upon the ground thai
was an advocate OF reform, ard doubtless others from
personal considerations bu. il is equally tr:ie that som,
nXed basis men supported my friend from Patrick lTr
sTvAErl Ana ito any extent, personal considerations
controlled the result Of that election SO far from Interim
As gentlemen, WHO have addressed this Committee have
done, ta' The personal strength aad popularity Of ry
young friend from Franklin, Dir. CLMBogxE.) and nv
self accounts for the result il is much mere fair 10 ne!
that the gentleman, who vas distinguished member Of
the Convention OF lS29-2O, who had been for lor2
time, the Democratic cecor in that Democratic district
and who had been also member of Congress of thu
United States, had derived mo.e benefit from personal
influence and personal considerations Than did my young
friend and myself. Thus stands my district upon hi.
question.
II might here DC thought necessary by some, that
should notice the proceeding Of public meeting held il
the county o: Patrick and presented thi, body few
weeks since BY my colleague Mr. STrAnr But the Oh
ect of that meeting and the extent to which my conduct
here should be controlled by those resolutions Of nstruc
tions is we'll understood in ny district-and in nc
part of il better than in the county Of Patrick-that