Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-13


blow which may be attended with disastrous conse-
luences to this great commonwealth.
.s.zesezzssskzss
SATURDAY, May 10, 1851
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment.
The Journal OF the preceding day was read and ap-
proved.
TEMPORARY ADJOURNMENT
Mr. STROTHER. | rise for the purpose Of NOV
ing that this Convention do now adjourn until next
Monday morning. Twill state very briefly the reasons
which have induced mo 10 make that motion. We are
now in the act as it were oil ending TINS long controSef
~ upon this question Of the basis question which eT-
cry gentleman here knows is one causing the deepest
excitement all over the state and which is centered
and increasing in this house. Now, ii is desirable to
every gentleman upon this floor, whatever his opinions
and convictions may be upon this SUBJECT that II it is
possible tina! this body can agree upon something th1t
will approach 10 genera; satisfaction in the State IL
should be done. think myself that good is to be OBJ
lined BY an adjournment until Monday twill give 10
persons of al Of opinion opportunity OF mutual
consultation and recction it will give that opportunity
before the feeling which is highly excited and aggrava
ted is still further excited by continued action at this
time These are the why have made the mo-
tion and hope it is to which the members OF the
house Will agree.
Mr.. WISE. hope the gentleman will not make that
motion without allowing Inc to say one word.
Mr.. STROTHER. OF course | do not desire tina,
ing. My whole objec! is to prevent action upon the
basis question to-day. will withdraw the motion al
the request of the gentleman from Accomac.
Mr.. WISE. l desire to say to this Convention,
speaking for myself, and myself alone, word Of
peace and conciation | intended to have said what
/ now propose 10 say. without knowing that mo-
ton would be made to adj ourn AS Of the men,
OF this body coming here TO advocate proposition
m respect the basis OF representation which has only
minority oft votes in this body to support it, rse
Tor one tender TO the majority my thanks my CRATE,
iul Acknowledgements for the fairness and liberay and
Tor the indulgence which they have extended to the mi
nority, and particularly to myself in the debate which
hcy have entertained upon this great and interesting
subject. have nothngno TO complain Of so far as de-
pate is concerned You have dohe me, you have done
the minority, in M jud yment full and ample justice
and ali to say was that am no longer response
pie Tor auy delay upon this question in this body.
have said in relation this subject all that had IL
saw have done all that do terminate this dis
cusson il manner which will prove suspicious 10 the
State, and whiic will aid the majority in taking what.
ever steps they may seek adjust this question after the
manner they have the power te just it, would ask
them, taking their time and in their own way, TO
do whatever they do quickly. am prepared now 10
take whatever they choose to infct upon the State
will lake il with the lortitudc Of yrtuous patriot
shall stand, lar as am concerned in no attitude eli
her Of rebellion OF faction hut abide by the will OF
the majority fairly ascerained and fairly expressed
here in their way. After having given me the op-
portunity Of being heard all say gentlemen is
Strike! Strike You are governed by the same hgi.
anil elevated motives that know | am governed by.
Whatever difference OF opinion there may be between
ou and in respect to this important question to the
State now about II be settled there is difference be-
tween the ends at which VIC aim. am sure the only
end 1t which aim IS the good of Virginia. can only
!aporc you to be liberal in the settlement of Ibis
que ston as YOU have been in the giving opportunl-
ties OF debate That is all have to say. In future,
sill certainly as will on this occaslon vote with gen.
emcn who desire to adjourn, in order that they may
settle their difficulties with each other, and will
aid them by any means my power to conclusion.
now renew the motion To journ.
NJ. HUNTER. | rise merely to ask tho yeas and
4; Us upon that motion.
Tue yeas and nay, ordered.
Mr.. FLOYD. l do net understand the purpose Of
this adjournment. should like to hear some reason as
igued for it before vote for it. wa, not in the
lou SC when the motion made and if reasons were
assigned | did not hear them
The PRESIDENT. The motion to ad ourn is not
dcbatab!e The gentleman may, however, with the
unanimous consent Of the house restae his for
making the mc;iln.
Cries Of Consent Consent!
MIR. STROTliER. | will again state briefly why ]
make that motion. stated that it familiar TO eve
y gentleman upon this foor that there the deepest
excitement felt in this body upon the question un-
Ter consideration ad III process Of decison-that ev
cry Frsnin must feel the strongest anxiety that this
question should have happy and satisfactory issue, il
1t were possible 10 obtain it-that my belief was that
continue this dcoatc through the day, after the dis
cssion OF the two preceding days, would be calculated
10 prevent the harmonious decision Of the question:
therefore asked that the time until Monday be allowed
tina, members Of the house Of all shades of opinions
should haze the opportunity Of further conference to see
whether these questions cannot be adjusted if not to
the satisfaction al least TO the asserting and concur
of all in this body 1t for these that
made the motion and expressed the hope that the
,,,I
Mir: LErCHER. rise merely to appeal to my
friend the way Mr.. HrSrER) TO withdraw the call
Tor the yeas and nays.
MIR. CLAIBORNE. ! can put that matter 10 rest.
objec: To the withdrawal Of the call.
Mr.. LErCliER. Then 1 have nothing further to
say.
Dir N. GARNETT Having paired off with the gen.
tcman from Giles, (-dr. PFxpLrToS) am myself about
leave this hall to be absent some eight or ten days
Before doing So desire here to express the great anx
ETY. feel Tor the peaceful settlement Of this question
beg leave to say that my voice is for peace harmony and
concation desire TO say further that whatever plan
Of compromise ma: be adopted upon this subject bv
those with whom act shall have my cordial support
feel it my duty and my privilege TO say before take
my leave that il come back and find this question shall
have been settled upon terms which will afford peace
lad harmony to this commonwealth nothing will afford
ME half so much pleasure.
Mr. FLOYD. have objection to give time. and
az it is in the hands of the majority here to offer terms
will respectfully listen those terms But if it is only
Intended to postpone the blow that prepared for us
| am against it, Tor is the accepted time If there
is any welgounded hope that this controversy can be
adjusted amicably and honoraby to the west, shall We.
ry willingly and heartily cooperate in it. But if it
is only intended rally the forces Of the to force
upon us that which is already indicated why not do
now7 Why prolong the agony! But if there is good
to come from it, why then let lis adjourn.
A MEMBER. Let us tryi it.
Mr.. FLOYD. If there are any terms to be offered
tell you they must be honorable to PROSTATE mnori
ty-I say PROSTATE minority here but we have hun
dred thousand eemen to back U.s. and in that respect
We are not PROSTATE.
Mr.. TREDWAY. ! am in the situation of the gen.
elnan from Essex, OR. NJ. GARSErT,) who told US
little while ago that he had paired off with the gentle
man from Giles, {Nr. PENpLEroS) ! have paired of
with gentleman from the west and shall not vote up
~ this question.
Mr.. SCOTT, of Fauquier. This question is one, am
aware which under the rules of the house is not strictly
,pen to debate. But the indulgence of the Con-
'ention while say word two upon the motion of
he gentleman from Iappahannock, DIR. STRorHER)
No objection having been made Mr.. ScoTr proceeded.
We have been discussing the question for long time,
whether according to judgment, it is better to pro.
lose to the people the adoption Of constitution with
he representation based upon population and taxation