Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-28
THE BASIS QUESTION.


ceedlngS OF the Convention on the subject OF
representa- ton, from the close of the regular de-
bate on the 30th of April, 10 the adoption of the
proposition known as the Compromise, we have
prepared, by the aid of our own reports, and
the official journal of the Secretary, the follow
ing concise history of The various propositions
submitted and votes taken within the period NEIL
toned
On Wednesday, April 3oth, the Convention first
came to in committee fhe whole, on the ba-
sis of representation The question pending on
the motion of Mr.. Scott OF Fauquier to strike out Pro-
position in the report OF the committee on the basis of
representation and insert substitute, of which the
following was the important provision:
representation in both legislative bodies shall be
apportoned amongst the counties, cities and towns ao-
cordiug to the number OF white inhabitants contained.
aud the amount of all taxes paid each; deductng from
such taxes all taxes paid licenses and law process
In making such apporonment there shall be allowed
Que delegate for every part OF the said inhabitants
and one delegate for every part OF said taxes; and
in like manner there shall be allowed one Senator or
every - part OF the same
[The substitute, as orig inalIy offered, contained
provso limiting the representation of cities TO - de-
delegates and - Senator's but MIR. Scott Withdrew
it
The question was divided the demand Of Mr..
Chapman of Monroe, and The vote first taken
on str liking cut Proposition B, 1.-The suffrage basis
portl
The Committee greed to strike out, ayes Is, noes
e6-majority for striking out, 9. All the Western
members who voted and the four Eastern white basis
members, Messrs. Carter and White of L., Stuart OF
Patrick and Wise OF Accomack, voted in the negative
Amongst those who voted in the affirmative, were
Messrs. Arthur, Bolts, Bowden, Chiffon, Claiborne,
Martin ofHenry, Randolph, Saunders and Wingfield.
The sixteen members who did not vote had all paired
off.
The ouesti on required on inserting the substitute o.
Mr. Scot in the blank created by striking PROPOSE
lion B; and the committee refused to insert it, ayes 90,
noes 81; the white basis members and Messrs Bolts,
Bosden, Chiffon, Randolph and Saunders voting in
the negative.
The substitute resented sin ply the mixed basis in
its most general iom Invested Of all details of appor
1ionment, &C., and the five gentlemen who changed
sides this vote justly responsible iorthe dictator
1heprnciple.
Proposition A of the basis committees report, re.
manned to be disposed of. 1t the mixed basis,
companied with spportionment, giving the East IA
majority in House of $50.
Mr.. Bots offered substitute for A, his Compro.
mise proposing permanent equality Of representation
in the two branches. and
Mr. Saunders moved to amend by striking out Mr.
Bots proposition, ard inserting by which the
House of Delegates should be based qualified voters
and the Senate on Federal numbers.
THURSDAY, May LIST, Mr. Saunders withdrew his
amendment for the present, and Mr. Bowden one OF the
five members who voted to strike or the suffrage
basis report moved to amend NJ r. Bon prop oson by
striking it out, ard inserting provision that both
Houses of the Legislature should be based Federal
numbers.
Mr.. Bolts, thereupon, asked leave to withdraw his
amendment avowing that his object 10 ascertain
The wishes ofhs constituents and referring to the fact
that public meeting of the citizens of Richmond
called on the night othe following day. Debate took
place upon the question OF granting the leave, which
was finally decided in the affirmative, ayes g. noes ST.
the white basis members and Messrs. Bolts, Chiffon,
Meredith, Randolph Rives Saunders and Taylor
ting in the affirmative.
Mr. Summers then moved to strike out all Of propc-
son A ex cep the first section, which prescribed the
division OF the Assembly into two Houses, and the last
section, which provided for the apportonment of Con-
gressiona DISTRICTS but Mr.. Beale made motion
which took precedence of This. viz to strike out
smaller portion of proposition A, and insert substan.
tally the substitute previously offered by Mr.. Scott OF
Fauquier bu excluding the capiaon tax on free ne
groes
Whilst this proposition was pending, Mr.. Randolph
10 ok occasion to state that he bound vote for ei-
Their of propositions One the Federal basis,
and the other the Mixed basis Of the Convention OF
1929 which he maintained. consisted in adding the
Der of dollars paid taxes and by dividing the aggre-
gate BY the number of the House Senate, he found
the constituent number of Delegate Senator. Mr..
Stanard showed that the mixed basis OF the former
Convention was precisely what is now commended for
by the East.
Fridau, May I'd, was occupied chiefly by Mr.. Sum-
mers replying remarks ade the day before by Mr.
Scott OF Fauquier. He was followed briefly by Mr..
Rives.
IT. IL a.. Es- liz, tho he.
sis question was held in Richmond, at the African
Church. and the manifestations there excited high hopes
that a majority of this community were for the white
basis The meeting ended with a resolution to take the
sense ofthe voters the polls on the following Wed.
nesday The attention of the Cow ention itself be-
came wholly engrossed in the popular issue.
Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, the ID, 5'h and
9th, were occupied it'll discussion addressed MAN.
ly 10 the aleres the peculiar interest Of Richmond in
the mixed or the white basis being principal point in
dispute.
Vednesday, May 7th, Mr.. Randolph gave notice
OF an amendment he proposed to offer Mr.. Beae's
proposition making provision for mixed basis accord
ing his peculiar view OF proper mixed basis; and he
argued that although il would give the East smaller
majority present than the mixed basis sustained by
the Eastern members generally would, yet the
Increase OF tie East in taxation would ultimately re-
verse the result.
Mr.. Chiffon, the same uay looK occasion 10 intimate
his willingness compromise, proridcd he could get a
considerable number of Eastern members to go with
him. by establishing the mixed basis tor the present.
be substituted by The suffrage basis in 1862 or 4; but
he said he should exact the condition CT such Com
promise Constitutional guarantees against extravagant
appropriations for internal improvements.
ron Wednesday, and Thursdau, the vote was polled
in Richmond, and the result for the Mixed Basis
500; White Basis 355; Compromise 81; Compromise az
al alternative 20
Thursday, Nay sM Mr. Bolts announced that he
considered himself instructed by the vote Of the ely to