Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-17
STATE CONVENTION.
FRIDAY, MAY l6.

Prayer by Rev. Mr.. Taylor.
Ihe Coz yenlion resolved itself at once into Commit
The question pending was the proposition submitted
yesterday by Mr.. WISE.
| MR. FINNEYs PROPOSITION
Mr.. FINNEY moved to strike out the proposition and
| insert one to the following effect
House Of Delegates of $50 members to be chosen
| by tie East, and SO by the Wes.
| A Senate of so members-27 to be chosen by the
| East and % by the West.
In the year 1861, the Governor to submit the question
whether the Houses, or either shall be on the sui.
| rage or the mixed basis.
| The proposition also embraced several clauses de-
clarng the absolute rights OF property requiring every
law making appropriations 10 be passed by majority
OF each House; and requiring capilati ion taxes to be
equal throughout the State
| Mr.. Boris said he had heard it stared out of doors
that many gentlemen had mpromises TO offer, and
suggested that each one should introduce his plan
that 1t might be printed. He understood that the gen.
llemen from Fauquer proposed TO offer one. Gentle
men around hm suggested the proprety OF adlournng
over 10 Monday. Mr.. B. then read proposition which
he had prepared, and which apportoned the Senate and
House each upon combined ratio Of white population
and federal numbers He said if gentlemen were real
y disposed to compromise they ought to be willing
| meet halt way between their extreme grounds
division OF the question on Mr.. FNNEYs motion
was called for
Mr.. Boris stated that until gentlemen brought for
ward their different plans, he would against every
| one which vote should be taken.
| VOTE wIsEs PROPOSITION.
The vote to strike out Mr. WIsR's proposition pre-
| vailed, ayes So, noes SO. as follows:
AyEs-Messrs Mason, tPresident9 Arthur Banks,
Barbour, Bocock, Bolts, Bowles, Braxton, Burgess,
Chambiss, Claiborne, Cooke, Cox, Douglas Ednunds,
Edwards Faulkner, Finney, Flood, Futz, Garland,
NJ R q Garnet, Gqode Hall, Hopkins, Janney, Jas
Martin Of Henry, Meredith, Morris Petty, Randolph,
Ridley, Riyes Saunders Scoggin, Scott of Caroline,
Scott Of i. Fauquer' Scott Of Richmond City Shell,
S.rother. Taylor Tledway, Tunis Turnbull, Wallace.
| w ats of orfolk County, Whttle and WinefeId-.8
NoEs-Messrs; Armstrong, Bland Blue, Bowden,
Byrd Of Frederick, Camden, Carle Garter Of Russell.
Chapman, Chiffon Deneale FERGUSON, Fisher, Floyd,
Fukerson, Fuqua, Hays, Hoge, Jacob, Johnson, Ken
ney Kigore, Knoe, Leteher lior b-reer, Lucas, Nc.
Caman McComas. Martin o. Marshall, Miller, Nj pore,
Murphy, Neeson, Newman Seymour Shelley, Sloan,
| Smith OF kanawha, Smith of Jackson, Smith of
Greenhrer, snodgrass, Stenhenson. Stewart Of Nor
gan, Stuart OF Patrick, Su nmers Tate, Trigg Van
Wrinkle, White, Wiley, Williams Of Shenandoah and
| Wse-53.
The question required on inserting Mr. FlNNEy'spro
Mr.. BYRD said he did not wish to vote on Mr.. FIN.
NEY's proposition as whole.
The CHAIR said might be amended after being in
| serted.
The vote was taken on inserting the p OPPOSITION of
Mr. FlNnEY, and it was rejected, ayes Messrs FIN
| NEY and TAYLoR] noes 1O4.
| When Mr.. WsE's called he asked il his
colleague had any support besides his own vote Be-.
ing informed that Mr.. TAYLOR had voted aye, Mr. w.
voted
Mr.. FINNEy said his proposition had one good et-
| feet, viz TO bring them all together
Il THE COMMITTEES COMPROMISE.
Mr. Chiffon then moved TO insert the report of the
committee OF compromise, with modification OF the
4th section providing that, in 1865 the question of hay
ing both houses or either on taxation, should be sub
mitted by the Governor to the people, in addition to
questions whether boh or either should be on The suf
trage basis, the combined basis of white population
and taxation thus presenting three different bases on
which both Houses, or either may be appor.ioned ac-
cording TO the decision of the people.
Mr. ScoTr Of referred to the slight character of the
modification proposed in the report OF the committee by
his colleague Yesterday. Mr.. Scott. said he hear
lilly responded 10 the sentiment expressed by his
colleague, that he UNIV ing to see any compro-.
mise adopted which did receive considerable support
from both sides OF the House, and especially from his
Eastern friends 1t was therefore with no little regret
and with some surprise, that he found his colleague re-
newng the proposition of the committee There was
one feature in it which had received the condemnation
of gentlemen of all sides; he referred to its pernena
ton OF the Blue Ridge dividing line between Fast
and West. Another Objectionable fea ure was that il
introduced the authority OF the Governor effect what
properly belonged to the Legislature WHY could thev
not trust the Legislative Department The proposition
proposed to give the West ams ry The popular branch
| and the West could fear nothing from that branch
What reason there to dsrust an Easter IN maio,tv
in the Senate to carry plain mandate of the con-
sttution? No consideration would gain his consent to
provision which, in the remotest degree, conveyed an
| imputaon upon the majority in that branch which
was apportloned upon the principle claimed by the East
Mr. S. said the insertion OF this proposition would be-
but the beginning of trouble. He had hoped that as
they had entered upon this field of compromise thew
would remain in it, until they should gather and garner
harvest that would reward them for ali their toi and
that no compromise would be forced through by bare
to be willing to base both Houses, for the present on
the mixed basis, and at the expiration OF ten years to
submit the question OF basis to the people.
Mr.. SCOTT OF F. said he was not wrong in this. thar
long time ago, ind vduals representing Western CON
sluencies had told him that form ofsetement which
involved present appoItlonment on the mixed basis
and tie reference Of the question the people after ten
years would be accepted
!! Mr. WISE reminded Mr.. S. that 50 gentlemen had
this morning voted 10 accept Just such propos ton.
Mr.. FERGUSON and other Western members in their
seats said, No, had provision to submit The cues
Mr.. WISE said he had offered TO modify il to thu,
effect. N
Mr.. SCOTT proceeded. He had only referred 10
these facts as preface TO proposition which he de-
signed to offer amendment TO This colleagues
Supposng Western gentlemen to be willing to ACCEPT
the mixed basis fora period often years they ought to
consent TO have their principle established in the popu.
lar branch at present. and extension of the duration
OF the Eastern principle in the Senate for twenty
years. This was what he proposed, and al the exn-
ration OF that time, to leave to the Houses to
I apporilon representation without any presclipye
mandate, and, it they could not concur, 10 submit The
connecting plans to the voters. Here was pros
pec'ye settlement IN the manner and upon the terms in
sisted upon by our western friends Ii CONTEMPLATED the
basis OF taxation in the Senate, excluding the cense
tax the tax on law process, and on free negroes Un-
der it, the Western majority in the House would in
crease and the Easlen majority in the Senate would
decrease. 1t gave the East protection, and for
period which would allow the system of internal
i. Improvement to he adjusted, and thus tina causes
that s'ract tine State would be removed. Mr.. s.
trusted his friends on 10th sides would see his pro-
positn as he saw it, Compromise. So far az
/ he was concerned, and many with whom he acted
were concerned, they were content TO go further and
adjust the majortes in the two Houses 10 give tho
West larger majority in the House OF Delegates than
the East would have in the Senate, and thus ensure it
the control OF the emouments and honOrs OF office He
said there some, nay many Eastern members who
were unwilling to go so lara sufficient number to
place his proposition in the category he desired What
it 10 gentlemen the other side that the commit
tees plan reserved the Senate TO the East for some
what shorter time They might ask if the difference
was small, why insist uponit? He could only retor the
3 question. and ask if the difference way small. whv
should they insist upon it! He only knew that it would
receive much larger number Of Yates from Ia