Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09
rcnu,aton rather than to any question of the basis OF

ri hi; Convention but | find upon reference 10 thu
nroceedings Of the last Convention that while upon III,
hass of representation the members from the west pre-
sen,cd united 'front.' yet upon all other questions OF re
fo-m ,hcy were divided, and While the distinguished
gentleman from Northampton (Jligc upsHui was inc
vocatc of the extension OF the rs ht OF suffrage, yc
Mr. Powell, Mr.. Johnson, NJ BALDWIN, ana others
advocated limitation; and when they come to Tho
Tmitatof, of the tenure o. Office oi the judiciary, iC
MIR Thompson and Mr.. Upshur going Tor the limitation
and o. gentlemen from the west Tor the lie tenure %
.e and when effort made in that convention if
inse into the county court. more oil popular vsor ana
energy you will find eastern man, to some extent voting
for il. and western men voting against It, and acre
in hi, BODY while upon this question OF The white haslS
nj representation the Up with one voice II
liz favor still upoi all other questions OF r'or:n We
find some gentlemen a. conservative IN her views 4
the west :s anv in the /, has hcen stated Ire
oucn,i in the course ci thi, debate that the PROPOSE
ton oi The eastern report in reference 10 Inc reap
nortionlcnt OF Representation. had been ,teEg'F :"
worried IL 10 enable us, Tor ali time 10 come, 10 hold az
to the power, notwithstanding. ~, Subsequent increase
of popuiaon and taxation in the restern portion c! t!c
C::anonwcaIth. think the gentleman lrol Wood
(Nr Tav WEELE,) 10 sogic extent, expressed TIA!
opinor That Inference think is unfair, for attic *:
am authorized 10 aas"c. for no one but :iyscIi II
az, right in my recollection, the opinion entertain up
ON hi, subject has been expressed by other gentlemen
who have preceded Inc in this discussion. in
tend whatever a3sls OF representation may be cs;aD-
lisrcd 10 voc for proposition making Il mandatory
upon the legislature TO make fair rc-apporlonmcmt
Gil whatever decade may be agreed upon hy the
committee. That Is my purpose, and ] mean to SIS
tain it BIZ M vote whenever the proper tirlc arrTcs.
will % further. Some gentlemen object that III. re-
appor;ionnen; according 10 the report and tic PROPOSE
ton OF the gentleman from Fauquicr, is 10 be made mr
the average tax and population Of The ten proceeding
vear and ak why is that do not give the west
what trey will be fairly entitled 10 upon their future IN
crease o population ard taxation: If gentlemen pre-
fer that alteration, shall vote 'Fh them If they wish
4 re-apporonmelit according 10 the taxation of Ike
year proceeding in preference 10 the average taxation
and population OF the ten proceeding years so far as my
goes, they may have it 50 cngratcd in the cols-
tuition.
have thus sir, az briefly as well could, presented
10 this committee some OF the views and considerations
which will govern me upon this highly Important
subject Of the basis 81 representation. And ALLOW"
here 10 say, that white might he prepared 10 Yield
much to Just spirit of compromise bat TO the strong
dana.n up by the west lor The suffrage basis have
nothing 10 yield | might have elaborated the vic"s,
which have presented. 10 an extent bordering The
close o! daily session, bat had no -l"h intention
when commenced. and have 10 such purpose mo|.
i}u ii the committee will bear w:!h me for momc;!;,
will notice o.lc" vicw.!la las been taken in
nrcoa with the propositions u:cr considerations.
The very distinguished gentleman from tic ccuoy ci
hana"a, my Trend sir SUMMERS III hc conclusion
of the able and coqa"n; speech with which he favored
the cumnii,ee many days ago said xiii: rather an air
OF confidence, thought, that 10 matter how tins cues
ton may be decided, matter what may be the result OF
deliberations the subject, that cannot hc.i-
tate to submit 10 the people two constitutions, each co-
tanning the same reforms, one upon the 'Thtc OF s'
iragc basis Of representation, and the other upon t.c
mixed basis, and 10 give Them al opportunity 10 decide
between the two. Other gcacmcn, who have sue
cccded him, cndcaTGrcd Ia impress the view upnn
US. am a,sarc that such proposition tia; is
pending before the committee, and il may bc una
enough Ia discuss the proposition when j, up fer
or considerations but will tell gentlemen in adva.cc
that unless Tail 70 reflect the views and opinions OF my
constituents upon tia: question: can scarcely vote with
them when the proposition il presented. according t"
my present recollection during the session nl the lcSiS
lalurc Of Si3-i lSij-ij. proposition intro
nced TO submit to the people the question {" organizing
4 convention upon whatever basis they might designate.
refer To that time, because remember Yer: well that
in the county Of Patrick, Of the counties which
now represent. that objection was raised 10 the then
delegate from that county upon his return home by his
competitor, upon the ground that he had voted 10
anlza convention upon the mixed basis and against
The question ui basis To The people.
Mir. STUART, of Patrick. Will the gentleman tell
us the of the member. and when the matter took
place: never heard Of it before.
Mr.. MARTIN. Certainly. will crafty the gen
cman. am not ignorant of the incidents of public
character which have taken place in that county for
fifteen years past. hold my commission in this body
part by the voice of three hundred Of the voters OF
that highly respectable county, aud there has not been
compliment paid that pcopc-an! they have received
,ponsivc chord in my bosom. But my colleague should
nave known that would not have rcnturci the asSer
ion unless had been sustained by indisputabc evil
icncc and though he be ignorant Of the fact 10
*hc. have adverted he will find my recollection full
y endorsed by cur common constituency in that county.
certainly should not have descended to particulars
but for the gentleman interference. in answer 10 his
will inform him that !atla friend
MIR. Edward Tattm was tic delegate, and my highly
esteemed friend and relative, DR.. Handy. his
pclitor, who made the objection and whatever other
questions may have entered int The canvass, certain il
is that Mr.. Tatum was triumphantly re elected. In
the Legislature Of lSA9-'J0 similar proposition was
submitted the delegate from the county Of Henry.
and the delegates from the county Of Franklin voted
against /. and all easily reelected: and III th
canvas, for scat in this Convention, the objection
made To my young friend and colleague from the coun,
Of Franklin, that he lad voted the year proceeding
against submitting to tie people the question Of the ba
sis npon which the Convention sholi BE- organizcd:
and he too elected hy decisive ma lorv as mcm-
Der Of this body. think hcsr ac afford pretty troI.
presmptiyc evidence of what The voice Of my district
would hc upon the proposition To submit the question oi
the basis of representation to the people Of the Com
But sir. submit in all caniio: and sin
ccrity, after haze been engaged in the discussion OF
TIL, exciting question for period of more ra seven
weeks, when an anxious excited and impatient conn-
Try, feeling deep interest in this and ether questions
of REFORM looking forward with great anxiety 10
the close Of this debate and the termination Of Ia
bors-wiIcn nearly all Of the old thirteen, and every
new Stale coming into this conrdcracg lave establish
ed governments, framing their constitutions more upon
the broad basis OF popular intelligence and popular SUI
prcnacy than is ourswhen by the onward progress OF
free principles the prediction Of the sage of Monticello
is about to be realized, that countries sooner.
and Others a:cr, but all finally will find ont that the
mass Of mankind were norm with saddles their
backs nor q favored few booted and spurcd TO ride
them legltimaely hy the grace Of God''-wlcn by The
same mighty influence throne after throne is crmbng.
pillar after pillar OF the temples of dcspotsm is going
down. and as the mighty fabrics are lettering in the
tempest and eXulting millions arc reoccd at the pros
pcct-slall il be said lli:t IN this the nnceenh cen
tury, in tie Virginia io!orm Convention, in TIA, proud
Commonwealth, whose Yocc was once potential in the
national councils. when We have col ;cncd to reform
our government, Tia, upon thi, the most important ara
difficult o! all the Questions likely TO engage our cbcr-
question %! tie basis Of
we are incompetent 10 The task and that b.: IL it can
rot he adjusted That i must again be referred 10 TIE
people, and the cu,irr Commonwealth convuscd, not
ony ny appeals /" sectional Trcndiccs, hut By nlam-
iaatory efforts I" array classes against classes, has
been done upon this floor: In my humble opinion the
people desire 10 such thing. ] anticipate no such cal
anxious result of Our !a5or>. an not prepared
c!alnI-
Age! thou Art ashamed
Rom" thou hast los; the h.cc! Of noble blood"
believe there j, wisdom PATRIOTISM and statesman
ship enough III l- body 70 settle tbs Question here and