Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-28

And obey right never rest satisfied for one mo-
mtnt until they have obtained it, And will give it to
them while have the power 10 do it,"
did not want Cons uton that would have been
entirely acceptable to the East and altogether unsat.
siaciory to the West first, b cause 1t would have been
unjust IN a governmental majority, representing mi
noriy OF the people, have consulted the wishes
and interests not to say the rights, OF majority se
condy, because it would have been impolitic thus
have exercised temporary power that in the natural
course OF events, would in few years. under any sys
tenn, have departed from us, when it might, in retaa-
ton, have been welded oppressvely and tyranncaIy
against u.s. thirdly, because our whole structure Of GO
vernment Is ba ed upon compromises in the absence OF
which popular government can endure for day;
fourthly, because, if it is the duty of majority 10
weld something to the views peludces and interests
OF minority, hold to be, there is still stronger
obligation on the part OF minority temporarily in the
ascendant, TO yield something TO a ma;orty and
lastly, because, we did not yield something to their de-
mauds it ensured the action OF the Constitution and
would thus lose the benefits of all the other re-
forms we have labored accomplish, if it did not
produce far worse state of things, that ref citing
and well. balanced mind is prepared to conemnate
with composure.
| was equally opposed TO the adoption of Consttu-
ton that would have been entirely acceptable to the
West, and altogether unsatisfactory to the East and
it was under the influence of these considerations that
proposed first to divide the representation equally
in both houses, as a permanent arrangement second,
to adopt system OF revenue that would operate with
perfect equality all, by taxing every species of pro-
perty in proportion to its value, and thus to preclude
the possibility OF exorbant unjust taxation on any
third require the Legislature to provide for the paw.
nent OF debt at the time Of creation aud lastly,
TO provide that no appropriation Of money should be
made except by vote OF majority OIL the whole num-
Der elected 10 both branches of the legislature
These were the several features of my Compromise,
and which, II adopted, would have given perpetual
equality permanent security to al with power to nei
Their section OF the Stale Cypress harrass the other,
but power to each to protect itself against ppession
from the other. In Short my first plan OF compromise
though presented anarbirary rule OF apportionment
in order to avoid offence dissatisfaction either
section OF the State, in its results precisely the
same the compromise off red in the Convention of
1929 by Watkins Leigh, and warmly sustained by
Chief Justice Mo rshal The the
people now represent, and the former representing
the Pow hatan and Chesterfield district. The only dit
ference between Mr. Leighs plan and mine was, that
his contained none OF the securities and guarantees that
mine presented, and should therefore, Think have
been far less acceptable than mne-my second pro-
position was in all respect that offered and sustained
| by these two distinguished and able men; and yet
| who camored against either of them for sacrificing
! eastern ineress? Who suspected either Of them Of
not guarding the interests of their constituents with
Jealous vigilance? Who endeavored to get up ex-
element against either OF them for want of fidelity to
| their trusts? Who did not award to Watkins Leigh
| the championship OF eastern interests Who did not
honor HIM with the distinction OF being the ax"
| of the Convention? Who questioned the purity or
wisdom OF either Marshall or Leigh? Who thought
either less entitled to confidence trust than before?
None! none whatever! Why them the complaint If
it real exstto extent against me, which was not
made against them? Is there reason for it? No.;
but there is cousel And what is that causel 1t is
because they were both elevated above the common
platform upon which rivals stand! because neither Of
them occupied politica position, and neither OF them
We're cand daes for political offices! they stood no in
the way Of any political aspirant they excited neither
envy nor jealousy in any quarter, and therefore they
had not score OF selfish busy bodies eternay whs-
perlng complaints in the peoples ears.
Ii was under the circumstances detailed above, fel-
low-clzens that the Convention met in the month OF
October last and after months session, adjourned
to meet again in the month OF January heard of no
complaint among those whom had been elected to
present, and who knew at the time OF my election that
was advocate for compromising the basis question.
Shortly after it met in January, the subject OF district
convention to nominate candidate OF the Wing party
tor Congress began 20 be gtated; my pre-
scented, indeed received letter from number of high
" respectable gentlemen most oil whom had voted tor
MI Chas. Garter Lee at the last election, requesting au-
thority to announce me as candidate, which de-
cned and suggested that convention OF the district
should be called TO make a nomination,
Immediate eff 'rs were made 10 change the direction
OF the public mind every means resore ed TO; all
The energy and activity OF those who bad their pur
poses to accomplish called into reqnson
te Prejudice and revive by gone qIarles and deren-
ces OF opinion; rumours were put ahoat that l had
abandoned my position the basis question, and had
gone over to the West decided advocate OF the viii
basis, and God knows how many other msrepresenta.
tons winch took the trouble to contradict, nor
thou 9ht worthy ofnotice. But knowing the interest
telt in the settlement OF the basis question, and having
nothing TO conceal from the people OF the congressional
district, which contained five counties not embraced in
the district was representing in the Convention, L
thought proper before any nomination was made that
they should be apprised OF my position this subject;
accordingly, on the Oath of that month, | published
card In all the city papers, in which said 1t 1.-THE
basis) is question of much interest and difficulty, and
one upon which all he other reforms earnestly de-
Sired may depend 1t is one also, that, in my opinion,
ought 10 be compromised, the only means OF pre-
serving harmony between the East and the West, if not
the only means OF preventing ultimate division Of
the State" | went still farther and said: at is one
that in my judgment, may be compromised without a
sacrifice OF principle or interest on the part OF either
section OF the country, and when the proper time ar
rves in the proceedings OF the Convention, may at
tempt it, and then develope my views in full" And in
the face of this declaration, known 10 all, with every
desire to be frank and open, with determination to
conceal nothing-the Convention met on the 18th of
March, and gave unanimous nomination only
single individual OF all the respective delegations,
voting against me on the rst ballot, and he immedi
| atey acquiescing.
Now. may | not ask, with some proptiety, what
grounds OF complaint have / furnished to any
| one? Who have | deceived betrayed? When
l invited by the Wing party of the district
to accept a nomination at its hands, and place my
self in the lat all limes) unenviable position of a
candidate, as general target, to be fired at ndiscrl-
minatey by the designing, the mischevlous, the idle
and especially by the nleesed and selfish OF both
ties, had right to expect to b. supported or attack
ed by those who gave me the nomination! Had not
right to suppose, either that those who had selected
me their standard bearer, willing to acquesce
in my views OF compromise ,or that they looked upon
it question wholly unconnected with federal poll
TICS win tno tiley 10 per
form? Did they expect and candidate be.
fore this district Tor eight months and hear no dssats
faction expressed, no condemnation pronounced on my
course! Had they not reason TO know that in my po-
son could do nothing right in the eyes of certain
| few!
Might not also ask, what has this to do with Con-
gress, Congress to do with ii! Is the question OF
disunon, 10 the Importance Of whi.h all other quest ions
should yield, and in which, as far Wings
cened all party distinctions are forgotten, in its
turn to yield to this comparatively insignificant ques-
ton OF the basis OF repre- entaon oil one of the States
Of the Union, to the detrment possibly the loss of the
| Union itself?
But why should not the matter be compromised 3
| With whom compromising? Will we COM
promise other great questions with other States that
have stood against us and wared upon interests,
and refuse to compromise this question with our own
brethren of the State, who have stood by and
helped us to secure our rights and especially, why
should Richmond, the heart OF the State, through which
the ifeblood Of trade and commerce flows, reject a