Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

sed we presume it intended that should communi-
same soon as received TO the people OF Henrco
in some public FORM Very. respectfully,
| Your fellow citizens
J. B. YOUNG
J. H. GILMER,
DAN'L. f. GARDINER
| JAMES HILL,
RICHARD REINES,
! LOFTIN n. ELLETT
PUBLIC MEETING IN HENRICo COUNTY.
Alta meeting OF portion Of the people of the county OF
Henrico held The Court House Monday Court day0
Apr! 7ih 1851 John b. Young nominated chairman, Dr.
Rctd ~ Hail. VIII, was unanimously elected, and Richard
Reines and J. Fl. CLINE. appointed Secretaries OF Inc
Mr. Young after few appropriate remarks offered the
following preamble and resolutions which were adocd TN
one dissenting voice. 80,
present posture Of the important question now before te
Convention in session In The city of Richmond, charged
with the duty of preparing amended Constitution ior s
Stale OF Virginia. invo:ing the distribution OF Legislative
mower among the several portions State deem our
right md duty make known TO immediate representa-
tYes views upon the same. Therefore, DC
this meeting, l,i, :;
lst That in our opinion and confidently believe IN
h oninon of the mass of the people of this county, col-
bnalon of white population and taxation, or what is com
monty called The Mixed Basis is the only true and sale Bass
ID That nasmuch as upon any fair application OF this
nrucplc the portion of the State East of the Blue Ridge Of
monnous will be entitled decided majority III The Leg
isaure approve any compromise" CONCESSION
which shall divide the representation equally between e
portions Of the commonwealth East and West OF those
mountains
g. That admonisled by the lessons OF experience taught
by ali human history that mere paper guarantees aord no
adequate protection 10 the rights either OF persons or Of pro-
pcrty portion Of the people OF the East we require, as
the only reliable protection 10 our rights and interests that
fair share OF Legislature pouer TO which wc are entitled
4h That committee OF six gentlemen be appointed oy
the chairman of This meeting whose duy shall he 10 COM
nunicac copy the above preamble aad resolutions to
each of representatives from this district and TO request
them gay whether they concur in and ae willing 10 carry
out the views therein embodied.
On motion made by J. Fl. Glmer, II was
Resolved That copy Of these resolutions be presented 10
each the daily newspapers published in the city oil Rich
rnond with the request that they be published therein
In obedience The requirements OF the ih resolution the
chairman appointed the following gentlemen as the commit
lee of six, viz j. B. Young, j. H. Glmef, L. n. Elicit
| T. Renes James Hill D. E. Gardiner
! On motion, tho meeting then adjourned
J. H'f e. Gll aEssE' Secretaries.
RICHMOND APRIL %, 1851.
Gentlemen u have the honor TO acknowledge the receipt
of your communicating addressed Of the dele
gates from this district TO the State Convention enclosing
copy OF certain resolutions adopted meeting Of poT-
ton of the people Of Henco county, and requesting me, IN
behalf of that meeting and in conformity with of its
outious) cay whether concur in and amwng to car
ry out the views therein expressed"
In answer to the call thus made upon me- recognizing
do all times and the fullest extent the right on The
part OF the constituent 10 MAKE and the duty on The part o
the representative respond such call beg leave to
say in the first place that elected 10 the seat now
hold with opinions subject of the basis of representa-
ton very decidedly formed and very distinctly avowed In
my address the district, those opinions
expressed in the following terms
"st. AS 10 the basis OF representation
81 am in favor OF what is generally known the mixed
basislhat In Of based white population
taxation combined In the discussions which took place
the Convention BILL this principle (Which enters ino and
forms part Of that casure the subject OF violent as
saull and bitter denunciaon sustained il then to The ~.
most OF my ability both by voice and by my volc ana
have change opinons then entertained
and expressed On the contrary subsequent reflection has
tended only 10 confirm and 10 strengthen them. The
l,nrfv nj
at 90 and with this majority OF white ponaoh she
pays but s2 35 "a OF 66 03 81 of the public taxes
less than third On the other hand IL well known
that the interests Of the sections of our State are ar from
being concdeni especially in regard to the appropriation OF
money Under such circumstances 10 base representation
the white population alone would DC IN effect to expose
people who pay than two thirds of the public taxes
unlimited exactions of others Of diverse interest,"
who pay less than third giving the same time 10 these
latter, the absolute power OF appropriation.
'For one, cannot admit that such principle is either
wise or just in theory that would be liable the
rrossest abuse In practice have every confidence in
western BRETHREN in their patriosnl their dslnere5edness
their public spiribu such power this over me and min
TO delegate to any set OF men, will
a5dc by that principle which teaches that represen
laon and taxation should hand in handa principle con-
by the blood Of tho Revolution ana handed down
to us by our as one OF the fundamental tenes OF
| free government"
stated further in the same address, that these opinions
shave been hastily formed, will they be lightly aban
doned and that m with the opinions thus expressed II be
the pleasure Of the people OF this district add TO The many
obligations already received al their hands by comforting
me the distinguished honor Of seat in the Convention
only promise that effort shall be wanting my part
acqut myself the discharge of that most important
and responsible trust 10 satisfy generous constituency
that their confidence has not been altogether misplaced
Under these circumstances and with these opinions urowed
and reiterated in every part Of the district, the peo
pie did think proper 10 select OF their Delegates TO
the Convention and the day will when
shall be found capable Of requi,ing their "geneons c'ni
tence By abandoning opinions thus deliberately formed aud
expressed and proving false 20 the pledges thus soeny
made Ny position the basis question defined (as in
tended should be- in that admitted of misconstruc
n q lie
cation Of the Legislative nepartmenhc great taH-lcvyn,
ax-colccng and axappropriang body-that portion oil
the State which paid wohirds Of the taxes should have
the power vi saying what should be raised and how
when raised they should be applied propose repre-
senaton neither the white population alone on taxa
ton alone but to bass il equally on white population and
taxation combined This the 'mixrd basis, which
the convention itself organized. it is the principle for
which the East commended IN the convention OF ~ 81 and IL"
which has commended since extreme pop-
son but "a iair compromise" betwccn extremes III
the language OF the venerable John Marshall the dele
gates from this district convention, The people OF
the East thought they offered fair compromise when they
proposed The compound basis u population and dras2n or
the basis Of federal numbers We thought had republican
precedent for this precedent given rs by The wises and
ruest patriots were nssembed.n ii the mixed
says why ii not fair cumpronisc in 1857 and
there was republican precedent for hen how comes
that the precedent will sustain nuw2 II true
that the mixed basis gives tie East majority in the Legs
ature but that majority lin house of 1901 is less b. nine
than the East now has in house Of 1885, less By four than
it would entitled TO on federal numbers and less BY
than would be entitled TO the plan proposed las! summer
by ony honorable colleagues M Bottsl AID then pre-
sented BY him very distinctly perfectly fair andJus co-
promise of this vexed question between The East and The
West With what proprley thee, CAN'T be said that the a
of the mixed basis Insisting on an extreme pro-
position and displaying uncompromsng sprit2 They
insisting merely on that principle which the East offered
fair compromise" in 1929, and which il has stood
from that day 10 this the principle on which the present
Convention i!sis organized and which this dstTic,
lite representation in that hodyhe principle that enters
into and forms part OF that very Convention Bill which the
people of This city have endorsed the polls BY majority
of s73 votes; the people OF this district by majority Of
9l votes and the people Of the State By majority Of more
than %, 900 votes
For what the Convention submitted to the people bv
that Convention BILL and which they voted in April last
Not the naked questions VIII you have Convention or
no; but will you have Convention organized as propo-
sed BY this bli that is Contention organse the ,arc
basis Of Hhite population and raon equally combined
And how was this question responded by who's,
was addressed2 Did any in this district LIT up his
voice against the Convention because was 10 be Organized
the mixed basis upon basis which gave us six dele
nsend Of one that might give us three OF four? If
So have yet to see or hear OF man. Certain it is
that the people OF this district by almost unanimous vote
declared themselves In favor OF just such Convention as
tIa pocodt mi,