Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-02
RICHMOND ENQUER i il.
=====--='===-75- rur CONVENTION.

| THE CONVENTION.
| H.. ,,bo,, stote will rejoice that the Con'ch'i,
day almost by reclamation, (the vote was . " I.;,,
abouts resolved that the vote shall be ta"eH " . b.
NJ - to.day upon the basis question. l"' ,;.io,
| FIRST voted upon, will be 10 strike ont sc"t, -, al
| tho white basis scheme. This will prooa''? =
then will come up schedule y, as anshae" = IT., ,;,
Fauouier containing the mixed basis scioN' ;; 1
restriction in regard the rcpfeseh'", =, D., ,
| towns To this will probably DC " :I A. sror.,
promise and perhaps subsequent IT, T., ~, 90
| o.;.; sa,,od an Monday and puoiisheu og US 10
a % ,, rho whole subject Of the basis 10 oc occ'ueu oF
a vote of the peoplc whether for Tue ""eu - "a ~ ''
boss The subject has beech iu'yi e'''o'"'''S anu '
ob,v d;scusecd-and the members VIII co'c 70 NC o "
doub, not impressed with the soci'i' VI '. "r'' "o
with the impor,ant consequences "'''' may '" i' "
We entertain strong hopes that SONIC ssse" 'aS W 'Gee"
,on which shall equally protect Inc interests ana ooF o
ho,b rho East and the West. by inc dc'eiopmeht Oh
va .aa,rcos and increased nter-communicaons,
the peopc of the Two sections WIN aPu's oo 'sSii''.
'e p' I 90, svsem that may be fixed upon must bear
arro ,on each We earnestly trust that whatever the
r.; nay 40 On the basis, the minority will like true
,::; r;oscc-and that all idea OF severance of the
.,a Al commonwealth will be likc tale that is told -
h il ;s regal are considerably ecvaedb by the desul-
,oy bn Interesting debate Monday night, immediately
nr tho conclusion of Mr.. Wises great specchn which
,r,isoworby emulation was exhibited by Messrs Lyons,
snmo,s Coode Of Fauqucr and Anderson to clear
the skirts Of each section respectively OF any threat oil d.
vision Of the State The question OF "who threw the first
,ope was discussed with animation but in fine spirit
hib cured WELL we thought for the continued integrity
of virenia Much merrmen produced by The closing
humorous remark of Mr. Summers, in reply 10 Mr.. Lyons,
that il separation should take pace-a calamity dec-
Gated BY himself and the other speakers,he West having
nf
name of Virginia and that the East should look out for
other name and another flag We hope always 10 Sec this
subject treated in similar humorous style Were ser-
ously contemplated should regard the moment as dark
day for Virginia. the Union and the Of free nstu-
lions.
few DAYS since we re-publshed extracts from pa
pes in Southwestern Virginia. indications OF public se'
nent there With the view VIC to-day give place 10
the following article from the LynchbuTg Republican oil Mon
day. lust received "A weeks since the Lynchburs Virgil
Man and the Charlottesville Jefiersonmn expressed he'f
leaning to suitable compromise "
THE pAs g i iy" so%s SspSSNafph
Among the Convention proceedings In another column VIII
beund the basis compromise ol Mr. Bolts submitted by
him on Monday last and supported in long speech OF l"o
days continuance. the substance o The COMPROMISE Isl
ist That each grand division oil the State shall have equal
representation in both branches of the Legislature.
3D. That there shall bea uniform rate OF adraloren taxa
ton throughout the Commonwealth
3d. That every Legislature creating puoc ncot sa n
the same time the session. provide Tor the pay
ment of the same by increasing taxation
Ith That no bill appropriang sum OF money exceeding
dollars shall become aw except BY majority vote q"
all the elected in both branches OF the Legislature
We have carefully weighed the provisions OF h!s b and
do not hesitate give proposition our DECIDED approval
We have long believed that the question sonG be settled on
middle ground well from considerations OF policy as from
those OF necessity the part OF the East The white basis
in its fullest cAen is unquesonaby, the true epuoican
basis and hazard nothing in saying mat bG' oF me ecu
liar circumstances existing when the vote was taken io
tE u.ufI,
tation Of the slavery question in our national and State
Councils the friends of that basis would have obtained
the East where the question canvasscd the white basis
men elected But the question was made IN issue In
but few disttic OF the considerations to which
have lust referred at hence the East secured nominal
majority Tie question now arises would be wise and
puden; the East exercise this nominal majority In re-
ESTABLISHING the mixed basis in its fullest extent pom the
Western people, whom 1t is SO Objectionable we I'M
hesi,ansy think not and will proceed TO state the grounds
Of our belief.
nal one. We were told weeks since by an Eastern
member Of the convention from an adjoining district, VINO
was himself pledged 10 the mixed basis that the question
was be decided according 10 tho views OF the MEM
bers the convention, unamme.Ied by pledges and IN
sructons white basis would carry the day runPhaniy
so radical had been the change wrought in the minds OF
many Eas tern members We heard another Eastern
member say, lha; while he should faithfully redeem ms pledge
m his constituents 10 yo,c for The mixed basis 10 do So
would be The painful Of his life so Thoroughly con-
WINGED had lie been the discussion in the Convention Inc
spirit sentiments and wishes oi The Convention therefore,
while the nominal majority only is adverse TO 's ioFner
ID While the Eas, has the nominal power in the conSer
ton carryA mixed basis yet were she to persist IN eS-
ercisng IT, the West would be thrice armed IN second con-
before the peope-ls by her belief in the Intrinsic JUS
ice Of her caue-and 2dy by her consciousness that She
had been defeated arbitrary rule and aganst the real
sentiments OF the convention She would never therefore,
submit ID the mixed basis, but would insist upon announcer
convention The question would be canvSssad IN ie elec
ton for members of the Legislature and there can no doubt
that the West would the first election, obtain majority
in favor Of submitting the question again to the people we
need scarcely s1y that were the question again submitted 70
the people, an overwhelming majority Of white basis dele
gates would BE- elected o convention we are not wons
when say, that if the question this day presented
acsh TO the people, the white basis advocates "ouu carry
the hour.
3D. The Eas, is contcndng for any Princip for the
advocates of the mixed basis concedc that that inca
involves principle but only an arbitrary rule deem
cd by large party in the East To protect the pc
Culiar property Of their section from excessive iaXaon-
All that the East claims and all that she has rgh. to claim
lis ample guarantees from excessive taxation For her de-
leeaies therefore, 10 insist upon the adoption oil an arbrh
rule for specific purpose, merely becaus" they have the
nominal pow. to do and when equally secure guarantees
devised would BE- impoitic in themselves as ii
would be unjust TO their Western brethren.
For these and various other considerations which ls not
necessary should be here formally urged firmly o
the opinion that duty less than policy requires that The
Eas, should consent 10 the settlement o! lie basis question
on middle ground. This middle ground we think. is most
satisfactorily presented in the proposition OF Mr. Bos-
Neither section should seek absolute power for The sake of
power, because that would involve issue wholly unwor
thy of Vrginans The West contends for the white OASIS
upon the republican ground that numbers and not red Is
the basis of representation. ac East iavor the
mixed basis from any desire TO exercise wanon power
the MINORITY but because she thinks il necessary 10 the
protection of her property from unjust legislation The pro-
position of Mr.. Bots, therefore, give equal representation
each section while it does not fully meet the demand OF
the West certainly the objection and should be en-
ely satisfactory the East In probable contingency
could the West oppscss the East there any DISPOSE
ton danger Of her doing while the latter has equal
power of defence with power OF attack Besides the
proposition Of Mr. Bolts requires that there shall be "un
!ur Of I'D valorem taxation upon every description
and species Of property in the commonwealth real personal
and mixed except s'ch may be specially exempted by
of two thirds Of each branch of the legislanre This
provision Of ITSELF would be ample protection To the East
because places the power of unequal and oppressive taxa
ton beyond the power OF the Legislature, BY sanctoning
uniform ad vaorem principle, which would be obliged 10
operate equally in every SECTION and upon interest in
the State.
But the most agreeable feature in Mr. BIS proposition is
that which akrs it incumbent upon every Legislature
ting public debt also the of paying it, by
Increased taXtion. system Of Ogrulling-of legislative
robberyfor it deserves be called b. ldcr
grown up in the Legislature which nothing but consiilu-
onal prohibition remedy ,-und which, if such RENE
dy be applied, will assredly bankrupt the
than FIVE from this time The list Of internal improve