Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

the discharge of our duties here should be acting
laws.
The same gentleman with view of i,slifying the
sh'ion OF power on the part of the east, has said thai
the subject OF slavery is not understood By the wcstcr
'"op!c, and that they therefore, not quatic!
20 ieSislasc IN reference 10 it. He has also expressed
c opinion that il the powers Of the government were
pass to the western people, it would not be secure
against mal-admmstratlon. So far as the security
Saist oppressive taxation for this peculiar property is
oncrrncd, content myself by simply referring 10 the
az ea'eM systcIi OF taxation, which is proposed, and
which meets with the unanimous APPRECIATION Of west
crn rcpreScntat this floor, as aorinr that sccu
rug, III the mos. ample manner But in taking tina
position, the sc leman could not have rccolIcc:rd.
ina, The West III &c repeatedly proposed, and are
WILING 10 lncor crate provision in the constitution.
declaring that tx subject Of slavery, and the rights OF
The slave holder, are not in any manner 10 he affected
by any act OF II legislature, unless thai act shalt re-
cclvc majority OF the votes Of the preseutycs cast
Of the Blue Ridge: What better security cuuII he de-
sired: And when rejected by eastern gentlemen is il
not calculated to excite surprise, and to confirm II.
IN the belief, that this is indeed, struggle for power
on their part.
The extraordinary and au-rcpublcan features con-
tanned in the substitute of the gentleman from Fauicr
deserves separate consideration. 1t is ayowcdIy hor-
rowcd from the constitution Of State which contains
more OF the spices OF monarchy and arisocracy than
any other in this Union. constitution with 50 little of
the popularp:incplc or the e republican doctrine ls
ed into ill., that had the question been raised 10 whc
it presented republican form of government, it i,
at least doubtful how it would have been decided By
the Introduction of this proposition we arr asked to
follow in the footsteps of Solti. Carolina and s,pnoSc
10 adopt her distractions and distractions her nuiv-
ing, secession and di>rmor doctrines. II the pres
cni condition Of that State is at aattrbutabc to Tic
peculiar provisions of her constitution wonder that
icr example has been invoked here Certainly l,.
gentleman can have desire place this old corlinon-
wealth in tho condition that South Carolina occr-
pies. But where did the gentleman get the principle
&c. lort H. the proylso 10 tic fourth section and how
will he reconcile that pruviso with the principle of the
substitute Itself The substitute assigns blank rcprc-
,entatvcs tn population and blank representatives To
taxation. Why these blanks left. when the incn-
ton Is arowcrl 10 ill them with equal numbers unless
with view hereafter of charging the number assigned
to taxation, should become necessary, in order re
tain the power in the east. The proyiso proposes 10
assign 10 The toHns aad cities fixed number Of rrrrc-
scnta,yes which is not 10 he increased al any future
time, whatever may BE- the Increase Of population au!
taxation The princ pic with which the substitute
out, that Of protecting property by basng repre-
scntation upon population and taxation When applied
TO the country f!lt is found b. is advocates but
bat applied 10 the towns and cities, -!
hr,itd upon them. and the: forthwith repudiatcd their
own principle. Il seems that property must be protect
ed in the country by giving representation but that
in The and cities il will protect Itself without
even extending to lis owners I'M representation.
Ihcscty Of Richmond upon the Mixed Basi, is entitled
II Ecarir seven representatives, By the pr1vlSo it Is
be limited four. however great the future increase
Hpopulatiou and taxation may he. All slrplu, Of pop
uaiiol and taxation in the towns and cities over
the number Representatives allowed, is 10 be estimated
i'll assigning representatives to those sections in
which the towns and cities situated. Thus placing
the power properly belonging 10 the people of the towns
and cities in the hands Of those who most commonly
entertain pre- udicc against hcm to nc c%crtcd By
them il NAV be- 10 crafty that prejudice Will be
said By gentlemen that the people Of the
and cities like the western people, tir,tin- for
power, and camorous for the purse strings ana thai
they cannot be trusted with their due share vi political
power: Arc they, too. pllndcrcrs Will The rcprcscn
latiyc, of ai cities supper; this substitute, and
thereby dSlranch,e their constituents: VIII they
far admit their ncapaciy 10 transact their own business
a, 10 consent that the power cgitmatcly belonging tn
them shall be transferred To c.hcrhands; Can they dare
hcv consent that circontitucnts shall be stripped off,
portion of their present and all Of their Prospective pot
cal rights an, handed over tied neck ard heels to the
tender ncrccs and guardian care, of the people of the
surrounding country; If this mixed basis principle is
good in the country Why will they not insist upon its
application 10 The towns ana cities: II is said TO be
bad rule that will not work both ways certainly the
principle cannot BIZ sound, that will not work well
! i'll the town, as in the country. The Mixed Basis and
the substitute alike voatiyc of the great principle
OF equality Of representation. The one docs the
injustice 10 western people, that the other proposes
TO inlct upon the people OF the towns and cities If
them the gentlemen from the towns aud cities cannot
vote for the substitute because of its gross injustice
! their constituency, how they force the Mixed Ba
! sis upon the western people: In all fairness and
! common justice, how can they compel the western
people swallow the cup al which they themselves
revolt:
The inconsistent position now occupied by the adyo-
Gates of the substitute results from attempt their
part to carry out erroneous principle. If yo adopt
the Mixed Basis, the rapid increase Of population and
taxation in the towns and cities, will III lew years.
give them the control OF the Legislature OF the state
and there be adequate security for interests that
may clash with those Of the towns and cities But II
you adept tha Suffrage Basis, it il will extend equal Po-
ltical power TO all parts oil the commoh~calil--'he
people Of the cities and towns and the country, VIII DC
entitled to equal rcprcscnationno sections, nor pecl-
liar interests will gain the ascendcncy ~ power ana an
The rights and interests in all parts OF the State, VIII!
BIZ amply protected and secured
The ccnslIrc passed by the gentleman from a'i'ilcr
Mir CfTnSl upon the the coucse of remarks pursued
by the gentleman from kanawiia, (Alr SMITH ttlnk
was ,nl.rcd. That gentleman III the outset oil his re-
marks dec Jared his intention IN state tcs, and proclaim
rrcat truths and he took occasion repeatedly to discaim
all nrp Osc whatever TO wound the feelings give Of
fence to any gentleman. lie has but done what he I'M
dcrtook perform. But tender my thanks TO the gen
tIcman from Fauqcr for the kind tone ana temper with
which he has discussed the question. He has Invoked
that good ceiling and iorbearancc-at spirit OF com
promise and concession. aud that beray and patriot
isc among the members of this body, which alone can
bring to happy results.
Iid not come here to address the passions, but the
understanding have too much respect for the mem
bcrs Of thi, Convention for ny constituency, and Tor
myself, to let anything escape rnc, which by disoltSn
be construed !Tcat VI ~
,imiatc Ny constituency have not delegated to inc
,nv such powers they have retained them in their
own hands, and when tn" proper time arrives they will
know how to exercise them. But l owe il duy 10
hi. committee declare belief that any constitl.
ton that MAJ be framediti the Mixed Basis ensratted
upon it, vii! never be adopted by the people OF the
vest Is an humble individual cannot vote for ii,
and in the discharge of the duty owe my constituency
shall never raise my voice against H. 1t Will
be rccoIlcctcd b. gentlemen the other side, that tic
greatest obstacle in the way OF! the merits 81 this quca-
lion grows out of the position taken hy hem that the
Mixed Basis an established principle in our govern
mcat. No unprculiccd mind acquainted with the ms
tory Of the convention Of - 50 will hesitate to pro-
nouncc this position The plan oil rep:eseN-
tation rs adopted b. that convention and as II no" ex
ISIS perfectly ar5itrary-voialive Of all principle ana
regardless Of all right. But now adopt constitution
f with the Mixed Basis plan of representation ana ),
would be proclaimed with truth and ioaiy proclaimed
by the eastern people, that the Xca Bass, was al,
established principle of the government ana III all
! efforts that might hereafter be made by inc western
people, to seclg: equality Of Representations taes would
be with the declaration the part OIL inc EASTERN
people, that the principle fixed 1t IS nahteS from
what have already said that ifEthe Mixed Basis Is
ever fastened upon the western people they nave no
remedy .hor of revolution
The gentleman from Fauqacr MAJ 6e right when ne
saws ,l.t division Of this State will ba certain pre-
LII