Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-06

nawha, much as I respect it, and much as | nj
disposed on NIL other occasions tn pay Difference {
II. was not sent here 10 govern ms action o.
the wishes OF his constituents but | was sent her
TO govern my action by the will OF my own con
stItucns. If we clothed with the power OF auol
tlnS this constitution. there might be much force
tac considerations HAT have been urged upon lot
iner occasion ana urged now 10y the gentlemen ron
Accomac an! kunawll. but we have such enlarged
power, we have only the limited trust OF proposing u
The people such amendments to the constitution as We
think eNpedent and proper and it is for them 10 rcce
them il they tit to receive them: and TO reject mem
IL they think fit 10 rc cct them. We propose 10 80 VIZ
these propositions not to the qualified voters OF one seco
alone, but to the qualified voters of the entire State' M
appeal to that very majority that gentlemen on ,c JUN
side hold in such reverence, and before which 'hcI "
disposed TO bow with such submission. .
AS the question stands if the alternative propose
ons, presented to the people, the majority my W
one in preference to the other, yeti they may DC wei
content to receive the other How do we staha heie
The advocates Of proposition which, so lar as we
know, has been without solitary advocate west o.
the Allegheny mountains, and probably without one au
west Of the Blue Ridge proposition winch no
only commands choice bat she best convictions OF o
deliberate Judgment, proposition against which puoie
sentiment in western Virginia has been greatly prcJe'i
ed, and we think. uniustifably preudlced BY ec Gc
nunciations in which gentlemen have INDUCED, nc
nunciations well calculated to excite the feeling:
and prcjudices which gentlemen tell US exist mere
The people Of that portion OF the state have bee! maui
10 believe, only by the discussions here but os
:ussons upon the stump, that there is involved IN n'
| proposition present, feature degrading TO them
and under the excitement well calculated to be en-
rendered by that consideration, they have suffered le
hearts and their minds TO be stcclcd against IT, Vow
we do not agree that the proposition advocate IS Just
~ obnoxious TO that objccton-wc do not agree TIA
here any thing in il dcrogatory TO any man hohor
that there anything Of degradation pertaining TO H. ou
n the contrary that it is cXpcdicn equal Just ana ar
We believe that the sentiment among the people Oh 'lt
Valley, while upon the mere question oil pfeic!.",,
mi ht go with Allegheny. yet Is not so uec'aem
hostile 10 our scheme as that of the people Of trans Allie
shany. We believe there is a division oil stH.len -
here, and that great mass of the voting PoEulaloI W
he Valley of Virginia could be satisfied WIN inc MIN
I'd basis The question then stands with trans Aiies!a
arrayed side, and eastern 'lrgia oi TIC 0'
or side.
W,hl.v. if the mixed basis is fairly presented to
bc qualified voters Of the those "n'
re entitled to exercise the elective franchise, III '
stiiution otherwise acceptable to them that thes WI" u
willing 10 iorcgo their preferences that may no" eA
difference the suffrage basis when they come 10 "
,sad in reference to the odium which discussion hei'
nd elsewhere has attached to it. We believe when I'M
is fairly presented the qualified voters, or those WIG
nay b.. ouaiiie,l that it will receive the concurrence i"
h.. majority aud the concurrence OF their Tree WILL "lo'
he deliberate Judgment of that majority IL If .ae
pom principles which we think right when VIZ 'n UNI
rrorer au;l which We think ought TO meet win lha
/ ,n;roha,icn. Now is there anything IN n,trols IL
the nosilon We ;ssume-iIr insisting upon Carrying
oJt the will Of our constituents, even, II IN pnrsu
aace Of that will shall propose III that cohsil
tuou Il feature that the majority OF the people "o,'l,
refer to have different do not for myself see INA
here j. any cil'rinty III the p"PoHitioh' '" ga. So"
! terror in the position itself
Now in reference to what has been said by the gen
rman from Accomac and by others, that the PACK ma
.cn strrked upon them, it is matter over when W,
cau have no Jurisdiction The Legislature which called
tn Convention submitted that plan to the people en'
mi, Convention was not forced upon the people IL M
,pen convened bv their WILL proclaimed by the over
wnelmnr majority al the polls and It Is under the a
tb rity Of that will that each of occupies seat here
CT thed with the simple Of bringing the best effort
| of our minds to these important subjects to be pr"
,unded for the adoption or rejection OF the people
Now, the gentleman from kanawha questions me t,
know whether have any olive branch at present, and
whether We have presented proposition a as an Olive
branch. 1t is in vain for the gentleman from hanawh;
20 come to me for the olive branch He is for con"iia
ton he is for harmony, he deprecates that distraction
should upon the adoption of the measure among
hers have been advocating; he who claims t" repre-
sen: the great majority of strength and thus 10 stand
upon the vantage ground By that, mean to say to
;emcn and wish 10 be understood saying that wher
ne inyokcs a. he has 30 often and eoeuentlv invoked
this benign spirit Of harmony and peace, why it thai
he has not iven why is it that he does not give
ONE earnest of the spirit which he processes.
Mr. SUMMERS. The gentleman from Fauqnier IL
his first remarks spoke of Cancellation, himself de
sired to know whether that Cancellation referred toprop
osition "A" rs the olive branch lie holding
the representatives of the people of Virginia. Now
he aut.ts m. witt, having offered nothing reply t,
him that my proposition is before the committee
proposition which contains within itself Cancellation ant
compromise; proposition which proposes to lay belor,
The people Of the commonwealth those alternate prnpu
,tons and let the people decide Tor themselves. What
better concation-what more reriart olive Lrancl
! can he desire
Mr.. SCOTT, Of Fauquicr 1t is the sword and no,
the olive branch which the gentleman presents to us
Yes sir the sword without the scabbard and if it ia tc
come Ia this swords with the gentleman, and lei
The God Of battles decide the issue Cries of agreed
agreed, ""et it Gomez! There is no olive branch IL
tie proposition presented by the gentleman from IA
nawha and when he invokcs peace appeals to harmony
and brothcry love, he approaches with drawn swor,
n naked dagger 1t is for that chose call the at
,cnton of the gentleman from kanlwla to what con
>idered the extraordinary position he has chosen to as
sumo. With the words peace peace. eernay upon
his lips lie was striking with the weapon Of destruction
1t that which deem most worthy of our regard.
am content far n am concerned and have ho
doubt that every gentleman who supports the mixed ba
sis upon this oGr is content to stand upon that posi-
tion upon that platform, and to look for their lsca-
lion in the deliberate and candid judgment of the public
MrJANNEI. There have been many occasions tu-
ring the sessions Of this Committee when felt might
possibly rive uttcrance to few sentiments not wholly
without nut SUCH ms Dccn alNl0uS to
and nv fixed determination not /" protraCt this discus
sion unnecessarily, that have orcbone speak upon
those occasions and assure gentlemen that shall oc.
cupy their attention but for few moments because
do not mean now to depart from the spirit Of the rule
upun which have heretofore acted The first thing
have to say il, that there TO be no sword, I'M
shcathed here For the settlement of this controversy
but the swords of and fair argument: and nm
perfectly sure that in that and that Only. the gen.
tIeman from Fauquicr has used that expression
A MEMBER. Let him say then.
Mir JANNEY. 1t is my purpose to make nm appeal
to the gentleman kanawha to withdraw his propo
.itio,. Cries Of hold to it. Ny purpose is to
make this appeal to him to withdraw his proposition
the cries of hold to the contrary Notwithstanding
want to address myself to his reason and his calm
Judgment upon this subject. He announced his inten
ton when he addressed the Convention in the Church
below the h at time other to submit for our
consideration the proposition now upon the table An
,icipatins that such proposition coming up, took
occasion the very day before his speech made to de
clare my purpose to vote against it whenever submitted
and from wh Soever quarter it might come But surely
never dreamed that the cool sagacous and temperate
gentleman from kanawl would at this stage of our pro-
cccdings throw proposition like that upon the table
Why should he do it What does his proposition pro
pose: To submit the consideration of the people OF
Virginia the question, whether they will take the mixed
b,ss or the suffrage basis Has the time come FIR that