Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-08

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Journed.
State Convention.
SATURDAY, May Sd.
CLOSING DEBATE.
MIR. Tredway moved to take up the
resolution offered by him yesterday, t.
close debate in committee of the whole, a
| l o'clock.
Mr.. Conway, moved that the bell b,
rung.
Upon this question the ayes and noe.
were ordered and the motion was rejected
ayes AZ, noes 81.
| The motion to take up the resolution
of MIR. Tredway was then rejected, aye,
SO noes SO. The white basis members
and amongst the doubtful Messrs Bow,
den and Saunders, voted in the negative
Messrs. Chiffon, Randolph and Taylor ii
the affirmative-Mr. Bolts not present.
BASIS DEBATE.
On motion of Mr.. Ferguson, the Con
vcntion resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole.
Mr.. Gally took the floor and spoke at con.
siderable length in defence of the suffrage
basis, as the only true republican system,
and against the tyranny of the govern
mental majority"
Mr. kilgore next read a speech which he
had written in reply to the remarks made
some time since by Mr.. Rives.
Mr.. Ferguson wished to occupy somc
twenty minutes in regard to some matters
personal to himself He alluded to the
effort making in and out of this body to
produce the impression that twas the pol
icy and design of the West, if it should OBJ
tain the control of the Legislature, to di-
vert the Western railroads to Baltimore
He cited various votes in the Legislature
to prove that the West had voted against
railroads down the Valley and for the Cen
trail railroad to the Ohio. He called the
arguments addressed to Richmond mar
row-minded and arrow-hcartcd, and de-
clared that if Richmond voted to degrade
him with the mixed basis, he would vote
to degrade her with a restriction upon her
representation and repeated his determine
ton, if the mixed basis should be adopted,
to move to rcinstate the proposition to re-
strict the cities. He protested, however,
to love Richmond, and had lately seen
cause to love her better than her own
delegates loved her referring to the mani
festations at the public meeting. He was
not afraid to trust her on that question.
Mr.. Scott replied with much energy to
Mr.. F's remarks. He said the appeal
made to the people of Richmond was an
insult to their intelligence. They We're
told that if their honest judgment should
be for the mixed basis, and they should
have the boldness to say SO, the gentleman
from Logan and his Western associates
here would punish them by limiting their
representation. They were to be intimi-
dated by this threat to do what they might
think right Mr.. S. replied to Mr. Wise's
argument that there should be an alliane
between Tide Water and Trans Allegha-
ny==a treaty, offensive and defensive
Mr. Wise disclaimed having ever pro-
posed a treaty. He was for the suffrage
basis because it would unite all the sec
tons together, and had condemned the
Richmond and Piedmont policy of not
permitting the improvements to so through
the entire State Hesaid he meant to pro-
pose as an addition to any basis that might
be adopted provision which would en-.
sure the proper direction of Of the improve
ment policy.
Mr.. Scott of F. proceeded to show the
unsoundness of Mr.. Wise's view of the
proper mode of protecting the interest Of
Tide-water, That was to take 10 dele
gates from it and 4 from Piedmont, and
transfer them to the West. How was this
to turn the improvements to the benefit Of
Tide Water! Would 1t not be better for
Underwater to retain her strength as the
means Of ensuring justice to herself, rather
than give it away in order to be suppl
ant for justicel Why put her in a STATE
of wardship or pupilage2 Itwas custom
airy to place infants under the guardian.
ship Of others to keep. them from hurting
themselves. Was this the case of Tide.
waterl Or had she grown so old as to be
non compos, and for that reason needed di
rections and control ! 1t was certain tha
ifthe power were transferred to the West
the improvements might be diverted from
Tide-water. Could it be her peculiar in
terest, as Mr.. Wise commended, to surren
der her streangth in order to let the Yves
control the improveinentsl Better for hel
to keep her fortress closed, her force undel
arms, whilst she was arranging the term:
of her treaty with Trans-Alleghany. Mr.
S. also referred in some detail to the history
of bill before the Legislature fer Rail
road down the Valley. and then explained
the mode in which ii was found necessar,
to defeat it.
Mr.. Stanard got the floor, but yielded tt
Mr.. Ferguson, who disclaimed having
accused Mr.. Stanard of attemp,ing to hum
bug the people of Richmond. He denied
saying that if Richmond went for the suf
frage basis the West would bring improve
mcnts here. Though he had no doubt thi.
would be done he did not hold itout as ar
inducement. He disclaimed making any
threat against Richmond of reducing hel
delegation. He honestly believed thai
with the mixed basis, cities ought to be
restricted but with the white basis, the
West could not claim it. This distinction
he founded on the fact that wealth in
crcases more rapidly in cities than in tn,
country.