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


fair share OF Legislative pouer 10 which wc are entitled
1h That committee Of six gentlemen be- appointed by
the chairman OF This meeting, whose dug snail ne To COM
municntc copy OF the above preamble ad resolutions 10
each Of representatives from this district and IL request
them cay whether they in and willing 10 carry
ont the views therein embodied.
On motion made by J. IL. Gnes, II was
Resolved That copy OF these resolutions e presented TO
OF the daily newspapers published in the city u Rich
mond, with the request that they DC publishes therein
In obedience the requirements 81 the ih resolution The
chairman appointed thu following gentlemen as the commit
of six, viz J. B. Young, J. H. Glnef, H. \. Elicit,
r. Renes, James Hill, D. f. Gardiner
On motion, the meeting then ADJOURNED
r h'f Fl. s1l RE'sE'' Secretaries.
RIcn,toxp APRIL 90 1851.
Gentlemen II have the honor acknowledge the receipt
OF yu. communication addressed pi the dele
gates from this dsrc, the State Convention, enclosing
copy certain resolutions adopted AT meeting OF por
ton of the people of Henrico county, and requesting me- "a
behalf of that meeting and in conformity with Of il
ouiiOus) say whether concur in and wIn. 10
ry out the views therein expressed"
In the call thus made me- recognizing az
DO all times and the fullest extent the right OH iii.
part Of constituent 10 MAKE and the duy on Tie part 81
the representative respond such CALL beg leave to
say in the first place that was elected 10 the scat now
hold with opinions ON the subject of basis of representa-
tim very decidedly formed and very distinctly avowed In
my address the voters OF the district those opinions were
expressed in the following terms
list. As 10 the basis III representation
81 am in favor OF what is generally known as the mixed
basis-hat is of representation based on white population
and taxation combined In the discussions winch took place
the Convention bill this principle (Which enters into ana
forms part Of that casurc the subject Of Violent as
sault and bitter GenunciatiUn. sustained it thea the NJ,
OF my ability, both by my voice and BY my vcc and
10 change the op!nonsl then entertained
and expressed On the contrary subsequent reflection has
tended only confirm and 10 strengthen iIIcm The ma
joy Of the white population in the West is now estimated
ia and with this majority Of white population site
pays s20 335 "a OF 66 03 81 OF the public taxes
or less than third On the other hand il is well known
being coincien especially in regard the appropriation of
money Under such circumstances base representation
on the white population alone would be IN elect I" expose
people who pay than two Thirds u! the public taxes
unlimited cxa:tons Of Others Of diverse interest,"
who less than third giving al The same time 10 these
latter, the absolute power OF appropriation.
For one cannot admit that such principle 10 either
wise just in theory, that would rot be ab2 10 the
srosses abuse in practice. have every confidence in
sten BRETHREN their PATRIOTISM c disinteresIednes
their public sprbut such power this and rac
cannot consent 10 delegate to any man or sci OF men, will
rather abide by that principle which teaches That represent
taOn and taxation should hanI in hand-a principle con-
secracd by the blood Of the Revolution ana handed down
by i0etathers Of the fundamental nets OF
free government"
stated further in the same address, that these opinions
shave been hastily formed will they be lightly aban
doned and that IF with the opinions thus expressed be-
pleasure Of the people OF this district add to The many
obligations already received at their hands by comforting
me the distinguished honor OF seat in The Convention,
only promise that effort shall b. wanting my part
acquit myself the discharge Of that mos; important
and responsible trust satisfy generous constituency
their confidence has not altogether
Under these circumstances and with these opinions voc
and reiterated in every part OF the district the pco-
pie did think select Of their delegates To
the Convention and trIst the day will when
shall be found capable of requitng their generous cnai
dence bv abandoning opinions thus deliberately formed and
expressed and proving false tie pledges ,hus spl.lny
made. Ny position the basis question defined S in
tended should be- in terms that admitted oil no rsconstmc
ton An avOwGd friend of the pacplo. that In the
cation Of the Legislative epartm.nhc great aAev"ns,
nXcDlcctin@, and :asapprnp riang bndytha portion vi
Ia
the power saying wha! should be raised nni how
when aist they should De applied propose base repre-
scnalion neither the white pupultion alone nn taxa
ton alone but to bass i equally on white population nnt
taxation combined. This the 'niycd ca3s" whirh
the Convention itself was organized. il is iae principle for
which tie East contendc ~ the convention OF ~ 50 haI Tor
which it has commended since, extreme prpI
s,on but ia lair compromise" between extremes. IL
the language Of the venerable joan Marshall the dole
gates from this district convention "ihr people OF
The East thought they ur:ei fair promise wncn they
proposed the c0mpouE basis Of pOpu'Ior ant tarItoa ar
the basis 81 federal numbers We thought we had u':in
precedent Tor tins: precedent given rs by HE "Se9t and
truest patriots that ever assembled Ii The mixed
basis was "a fair compromise in 1892 Judge Marshall
says was, why is il fair cunprDmiac in lSol! and II
there was republican precedent for then, now comes II
that the same precedent will sustain il now II is true
that the mixed basis gives tie East nnrity in the Legs
laturc but that majority lin house OF 1907 is less b? nine
Than the East has in house of 1856 less b. four man
il would be entitled 10 federal numbers and less By tf0
than would he entitled 'o"n the plan proposed las: SKINNER
hy nl my honorable calra CUES Mr. BItr. ual linen pre-
senled BY hin very distinctly perfectly fair and conf
promise o! this Se&ed question between the East and the
Vest With what propric;y thee. be said that the adj
vocales OF the mixed basis insisting extreme
position and displaying uncomprom;sing spirit? They
insisting merely on that principle which the East offered
fair compromise in 1899, and which has stood
from that day to th'-te principle which the present
Convention salfs organized which this district
It's representation in that boIy-he principle That "=ners
into and forms part oil that very Convention Ball. which the
people OF this city have endorsed the polls BY majority
Of s73 Toes the people OF this district by majority OF
9l votes, aud The people OF the State majority Of
| than 25 900 votes.
For what the Convention submitted people bv
that Convention bill, and which voted in april last
Not The naked question: VIII You have Convention Of
not but, will you have Convention organized propo
SGD BY this Gi that is Contention oryuni.sd on It. miro
basis Of rhe population and trlton equally combned =
And huw was this question responded by II whoa
voice against the Convention because it be Organized
Oh the mixed oasis Upon basis which gave six dele
gates lns'eha OF one that might give three fourl i
so, have yet 10 hear OF such man. Certain il is
that the people OF this district an almost unanimous vol.
declared hemse ives in favor n nst such Convention n,
the bill proposed To orgauiz=: that is -, Convention on the
mixed basis and on "hs and elected their delegate les az
corang!y and ~ W trw % bs lo!t lia Il waa entirely
right ;t cad Cn:,r-rIn ~ tie ..Sr basis Lr ina, i
i entirely wrong 20 S;h;I4 Tie Legislature on In: =ani,
| basis
confess had always supposed that was the proyinct
Of the Convention 10 frame the organic law as il is the
vince OF the Legislature 10 the ordinary lava and
know not on what ground consistent with m son ard com
sense it Is to 5e niaiaTIst that III. same pr;ncip
which Is altogether acrc,5. IN The ra .b.,i
utterly dscars. IL til, osgl5.z ua Of ;h. ;h.- O, RI.
contrary il to tia; il as .igt TO cali HE Coz,
venio" or Tie NAKED BASS b. wrong 10 organic,
the Legislature the same basis
10 hls p'ncP.e Of the mixed oass thus practically 10
piled or worked oui as had been in the organization 81 IN,
present Convention stood psd-ct before my election an
by that pledge shat! abide have done al, n INV mower l.
enEra this principle on the constitution have don.
nothing. directly or indirectly pTe7en, lis adoption
Tor this snail be ny fortune 70 condemned or denounced
by uny-be Il shall az I4ast have the consoIa,.n %
feeling that have pursued that course which was dictated
aEe oy every principle OF representative duty and every
sentiment OF personal honor.
Since the receipt of your communication have had occ.
sion in the debate in Commit the Whole 10 express m,