Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-03
STATE CoNvENTIoN.
sropprNa nrpATr

hai discussion should be heard the proposition of Mr.
Beale. tie moved 10 lay the resolution on the table.
Inc motion to lay on the table failed by lie vote,
ayes Sd, noes 81.
Mr. FISHER called the attention of the Convention to
the act they were about to perpetrate. The first at
tempt OF the East to smother us OF the West, was
rule adopted in Convention to restrict debate in Com
mttee of the Whole. The next was to fix upon MEM
bers an hour rule. And now he declared that nothing
whatever-no basis that might be fixed in the Constitu
ton--would produce SO much indignation and excite
ment IN the West, the adoption Of this resolution.
he referred TO the contrary of the majority in the
y. S. Senate, in Gen. Jackson's day, when the utmost
freedom of debate was allowed What, he asked, was
the expenditure OF million OF dollars compared with
the duties they had to perform?
Mr. LEAKE Quietly, in his seat) nothing to those who
haven't got to pay it.
Mr.. HoGE moved to amend the resolution by substi-
tuting Tuesday next for to-day, but at the request OF
friends around him, he said he would withdraw the mo-
ton
Mr.. FIsuER. Yes, you'd better. (Laughter0
Mr. CAMDEN moved to lay the resolution the table,
and this motion the ayes and were ordered and
the motion prevailed, ayes 81, noes So
The Conve ntion then resolved itself into COMMITTEES
of the Whole.
Mr.. SUMMERS took the floor in eply to the remarks
made by M scorT of F; yesterday He expressed his
surprise at the irritation OF manner which he thought the
gentleman had displayed 1t might have been the natu
raj result OF the disappointment of defeat. or possibly
the buge note to recall to the attack or defence.
witness (Mr. RANDoLPH) had stood up from amongst
themselves, and testified against them He was one of
their own number many Eastern MEMBERS in their seats
said no. we disowp him Mr.. S.went on to retsrt upon
Mr. ScoTr by quoting various expressions used by him
early in the session, which he charged were the first
aunts thrown out in the debates. He repealed the inn
putaton that the Western members had endeavored to
array classes against each other, by arguing that the
principle OF the mixed basis did that very thing Il dis
ngushed the property holder from the poor man; and
SO it esteemed by his people. As STAKEHOLDER and
property holder he asked Eastern gentlemen to reflect
in what position he and others in his situation would
ha nj cinie adi III
people, were fixed upon them. Would it not tend to
break down that protection to property which gentle
men thought SO necessary He commended that The at.
econs OF the people were the best protection; and the
suffrage basis alone would ensure this In regard to
Mr.. ScoTTs argument from the Federal constitution,
he insisted that the case OF the States forming govern
ment was very different from that of the people
of one State. He regarded the federal government as
blended system OF independent State sovereigntes and
national union. 1t was sovereign as to all exeror con.
cerns but the States sovereign as to domestic a
fairs. The condition OF the slaves matter entire
ly domestic The Northern States had no authority to
inquire into the social position ofSoutern slaves The
slaves were inhabitants and such the representatives
OF separate states were bound to regard them. Had
he been member OF that Convention, with his present
views, he should have insisted upon the representation
Of all the slaves. The Southern delegates, however
agreed to compromise, by estimating threeiths OF
them. But the people of Virginia had consolidated
government in which slaves regarded as property
alone, and they ought not to be admitted into
taton Mr. s said he was sick Of the cant about what
Virginia should adopt the suffrage basis Had that
basis in Kentucky, Alabama and other Southern States
been held to weaken their loyalty the Southern inter-
ests In reply 10 the remarks made by Mr. RlvEs on
former occasion. concerning the action Of the Legisla-
ture consequest upon the Southampton affair." Mr. S
reviewed the proceedings at length to show that the
West then declined to intepose in the matter and gave
the East carte blanche to do whatever it pleased that
the proposition for emancipation came from the East
and was chiefly advocated by Eastern men; and that
was sustained by the Enquirer, the great press Of the
State lie read from the speeches OF Gen. Brodnax,
John Thompson Brown and others, and from various
memorials from the counties, prove that was an
Eastern movement. memorial from Loudoun and
one from Fauquier contained language and signatures
that excited some surprise. The Fauquier petition was
for the General Governments being invested with pow
er to buy slaves and send them to Africa
[Mr. WISE reminded Mr.. S. that petition had been
largely signed by members of this very body making
precisely the same proposition
MIR. 5. stated that the amendment moved by Col
Randolph OF Abemare, in the House of Delegates Tor
submitting to the people scheme of post natl emanci-
patton was in accordance with resolutions adopted by
large meeting OF his constituents But he said he only
referred to these things to repel the putaon that on
this subject OF slavery the West was less worthy ofbe
ing trusted than the East. These by gone trans
actions. Opinions had been greatly changed by subse.
quent occurrences. The whole West was here now
offering to insert positive mandatory prohibition
against any interference whatever with slave property.
His own opinion now was decided that the State Go.
vernnent had no power to emancipae slave without
the consent OF the owner He referred particularly TO
his friend VIM B. Preston who, he said was as true
a Vrginian as any man within her borders He took
up the beautiful peroraton of the speech of Mr. Goode
and with equal eloquence, adapted the scenes it pic
ured on the bold cliffs Of New River. and the forest
covered hills OF the Whine Sulphur to the purpose of
his own argument There was he said, but one blot
upon the picture that the stamp ofinterority was inn
pressed on the men OF the mountains Mr. S. adyerted
to the proposition OF Mr. Beale, as effort to call
back the five members who had voted with the West,
with the free negr tax. Surprising that proposition
to prescribe the tue mixed basis, it would take one
from the majority OF fourteen in house of $780, or fl2
in house of 1875, the number of the Convention Eleven
then, was the proper majority which the East should
have had by the mixed basis, in this body But four
Eastern members were for the suffrage basis which
would reduce the majority to three, and change of
two would have reversed the decision, If gentlemen
now felt themselves at liberty to disregard their way
ols' ana the Convention had been Justly organ lied
even with the mixed basis the suffrage basis would have
George to be converted from the opinions OF his way
bill; he could not know whether his people had not
changed too; and Mr. S. prescribed for the case, that
Mr.. H. should agree to submit the question ofbasis To
the people: Mr.. S. paid high compliment to the
aoes OF Mr. SCOTT OF Fauquier and expressed his re-
greet that he had not exerted them bring Eastern men
10 the position OF raterna equality desired by the West
In conclusion, Mr. s. referred to the noble example of
Washington, who surrendered power when ii was with
IN his grasp, and he invoked Eastern Virginia TO estab
s new W e., Epoch the history 9f governments
SUMMERS speech, which occupied about two hours and
hail. there was occasional applause in the galleries
and very decided manifestation at its close.
Mr.. R1vEs OF Prince George, in rejoinder to what
Mr.. SUMMERS had said of the emancipation proceed
ngs in the Legislature quoted largely from the record
TO show that Western men did take active part in
the scheme and cited the remarks Of Mr.. s. himself
OF whom he said that Bezebub Mas not allowed to cast
out devils Mr. R. spoke with his Characteristic rapid
ity humour and point. Hs closed with an anecdote,
illustrative OF his determination to stand by his way
bill to the last Wecould not catch The details of The
story, but its point was in the saying of fellow who
was rather worsted in fight. but would not cry enough
fighting for himself he would have said the word bnt
he was fighting tor Sal, This sweetheart) and he would
die before ne would say it, Mr.. R. appealed to East.
ern men to remember that they were fighting for Sal
Mr.. GALLY next obtained the floor. and The commit
tee rose and the Convention adjourned.
A letter, received by large manufacturing establish
ment at Newark, NJ j. from one OF its agent, At Mem