Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04

SIy friend and colleague my right (Alr. Vino
rIELD) has taken the ground here tat he was IN
favor of mixed basis before tho people, si not hc
mixed basi..
Mr.. WINGFIELD still say. that l thuk this
embodies the principle of mixed basis
Mr.. LYNCH K understood my colleague to say
he did not take ground in favor If the mixed basis
Mr.. WINGFIELD. No; die not say that
! Mr. LYNCH Ny colleague was. sure. not
understood by any ntiTatug that he would vote
for entire abandonment Of tie principle in one house
and retaining it in the other only for given period
o tin e.
Mr.. WINGFIELD. ! think stated as plainly as
could, when was up before that believed my people
were mixed basis people. | told them, when can
ada;e that was in favur Of the mixed basis principle
My colleague is mistaken, when he surposes that qnes-
ton was discussed. There no discussion-no
pianaton far know. before the people. stated
in my card the reason why went Tor the mixed basis
and the reason was that it was just protection that
we were entitled TO, being minority and having diff
ferent interest from the other section. But when
carried cut the principle of prot cton matter in what
way, l answered everything they desired did not
say when was before the people, that was for the
! mixed basis but for mixed basis.
Mr. LYNCH Well sir, do not know that the diff
ference between mixed basis and the mixed basis,
far as my colleague is concerned, Is matter of much
consequence. We all know that this Convention
'rgauized upon mixed basis, giving majority to the
east Of II. 1t is true, there lengthy discussion
apon the subject before the people. All stated their
position and opinions in their addresses 10 the people
They were generally repeated IL their speeches No
difference of opinion believed to exist between con-
! Stituents or candidates.
Mr. WINGFIELD well recnllcct, in the two ad
dresses made to the people OF Bedford and Campbell
| stated these were my views | did not expect to
change these opinions and if siw reason to change
them-if any thing said or doe in this Convention
hat did convince my judgment that ought to change
| hem-I would not come here to stultfy myself II
saw cause to change my opinion But told them
did not expect to change them. But circumstances
have led he to agree to this compromise have not
changed them yet go for the mixed basis now, II 1t
could be carried out safely in my opinion.
/ Mr. LYNCH. Doubtless, sir, my colleague did say
What he has stated. remember hearing him say some
hing of that sort in relation to bis opinions upon some
other subject; but do not remember to have heard
MIN say what he has stated in relation to the OASIS OF
representation. Our constituent" regarded TINS 40
question Of the very first Importance to them Neither
INV colleagues or myself could, az that time, have OBJ
.iued seats here with any doubt about our opinions
upon this subject
n. mixed basis propositions without objection aud
surpose the principle Of the mixed basis therein
forth, was approved by him. have upon every
casiou here voted for it. My opinions sir, upon this
ubject have not been weakened but strengthened and
confirmed since ! came here. My colleague tells Us.
hat he has not abandoned the mixed bass principle he
advocated before the people; and YET lie is advocating
and voting for what he calls compromise, that aban
ions that principle entirely in one house nor. and sur
renders il in the utEer in the year 1869 ask him such
Il compromise as this was ever dreamed OF by himself
or uny other person district during the canvass
II seems I, me- sir that whatever opinions may have
been entertained By eastern gentlemen here about
the necessity of compromise OF this question: the re-
port of the committee of eight tx not plan that ought
/, have been entertained for moment by any gen
tleman representing eastern interests FOR one, SIR
am utterly opposed to It,
Nv colleague (lr WiNGrIELp) has argued this norll-
in. as understood him. that the compromise pro-
passed and advocated by him, gives TO the east rs good,
perhaps better, protection than the mixed basis ise
will examine very briefly if this be So The mixed
basis proposed here gives in the house of delegates to
the east a majority Of fourteen end in the senate = ina
ioritv of fire members making in 10Th houses MAORI.
ty Of nineteen in faror Of the east, to be reapprtloed
anon the same principle in 1882. The compromise pro-
nsed bY the committee Of eight not ouiv surrenders
this majority Of fourteen given TO the east under the
mixed basis but absolutely gives in the same house
majority to the ,re of fourteen, retaining to the cast
majority OF ten to he surrendered N 1865 or very shor
l. thereafter to the west for such majority as the
suffrage basis will give Terminating present m'-
orv of four against the east and in favor of the pst
instead Of the majority of nineteen given to tho cast
under the mixed basis
MY colleague says, that according to tho present
ratio Of increase OF population IN the west over the east
rhe west will obtain the power under the mixed basis
| probabl, in lseo-certaiuly III ls1G-while the com.
promise does not surrender the power i'll the senate,
where alone it has it. until 1868 or Is M colleague
true how can it be said that this compromise affords a.
rood protection to the east the mixed basis Sir.
do not believe that the present ratio of increase will
cont in the west tho cast agree fully with
other gentlemen here who have examined into this ub
ject in the opinion that our lines Of internal I'm
provenen:s progress towards their completion, il nus
increas the trade population aud wealth Of the east
ern portion Of the State And when they shall haze
been completed penetrating almost every portion Of the
State and bringing the eastern counties and cities OF
the commonwealth the immense trade aud travel con.
hdeutly predicted BY ali, eastern Virginia must and
will Increase in population and wealth, much more
RAPIDLY than she has done heretofore Sir, the ma
ority given to the east aow be iresened at all at the
anportonment in 1885,. it will give better protection
then to eastern interests than the compromise Wea-
tern gentlemen do not agree with my colleague i'll his
opinions upon this subject, they would, without any
hesitation have preferred the mixed OASIS TO the com
, promise proposed
It has been said by my colleagues. that they came
here as reform.rs So did l. We came here the advo
Gates of many reforms demanded by our constituents.
Neither of my colleagues aPprehsnd attaches more
iarre majority of this Convention both east aud cs in
favor of the reforms advocated by before people
No matter what basis of representation Is adopted sir
the reforms demanded by the great body of the people
Of this Commonwealth, will be passed by this ConSeu-
ton. And, believe l have always believed
since have been here, that if eastern lnembers had
stood firm for the mixed basis carrying into the cor
,titutiou as l think, they ought to have done, the
constitution containing it, with the reforms that would
have nasscd with it, would have been ratified by q
handsome majority of the people Of this State know
that my colleagues have expressed different opinion
do not agree with them
Ny colleague has referred to the action of this Con-
veu,on Saturday last upon the motion OF the gen
teman from Rappahapnock (r. STRoTHEK) to adjourn.
The motion made upon that OCCASION was most unex.
pected to had come here that morning hoping and
expecting that proposition would be carried BY several
majority. After debate had taken place Reluctantly
voted for it; not because was III favor of compro-
mse-I did not believe it would end i'll any conpro-
mse-hopng however, rather than expecting it would
DC OF service in satisfying some eastern gentle,
men who it was known were disposed to compromise
this question voted for it, Sir. did not believe that
eastern gentlemen enough could be found then who
til, eas, has been conteuding The Of eastern
delegates here within the last few days seems to tify
:ded in favor of the mixed basis desire, how ever,
to act with majority of my eastern friends as far as
nv opinions will permit If compromise is entered
into at ALL it ought to be such one the east will
be secure in accepting rather than the best the west
l,,.n