Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-12
TO THE VOTERS OF RICHMOND, HENRICO
CHARLES CITY AND NEW KENT.

appeared ms morning In the city papers, which in NV
own judgment, and in the judgment of all NV friends
with whom have had opportunity OF consulting de-
wolves upon me the uuwecome obligation of noticing
them each IN manner that is anything but oreea bic
TO my feelings; and II the impression was not general
throughout all classes that they were directed at me-
rather as the candidate of the Wing party for this Con,
efesslonai District, than a member OF the Conven-
tlon would forbear to say single word in reply In
plieI words the effect calculated if not designed to
Dc produced by them, reached only to myself persona.
~, or as nemher OF the Convention would treat
them with the silence and indifference tey deserve and
leave the corrective in the hands OF the people, large
majority OF whom, being and around the spot could
not IAN 10 perceive their aim, and attach proper value
10 lher WORTH but it is not with the Congressional
let; 1t covers much more extended space-t EN-
braces much larger number of people, and of course
.e same facilities are not afforded for ascertanng their
lrue character and end. And as the Wings OF this
Dlsuict have contded their interests for the time being
10 my charge, should be fathless my trust if per-
nited them thus to be assaed without repeling the at
tack.
The publications to which l refer are, first, the card
ol Mr. Robert q. Scott, my colleague in the Conven.
!lon ana the Other what purpors to be the proceed
lhgs OF meeting OF portion of the people of the
county OF Henrico, held at the Court House on Mon.
DAY, court day. April the 7th, 1857
But what portion OF the people, whether ten or FIVE
hundred under what circumstances, whether under pub
nc notice to the whole, or private notice to the selected
lew, not being, suppose material to the purpose, is
wholly overlooked, or at least not stated. This omis-
sion propose to supply but each in its turn. First as
to Mr.. Scots card:
What dstemper disturbed this genilemans magma
lon when he conceived himself in any degree RESPONSE
Die or the course my Judgment might lead me pursue
as your representative in the Convention With what
peculiar characteristic his mind was inflated, when he
LOOK upon himself to inform you of my waywardness in
daring to have mind and Judgment of my own
winch was endeayoring to exercise tor your benefit
and for the benefit of our much re yered Nh
under what haucnation he laboredn supposing him
SELF at liberty to take to task and holding me up TO
your censure and rebuke, because did not think he
thought upon subject OF which he has taken l must
say, in my opin ion,) a superficial limited preiudiced
ana understandable view worthy neither of his ia Tents
nor his position representative of this Metropolitan
dlstrct-what object he hoped to accomplish, what
duty TO fulfill what purpose serve leave each one of
you 10 determine for himself.
One might we'll imagine however from the guardianship
he has assumed that had been dragged into the conyen-
non by holding on to the skirts of his coat and that he
mao thereby assumed the responsibility and became the
endorser Tor my good ENTHUSIASTICALLY when he
boasts OF the Large and decisive majority he obtained
over his respected competitors scarcey one of whom
1t generally thought but would have obtained as large
and decisive majority over him, if he had been run
nng sngy and alone, to say nothing of what some of
his colleagues might have done. But to his card he
says
II greatly fear that the six delegates you have select
ed Will not be united on this question: (he basis ques-
uon.j 1t involves your interests deeply and vastly
hear that proposition to apporton representation by
some arbitrary and underlined rule is be submitted by
one o. my colleagues With its details neither you
Tor no arbitrary rule of representation. In that mode
can yield to no patchwork think both lust TO YOU
ana .oan honest performance Of the high trust be-
sto'oed on me, Chat to superintend nv course and
to give notice when don't agree with him. suppose
earnestly 10 call your attention to the very critical
condition IN which this grave question is now placed
before YOU For my life would not misrepresent YOU
DO not believe shall be doing this 1t is nv pleasure
to resort 70 this mode OF declaring now as / do that
you should take measures to have your voice heard in
me Convention, 50 thaty your delegation may speak but
That is to say, do as he has done-lose no time in
condemnlng proposition, which may the best that can
oe devised or aught you or he canknowo the contrary
tor neither you nor the Convention vet know the plan
except mat ne has heard 1t contained arbitrary rule
OF representahon-no matter what number of repsesep
tahves It gives you matter what security affords no
matter what advantages it may possess it must be put
down; u comes from quarter that not have The
ceolt OF setting this difficulty between the East and
the west. Therefore the cry must be, "crucfy him,
cruelty hlm; down with all the compromises down
with all arbitrary rules Of representation" Why fell
lowcitzens, You did not desire the benefit of the op-
erauon DISK minds from this district, it would have
saved some trouble and expense to have sent Mr.
Scott alone, and have given him six votes-and if the
rest OF the State had only thought of instead hay.
ing lhity'seven districts with one hundred and thirty
hve representatives. they might have had thirty seven
representatives, and each representative with a vote
equal to the number OF representatives allowed BY law
what an unucky chance for the people of this Com
monwealth that Mr.. Scott was not in the leosature
to suggest it. believe upon this question: in some
form or other, there not less than seven deega
tons likely to be divided and upon other questions
perhaps they may all be divided; and OF course if the
example OF Mr.. Scott is deemed worthy of imitation.
the senior member OF each delegation, "in an honest
performance of the high trust besto,ced upon him
will Immediately notify his constituents of the dis.
orderly and refractory II they do not, may be taken
torgraned that in their judgments proper sense of del
cacy, proprley and courtesy, alike forbid any oicou.
intermedding with the responsibility resting between
their colleagues and constituents, and that they will
n n Ia 70 "a nj
blllty Its difficult to conceive the source whence
MIR. Scott assumed that you had bestowed this high
trust ON him to report his coleagues' conduct in the
Conventions and withheld the same trust from his col
league to report upon him. yet l would as soon have
thought OF any other extravaganza or folly
But Mr. Scott can't vote for such patchwork as an
arbitrary rule Oh no; not he. He cant be found in
company with such slop-shop, patch workers. as
James Madison. John Marshall, Watkins Leigh, John
Randolph, Littleton Waller TazeweIl, Robert Stan
ard, John Scott and all other OF Eastern Virginia,
under which we have lived since 1929. Oh no! no
such patch work for him. / might ask, as he did
10 the Convention last evening, "On wlat meat doth
this our Cesar feed, that he is grown 80 great9"
Considering the fact that Mr.. Scott was a member
OF the Staunton Convention ia 1925 and then himself
warm advocate for the While Basis, as has been esta-
bshed upon him during This debate, he might have
some charity for who is willing to draw line OF
compromise between the extreme Mixed Basis and the
White Basis, as measure OF peace justice, equality
and security to all.
thlnk after Inc support Mr.. Scott received from the
Wings OF this District, to whose beray he is alone
indebted for his present position, it is ungracous
1t ungrateiu in him to step out oil way, and far
out OF ms way too, to use that position lever in
manner calculated, fno designed to forestall public
opinion to prejudice the public mind advance against
proposition, which he complains OF not knowing any
thing about and thus to render, far he can the
eced candidate Of the Wing party this District OBJ
noxions to his own friends. By tha bye, there is
NOR that have heard, land | suppose have as much
right say what have heard as he has) 10 the effect
that Mr.. Seddon's health ia so delicate and feeble
(Which deeply lament on his account personality as
that there is strong probability that he may yet be
compelled to decline the honor he has accepted al the
hands OF the Democratic party, and that some other
may be chosen between this and October Whether
there is any foundation for it or not cannot tell AS
MIR. Richie would say" Nous verrons"
Now, gentlemen OF this district, permit me to remind
you that was elected to the Convention without ask
ing desiring to be member, of your own free will
during my absence from home, when there were thr-
teen regular candidates, each actively engaged in can
vassng the district, with full knowledge that enter
tanned the same opinions then, this subject that do