Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07
TTESDiY. Fejyuarg IS. 1851.


TL'ESDIY, February IS, 1851.
TIE Convention net pursuant to adjournment.
Prayer by the Req Mr. MASIY of the lsaptis; c,urch
TIE journal Of the rrece ling day w;ls real and ap-
proved.
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION, &C.
The Convention resumed the consideration i'll Commit
tee of the Whole, Mr.. MILLER in the Char. OF the re
port of the committee the basis and app"rtiniment
I'll representation
The CHAIR stated tie question to b. on the rt'p;-
sitio of Gir ScorT, of FauqGer.
Mr. SCOTT. of TauGnier When offered 'i' sul.=;i-
nte under consideration, regretted my Enhiiy To-
acatify the gentlemen he other side 10y explaining
i. that tine The which intended I" !,.cc III
support Of it. Their desire that should DO 20 w'a, ''
doubt y.yy natural: and il IL probable since they in
sisted that i! would have been: becoming in me I" iiayo
taken the lead i'll the DISCUSSION BIT ieit rom re
punance 10 the task Of opening the argument pom
question so much vcxcd, the most far-s'ehed could not
anticipate al the arguments Oh the opposite sr 'i
might hc deemed worthy # an answer, ai III the at
c,npt TO 10 80 soud have incurred the danger oir,-
ing up men cf straw, and combating upon the ;io" The
mere creations Q! :, own fancy. There was another
danger to which the position exposed probably
already excmplilcd in this debate from the "!n' nj
due appreciation Of what may lie thought to bclo:'s
10 certain suggestions. We !iaoc TO pas item iio
ced as propositions - ;n Iice ~
regulated mine and suffer the Nor, ;caton afterwards
OF seeing them oravciy put forward H. o:ac,a - cen
tanning the Of What is reasonable and Just III
morals and the qniaesence OF what Is republican in pt
tics. IL 10 avoid these disadvantages, tia; de-
clincd :he otlcr daY 10 lead tie discussion. aud this
trlis; Will -, received apc.oey (r what do'.o
les; appeared ;ay oa;iacr that occasion. Beside.
thought M iricn from kaaawa, tAir. S'NTrES,l g.
chairman Of the committee might properly have taken
the position wE;ch he manifested much desire 10 rs
sign 10 me.
tiar pt III
have deemed il due to the committee 10 claim their at
tcntio AT his early day whilst attempt to recommend
it to favor
The debate has taken wide range, and naar topic
have ben introduced, having no ns. rcrgnrT to the
subject under consideration and calculated IL eit arls-
Rather than aid the mind in .aag to right conclusion
Tn ,l;ye.i tie subject OF Useless opira aad drect thu
debate TO the practical qreitions nj is>ue Will l2 m
Chief aita in What !,a about 20 submit But must be
permitted 70 Al: that indulge hope that IN: lining
which l., said Will change the vote OF any gentleman
from the west, Tor upo. this question: unfortunately.
thcy have all here with minds pre- occupied judi.
.nents orc.iaeii, and Arguments already iaaioac'' But
DO despair OF exposing to their own scnss certain
"to which they nave inen and thereof dsa';i-
sing the minis Of the candid of some OF the oS-
;cc.ici,- j.;it forward in the DISCUSSION.
(ienl!clre;, have ar;c from Inc bcslnaag that the
eastern sections of tie State had by coa;r1dncc,
got possession Of the reins Of government, and We're
seeking their usirped power Tor sectional
eraatzeme; and they point to the organization oi TINS
Convention y. pregnant with that truth they lay i.i
these .ecloils contain only minority Of the white HI
halitt- AID ;hcy denounce Ills rule az odous, on.re.-
-;": and ;yranas:l. With the bill OF rights M 'he.i
hands DIZZY appeal to The article Which declares se rs
,gn;crs and camorous!v demand the II stan; surrender
Of the obnoxious authority. The bill Of rights part
OF the present constitution and never before supo
sed 10 bc in conflict with its provisions The coilsSlt';-
ton fairly submitted to the people OF the state
and il solemn form received their ratification. n RAJ!
| +INNr.T .,nI ri
to the deliberate act OF that very majority for whose
erein will such absolute respect Is prcessel uon this
floor Gentlemen ought tn spar. their oc;i'c'ti"i i
H.. control he in the hands OF the minority il was tie
will of tie majority that it should bc 90 10 one CD
iccte to the bill Of rghts-no contested any O.! is
.reat truths; myself, subscribe implicitly 10 ever:
principle il procain:s. Is memorial OF the virtues
and courage al fathers. monument oil thair WIS
dom and lper,i.;lc testimony o. their appreciation
o. The true principles Of 70 ional lSrt; Would pre-
it most sacredv Perfect u !: s';;l aal''"A ."
subtraction will but c!urm IL proportions Compressed
into sn. COMPASS. be!lo! III single view All the
fundamental principles Of a free representative republic
distinguished broadly from tie despo'is'ns 81 n'aaf-
chies oarclie> and missionaries, and the dangerous
turbulence Of democracy.
We will DEPART doubt not, from many Of its wise
lessons and in the work about To accomplish In
fuse more and OF the spirit of democracy. Those
WHO come ai or - will hold in the course uns.
it NAV be- every principle Of the great instrument will
the constitution Itt ..l!! Wtuiti
rrescrye It. n. as n memorial only o; the past. biz
beacon light that in the iak cr,! Of the cmpestnous
noi; mas guide the distressed int po:t ;;r
HE the GOOD ship once more 10 re saic; ut her
| ings
The third article defines the purposes for 'v'ich Coy
crnn.ct i instituted, and declares tina; WHEN Any gov
crnmst shall be fniu inadequate contrary to tic-
purposes majority OF the community hath ~ nduti-
table unenablc ard incfeasihe rign; To reform. alter
or abolish it, III such shall ie judged most
conducive to the public veal" OF what majority ih.-
crcn, r;.t is pretcated gentlemen d. n,i .cu.n a.r,ed
among themselves. There Is numerical haio! y re-"
sultiu. frcm :. computation ii All the individuals IN"
conro,c the community there i also physical nSior'
isy conIscof whc poses, The reate-i F"rec 'i'
of Le.e existed anterior t. at le','l ri .' eTii
| mont There i u governmental i.."rltT Consisting 81
n ,sc 10 whose AMI, ,:ut. he 49,! caitc adii:''-
i.trainn is entrusted J,!cr system ';' last lhajoT-
ity consist of all ;!,: class q! lrsns w" e''se the
ri,l cfsrllrage and j, toxins cass that III -" oil fights
refers the power to reform t'- existing government. Inc
legislature cir agent AM tie members mo composer
their trustees an! servants. IL was III obedience % the
SUPPRESSED wishes OF this minority that tn" LII ie2'-''
,ura passed Ike ~. FIR the assembling OF ti!s CohFei:-
ton b. ore Of it, pro'i the question oil oo'i
y,stion an, the plan Of it, organization Wa S"!te1
without distinction, 10 all tia votes nj the !oS anu
h.; maiority unc .lplcd in popular action 1t vas 'p
ryovc1 and ado,l - ~ answer ,.en. 10 The '.eunci.
lions against the alleged Inequality OF representation -
.!,is BODY sly it Ike wal Of the MINORITY. Ana
again remind those who profess 50 TnEc 'eFoi'n y,
their rights and rely so implicitly upon t;r soi! AID
Justice how grossly they depart 'r", ti's P:.l'.s'
they profess Ii vas certainly ircir ;'at ae eoa'n
lions ou!! be- o-fizcdu,o; he basi oi u Fiil'
IF change is =, 30 made and further ,''''. s-l' made
lIev ou,ht T. proceed from tha deliberate ana neon
strained win of those who b. the COMPACT uiesr which
We live. exercise supreme authority. Had The Question
been submitted 10 the voters u grand dlH,:!os IN.
.aeh division been allowed voice in ropo''le |" lis
authority in tic state valid objection co!id hays
s..an maintained aga,st ii. BIT rorc liberal io;y
WA pursued ard IN equal suffrage EXTENDED through
ont Yes this much abused Eastern minority lVi'-
,e government in their fands-dispcn'ins ut VIII al 81
.or;ty Of the West to assemble this body submitting
.hcrcby TO the certain less of the patronage heretofore
eaoyc; sad the o-i an.t to ",l viii l 81 ss
on,teIv At the subject the will cease their acc:sa-
,ons and labsc their al!l Of the impression that
$50, , has been done in The manner Of forming tbs
la, There is no inequality between IS, eash one
rc ,-n the SAME platform OF rights Al liberty to
H. own Judgment to waateTer result |; ma lead
M ar Il; 70 consult for ie general good I'D according
W 49, .s. ;n,enf fern constitution w''! viii best
e.,rs The con,oa boaeit, protection, and security Of
the people .,..,,a,x minority If n. ,ea,,.