Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-02

next morning, he informed the Wes-
tern member and others that an Esssern
member would offer motion for com
mittee. And that, he believed, was the
first intimaiion the Western members had
ofthe proposition. 1t originated with Eas-
tern gentlemen who were in favour OF
Compromise"
These statements obviously account for
the singular and successful concert with
which the friends of the white basis acted
in the appointment of the committee. 1t
should not be forgotten either, that Mr..
Chiffon had distinctly avowcd before the
Convention his willingness to compromise
upon the basis Of surrcndering the mixed
basis at the end Of twelve or fifteen years,
thus bringing himself perfectly within the
Western uitimatum.
The Compromise committee, thus, in
the aggregate and Individually ,forcedupon
the large majority of Eastern members, by
a parliamentary manpuvre, to which a
few Eastern delegates lent their aid, took
two nights and day to determine upon
report.
Tuesday, May 13M.-The Convention
met and adjourned.
Wednesday, May 14M.-Mr. Martin Of
Henry, the chairman Of the committee Of
Compromise. presented its report, provi-
ding that the House Of Delegates should
be apportioned as to give the West IA ma
jority, and the Senate so as to give the
East 10 majority, and that, in 1865, the
Legislature should reapportion both Hous
es, and, if it could not agree upon an ap-
portionment, should submit the question of
the basis Of representation to the qualified
voters.
The report was ordered to be printed
and the Convention adjourned.
Thursday, Nay 18Th. In committee Of
the whole, the question was stated to be on
striking out proposition A (which was yet
standing) and insterting the report Of the
compromise Committee.
Mr.. Martin of II stated the fact that the
Eastern members of the committee had
adopted a proposition suggested by Mr..
Scott of Fauquier as the basis Of their ne
gotiations; which proposition was to base
the Senate on taxation with an Eastern ma
jority of ID, and the House on the suffrage
basis with Western majority Of IA; a re-
apportionment on the same principles in
1861, and, ten years thereafter, if the two
Houses could not agree upon an apportion-
ment, the question to be submitted to the
people.
Mr.. NJ. r. II. Garnett moved to strike
out the compromise report and insert a
proposition providing for Senate of so on
taxation, and House of 1876 on suffrage,
with decennial reapportionments on the
same principles. Afterwards Mr.. G. with
drew so much ofhis motion as proposed to
insert new matter, and the questionremain-
ed on striking out the Compromise.
After debate, in which Mr.. Finney and
Mr.. Claiborne made the explanations above
referred to, the vote was taken and the COM
mittee of the whole agreed to strike out,
ayes 55, noes "a. All the white basis mem
bers and Messrs. Bo,oden, Chiffon, Martin
Of H., and JVmgfeld, voted in the mega
tive. Messrs. Arthur, Bolts, Claiborne,
Finney, Randolph and Saunders voted with
the body Of eastern members in the affirma-
tive. So the Compromise was, on the first
trial, voted down by majority of one.
Mr. Bolts now offered his compromise
proposition, providing for equal reprcsen-
tatlon in the two Houses,) and declared
that he would break the "wisp of straw"
that bound his hands-refcrring to the vote
Of the citizens of Richmond, instructing
their delegates to sustain the mixed basis.
But Mr.. Edmunds moving to strike out the
proposition, Mr.. Bolts withdrew it for the
present.
MIR. Wise moved to strike out PROPOSE
ton A, except the first section which pro-
vided generally that the Legislature should
consist Of two Houses. The vote was ta-
ken forthwith, and as it first stood, it was,
ayes Sc, noes 81. The white basis men,
bers, and Messrs. Bolts, Bowdeu, Chiltou
and Saunders, voted in the affirmative
The change Of only one vote was needed
to reverse the result, and before the vote
wasannounced by the Secretary, Mr.. Mar
TN of Henry, who had voted no, changed
his vote to aye, so that the vote of the com
mittee stood ayes 81, noes Sc.
So proposition A, after being once sus-
tanned by majority of fur, was now
stricken out by majority of one; and
Messrs. Bolts, Bowden, Chiffon, Saunders
and Martin of Henry are responsible for
the result.
Mr.. Bolts renewed his Compromise, and
Mr.. Edmunds moved to strike it out The
motion prevailed, ayes 60, noes SO; all the
white basis members except Messrs.
White and Carter of Loudoun, with
Messrs Bolts, Chiffon and Claiborne, vo-
ted in the negative. The other Eastern
members present, including Messrs White
and Carter Of L., voted aye.
Mr.. Wise moved to insert after the first
section of A, proposition providing for
an Eastern majority of IL IN the House
and 2 IN the Senate, and reapportionment
OF both Houses in 1861, and decennally
thereafter, on the suffrage basis. He Of
Tered, however, If Eastern members pre-
ierred it, to provide that the question of
basis should be submitted to the people in
1861.
In the course of some discussion that
followed, MIR. Wingfeld, a member of the
Compromise committee, declared that he
was unwilling that the report of the COM
mittee should be carried by bare major
ity, and If ithad been carried by only one
majority, he himself would have asked
leave to change his vote so as to reject it.
Nlr. Martin, the chairman of the COM
mite, endorsed these declarations.
Mr.. Chiffon, the third Eastern member
ofthe committee, who concurred in the re-
port, said he was unwilling to adopt any
plan which was unacceptable to large
majority of the East.
MIR. Scott of Fauquier gave notice of his
intention IN offar Co,,n,o,.: - 4