Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-02
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
FIdm fke NicAmoaa TNNrs.
The Basis Question.

= hph it@ NistpiNbs
Decming il important 10 lay before the
public an authentic consecutive account of
all the proceedings of the Convention on
the subject Of representation, from the close
flhe regular debate on the 30th of April,
to the adoption of the proposition known
as the Compromise, we have prepared, by
the aid OF our own reports, and the official
Journal Of the Secretary, the following con
else history ofthe various propositions sub
mitted and votes taken within the period
mentioned
On Wednesday, APra30M, the Conyen-
ton FIRST came to vote in committee Of the
whole, on the basis ofrcprescntalion. The
question pending was on the motion of Mr..
Scott of Fauquier to strike out Proposition
b in the report Of the committee on the ba-
sis Of representation, and to insert a subsii-
tute, Of which the following was the impor-
tant provision:
"Reprcsontation i'll both legislative bod
les shall be apportioned amongst the coun-
ties, cities and towns accordingto the mum
Der Of white inhabitants contained, and the
amount Of all taxes paid in each; deduct
ing from such taxes all taxes paid on L.
censes and law process. In making such
appor,ionmcnt, there shall be allowed ono
delegate for every-part of the said in
habitants, and ore delegate for every
part ofsaid taxes; and, in like mannerihere
shall be allowed one Senator for every
part oithe same"
The substitute, as originally offered, con
tanned proviso limiting the representation
of cities to-delcgatcs and-Scuators
but Mr.. Scott withdrew it.
The qucstionwa divided on the demand
Of Mr.. Chapman Of Monroe, and the vote
was first taken on striking out proposition
b, the suffrage basis report. n
The Committee agreed to strike out,
ayes G5, noes 56--majority for striking out
0. All the Western members who voted,
and the four Eastern white basis members,
Messrs. Carter and White of L., Stuart of
Patrick, and Wise of Accomack, voted in
the negative Amongst those who voted
in the affirmative, We're Messrs. Arthur,
Bolts, Bowden, Chiffon, Claiborne. Mar
tin Of Henry, Randolph, Saunders and
\N;nreoIl T'ha e,x,.a, ,,ar, bar, ,,,L,, ia
NOT y ~ 90 e h,J III na;reJ nT ~ = -
w ria ,,i'as,;on - o rran,.raa r,. il ;,so., ILL.,
srbs,;,rie &c NJ Scott;n ,Lnhl,nL cre1a,nJ I
hv s,r;Lina on, nro,os;,;a, p. anJ ,ho cnrn'
,,,;t,oo roHnsod ~ ;nsnr, 4 avns co no.
e.. ,Lo IL las;s rnon,l,ors an1 NJ
Botts, Bopden, CAiiton, Randoiph and
Tbe s,hs,;t',,e nrcscn,c5 s;n,nlv II "a ,o;x
81 49,, -. ~, e,o.oraI ',1 la.ol A. '
of Al Jeta;ls of ar5or,;nnnnn, Sc and
,be eve oortIemen urbo ,hanaod s;Jas u,
,b;s rota IA ;ng,lv ,os,,ons;llo. a. III ii
fa,t ortbe n,;sc;nIe
pronns;,;on 4 nr,be bos;s eornmt,oe,s
ron,,r, reroa;,eJ m he d;snosed of II vas
,br n;xcJ bas;s acco,n13anied with an an
portionmept yiving the East IA majority in
a House ofl5o.
Mr. Rots oGers2 a snbs,;,n,e for A.
his COMPROMISE. proposino a permanent
equality Of represenialianin the two branch
os and
Mr., Saunders moved TO amend bv strii.
king out M. Bots proposition, and inscr-
ting one Nv which the 1onse az Delooatcs
sbonId ~ based ~ ounE6ed vo,crs and
tbe senate on Fcdera numbers
Tzurs1ov. NaU1gt MI Saunders with.
drew his amendment for the prcscn, and
Mr. Rovden. one of,be five nemhcrs ,ybo
vb,od ~ sfr;le ON, II or ,bo s,,fyr,o,, Lee
renor, moved 10 amend Mr. Bot,s nrono.
silion bv striking il or. and ;nsertipd a nro.
vision that L,th IL,ugc, of III Icggslot,ye
shoUld be Iasca ON Fcdeygl uvuJcrS.
Mr. Bots. rhercupon. asked leave 10
u,i,bdra,y b;s a,nend ,nnnt ayc,y;no nj, III
oL;oc, ,yas u asccr,a;n III ,v;shos 20 L;s
on.t;,ran,s anJ raccrr;nr j III ca, III,
\ nnbl;c ,,ee,;na or III c;i;zens ~ nil.
mpnd was calIe,f an III r;yb, nr,he f,llow
;no d,y Deha,e ,ool n1ace ,,nor H. n,,es
ron IL granting ~ leave wLycb was 6n,l.
" decided IN The afI;rmat;ve oves GA nocs
81. the white basis members and Mcssrs.
Bolts. Chiffon. Meredith. Randolph. Rives.
Saunders and Tavlor voting in thc atIirma.
tive.
Mr.. Summers then moved to strike out
all of proposition A, except the first section,
which prescribed the division Of the Assem-
bly into two Houses, and the last section,
which provided for the apportionmcnt Of
Congressional districts; but Mr.. Beale made
a motion which took precedence Of this,
viz: to strike out a smaller portion Of pro-
position A, and insert substantially the
substitute previously offered by Mr.. Scott
of Fauquier, but excluding the capitation
tax on free negroes.
Whilst This pronosition was rend;no.
Mr.. Randolph took occasion 10 state that
he wa, bound 70 vote far either oriyo nro.
positions. One was the Federal basis, and
The o,bcr he hr;xoJ h,s;s or ~ con,.o,-