Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-13
Reconsideration of The COMPROMISE,

Reconsideration OF the Compromise.
Mr.. Randolph of Albemarle, in the Convention
on Wednesday, the day he had appointed for his
motion to reconsider the vote for the adoption oil
the basis Compromise, instead OF the motion, made
the following remarks:
"It will be recollected that on the 2sh of Nav an
nounced that on this day-the 18th of J ne-actng in
obedience to the instructions then given to me BY two
regimenta musters in the county of Albemarle would
move reconsideration OF the vote adopting the Com
promise The character of those instructions was such
as to cast stigma upon my character. l made my
duty TO appeal to the district, which did instantly
without moments delay. have been informed
and have every reason to believe in the correctness OF
that ntormaton-that at one OF these musters there
were twenty five persons acting, and at the other twelve
In my circular, to the people of the district, desired
that they would give me evidence OF The popular will;
that they would not leave in doubt upon the subject
that they would by sign mode, indicate to me what
was the will OF majority OF the voters of the district
That will ready at all times obey. Since enter
ed the House this morning, there has been placed in my
hands paper signed by two hundred and hiryeght Of
the citizens of the district requesting the re-
consideration. Last night received letters without con-
cert from different parts of the county OF Albemarle
signed by 700 citizens, on the other side. Now with
the evidence before me- and with my appeal to the dis
trct cannot undertake to decide between these par
ties. They must give to me unequvocal evidence Of
the will OF majority of the people OF the district On
the side, receive letters OF advice in part and in
part instructions, signed by 205 persons informing me
u
Of Albemare at least acquiesce ia the COMPROMISE
lhe other SIDE out OF 1900 voters present 23s names
Under these circumstances is impossible for ME to de-
cide will not decide. l, therefore, decline to move
to Reconsider the vo.e."
Although this announcement may excite some
surprise in the country, it has qccasoned none in
this quarter. Not that any one has the smalles
doubt as to the wishes of Mr.. Randophs constit
uents He has himself fully acknowledged that
even in his election, they declared their wish that
cit her the Federal basis or the mixed basis should
be-fdopted. When the mixed basis was put to the
vote, however, he voted against it, alleging thai
the mixed basis as understood by every Eastern
member except himself was not his mixed basis
and, to justify his failure to redeem the admitted
pledge to his constituents, he gave notice that he
would offer mixed basis according to his pecu
liar notion, and one which he afterwards de.
clared would ultimately increase the prepon.
derance of the East That notice he never
redeemed. He had his proposition printed
indeed,-bm nerer offered it so that pott
could be had upon IL. Neither did he ever
think proper to propose the Federal basis; but al
lowed both of the plans which he said he came
"bouni" to vote for, to remain Enacted upon
His constituents in Albemarle, Nelson and Am,
herst sent him the most explicit instructions to
sustain the true mixed basis, but his ear was ut
tery deaf to their commands. Afterwards, when
his own opposition had caused the failure of the
mixed basis, and the Eastern members were con-
strained to look to a Compromise, he joined in
support of proposition that was unanimously
sustained by the white basis members, alleging
that it was more favourable to the East than some
of the plans rendered by the Eastern members, in
the extremity to which his own course had helped
to reduce them. Not admitting the soundness of
hist pre- ference for the Compromise of the special
committee, we subm that it did not lie with Mr.
Randolph to justify his course by citing the East
ern propositions. Why did he not, after the fail.
ure of the negotiations, bring forward one ofthose
two propositions which he was "bound' to sup.
port