Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-13
Mr., CLAIBORNE there were, yeas ;s-nays u, as g.

Hunter, Janney, Jasper, knoe, Leake Letchey Lyon
Ircas LYNCH Lyons, McCaGas Meredith Morris, Pen
dleon Price Randolph Ridley, Rves, Saunders. scog
rim Scott of Caroline Scott Of Fauquier, Scott of
Richmond city, Seymour, Shell, Smith of kauawha
Smith of King and Queen, Smith Of Jackson Snod-
grass, SoutuIl Stanard, Strother, Summers, TAYLOR
Irsadway, Trigg, Tunis, Turnbull, Van Wrinkle, Wal
lace Watts OF Norfolk county, White, Whittle; Wing
felix. and Woolicik-75.
Mr.. TRIGG 1t is now hafpast two o'clock and
move that the committee rise.
Mr. CLAIBORNE. ! desire to ask e question Of
re Chair, aud if the gentleman will give way will
renew the mo'loH; - .,,
NJ. CLAIBORNE I wisL TO know if it Is in
oTdrr TO move to strike out any portion OF PROPOSE
The CHAIR. Certainly; any portion Of it, or the
whole
the PURPOSE Of enabling to oicr M amendment TO-.
morrow.
The committee then rose. and
The Convention adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning.
Iem.1s:: of VI CINDEN.;" Committee ctMe H'ho'e,
OF The BASIS of Representation.
Mr. CAMDEN owe my thanks to the gentleman
from Ohio Ir kxorrl for kindly yielding the floor to
me this morning and am very much disposed to shy,
ho Il !, * the le.irc Of this committee ut this time 10
lake the vote upon the pending question: will not de-
lay hGt vote.
Mr. CAMDEN No member of the committee feels
more than do the re.pnn-I !ity l"v"lvcd upon him rs
member c this bo,. from the fact that feel d, in
c,mpetent AS any member discharge its duties
have felt the Importance Of gathering information and
knowledge from every quarter and | ara free to say
that have derived great advantage and much informa-
~ ch havn moan
al to the consideration of the committee By gentlemen
anon both sides of the question. 1t is al important du
" that We are abou: to discharge 1t IL conceded on all
hands, that the fundamental law is inadequate to pro-
moe the prosperity and Happiness OF this people and
that it needs amendment That duty is devolved upon
Us We are rot only TO reform and modify or rather 10
propose to the people to reform and modify the lesi,la
live department oil the government, bul the people ex
,cct that We will propose motlcatIcs IN every depart
incrl--3g:slatiFr, executive and Judicial
The Executive department or the government is to b.
reformed by the election of the chief magistrate of the
commonwealth by tho qualified vuters-by the abo-
ton Of the executive council and y conforming it III
er respects to the principles of free government III"
iuciul department is undergo various changes i,
The election Of Judges by The people aad by holding them
aore directly responsible IL tie community, and the
legislative department also is not only to be changed
aud modified up"u The great question oil the basis OF
presentation in both houses oil the general assembly but
is 10 be o.ct aud altered in reference 10 other i'll
,,ornt ms; crs connected with that department q the
Governments ana u;l!er prnrl+ols vi miscellaneous
Character are IL be :.,e sucl, promoting e>!ucst!on
:. ..,,, The right. s,'rage, DC Ia the discharge ri
til high dut.. Lave the heiiei u experience =" L
.n,l ;u our aid the .l.- which have been shed b. aoa"
who have ,rer.l led Us The age in which We live is
remarkable for improvement n every thing connected
with the we'll brilt and Happiness of ian. With refer
.ncc 10 The question unicr consideration, deem II
proper 10 state that ii is necess"y according to my hum
lie cuacepiDil, 10 look to all the important provisions
If the constitution Ny vot: upon other questions OF
constitutional reform, may depend extent upon
he alu tlnent Of tn. question nov pending before the
cnm,,iltrc ! regret much any member Of the
committee t;c great difficulties We have t. encounter
i. the adjust vi this question. frankly say That
GAME 10 this Convention with s!rcng feelings &nd bases
IN reference 10 hs iaIt5r. but e:pcTicnle hiss sG-
ned me- of the necessity Of calm and deliberate c"n-ds
:tiau ,.d 10 regard not merely ny own immediate CON
u, but 10 take ;,u c:liare view of tho entire IN
;crc.ts Of the commonwealth. vii! say /" my friends
,r liz, ocT-:e t! the question: II incy VIII salty
lie that nm in and that The wte or suffrage a
il i, not the proper ,si, 10 lie adopted for represents
ijon in the General Assembly, shall have the frankncss
admit il. and will either conform my course 10 such
,uyir,ou or r.. mn those who have Conferred upon
N. the imrortant .ri:s tia, hold from the hands
If a kiuu :ni generous constituency. Cnc great
embarrassment il tho adjustment OF this question
: iLe haste ana .n.ii,lrr il, Wll:oh tic Convention
has been called Tie gentleman from Fauqlier ,iil
3curr} s,ine weeks since "Len encountered solie
s,ba,ras smclt III the progress OF this dsclssi"n.
.a.e tho declarations that the fault was i'll tie ID
,yll;oen, in OcDbcr last, OYER TO January. ! sayt
! gentleman that the error Was III the premature cal
nf ,L Couv,ntiol ALi will state further, that Tee
manner in which this body has been called together, Eis
ended very much proIu2c That high state OF excite
mon, il, the west which gentlemen much dcprccae
Ne Of the west rcprrs"uing majority OF near 100000
Il tic Tree white people OF tic State, lind ourselves here
,,, Itt-o Ylntnu
The princpc o t;c mixed basis it should be but ecs
e,, According to views upon this question. IT,
lead Of majority Of seventeen from the east there
.,,o;!l he mt;oli.y; OF eleven from the west When
these facts are taken into consideration is it to be wol
ercd at that tie west is excited upon the subject
There being four WAC are III lavor OF the white basis
leaving the east n majority Of only three, would
-k ms friend ircm Fai:qrcr (Sir. Sco1r if he would
desire TO carry III this Convention constitution that
gould not be adopted, were representation properly
adjusted according to the principles upon which the Con
rention was called. ask gentlercls serious consde
ration TO ills i.c The course pursued by portion OF
my cu,s; uc,is since the assembling of this body, has
ben frequently referred TO- and consider it my duty
oue of t,r huubit representatives To notice briefly the
r.r,Hrs made in reference ~ them take occasion 10
say that portion -" II" commonwealth l. more Gevo-
- IL, t in: 2r:ss 81 II" state ;an tho pur: ion |. in
mart REPRESENT Ny constituents lay7 abb ling law
,rr,r people They :.n"c, E"v;crur. tho capacity ~
nrr ,;a and H." will assert the! Ti;s. They send
r,ir resolutions here, nat threats hus claim The
;,lL n, !.e.la!l 10 .nnd them for the government
nf,nrir representatives 80: IL uae known to this iody
tl.il w-,..s cl,. scsircs
iiut catot vvq'ir' me 10 'ay 'aat my constituents
in feel ,:er,3:y AMI nl.,Gly upon this subject They
are most rGiy convinced, that b. the adoption of the
mixed basis they wonl be degraded and they feel that
il Is e uly incu:nhent upon them, TO al tic
within their power 10 relieve themselves and to prev vn
.he del-ra,.t:oa into which they to be plunged. by
tho adoption Of This principle What il the proposition
under considerations IL October, raised committee
on nc basis Of representation composed of twelve
h re east and twelve west Of tie Blue Ridge Of
i.,;ns that committee being unable to agree upon
,ar; the members from the east presented proposition
NJ embracing their views. 1t Is the pure mixed ba
j. irving to properly anl wealth equal political power
win free white persons. ard accompanied with ap-
noriouneut OF representation in both houses Of the Gen
cra Assembly owing its injustice without veil or COW
crinr. Tie members from the west presented 3 as con-
tanning their views. The suffrage basis-that of cqua
has been moved as substitute fer A. and the gen
iieaaa from Fanquicr (Nlr. Scorr) has attempted to
cover the cnornity Of proposition =, by his substitute
II is but thin covering; disguise the mixed basis yo
MAJ its aIistocrac and anti-rcpublicau feature, will
l,c seen bv the most common observer
In the remarks which propose to offer to the consd-
Grafton Of the committee, it will BE- my purpose to show
tba the mixed basis in any form in which NAV be pre-
scented, is contrary 10 republican principles is in direct
violation o the great politica! truths laid down in the
bill OF rights as understood by those who aided in its
a3on.on That we seek TO give that instrument no new