Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-30


have heard that General Jackson discovered chem
ical test by which the constitutional power to mproy
rivers and haEbours divided; when there was sal
water it constitutional and when there was fresl
water it unconstitutional. 1t really seems to M
that this opinion because nature has placed the Blu
Ridge between Piedmont and the Valley, that therefor
there is not identity of interest, about good 10
gic Is General Jacksons salt water test in improving
rivers Take the Blue Ridge away and where is you
argument Where would you run the line to show
where the identity of interest begins and where it ends
Sir is it possible that in this day and in this State, W.
are going to adopt the principle that mountains inter
posed make enemies Of men, in order to make foun
ation for your mixed basis government to rest upon
Another principle upon which this mixed basis rests
ia that man is purely selfish being actuated By ne
principle of honesty justice or conscience. If that il
rue what is to become of the open hand of charity
with the tear of sympathy, with all those principles
our nature which make cove the good opinion OF oul
fellow men do not pretend that these principles
alone sufficient to govern man, but DO say tnal
tbsy are planted in him restraints by his maker and
that without them all your laws could not govern him
ut sir add these restraints of nature those lessons
we learn in our youth, those home lessons that have
been nstilled into by mothers The father seeks
the camp the the mart but at home there is the
mother intoxicating principles which are to 90 with us
through all subsequent fe aud which be for
gotten, even when unheeded. Pleasure comes with her
siren voice and wooes US to her embrace Ambition
come and with his trumpet notes and calls us to follow
Time comes with his chisel in his hand and cuts deep
traces in our forms and yet above the sirens voice,
above the trumpets tone, bsyond the ravages Of time
there is that mothers voice still with wherever
20 woong from vice and calling back to the paths
of virtue to all that is good and pure And yet this
mixed basis argument destroys the force Of conscience
dries up all the best impulses Of nature, stiles the
mothers voice. and turns man out as roaring lion seek
ing whom he may devour. Shall l not hate it | do
will with perfect hatred. Sir what higher interest
is there than finds in the paths of honour, honesty
and virtue it is only by leaving them that interests
are destroyed
Mr. Chairman my respected colleague Or JAsSEr)
his argument the other day in favor of the mixed ba
ss sad that it recommended itself to his approval from
its expansive quality he said it would take in Canada
the whole of South America, even down to where eter
nal storms beat around Cape Horn. wish to call the
attention of my colleague and of the gentlemen who
present the cities Of Richmond Norfolk, Aexandra, Pc
tersburg and Lynchburg, to the proviso in this mixed
basis proposition which is in these words:
Provided that the representation of no city town
shall ut any time exceed Delegates and
Senator'S but the surplus fractions thereof whether of
population or taxation of both combined shall be
ated in assigning representation to the sections of the
State in which they are respectfully situated"
A MEMBER. That prorso has been Withdrawn.
Mr. CARTER. was not aware that il had been
withdrawn.
Mr. SCOTT, of Fauquier had indicated an inten
ton to Withdraw the provso, and thought it was
understood
Mr.. CARTER. l did not know that the gentleman
had withdrawn it. But sir, it still shows the quo ann
of the advocates Of the mixed basis proposition you
are first afraid trust the voters of the
n.y. then you are afraid to trust those of the Valley and
after you get this side Of the ridge you dstrus
yourselves you cannot trust the voters Of your towns
And instead of this mixed basis having the expansive
capacity my colleague Mr. JASsET spoke Of it will
even take in Richmond, Norfolk, Alexandria and the 9TH
er towns of the State l did want to call the espe
cial attention of the distinguished gentlemen who re-
present these cities to the principle here set forth and
tell them came ne Hteras BeAeTafontHs ad ferries.
If they support that proposition they carry death war.
rant to the political power Of their constituents with
them.
These mixed basis gentlemen are afraid of everybody
else and themselves too [Laughter.] do Lot mean
personal fear bnt fear account of their property,
they are not actually satisfied when they they set the
power in their hands, there must be proviso upon
the towns and cities. Laughter
If understood my respected colleague (hr. JASNEr)
the other day when he addressed the committee he
menced his argument by declaration that he against
tho proposition Of the suffrage basis because the county
of Lououn would Lose by possibility or probability
portion of her political power. Sir, saw that possibly
such might be the case, before camo here and told
the people of that county that by sustaining the white
basis they possibly giving portion Of their po
tca power and / asked them distinctly, you vii
ling adhere to principle and give up part of your
power if needs be- sill you hold ON to power and
give up principle made that issue with them direct.
~. Well sir, nm here and By their votes, and am
prepared to vote for the proposition OF the equality
of the free white adult voters OF this State shall
for that principle because believe was sent
here to adhere to principle irrespective Of power.
want for the county of Loudoun all she is entitled to
according to the principle of equality want no more
But sir, after ALL when the committee made their appor
tonment of representation among tho counties of the
State what is the difference under the white basis and
the mixed basis far the county Of Loudoun ID
cerned! Why the mixed basis gives Loudoun three del
egates in house of 800 and the white suffrage basis
gives her three in House of 56 members. Really sir
1 think the difference is very small matter
In the Convention of lS29 there wers many Of
the counties east of the blue ridge represented by
what then called white basis men, they were
identified with this question Of reform then partcu
larly some of the counties lying in the Piedmont.
It is all mistake to say that the great contest that
resulted in the Convention Of 1929, carried en-
trely by Trans-Alleghany and the Valley. Trans-Al-
lcghany comparatively uuinterested so far the
power in the legislature concerned they in
crested in the principle but not in the question OF pow
err but many of the large Piedmont counties were then
the sufferers 1900 Of the free people of Loadoun had
only the representation that lU0 in the county OF
Warwick had Albemarle, Fauquier, Cupeper, Henry,
Franklin, Patrick DC, were almost Us badly off They
looked east for red ess they could find nothing on which
to hang hope. the door closed in that quarter.
They looked west they went west of the mountains,
and cried for help help And they did not cry in vain
Help came and that western help enabled them to get
representation equalized in the Convention of 1929
Londoun Patrick Jefferson Boetourt donot now expect
to gain anything in power by the suffrage basis but
they hear cry from their Trans-Aeghany brethren,
that cry is thnt the inequality that you under in
1929 is upon us, and call upon you to help
we helped you. So sir that outside of the principle in
vulved bound BY every consideration not to de
sct our brethren in this their time of need but to try
and have Justice done to all east and west.
have said that in the Convention of 1922 there
several Of the representatives from the counties of Pied
mont, who were white basis men. There was gentle
then here from the county of Fairfax, who those
representing that county will join in saying,
worthy of representing that honored county. alude
to the late William II. Fitzhugh--he sleeps we'll,
the ftful dreams of life having passed. There was
another very distinguished gentleman representing
Albemarle who still lives. and believe there anoth.
err from Franklin; there was one here then from Pat
rick, and he is here now, speaking the same language
that he spoke in 1929 receiving honors from his cou
" and comforting honor upon her But where are all
the rest Where is Albemare' She has her Monticel-
yet where ID the spirit of Monticello gone; They ali
think no doubt they have good cause for changing l
certainly do not question their right to change. But
want the representatives of those counties who are now
here when they return to their respective counes to
tell them that little OF the same eaven is still work
ing that the old banner OF equal rights is still flying
torn though it may be- it still streams like thunder