Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04
VIRGINIA
REFORlI CONVENTION
NO. 49,

III
.,.,,, pnernr H. Ga1LARER, Pvbl:sherfo tbs Con-
f"I'.r ,na ,g WILLIAM Q. BISHOP, 0Stsdf Htpo'fsrl
MONDAY, May 10, 1851.
a.. p,sis If R,nresentation- cOns'nned from
Snpple"en! NO. 40J
NJ sTASAgD desire 10 say that nasr al aJ
r,.,.c, Changed the views W!en &c, n am now
~ ,,yn,ess.I IN reference 20 poP'sitIoa
h"; .A. 90 v,,. IN concu!ring with the conlh'e'ee
Sni. in striking out that proposition, CAV 80
, :, c,,rm;.,ee of the whole III !a'ee .. E.,
Nat n-,pos,ioa, anl gave 1t unIesie"' sao,;,;on r
am called Mp2a now 70 vote 10 ssi'n' si,5 another
,,r,nos;,}on Now in nv humble Judgment mere NV
rboc. h,tweeu tla: proposition and pro "
3r n, th. rights and interests Of the ess-o 'ae
pie whom represenIand 80 lar rs Tue ',,,cb q
prncp.e is concerned. | CONSIDER IL JuSs 40 .h
rrendx- OF both interest Snd principle TO carry ou1 ~.
recommendation OF this called compromise co'ni
81 I. ycte afr;na:irey for proposition as IL
n sore respects proposition is decidedly more ia'of
nib, than tie proposition Of the compromise colneo
a. nroDosilio s. the west has majority OF 'oulseen
!, house Of one hundred and hfty-six BY the propo
zion Of the compromise committee they nave majority
II fourteen in house Of one hundred and nifty. ;,
p. tho .y,rene proposition Of the wes; as originally
yoicl f,r by them, the west had eghty-hve members
al
lands tbs west has eighty two members and the east
.,,y six,v.ciyht Now for ne, would rather nave
ssy.u,y.oue members in house Of one hundred aud
;;y.,ix than have Sky eight members 10 mouse OF
oas hundred and fifty. OF the SIX members discarded
hv this compromise proposition tue east loses
r,r NJ nriacple for We required to recognize tue
n.ine ius. as fully and distinctly by this ms-caed
,:np onisc by the origiual proposition.
y with respect TO the Senate what Is u p5o{'o
=. IL ,al,ar
me east in the house Of delegates attempted to DO made
I'D 10 lie ia the Senate You give us majority OF ten
N the senate and upon what principle 1t done SIM
;l up,n no prime pie st all Upon What principle are
y,a going to apportion representation IN the senate
Are YOU going 10 apply the mixed basis thus side OF
lie Blue Ridge and the white basis the other SIDE;
., as you going TO apply scheme OF representa-
ion. Neither the mixed basis nor the suffrage basis
ae a;Ir other scheme whatever can bring about TINS
result. The scheme is perfectly arbitrary aud you
cs,n, appeal any principle to have 1t carried GU;
iriv in its detaiis You may so arrange the thirty
l.rsatcs bv which you give ths majority Of ten east
.: lie Buc Ri!c make that majority in great
.a IRE Intellectual You arrange it as to have
vi; sis senatorial districts east Of the Blue Ridge
lis .sed upon principle. The arrangement is per
::ty arbitrary and gentlemen can arrange It precisely
- .hry think proper. The power which carries
iii, .nprunlse can carry that But if it was car
s. 20 give effective majority east of the
EGe Ridge what protection would that be { What
r.9ectQn would il be with white basis majority Of
J.se.l in the lower house-bciny majority Of four
~ ioat Lalot-aud with the executive department and
al Inc executive officers elected the principle
would require change oil only six votes to change
m: result. And is it difficult matter " change
- c,es Letthe experience Of this Convention answ c
hat question.
81; do not mean to go into any argument on Thu
shrct. am merely giving those reasons why con
,,!rr that in giving this vote, l am called upon t
l..u tbpra
40 choice. am opposed to the white basis and vi!
10: for it under any circumstances. do not NEAR
Tor it. do not desire gentlemen to act under
;e ikea that would vote for it under any circumstan
&C.. BIT am opposed to this compromise scheme ane
VII; d, aothi =, directly Indirectly which will put
;ha' scheme upon the country
lai,r these circumstances, l shall at present al
-.e, decline voting on this question. If vote affirm,
arciv i'll the report OF the committee oil
The wh.lc i il true tina. strike out the white basis
u. il lo:ay it take one step towards the insertion OF
III, compromise 10 which au utterly opposed. If
-,e :.,;ver ru: myself on the record appearing
% approvc that which di.approve; under these cir
c-.uee- shall respectfully decline voting on this
G.e.,;,n take occasion when make this statement
r,-r r;a: max. i, for myself alone. without cousulta-
-. vii: AM human being have made these remarks
simply Is an cxp,aratiun-ns other gentlemen have
hl;& roper 10 explain their course-for myself and
;av.ef "av OF The course which, in my humble ludg-
I!acc, ~ now a,, it l. proper that should
r:>:e can vote repeat, neither afirmatisely MOI
l..I.ively :hs proposition without placing myself
r.. :A.sc position Ii vote attrmatvely take onc
,;.p towards the adoption of this compromise. If
ga negatively then appear to agree to that e
~ch am utterly opposed, viz to the principle OF th
.-:!racc basis.
Nj: CLAIBORNE. should like to inquire Of thu
sea"l;an ii he really intends to ask the house that be
r. allowed not vote after having himself called the
:.as sal nays Laughter
Mr. TAYLOR 1.-The does ask it, /, for one, shall no.
sc hri gentleman leave not to record his vote. he
,cd The yeas and nays and hopc the house will MOI
exsl,e him.
Nr STANARD With respect to that matter the
,ea;eincn do precisely as they think proper.
nall exercise that subject nay judgment aud act Oh
To-: responsibility ! called the yeas and nays for
Tie purpose OF ascertaning whether gentlemen here
we're prepared to act upon the principle that they
'a.IaselYcs announced and intended to follow up that
cal By explanation. when my name was called OF
'e Tor which did not myself design to vote OF,
j>qlesou notwithstanding had called the yeas and
a.:s. BY doing this my course and my whole course
ii! appear upon the record jus: distinctly as if
al vote l. aud in this mnde aud in this mode only 81
!. KIN w could my and the of other
emen appear the record. want the country To
.ad my opinion tho country has right to in
ey stage OF this proceeding who it is that votes aud
u, declines to vote upon auv and every proposition
he resso IS for which they do vote decline to
Ian perfectly willing that the country shall tn
y.1,a, for my course aud hope that gentlenu,
49, desires that the reasons for his his vote
'9-.l b. concealed from the country.
Mr. CLAIBORNE / had no idea of Directing t
- calling Of the yeas and nays but thought that al
he seatle;naa from Richm md city intended to decline
.! himself he had better have left it for somebody
,:e % make the call.
Mr Bolts. As it seems to be the order Of the day
.gen,letasa to define their positions beg leave in
7-:s !.w word. 10 define mine have decided and in
,i!~rsLe objections to this compromise. l think nc
gentleman :rSsn this floor has manifested quite
dr.: zeal in favor Of compromising this question
't lone bnt Of all the compromises which have been
opo>e this is the last to which can give my assent
III nv objections 10 this compromise are by means
9: III: cL racer or nature Of those which have been
a'--1el by tny colleague (Mr. STASARp) 1t lie mat.
's:o the perfect indifference to me whether the
ss'' have majority Of fourteen in house Of $780, OF
Gntii.r they harc the majority in house OF l56
!. ,oa, not iakc the cast much stronger in case
tan IL tie other. But my OBJ econs to this comprom
70 a:e these. and the have reflected upon the
iee The stronger my hostility to the compromise Of
'lH canGtcc | believe it will be productive Of the
,o' disastrous state Of things that ever brought
s'; IN this commonwealth Tohare the popular branch
he legislature. formed this will be. with ma ur
: i'&-tcen based the popular vote and the other
web d: tie same Legislature to operate check
~; !@attmtut upon the pop lar branch, of govern