Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-06


Monday last, have the honor to communicate to you
printed copy ct the proceedings had, and resolutions
adopted at said meeting.
You will perceive by reference to the fourth Of said re-
solutions that you requested to say"whethrr or not
therein expressed"
We shall be happy receive your reply at your ear
lest convenience. nasmuch as though not in terms 20
expressed we presume 1t was intended that should
communicate the same, received, to the peo
pie OF Henrco In some public form.
Very respectfully,
Your fellow citizens.
J. B. YOUNG,
j. H. GILMER,
DAN'L. G. GARDNER,
JAMES HILL,
R IIIAI REINs,
PUBLIC MEETING IN HENRICO COUNTY.
At meeting of portion of the people OF the coun-
ty of Henrco, held ., the Court House on Monday
ted as chairman, Dr. Richd N Hall, who was unani-
mously elected and Richard Reins and H. Gilmer
were appointed Secretaries the meeting.
Mr. Young, after few appropriate remarks offered
the following preamble and resolutions which were
adopted with one dissenting voice.
We, portion Of the people of Henrico, in view of
the present posture OF the important question be-
fore the Convent IN session in the city OF Richmond
charged with the duty Of preparing amended Con-
stution for the State of Virginia. involving the dstri-
button of Legislative power among the several portions
OF the State, deem it our right and duty to make known
to our immediate representatives views upon the
same. Therefore, be it Resolved by this meeting,
lst. That in our opinion. and as we confidently be-
leye in the opinion OF the OF the people of this
county, combination of white population and taxa
ton, or what is commonly called the Mixed Basis, is
the only true and safe Basis OF representative power
I'd. That inasmuch as upon any iair application of
this principle the portion OF the State East of the Blue
Ridge OF mountains, will be entitled TO decided ma
ority in the Legislature, Cannot approve OF any
compromise or concession which shall divide the rep
resenation equally between the portions of the COM
mouwealth East and West CT those mountains.
3d. That, admonishsd by the lessons of experience
taught by all human history, that paper guarantees
afford adequate protection to the rights either of
persons or OF property as portion ofthe people OF the
East, we require as the only reliable protection to our
rights and interests that fair share of po,vsr
to which entitled
4th. That committee OF six gentlemen be appointed
by the Chairman OF this meeting, whose duty it shall be
to communicate copy Of the above preamble and re-
solutions to each of the representatives from this dis
ct, and to request them to say whether they concur
10 and willing to carry out the views therein en-
| bodied.
| On motion made. by III. Gilmer, it was
| Resolved, That copy of these resolutions be pre-.
scented to each OF the daily newspapers published 10 the
city Of Richmond, with the request that they be pub
| shed therein.
In obedience to the requirements of the 4th resolution
the chairman appointed the following gentlemen, as the
committee of six, viz: j. B. Young, ]. H. Gilmer r.
N. Elicit. R. Reins, James Hill, D. E. Gardiner.
On motion, the NEE ting then adjourned.
| R. N. HALL, Chairman
R R'' II. GI RsIss' Secretaries.
RICHMOND. April 22d, 1851.
Gentlemen Il have the honor to acknow-
ledge the receipt of your communication, ad-
dressed to me one OF the delegates from this
district to the State Convention, enclosing COPY
of certain resolutions adopted at meeting of a
portion of the people of Henrico county, and re-
questing me, Gin behalf of that meeting and in con.
formty with one of its resolutions) to say whether
"concur in and am willing to carry out the views
therein expressed"
In answer to the call thus made upon me, re-
cognisng as do atall times, and to the fullest
extent, the right on the part of the constituent
to make, and the duty on the part of the rebresen
tative to respond, to such a call, l beg leave to
say in the first place that / was elected to the
seat now hold with opinions on the subject of
the basis of representation very decidedly formed
and very distinctly avowed. In my address to
the voters of the district, those opinions were ex
pressed in the following terms
LIST. AS to the basis OF repre- sentatlon-
am IN favour OF what is generally known as the
mixed basis-hat is OF representation based white
population and taxation combined. In the discussions
which took place on the Convention BILL this principle
(Which enters into and forms part othat measure Vas
the subject OF violent assault and bitter denuncation-
sustained then TO the utmost OF my ability both by
my voice and by my vote; and have seen no reason
to change the opinions then entertained and expressed
On the contrary subsequent reflection has tended only
TO confirm and TO strengthen Them The majority Of
the white population in the West is now estimated at
81 45. and with this msjority of white population she
pays but $2O433 "a out OF 0l3 "a Of the public
axes-or less than one third. On the other hand il is
well known that the interests OF the two sections of
State are tar from being concident especially in regard
to the appropriation OF money. Under such circum-
stances to base on the white population
alone, would he in effect to expose a people who paw
more than two thirds OF the public taxes to the unmi-
ted exactions OF others OF diverse interest," who pay
less than one third, giving at the same time to these
latter, the absolute power OF appropriation.
For one cannot admit that such principle is eth
er wise or just in theory, or that it would not be liable
to the grossest abuse in practice have every conf.
dence IN our western bretren in their PATRIOTISM their
dislnterestedEess, their public spir-but such power
as This over me and mine, cannot to delegate
to any man or SET OF men l will rather abide by that
principle, which teaches that representation and taxa
ton should go hand in hand-a principle consecrated |
by the blood OF the Revolution and handed down 10 |
BY our toretahers of the fundamental tenets
OF free government.
stated further, in the same address, that these
opinions shave not been hastily formed nor will |
they be lightly abandoned" and that "if, with the
opinions thus expressed, it be the pleasure of the
people Of this district to add to the many obliga
tons already received at their hands, by confer
ring on me the distinguished honour of seat in |
the Convention, can only promise that no effort
shall be wanting on my part 80 to acquit myself
in the discharge of that most important and re-
sponsible trust, as to satisfy generous consttu-
ency that their confidence has not been altogether
misplaced"
Under these circumstances, and with these OPT |
Mons avowed and reiterated in every part of the |
drtrict, the people did think proper to select me
as one of their delegates to the Convention, aud
trust the day will never come when | shall be |
found capable of requtng their generous con-
tidence' by abandoning opinions thus deliberately
formed and expressed, and proving false to the
pledges thus solemnly made. My position on
this Basis question was defined Gas intended it |
should Beg in terms that admitted of no miscon-
sruction. An avowed friend of the principle,
that in the organization Of the Legislative Depart
ment-the great tax-evying, tax-collectng, and