Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-22

the question of dIsagrceulent--thc lssIe
made up by the two Houscs--shall be
| submitted 70 the vote CT the people. La
1865, he hoped, there would be less feel.
ing and more identity of interest than now
He trusted there would then be no difficult
" between the East and the Wtst-bui,
Il there should be difficulty. we could
not say what it would be. Mr. Bocock
said that,if in 1865 one House should submit
one basis, and the other different one, the
Governor should submit both of them to
the vote Of the people. In case the Gen
cral Assembly shall fail to certify to the
Governor the rule or principle Of the disa-
grccment. the Governor shall, by procla-
nation, submit the question OF representa-
ton on white population, or OF white pop
ulaiion and taxation combined, for one or
both Houses, TO the vote of the people.
Mr.. Summers thought it better that the
matter be laid over, until committee OF
revision on details can perfect the matter.
This matter had been considered in the
committeeman it had been found that the
proposition would operate badly. Mr..
Summers doubted the policy of investing
an ordinary Legislature with the Conven-
tional power Of selecting specific princi-
pie of representation to be submitted to the
people Again, one or the other House
might be equally divided, and the question
of disagreement might not be submitted
Mr.. Bocock had offered his proposition,
to make the compromise less exceptiona-
bic.
:. Mr. Faulkner could see no objection to
Mr.. Bocock's proposition, which he under
stood was calculated to allow the right to
both sections to make an issue before the
people. He thought that hereafter we
should hear but little of this question of ba-
Sis. Mr.. f. suggested that the provision
could be made by, slight amendment,
without inserting Mr. Bocock's PROPOSE
ZION. He had no objection to allowing to
any part oftbe people TO submit any issue
they may desire.
Mr.. Wise would, probably, not be OPP
posed TO some Of Mr.. Bocock's PROPOSE
tion--but this was not the proper time to
propose it, Mr. Wise was glad that this
compromise had already excrted a most
blessed influence. 1t had made the dumb
To speak and the lame to walk.
Mr. Saunders referred to Mr.. Bocock's
allusion to the dead men here. He (Mr.
81 did not know whether he was dead or
alive. He had intended, in his action, to
10 his duty to his constitucnts-and, if be
had any vitality, to make this compromise
as unexceptionablc as possible, by voting
for Mr.. Bocock's propositions.
Mr.. Bocock thought that sometimes it
would be blessing, that those who speak
should be made dumb The gentleman
from kanawha is opposed TO giving Con
vention power to the Legislature, to allow
the people to decide the basis,yct he adyo-
Gates the position tlrst the same Legisla-
iure of 1865 should themselves decide the
same question.
Mr.. Wingficld had agreed TO the Com
mlttee's proposition as a compromise and
ehoud adhere TO it as long as 1t received a
majority of the Convention. Mr.. w. was
in favor Of Mr.. Bocock's proposltion-but
ms the friends Of the compromise thought
this not the proper tine, he should defer it
untilthat moment.
Mr. Strotherthought that the proper time
TO arrange details--for. in Convention. a
mcndmcnts might be cut of by the pre-
vious question. But the proposition of
Mr.. Bocock was not a matter of form but
Of substance and should now be acted
upon. He thought that the will Of the
people, or of large portion of the people
in 1865, should be carried out. That will
Is now restricted by the committees pro
position as II stands.
Mr.. Chiffon replied to some POSITIONS of
his colleague Mr.. Strother.
MIR. Standard saii that while gentlemen
on all sides admit the propriety of Mr.. Bo
cocks proposition, they are about TO put
themselves on record against it, on the
ground that this matter should not be acted
on in Committee ofthe Whole. A very diff
fcrent course was pursued by these gen
tlemen, SIX days since, in regard TO the pro-
position for the restriction of cities. The
committee was the proper place for de-
tails Mr.. S. regarded this no compro-
mise, but as an utter and entire surrender
of the East-still he was for amending it.
Mr.. Shelley hoped Mr.. Bocock would
withdraw the proposition. There was an
insuperabe difficulty init. There might
be contingency, in peculiar constitution
oi the General Assembly, against the wish
es of the people, in which the suffrage ba-
Sis might not be submitted by them to the
people He would submit, so far as his
vote went that one of the propositions
submitted should be the suffrage basis.
Mr.. Martin of H., hoped the suggestion
of Mr.. Shelley would be concurrcd in, and
time be taken for elaboration. Mr.. Nj.
was surprised to hear the gentleman from
Richmond ask, after what has occurred, if
we intended to force this Compromise. in
its present form, through the House. Mr.
M. regarded the report as a fair Compro-
mise, as surrender oil the rights, of no
portion of the Comnonwcalth-and he
thought that its friends should be allowed
10 perfect it in the manner they desired.
Mr.. Bocock did not move his PROPOSE
ton as hostile one; but, to allow fair
and intelligent examination OF his PROPOSE
ton, he should Withdraw it for the present,
and request that it be laid on the table and
printed; which was ordered.
On notion Of Mr.. Wise, the Committee
rose, and Mr., Miller, the Chairman, report
ed to the Convention the proposition which
the Committee had inserted as an amend
mcnt to propositions A and b, which had
been struck OUT.
Mr.. Wise said he should firmly maintain
this compromise as it may be amended by
its friends-but at the same time it was no,
worth maintaining, unless it bear the front
of fair examination and amendment He
should give every opporturityfcr iona ,fde
amendments. He would suggest, on his
own independent motion, the proposition
he laid aside for the present, to be digested
and that the convention should take up