Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-27
Excess Of wing counties

In looking to the west-to my part of the country
found that the report gave the democratic counties upn
this mixed bl-is majority of ls when, upon fair up
portonment between the wing and democratic counties
the democrats upon this principle would be entitled t
7 majority of IL. And upon a fair apportinnment o
representation throughout the State, according thu
principle of the mixed basis would have no hesitation
in guaranteeing to the wings majority in the Lcgisa
ture while this apportionment secures ory To thu
democrats of some Is to 90
| Now, | submit it to the consideration OF this commit
tee whether this is right Do you suppose that with
such gross of injustice this embodied in voul
constitution, the people OF Virginia going to adop,
it, No. sir they would cast it off pollution itself
imagine that the wings of eastern Virginia would moi
be willing to be thus dsranchised think that if 70,
adopt such appointment as this You will hear
ching like earthquake in eastern Virginia, we'll Is
that in western Virginia. which to terrify gen
temen much. You may rest assured that if you per-
pctrc such act of gross injustice this by gerry
Wandering the State in your organic law you will find
few honest in Virginia willing to touch it with Il
| twenty foot pole.
But if you will not adopt the suffrage basis or some
thing approxmating to it, will propose by way OF
compromise in order to settle this vexed question
submit to the people the alternative proposton wheth-
er the apporonment shall be made upon tho suffrage
basis upon the mixed basis ] am willing to have
the question submitted to the present OF Virginia.
not the voters who may be made such by the
sttuion-that do not ask | am willing if you pre-
fer that it shall be decided BY majority OF the present
voters who are now the sovereigns of the land and
have right to decide what form Of government they
shall live under If majority of them 10 not adopt
the suffrage basis in preference to the mixed basis
will promise ever after TO hold my peace. You will
not hear again raise my voice in favor of the suffrage
basis. Can gentlemen reject such proposition this
do not think my friend from Richmond, (Mr. Lyons
with his known Of justice would reject PROPOSE
ton stamped with much fairness upon its face when
he comes to reflect upon it. do not how he could
do it, unless upon the principle that of the
tains set of rogucs and cannot be trusted will
tell you that Is this Convention refuse such fair and
just compromisc-rejcct such proposition that. i
will produce sensation throughout this commonwealth
sou do not dream of. 1t will satisfy every sensible
thinking that you not disposed To treat the PEG
pie justly and fairly, and will ultimately produce
-ult which you little expect.
will now notice another remark Of the gentleman
from Halifax. ! refer TO the gentleman from that
county who last addressed the Committee. In speak
ING OF the impartiality of tine Valley thought it was
rather in snccrns style that he instanced-by way OF
illustrating this boastca imparality Of the Valley
the disposition which it had manifested to take from
the east considerable number Of delegates and give
them to the trans Allegheny country. believe that
all concede that the Valley stands here perfectly dsin-
erestcd this iect-ganing nothing By this suffrage
basis If the principle of the mixed basis adopted
far the Valley is concerned the result would be
the same. In fact so Tar representation is concerned,
my district gets half Of delegate upon the
mixed basis than upon the white basis TO" see that
in the report upon the white basis they have given
| the county Of Highland, in order that we may have
four delegates, while upon the mixed basis plan, We
get four delegates without The addition OF Highland
county. will say to the gentleman from Halifax that
the Valley perfectly disinterestcd upon the subject
for her interests identified with yours All the pub
tic improvements when completed, will only serve TO
| connect the Valley closely with the east Our
markets markets. especially in my part of the
Valley, and there is no other outlet to market except
. l..
ofproperty tina ou love; and would Just trust
Valley man upon this slavery question rs would any
of my friends in Piedmont or Underwater where gentle.
men are so much interested in the the institution of
slavery we are then influenced BY strict sense of
Justice IN the course we pursue here. We think it is
due 10 the west that she should have an equal rcprescn-
taton in this government The course the west pur-
sued IN Inc last Convention should be borne in mind.
She then stood side by side with portion of the
ana the valley All that was gained by the adoption
OF Inc present constitution equalization nj repre-
Sentation believe all admit thai that was the ONLY
Improvement made on the provisions of the old const
ton. And who derived the benefit from that eqaliza
ton: The Valley and Piedmont sections The Val.
ley therefore 1ecls herself under strong moral obiga
tlon when she sees her Allegheny friends have
been shorn OF part Of their influence and lost consid
craole portion OF Their representation in voting for this
relief to the Valley and Piedmont, TO assist them now
and she would look upon it treacheros at this time
to desert trans Allegheny. And would to Cod 1la
my Piedmont friends had taken this view OF the ques
tion then there would have been but little difficulty ir
settling the matter. As they take different view,
feel no disposition to reflect upon them and shall no
even express an opinion the character of their
ton: leave 1t to be decided between themselves ant
the valley as to which eEtted to the most praise fol
acting honorably, and which has acted most Justly TO
wards the trans-Alleghany region.
Another lnducement to support the suffrage basis
e principle is the consideration that it will most eff
eliecluaiy secure the rights Of property. wish t
make this declaration esnccall, - a,stern rontemen
for say in all sincerity OF heart that firmly believe
the general opinion of large portion of the people
the valley is that if you base representation upon thu
suffrage plan you will most efsctually rights
the west By adopting that principle you will give II
the western people, Government Which will comman