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

west sixtycght, majority Of fourteen whilst we of
the west have 90 900 majority OF the whte nhaoilans
here has hscn great deal said here about courtesy,
tn the o,Le and the time that has been spent mere
unnecessarily Mr. Chairman, if this governmental ma
jorty upon this floor intends to carry out IN gooa ia
the plan proposed by letter A, want them 10 40 u 1
once for one if they intend ultimately to do so, shall
hold them responsible for all this delay and expense to
the public not the west for they have the power TO
force the vote any time, as they arc Inc Pecuar
dams of the west Mr. Chairman, expect but nile
from majority of the cast upon this ltoor who are adj
yanced in life They claim to be our superors. They
like Ephraim of old joined to their ldols Lei mem
alone. But those in the prime of life, II they should
live 10 their three score years anu te' WHEN le!
call to mind and read the debates OF tnis
they will deny their own child, ana say mat - iooA'
good deal like dream.
The gentlemen from Halifax (Nlr PURKISs) and from
Fauquer Mr. Sco1T) who first addressed the cotitee,
asked how long they would be annoyed BY he cianor Q,
the west to get hold of the purse Strings OF e east anu
from the remarks Of those gentlemen stranger from
different State would have supposed that we in the west
are an uncvilized out-lawel set OF people can 1hoIh
those gentlemen, if they were sincere IN heir
that they know but little Of the feelings that govern west
crn gentlemen upon this floor, and those whom III part
have the honor 10 represent here if they believe they
are governed by motives Of this kind, ior LOOK upon
the western section OF the State civilized law adj
ding people, although foreiahers have neen raised
anon st the savageS. We came here TO ask hoths al
=
button OF political power, and intend 10 submit 10
nothing that wrong If gentlemen then admit "hat
our bill oil rights declare, that all men by nature are
equally free and independent, and that majority OF
the people, not property, have the nalienable nduhta
bic and indelcasble right alter change, or abolish
their form OF government whenever majority OF them
shall in their WISDOM deem it cxpcdient and proper 10
do We of the west, and ALL tender to you the
lroposon submitted by the gentleman from kanawha,
Mr.. SUMMERS the constitution TO be submitted to the
Df thn N al lie
ccpten Of the suffrage basis and the mixed ~asis, and
which ever receives the majority of the qualified voters
of the State, shall be the organic law of the land II
then ory ofthe qualified voters Of the State shall
prefer the mixed basis to the suffrage basis, YOU Will
hear camor from the west and if the suffrage
basis should be adopted hope the east will do the
same for one, Mr. Chairman, must confess that
getting tired of this discussion, and should like 10
see the matter amcaby adjusted and brought to close
in such manner that would be satisfactory to both east
and west that these sectional lines would be broken
down. that when The Valley and Trans Allegheny, shall
meet their brethren from Piedmont and Underwater, in
the legislative hail. they shake hands together rs
brothers Of the same family for all time TO come
Mr.. Chairman have almost come 10 tte conclusion
that if this question of the basis should unfortunately he
settled against u.s. it would result in dissolution OF THIS
hodv for this mixed basis carries upon its face poltl-
cal equality and personal degradation which the west
never, never will submit TO- But yet hope for an
honorable adjustment that the east will be governed by
patriotic motives, (s most assllrcdy they are and the
cords that bind them hand and foot, will be torn asn-
der, aud that old Virginia, instead of this mixed basis
representation, will send forth constitution that Will
show TO the people of Virginia and to the world that she
is rcpeneraicI should dislike very much to either
east or west pursue here that would finally re-
suit in a division Of the State-this good old common
wealth of Virginia. the mother Of us ALL the land that
gave Inc birth, beneath whose soil hope my remains
will rest in peace.
Mr. FERGUSON. I desire to call the attention of the
committee for short time to matter that has been
brought into this discussion, in which feel myself per-
sonav concerned. An effort is being made 10 impress
the public mind in this city. and elsewhere with Inc
idea that if Won give the west INA ory III the LeSs'
aturc or divide the power equally with them; that
thew will change the policy they have pursued hereto,
fore and construct improvements IN The west lis 10
carry all the trade and travel To your neghbong city
of Baltimore For the last three years have been an
active partcipator the floor of the House OF Dele
gates in all the schemes of internal Improvement that
have been brought before that body and ieel that II Is
an mputation not only upon me- but upon every Wes-
tern member who has acted with ME upon TINS great
question We have stood up man to man aud shoulder
To shoulder for those great improvements winch are 10
build up Virginia. and devclophe resources. lnpurslng
this course We have acted in good faith and now gentle
men on this floor and out OF this house attempt t" impress
the public mind with the idea that we have been acting
the mart of hvpocritcs that we have been holding out
promises to the ear, but intend to break them IN The
hope whenever get the power; that give US that
power and we will turn around and stab those Tor whom
we have prufesscd this love, and divert the improve
mens of this State to Baltimore and build up that city
to the dctriment and prejudice OF the cities OF NrSi
It is to this question wish to draw the attention OF
the committee for fifteen twenty minutes Ill order to
put the west right upon that subject.
| AIusun was made BY the gentleman from fichmon"
Alr S1AxAEp) the proposition to extend the hlanas
ss Gap railroad up the Valley to the town OF Buchanan
That proposition was not made in the House OF Dele
rates and am not able to say what occurred IN the
other body, bit proposition made in this House
during the last session to build railroad from Salem
To Buchanan which part of this scheme to take
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad Mt Salem by ROAD
running down the Valley. and therefore making one
link in that chain that might carry this trade oil to bal
timore And what do you suppose the vote upon that
proposition WAS. The vote upon that bill was 20 Tor u
and 50 against it-that bill to make portion OF TINS
Improvement which gentlemen say that the west would
make had thew the ,,uwer And how do You suppose
that o6 was obtained. When that great Improvement
the Virginia and Tennessee railroad was before the
General Assembly Of Virginia. 1t Is well Known that up
on the first vote it defeated. 1t was defeated be-
cause portion Of the representatives from the 'aileE
from Botetourt Rockbridge and some other co';iIrs
insisted upon Buchanan the terminus ut that road
instead of Lrnchburg Unless they could be prevailed
pon to vote for that great Improvement ii could not
mass After it was defeated n compromise was entered
into bv which the great stem was to terminate III lyc
burc and a branch road to be carried from Salem IN
the county of Roanoke 10 buchanan III the county Oh
Botctourt.
Well. bill in accordance with that compromise anu
agreement was passed by the House of Delegates bn'
filled in the Senate for of time to be acted upon
That same proposition proposition t" carry out tha
compromise came up last winter {" make tii't foai
witio, which the Virginia and Tennessee railroad could
not have passed ut he session Of 4S-4a That propo
sition being rlrt and parcel OF that compromise b.
WHICH the Virginia and Tennessee railroad bill was pass
cd received but &c votes and OF that % votes were
Inv eastern members, and will give you the names
Mr. BococK, Mr.. CARTER of Albemarle Mr. SEGAE OF
Elizabeth City, Mr. HUME of Fauquer. Mr. CocKE' OF
Fluvanna and Mr. HALL the delegate from the county
of Icnrico. Here six of the members who voted TO
carry ont that compromise were eastern iirglhIals
And. in the face of this told that 1t We have the
mower, we will divert the trade and travel to Baltimore
But that is not all. During the last session and the
two preceding sessions, propositions have been nitro
duccd to carry this great central railroad to the waters
of the Oho river We have succeeded at every session
except the last in providing for parts OF this work And
by whose votes have we succeeded. Was it the Votes
Of eastern Virginia or was it the votes Of western Elr
gina Every gentleman who is disposed to tell the
truth knows that every of these bills have been
passed bv western votes aided by few eastern votes
During the last session this proposition came up again
before the General Assembly to extend this road t" te
navicahc waters of the kanawha and thence t" the