Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-02


delegates are hereby instructed to abandon their seats
land withdraw from its further deliberations
! With the permission of the Convention Will make
4 few remarks i'll reference to the sixth resolution X
will bs observed that this meeting was held on The '
of March .hrec DAYS previous to the adjournment OF
the legislature That they should instruct me III TINS
matter will not appear to You at all surprising when
inform YOU that did not even address the people upon
this subject in my court house was nominated
h. str;ct Convention which sat somewhere about the
rs, If lv in the county Of Cahe fortyve miles from
uy home did not enter into the canvass until some
tx or ,t DAYS subsequent, and then went Into some
outc, Of my district where never had been The peo-
y ~ that region scarcely knew what my opinions were
no, l., subject Of the lrss They took upon trust.
iTi.y hay, therefore perfect right to Instruct me
viii reference to this subject Of basis any other mat
,cr they think proper, connected with my representa-
live duty, l having issued no way bill whatever.
II Placed in this situation trust shall be paroned
for saving that with whatever regret should leave
This BODY bcfvc the business, for the TRANSACTION OF
which it was convened shall have been completed. |
will be constrained to do it III obedience to their III
structions. How my colleagues may act, or what they
NAV think about this matter not tor me TO say SUI
ice say that instructions coming rou that con-
I:ry although only one out of the counties of my
district 4 large dstric:-for have very little doubt
bat that the counties will average Thousand square
miles cac-ulcsS otherwise Instructed shall take us
he deliberate opinions, and wish OF the whole district
Before sit down and request the clerk to read the
preamble and resolutions, desire to address single
r,l,:k 10 the senior member of the Richmond dciea-
~ il he is in his seat the worthy Chairman OF the
Committee Of county courts. and county organization
+, his remarks and the relation OF his e%e-
?i.ncr IN our little pleasant love feast upon yesterday
Nau-l;n:) and il was with no small degree OF sur
mis-, that | heard him put 30 much stress ufoh me
wcr,l prin.j;hc that he would not depart fro:n tie
p.iicin Il the mixed basis Now sir desire that g,u'
tienla! he will be kind enough TO do so-upon ;he
very first occasor1 when he is again called up 70 give
!, his ey;eri,i,cc laughter, to tell us what prlnciic
there is in the mixed basis. have been anxoHsly de-
ljl..;tis about this. and must confess that az! 80
dull IL not perceive IL if it IS matter OF prlcpe
the Gentleman Lands upon here Ii gentlemen are de-
rnine TO make principle the fer carrying out
their views be-, that they will satisfy us that they are
doing i; in accordance with principle. Will the worthy
Chairman Of the Committee county courts and count
organizations permit me ask him question or two III
reference this matter Suppose you put nineteen.
l;weatiehs Of the representation upon taxation, anu
'onetweneth white population, or reversing 1t put
nineteen wentcths of the representation on white pop
ulaton and twentieth taxation Is not this sun
principle, Are YOU departing from the principle
rropostun as elastic this of yours in this basis
of YOURS is my humble estimation, no principle III
all
For the benefit of the people, both east and west,
have put myself to the trouble Of examining the octn
tun> Of this VOID principle ! will read them to gen,
tina; they may 60 into tie much abused supplement- IN
order that the people both Of the east and west may
see, AMI ascertain If they can apply 4 single one OF
the definitions TO this mixed basis. The authority
bring here j. one OF the very highest Kind ana nave
no doubt vii! meet with the highest favor 1t IS not
Webster or any Of Your American authorities. The
authority bring is the last London edition OF Barclay
Universal Dictionary, and the definitions may DE iouhi
on page iG3 1t defines tue word principle rs follows;
:, Principle s. (prncjpum beginning iat) The cause.
Tb., ,yI,i n
what it is. In physics, that which contributes to the
essence Of the body In chemistry the tirs ana SIM.
plcst parts whereof natural bodies compounded and
into which they are resolved by fire fundamental
truth from which others are deduced. The ground or
motive of action tenet or position IN winch morality
is founded.
! Iron which of these do ycu found yrcr basis:
Besides | do not understand what they mean by
the word mrcd, applied to this basis OF theirs 1t
Ii, uttcr, impossible in strict language, | insist II
lis utterly i'm possible to mix up money and men
: Yo,. may mnglc them together, but mix them
you rsver can. lfyou do mix money and men, they
will not stay mixed long.
!, Tho PRESIDENT The Chair calls the attention Of
Tho gentleman ,.s Mason to the rule hv which some
latitude is given to remarks in presenting memorials
The rules Of order to be found in the manual By
the rule of parliamentary proceeding the gentleman u
u limited in presenting memorial to giving simple
Il statement of ta contents submit whether it Is IL
der to 90 into the discussion of another question.
9 sion OF the Chair which suppose must have originates
out of the remarks of the gentleman from Orange tSr
l. WooLroLK.) Laughter -
: The SEC.Erasr then read the proceedings VI lh'
: meeting % follows
In pursuance of the previous notice meeting Of th,
peope of Mason county held ut Point Pleasant OF
Saturday Ike 10th Of March 1851 and was orgaulzet
! BIZ calling the Hon james W. H. Beae TO the chair, anc
appointing Major Charles Clendenn, Secretary james
H. Couch Esq. explained the object OF the meeting
and on his motion the Chairman appointed Dr. JOIN
! J. Thompson Major Andrew Bryan John Hall, VIM
c ". Newman. jams " Choen, Captain Alexander Nc
Causlln,! am Peter kuopp committee to prepare ant
report resolutions expressive of the sense Of the meet
Ing.
TIL. committee having retired for short Time re
turnci an.i reported the ioloT:rs preamble "n Feso
4 lu,ions which were unanimously adopted
Whereas the State Of Virginia has long suffered from
. the Consequence Of Il government which has neither
provided fof the people the greatest degree OF hlpp
r M! safety Of which she is capable nor nos
:, ca.cc.!, secured thsul against the danger OF mai
u a,nl", c,.a.ioa and whereas The majority o! tie com
mu!:v in Srancc Of their indubablc unalicnable and
nleceas,c right, desire TO reform alter abolish the
government in s.Gh manner as shall be judged most con
lucve TO the public veal; and whereas there is now
in session in the city Of Richmond. convention pur-
port;nc to represent TINT msc-itv and having for it.
: 6stcnsblc Object TO effect the desired changes, but
which convention is constituted as that the majority
u cf the community have not their proper voice due
weight lis QcNCcEatlS We t!slzsnS OF the
county of Mason being portion of the aggricved ma;
;or,v OBSERVING Inc spirit manifested hy this couvcn
i;on and anticipating only continuation of our grcv
sncrs and perhaps All indefinite postponement Of re
resa have mel III primary assembly toasscrt our right
Z al declare our views and intentions from which ON
G n.hss na- be known and future action Inferred
Therefore . .., ! ;,
i Pesorcd That The power Of government is hui tn
aggregate will Of the people entrusted to the hands
few for mere purposes Of practical eect that thos'
few dcrye no rights, immunes or powers in perpet
Is from being made the temporary agents OF the people
that the will of The majority affords the best and oni
practical test of the whole and that, II the changes III
cdeh,al to progressive community the power OF gov
ernmen. should fall into The hands of mnori'~, sucl
government is upon the very rights Of man s' 5Sef'
abrcca,ed and annulled, and can only have temporary
existence u,l such time as succession basea "poi
| true principles can be established
! s ResolcfG That the maxim that ndl:dhai Tree
men are equal forms fundamental principle IN our
government that as property not necessary 10 con
stitut, freeman and as is incapable of comforting
virtue or capacity should not confer government
mower nor Should it be estimated so as TO add 10 inc
public weight one many.
g. Resy'Scd, That the State Of Virginia, in her indie
Ipendert CAPACITY stands homogeneous WHOLE tha
ber free non,laton are one people, with one common