Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-06-17
THE COMPROMISE.

Of che question of Representation in the Conven-
tion--by which the West secures the House Of
Delegates. and the East retains the Senate--it is
gratifying TO end, Is approved by you and, it is
to be presumed, bythose ofw hose views upon the
subject your paper has been heretofore the expo
nent After all, there is found greater unity of
sentiment here, than was supposed to exist
Opinions diverse and irreconcilable it vas thought,
were entertained by the advocates on the one side
or the other. do not imagine, that there is any
abandonment Of the ground taken by you but it
is clear, there has been misunderstanding some
where---either Of the views Of tie friends Of the
White Basis or Of those wko differed with them
There would be nc difficulty in accounting for
this united APPRECIATION Of the adjustment---as a
ComproDstss. und erstand sou, however, to de-
signate it rather rs ssan absolute and complete
triumph of the White Basis, and as the utter
'wrecka fthe Mixed Basis. lift be so, it can not
be otherwise, than that somebody has no cause for
rejoicing
What is the character and effect of the adjust
ment2 Undoubtedly it has advanced the position
Of the West, SO far as respects the House Of Dele
gates. Hence the West, finding it impossible to
conquer more at this time sustained it. It is re-
garded by it, however, as falling short Of the nc
QUESTION of its just claims. The East opposed it,
of course---acting the defensive contending for
all and struggling to retain the power in both
branches, as rghtfully belonging TO it.
How does it affect us, in reference to the pow
ers of taxation and appropriation This people
were, admittedly, concerned most deeply in the
disposition of the question in those aspects The
result of their consideration of it was sueh---so
decided, so universal---that, although a Western
District and BY hereditary influence, so welded
to the abstract doctrines of the White Basis as to
have never conceived the idea of constitutional
protection against appropriations--yet, its views
became SO modified as, in the vote which it cast in
the selection of its Delegates to the Convention,
substantially to have instructed them to insist up
on such protection
That was the great object Scarcely District
ours in securing this protection. Neither East
ern Virginia nor any one in this District claimed
the power for The sake ofits exercise Protection,
by the possession ofpower or otherwise, was the
vital object. As to the mode of providing it, there
existed various views. Some esteemed it nccessa-
ry that the East---paying two thirds of the Reve-
nue---should have the control---that in no other
way could protection be certain and permanen-
Others insisted, that constitutional limitations,
upon the Legislature, in the hands Of the West
would be sufficient. -
This gave rise to discussion among us of the
proposed restrictions guarantees. Serious diff
culties presented themselves to some, rs to the
possibility of devising any proper or polite guar
enties A still further difficulty, however, pre-
sented ITSELF even ifsuch guarantee could be
found. 1.-THE power were transferred to the West.
it was perceived that another convention might be
called to anAm the guarantees. Could further
provision be inserted in the Constitution to guard
against thatl By some it was supposed that
could probably be done.
Those who thus anxiously considered these
difficulties with the hope, ifpossble, of removing
them, at the same time announced themselves
as ddrocates Of tie Vile Basis, if the State
could be protected against excessive appropria-
tons in any way and, yet, their views were ne-
Their always fairly represented nor generally un-
derstood. 1t was the policy of their opponents,
regardless oftheir expressed views, to represent
them as unalloyed advocates of the Mixed Basis.
What was the relative position of parties then !?
On the one hand, it was contended in the dis.
cussion referred to, that it was most material to
US to guard against the adoption of the White Ba-
sis eff those provisions should not be embodied in
the Constitution" provisions not only of guaran-
tee but preventing the call of another Convention
---unlsss the guarantee adopted should be that of
IA House uroS THE WHITE BASIS AND A SENATE
upoS FEDERAL NUMBERS 1t was, thus, distinctly
assumed that such an organization of the Legisla-
ture would be just and wise---because it was con-
sidered immaterial that the Mixed Basis should
prevail in both Houses
On the other hand, 1t was insisted. that the Rep
resentaton in the Legislature should be upon the
White Basis "enelasirelyn- guarantees to be
sure if they could be obtaincd---but STILL uncon-
daionaity upon the White Basis. The Mixed
Basis principle was stigmatised as anti-Republi-
can, as odions, and as degrading the freeman to a
eyelwith tie slave.
How stand the parties now Those who regard.
ed the guarantees as ofprimary and overriding i'm
portance-who were prepared to adopt the Mixed
Basis, If in no other way they could be secured
who, in pursuit ofthcr favorite purpose, approved
as one mode ofaccomplshing it, of a House upon
the WAne Basis and Senate upon tie Federal Basis
land who found themselves and their susges-
TONS reprobated and assailed--now stand vindica-
ted by the adoption of scheme of guarantee
that scheme, which, being approved by them, the n,
the advocates Of the White Basis here it seems ap-
prove nova scheme which gives the power to
check wild and lavish expenditures Of the public
MONIES, to the Senate, coordinate branch of the
Legislature, possessing absolute discretion and in
dependent control of the passage of all Laws, and
composed Of a majority often Eastern Members The
scheme possesses another feature Of essential i'm
portanoe. Those most interested in checking such
expenditures, holding the power in one Branch,
can. thus, prepea The call Of another Con,sation--
This was regarded, in the adoption of any other
plan of guarantee, as indispensable to its perma-
nency.
have said Senate upon Federal numbers, be-