Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1851-07-29


to adopt constitution fer the State. it is TO political
l equality, nearly may be- established in this land
Talk about equality among men! There is but
one species oil equality that man control. Man has
| no control over the nature of his fellow man. He is
made by his Creator and until you can change the de-
crees OF the Most High, making the pgmy equal to the
giant, until you can make the idiot equal the sage,
until you can make the man of feeble, delicate const-
tuition, equal to the strong, hearty and robust man. I'M
I'll you can make the paupsr equal TO the millionaire in
his influence you can establish general equality
among men. But you establish political equality
That is your business and your duty and that you are
particularly bound to do, because the people in their
majesty demand 1t, are entitled to, and will have it
And they are right never to rest satisfied for
ment until they have obtained it. And will give it to
them while have the power 10 do it."
| did not want a Constitution that would have been
entirely acceptable to the East and altogether unsat
lsacory to the Wes first, because would have been
unjust IN governmental majority, representing mi
nory OF the people, TO have consulted the wishes
and interests not to say the rights, OF ma ority Sc
condly because it would have been imporic thus TO
nave exercised temporary power that, in the natural
course o events would in few years under anv sys-
lem, nave departed from us, when 1t might ia retaa-
ton, have been welded oppressvely and tyraunicay
against u.s. thirdly, because our whole structure of 90
vernent Is pa ed upon compromises. in the absence of
| Wh'ch no popular government endure Tor day;
| lourthly, because, ii it is the duty of majority to
weld something to the views, peiudices and interests
OF mnorlty,as hold to be- there still stronger
ohllgalon on the part OF minority, temporarily in the
as endant TO yield something more to a majority; ard
lastly because, il we did not yield something their de-
mands, treasured there con OF the Constitution, and
| we would thus lose the benefits of all the other re-
| forms we have labored to accomplish if it did not
produce lar state of things that no ref citing
and well balanced mind is prepared to contemplate
| with composure.
was equally opposed to the adoption of Constitu-
ton that would have been entirely acceptable to the
| west and altogether unsatisfactory the East and
It was under the influence of these considerations that
proposed, first divide the representation equally
| IN both houses, as permanent arrangement; second
10 ADOPT system OF revenue that would operate with
pefIect equality on all by taxing every species of pro-
perry IN proportion to lis value. and thus preclude
the possibility OF exobtant unjust taxation on any
thrd TO require the Legislature provide for the pays
nent OF debt at the time of Its creation and lastly
| 10 provide that no appropriation OF money should be
maze except by vote OF majority ofthe whole num-
ber elected 10 both branches of the legislature.
ihese We're the several features of my Compromise
ana which, II adopted, would have given perpetuai
equality, permanent security to all with power to nei
hef section OF The Stale Cypress harass the other
pu power to each to protect itself against oppression
from the other. In short, my first plan OF compromise
though presented as anarbrary rule OF apportonmsnt
IN order to avoid offence dissatisfaction to either
secnon OF The State, was in its results precisely the
same as the compromise off red in the Convention of
| 1879 by Watkins Leigh, and warmly sustained by
Chief Justice Marsha The atterrepfesentine the same
people now represent, and the former representing
the Powhatan and Chesterfield district. The only diff.
| terence between Mr.. Leighs plan and mine was that
his contained none of the and guarantees that
mine presented, and should therefore, think, have
been Tar less acceptable than mine-my second rro-
position was, in all respect that offered and sustained
by these two distinguished and able men: and vet.
VINO elarnored against either of them for sacrificing
eastern lnieress? Who suspected either of then, of
nor guarding the interests OF their constituents with
jealous vigilance? Who endeavored to get mp an ex-
element against either OF then, tor want of fidelity to
| their trusts? Who did not award to Watkins Leigh
| the championship OF eastern inerestsl VINO did not
honor hun with the distinction of being the "Aiax"
OF the Convention! Who questioned the purity or
wisdom OF either Marshall or Leigh? Who thought
either less entitled confidence or trust than Def re?
None. none, whatever Why then, the complaint If
II real existo anv extent against me, which was not
made against them? Is there reason for it? No:
put thers Is cause. And what is that cause? 1t is
because they were both elevated above the common
platform upon which rivals stand! because neither of
.nefn occupied political position and neither OF them
were candidates for political Offices! they stood no in
the way OF any political asprant they excited neither
envy nor jealousy III any quarter and therefore they
nau 'ot score OF selfish busy bodies eternally whs-
perng complaints in the peoples ears.
Ii was under the circumstances detailed above fell
low-cinzens that the Convention met in the month of
ctooer last and after one months session. it adjourned
TO meet again IN the month OF January. heard of no
complaint among those whom had been elected to re.
present, and who knew The time OF nv election that
I was an advocate tor compromising the basis question
Shoty alter met in January, the ubec of district
convention to nominate candidate of the Wing party
Tor Congress began TO be agtated my name was pre-
senteo lndeed received letter from a number of high
~ respectable gentlemen, most of whom had voed for
r Chas Garter Lee at the last election requesting a-
tnorny 10 announce me as candidate, which [ de-
chned and suggested that convention of the district
Immediate efforts made to change the direction
OF the public mind; every means was resorred to- all
e energy and activity OF those who had their pur-
poses to accomplish were called into reouson 70 ey-
cite prejudice, and revive bygone quarres and deren-
ces OF opinion; rumours were put ahoat, that | had
aoanooneo my position on the basis question, and had
gone over to the West decided advocate of the viii g
oasls, and God knows how many other msrepresenta-
tons VIII ch never took the troub TO contradict nor
thou hit worthy ofnotice. But knowing the interest
iet In the settlement OF The basis question: and having
he aoff hon
district, lch contained five counties not embrar in
the district was representing in the Convention I
thougnt proper before any nominaton made that
'hey should be apprsed Of my position on tn subject
accordingly, on the 24th of that month"; [ published
card 10 all the city papers, in which said at 1.-THE
oass) is question OF much interest aud ticulty aud
one upon Which all he other reforms earnestly de-
slred may depend. 1t is one also, that in nv opinion
ought TO be compromised as the only means of pre-
serving harmony between the East and the West, if not
the only means OF preventing an ultimate division OF
the State went still farther and said: at is one
that IN my Judgment, may be compromised without
sacrifice OF principle or interest the part of either
section OF the country, and when the proper time ar
rlves 10 the proceedings Of the Convention may at
tempt 1t, and then develope views in FULL And in
the lace OF this declaration, known TO all, with every
desire TO be frank and open, with determination TO
conceal nothng-the Convention met on The 18th Of
March, and gave me unanimous nomna tion-opv
one single individual of all the respective delegations
voting against me on the first ballot, and he mmedi-
aely acquiescing.
Now, may not ask, with some propriety, what
grounds OF complaint have | furnished to any
one! Who have | deceived or betrayed? When
was invited by the Wing party Of the district
to accept nomination at its hands, and place my
sell IN the Cat all Iimes) unenviable petition OF
candidate, as general target, to be fired indcr-
mlnately, by the designing, The msche vious, the idle
and especially by the interested and selfish OF both n
ties had right to expect to b. supported or attack
ed by those who gave me the nomination! Had | not
a right to suppose, either that those who had selected
me as their standard bearer, were willing to acquiesce
in my views OF compromise, that they looked upon
It as question wholly unconneced with federal poll
iorm! Did they expect me to and as a candidate be
tore this district Tor eight months and hear no dissas
faction expressed no condemnation pronounced on nv