Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-23
STATE CONVENTION.
TUESDAY, April 22d.


county on the basis question They declare that pro-
perty, though entitled to protection "shoud never be
recognised as subject of representation that ",he at
tempt on the part OF the East to incorporate the mixed
basis in the Constitution OF Virginia is an insult to the
intelligence OF the community libel unon rcrpboo ~
principles, and an outrage upon the natural rights Of
man. whcn should be resisted by free people TO the
last extremity; chat the question Of white basis il no,
one oil mere expediency, but of principle an abandon
ment or compromise OF which, part would prove
as unworthy oil the name OF freemen, and would reduce
US TO state OF vassalage to the exacng and tyranni-
cal minority IN the East, too and dshonorable
tamely to be borne !" "bat whenever any government
ceafes to be bless ing but becomes ar engine of Cd
preston TO majority OF The people they have reyo-
lutionary right 10 abolish amend, or overthrow such
government and set up one for themselves which puar
antics equal rights, equal privileges and equal proec-
ion to all classes Of citzens Chat should our delegates
In said Reform Convention fail in getting the free white
basis incorporated into the proposed Constitution and
should the East insist their unjust and ubiquitous at.
tempt to asen upon the good people of this Common
wealth Constitution containing the mixed basis. THUG
reducing the people OF the West to an equality with the
slaves OF the East then said delegates are nsruct
ed to propose that the question be submitted to the
source of al political power, The people at the polls,
requested 10 withdraw from sad Convention and to
invite the other Western delegates to meet them at
some suitable time ard place to concert measures to
effect division Of the States" cha, the thanks of this
meeting be rendered 10 the Hon. H. A. Wise "A. Stuart
j. A. Garter and R. j. r. White for their noble efforts
in our behalf
On Mr.. CAMDEN's motion, the Convention resolved
itself into Committee CT the Whole
Mr.. Boris resumed the hooi in continuation of his
speech in defence of his compromise proposition He
commenced by expressing his profound regret at witness
sing the evidences every side OF an uncompromisinp
disposition. 1t Western gentlemen meant 10 carry out
the spirit oil the resolutions presented this morning de-
clarng tor the White Basis or nothing and if Eastern
gentlemen meant TO insist upon the mixed basis or moth.
ing; the Convention could come to no settlement of
this question. Noticing charge in one of the papers
1.-THE Examlner that he had made free-so speech he
said he had taken the side of free men against free.so
He had been told that he gave up too much. To whom.
and what, did he propose TO surrender? He offered
compromise between extreme opinions3 on both Sides
and reversed to each checkmatng power. He wished
to bring this Stale from hostility harmony discord to
peace, dissolution to indvisibity. In speaking, he re-
erred to the language used by his colleague Mr. r. G
Scott in his address to his constituents EXPRESSING his
determination to consider this question in the Conyen.
ton in spirit OF CONCESSION and compromise"
Mr.. B. then took up and briefly advocated his scheme
OF ad vaorem taxation Next he referred 10 the pro.
vision in his compromise which puts restrictions upon
the Legislature in making appropriations one recurring
majority OF the whole number elected to vote for every
appropriation, and the other requiring each appropria
ton to be accompanied with provision for paving III.
debt incurred by it. The system of log-rone practsed
by the last Legislature would be prevented b, these re
10 clo
ed if there was any Western man who was unwilling
to give every possible guaranty for the protection obat
interest! [Srveral Western Neutrality-suspicious. one ~
The scheme OF emancipation proposed in 1888 had been
referred to. Mr. B. took the responsibility Of affirming
that 1t originated not in the West, but in the East T.
was brought forward by VIM. H. Roane. who then rem
resented the county Of Hanover and was advocated bv
the most influential press, then published in Vir
ginia, the Richmond Enquirer. The West ought M,
to be disrusted on this question.
Mr. RIvEs, OF Prince George, explained that the re
terence he had made to the subject was in this m
RE ADMITTED that emancipation was first proposed in the
East under the influence oan excitement created nv the
Southampton affair." But when the Legislature had had
time tor reflection, the Eastern members dsapproved of
It, The committee appointed to con slider the subject re-
ported that twas inezpedient adopt to,
the emancipation OF slaves Mr. Ballard Preston moved
to amend the resolution TO declare il erpediep,
This motion presented the issue as to the power of the
Legislature to declare that that was not property VIII c
had been made property. And as he [Mr R. had shown
on former occasion al the Trans Allegheny delegate.
and eighteen OF the Valley delegates, voted for the
amendment The argument he derived from these facts
was that there was danger that if the West should gain
controlling power might in time of unusual excite
ment, do what some in the East might, under the cir
lr1cfa b,t,,b
be deemed wrongful and injurious He had before adj.
vocaed this view and no Western gentleman had con.
troverted it.
Mr.. FAULKNER said he should take occasion to show
that Mr.. Rives' differences from the course of Western
delegates, at the time al uded to, were erroneous.
Mr. Boris resumed and made allusion to his col
league, Mr. Davss having in 1916 made white basis
speech in the Legislature.
MIR. DAVIS denied emphalically that he ever had and
said when 1t was suggested by Mr.. Smith oil Kanawha
he had denied it, and he thought his colleague might
have remembered the denial.
MIR. Boris said he had never heard OF it or he would
not have referred to the matter
Mr.. SMITH, OF Kanawha explained that when Mr.
DAVIS was making his speech, he referred to volume
ofthe Enquirer for authority. Looking over the VOL
ume he, Mr.. S., found that Mr.. d. then delegate
from Hanover, in 1876 made speech against bill for
the call OF Convention on the while basis but did moi
urge the white basis as objection He, Mr.. S., had
cited as showing that fact. This was the whole mat
ter.
Mr.. Boris again resumed and mentioned rumour
that his five colleagues stood committed by their votes
in caucus to support the mixed basis report of the COM
mittee proposition Al He could not believe it, r. at
report excluded the taxes on merchants licences, and
there was Justice in such discrimination. The Sub
stute before the committee went farther and nro
vided that city town should ever have more than
five delegates. He protested against this restriction
and declared he would sanction it with his vote
Mr. ScoTT, of Fauquer, (who offered the Substitute)
here said he must perform for the orteh tme his dali
ly duty OF stating that it was his purpose to withdraw
the feature of the Substitute placing a restriction upon
Cries and towns