Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-22
From the Bedford Sentinel.
DR.. JAMES SAUNDERS AND THE MIXED.
BASIS.

u,
BASIS.
Our readers are aware The vote in the Convention nm
on the substitute Of Robert II. Scott RECOGNISING he
mixed basis the proper basis OF representation has
been taken and the substitute rejected We lament
this result and charge the defeat upon of our own
deleea,es-Dr James Saunders, OF Lynchburg His
vote was all that was necessary to the adoption OF the
mixed basis and hisvote was likewise all that was me-
cessary to its rejection. He voted in direct violation
of his deliberate and voluntary promises and pledges
made to the people when he was candidate Tor the
office which he now holds, and in opposition to the
wishes and opinions Of The people OF this distrct-he
voted against the mixed basis, and thereby defeated
it! When the vote on the question was being taksu
and his called, he gave no other explanation
OF his vote than to have read paper which, he SAID
he intended, at the proper tme to offer as an amend
resenation in the one House on the Suffrage basis,
and in the other on Federal numbers.
DR.. Saunders may call this "an explanation" if he
chooses, but it will give but little satisfaction his dis
the Convention, what were his opinions on this most
important question, and what did he tell they were
Did he tell US that he was then Uhite bass man, either
in whole or in part OF course, he did not. Did he
tell US that he was opposed to the mixed basis No
man will pretend that he did. Did he tell that he
was IN favor OF compromises and concessions and that
he preferred the suffrage basis in branch Of the
Legislature aud the federal basis in the other We
have heard any human being intimate that he held
any such notions because suspected it, we pre-
sumo, until the late development the floor of the Con-
VouuOu. UHut, tneU, uu L6 lel us! lie snail an
the question hmselft from his printed Circular
addressed to the people Of Bedford and Campbell nile
he as candidate for the seat which he now occupies
and protesting to be expose Of his views and prin-
clples on the various questions OF constitutional reform
Here 1t is Ia apportoning representation whatever
were my opinions twenty years ago-teinpora mutantur
ct nos mutanur in iiis'-I AM A CLEAR AND DECIDED
ADVOCATE FOR THE MIXED BASIS AS BEING BOTH JUST
AND WISE. With this expression OF opinion, Dr. Saun-
deIs was elected TO the Convention He yell knows
he could not have been elected with any other opinions
on this vital question
1t was known that he was member of The Conven.
ton in 1929, and then was whe basis man. He pro-
fessed 10 have changed with the times upon that ques.
ton aud had become "a clear and decided advocate tor
the mixed basis" and why Because the mixed basis
was both just and wise"
he had told the people that he considered the mix
ed basis as un,o1se and unust-or tor any easSh that
ne would not have voted for it, ho,D many, among the
host OF his personal and poll ical friends in Bedford and
Campbell, would have vo'ed for him We know but
lew VINO, IN our opinion, would have supported HIM.
Have we not then right, which tain believe
the DR.. himself will moi dispute, 10 complain OF his vote
on the basis question? Detection in the East had been
predicted before the assembling of The Convention, but
no man looked for it in the delegation from Campbell
and Bedford. We confess are disappointed-gtiev-
ouSly so.
ltSeems there was change going on ia The Dr's
mind OF which he was hardly aware himself, and OF
which, certainly, his deuded constituents knew moth
ing; and without giving them the least previous inma-
ton OF lat the moment when they coniiding i'm
pcy i'll his pledges and in his tirmness 10 carry out
the measure OF which he had declared himself tho eedr
nd decided advocate, be recorded his Vote against
ii and defeated it, ii S vote alone would have saved
It, and, Ut course, he is responsible Tor its defeat
He will pardon US for concluding this paragraI
with his own favoite quotation, than which can
See nothing appropriate at this time-teanpora lu-
tdHtu ct nos mutapur in Mis'-lhe times are changing
aud we are changing with hem.