Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-06

dent tor it then, how comes it that the same pre-
cedent will not sustain 1t now? 1t is true that thu
mixed basis gives the East majority in the Ieeis
| lature, but that majority Gin house of l5O) i,
less by nine than the East now has IN house O
1856; less by four than it would be entitled to or
| federal numbers, and less by taoo than it would
be entitled TO on the plan proposed las
| summer by one of my honorable colleagues
(Mr. Botts) and then presented by him
very distinctly as perfectly fair and Just COM
promise of this vexed question between the East
and the West. With what propriety, then, can
it be said that the advocates of the mixed Basis
are insisting on an extreme proposition and dis
playing an incorporating spirit? They are in
sistng merely on that principle which the East
offered as ga fair compromise in 1929, and
on which it has stood from that dav to ths--the
principle on which the present Convention itself
is organized, and to which this district owes, Its
representation in that body--the principle that
''enters into and forms part" of that very Conven-
ton Bill which the people of this city have en-
dorsed at the polls by majority of 1878 votes; the
people of this district by majority of l,4el votes.
and the people of the State by majority of more
than 25 900 votes.
For what was the question submitted to the
people by that Convention Bill, and on which
they voted in April last? Not the naked ques-
ton, Will you have a Convention or not? but,
Will you have Convention, organized as pro-
posed by this bill? that is, Convention organized
on the mired Basis Of achite population and toua-
ton equally coanbined And how was this question
responded to by those to whom it was addressed?
Did any man in this district lift up his voice
against the Convention because it was to be Or
ganized on the mixed basis?--upon basis which
gave US six delegates instead of one that might
give us three or four? If so, have yet to see
of 10 n,
people of this district, by an almost unanimous
vote, declared themselves in favour of just such
Convention as the bill proposed to organize: that
IS, "a Convention on the mixed Basis, and none
other" and elected their delegates accordingly.
And are we now to be told, that it was entirely
right to call the Convention on the mixed basis,
but that it is entirely wrong to organize the Lee
gislature on the same basis?
l confess had always supposed that it was the pro.
vince OF the Convention to frame the organic law,
it is the province of the legislature enact the ordinary
laws and know not on what ground consistent with
reason and common sense it is to be maintained that
the same principle which is altogether proper appi
cable to the one should be utterly discalded in the
ganization ofthe other. On the contrary it seems
me that if was right to call the Convention on the
mixed basis, it cannot be wrong to organize the Legis
laure on the same basis.
To this principle OF the mixed basis thus practically
applied worked out had been in the orgzanza.
ton OF the present Convention stood pledged before
my election, and by that pledge shall abide. 1 have
done all in my power to engra this principle on the
constitution. lhaye done nothing, directly Indirect
y, to prevent its adoption Ii for this it shall be my
fortune to be condemned or denounced by any-be tso
l shall at least have the consolation OF feeling that
have pursued that course which dictated alike by
every principle ofrepresenatvc duty and every senti-
| ment oil personal honor.
Since the receipt your communication have had
occasion in the debate in Committee of the Whole
to express my views on the ssubject in
marks, which, hope, will shortly be published, and
to which beg leave respectly to refer. In the
| time will content myself with saying here that among
the many extraordinary propositions in political
nomy, government and morals land perhaps might
add religion too) to which this debate has given BIRTH
land their name islegion) the least remarkable in
my humble judgment, is the idea that the Underwater
people, and especially the tdewa cities, ought as
matter of interest to go for the white basis, or the
suffrage basis. which is in effect the same: Under
! the mixed basis Underwater has Al delegates
viii ST under the white suffrage basis she has but
| 3l-being loss OF ten members and difference of
twenty votes. Under the mixed basis the tide water
cities retain in their own hands the power of mould
ing and directing the internal improvement policy of
the State to bring trade and to their own
doors, and to render profitable their lines OF i'm
provemen,t in the prosecution OF which they have
already incurred such heavy burdens - burdens,
the weight OF which the people OF this city have
too much reason to know and feel Under the white
or suffrage basis on the contrary the Legislative power
of the State will pass to other hands, for by it there Is
majority OF fourteen west of the Blue Ridges that is
in the Valley and the Trans-Aleehany country. And
then the practical question is, will the delegates coming
from the Valley and Trans Allegheny country be most
likely to make railroads. every foot of which will be
in their portion OF the State, carry their produce
to Baltimore, TO make them in other portions OF the
State to bring that same produce to Richmond Nor
folk With the power to raise money in the East in tue
proportion OF two dollars one, and spend in the
West in the proportion of three dollars to nothing
are we to be told that this power will be used
by those 10 whom by this suffrage basis you propose
10 contde il! Or are we TO be persuaded that
such are the superior advantages of markets that
the Western delegates, with the absolute power
to do in this respect precisely they think proper
will rather 81 end their money among u.s. to get to
Richmond and Norfolk, than spend our money among
themselves to get to Baltimore And this too, when
we know that the North West already trades TO Bali-
oe,whle the extension OF the railroad from Winchester
- Staunton, and from Staunton by the way of Gov
ngton to the Ohio the hand and up the Valley
to the Tennessee Rail Road Salem. in the county Of
Roanoke, the other, will bring the Central West and
the South West n direct connection with the city,
thus tapping the Central Rail Road at Stanton and
the Tennessee Rail Road at Salem, and carrying d.
recty to Baltimore that Western trade and travel TO,
which the tide water cities OF Virginia have been so
long struggling, and which, told is to build up
Manchester at Richmond, and Liverpool at Nor
folk 10 accomplish this most disastrous result ocar
ryng trade and travel away from instead OF bringing
them to u.s. it is only necessary to construct rail roads,
every foot owhch will lie in the Valley and the Tans
Allegheny country, and every dollar employed in the
construction OF which will be expended here and YET
it is that section OF the State that the tide water peo
pie, and the tide water cities, asked by this white
basis transfer the absolute sway and this too, on
grounds of expectancy and matter of Interest,"
comprehend the position OF the who advocates
the white suffrage basis the ground of principle,
however may differ with him. as do, utterly and abso.
lutey but as TO this argument OF expsdiency, by which
the tide people and the Underwater cities are to be
induced to give up their represen in The Leg
and strip themselves ofthe power OF voting their own
money to bring trade and travel to their DOORS in
order that ether people may that same money in
building roads to carry that trade and rave some
where else, confess that, in my humble judgment, it
pas.eth all understanding.
As respects the arbitrary apporonment of represent
tation so as to give an equal number Of delegates East
and West of the Blue Ridge, l am opposed to this
scheme, not only because of the pledges under which
elected. but other geounds. to one or two of
which only can within the limits OF this reply venture
advert, and even that must do very briefly In the
first place, suppose you divide the representation as
TO give seventy five members East and seventy-hve
West-upon what principle will YOU apporlion