Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04
fr,o,t;,ped from Fourth Pdgs.1

;ny barrier betwecn the esat and the west. deny
that any speaker has the right, whilst standing out
against the comp Sc, to enaeavor TO create 'e IN
n1es;on that e compromise will fasten upon this Stat
anv principle ich edangers the property of the east
and thustso bring alarm upon the owners Of peeail't
IN this country "a it not wrong that speeene
sho, made here that will go forth to the cohs: nv,
enc :, stern members, and fall upon their carr In
thcr of fire bell at night, arousinS their ieats up
"a this question: would ask gentlemen II J. Is no
best to do rs have DONE do the best you cam anu IeI
your people thct yon are satisned tnat ti'oIsn l'
not portion of what We have contehue" iof e'e
ore satisfied that the country Will De sa,e IA @ n..
of the people of Virginia Do not wisao i. pruGenee
ond GOOD sense dictate this course Of policy what
"a h Gained by eantlemen declaring that we nave sur
r,ndered everything the demands Of the west, an'
aren I'd everything that was claimed upon the part
the west! >.
+bem ont in the assertion if the facts we're in the
favor md on their side, ask them if prudence, policy
and good sense should not dictate to them auother
wiser and more reasonable course: When 1t wa
whispered around that gentlemen from western
Virginia had been instructed 4 case the miAea 'as
adopted, to Withdraw from this Convention
heard c.;u.rc of that condemned here anu =
plaudad tie condemnation | heard geht'e.'en - ~, o
eastern Virginia. full Of patriotism opening 'nen Np
a this hall and declaring that II .aes nd Te stenS hY s
and the government as 1t Is That IS my
ounraa That was the pledge that made and now
when found that it was impossible to give peace ana
harmony to Virginia unless eoalo acqu'eso.
+ n; + I. ought TO have exhibited on such III oc'
casi to redeem my pledge to my people to stand nS
the ,vernment and do all that could to secure us
sue So. :..,,
ask the members Of this Convention then instean
of making vain appeals to members who have TAKEN
their nosion upon this question shamefuy to retreat
from that position to suffer US to go on anu copese
the work upon this basis question: and let US enter
the dcharee Of our other duties to the people Oh ts
in connection VIII ,h. of III
committee every member here in favor OF the c0Pro
mise is in my opinion ready to see amendments ouelao
in eoud faith, and those that are actually necessary
,na3e and made at once. If there efforts to be
made to interfere with or break up this adjustment,
te! gentlemen frankly that not prepared to- anG
never will surrender the position that have taken oil
this question
Now. one word in regard to the Opposition Of the
distin shed gentleman from t1eorlco' r. BORIS
r opposes this proposti5 and he rays that it will for
ever hut stop Internal Improvements in Virginia
th>t It will do more kill oil the interests of the ie;
hal Improvement party than any other basis that could
BE- adopted BY the Couvt nton If that is the CASE
do not pretend to say that 1t ls-l l taou5ht that
was the case, would not vote for tout think it
ought, at least. to satisfy tidewaier friends.
Mr. RIDLEY. will say, By way Of explanation to
the argument Of the gentleman from Henrco that the
tdewater section do not wish to be placed Ill con
aition where their course Of legislation will DO fac
tiou..
Mr. BowDEN /, is not my wish to occupy u.e itt'n-
ton OF the Convention than some tcn or niteeI
minutes. After the lengthy debate TO which We have
been listening for the last three four hours We're to
detan you any considerable time, lshould be nt!cts
this body cruel but by no means an aassRa pun
ishmeut. Laughter.
Endearoriuu to be concise-intend!nS truthiu!!v to
perform my promise, aud to occupy you, in TACT but
very few moments proceed at once. without intro
duction with what haze to say my design being Jes
,inare IL medas res, and not to linger loer on the
oH.skirts.
Before doing this beg the indulgence OF passing
word to those gentlemen VIII" have been 80 kind and
confederate of our welfare to otter their friendly nd
vice to of the east who think proper to advocate and
maintain the compromise So far that advice touches
tn relations existing between and constituents
+ sax 10 these kiud-hearted and nuassumn5 friends
that the question contained in scripture is pertuea aud
appropriate to them Who made YOU a ruler or Il
Judge another Eaans servant To his own master
lie otauduth alleth intend to stand or fall IN re
gard to this compromise, before my constituents;
and occupying, as firmly believe do occupy, posi-
ton which is entirely consistent with their interests
and which is carrying out substantially and IN the spirit
these pledges which made to them when became
candidate had until within the last half hour deter
mined not to take part in this discussion, but to remain
an unobtrusive and quiet tcor in these exciting scenes
conscious of my rectitude, and conhdns irnT III
the Judgment and integrity of an enlightened aud vir,
tuous constituency. The Intended to be pursued
by me shall take with assurance sf right and pro-
DER principles and motives which will be sufficient to
sustain and commend me in my own conscience and to
nv own heart. Nv speech is not intended as defence
condescend to nothing of that kind 1t designed t"
aid and the country especially that part from which
come 10 have proper understanding Of and 10 at
tain correct conclusions concerning most important
and momentous question. Finding erroneous InPrc>
sions concerning that question prevailing even here
there is great danger they will obtain currency else
%to yf,ss.I ho,n
been induced to rise and lend my mid in administering
an antidote.
Mr.. Chairman, come from portion OF the common.
wealth of Virginia which has heretofore neither received
nor asked for any thing at the hands OF the General
Assembly. That district, may be ascertalned from
the reports lying your table, has never received one
solitary cent BY way of appropriation from the LegiSla
ture Of Virginia | was sensibly struck With The inc
when ascertained it. for tell the truth was no
awsre that such the true history OF our legislation
unit! became member of this body and investigated
the documents that have been laid upon your table IL
is nevertheless fact that whilst nearly every portion
Of the commonwealth has received something in the
way of appropriations, the district which have the
honor in part to represent, has never at any tme 40
1rbe eonda to the present moment received one cent
of the public money. We have been no WISE deslrous
of receiving any thing that be raised by the taxing
and approprating powers of the government and hat
yre been "Iet alone" we had been content If YOU are
determined however to make shipwreck OF the public
treasury, We may be forced reluctantly i" ION the
wrecker., and to engage in the general Scramble for
the rich spoils srara nantes in gnrgtte rasto
We have but one thing to ask OF this government and
that is protection to be protected in the pea !i enjoy
uent of our slave property from all aggre let
come from what quarter it may, and to I" sccreG
ppanst onerous and ,xcessve taxation.
To express the same ide 10 manner PERHAPS better
..lcnla ed to communicate my impressions accuratel
and fully. will say that the objects my constituent
desiou to attain by the mixed basis or BY tic fedora
numbsr are two-fold
To protect our slave property from dangerous ant
unjust legislation.
To guard our section of the State from, opressiv'
taxstion which they appreheud may be i:npo.ed Oh
,hem by other portions Of the commonwealth 'r tn
purposs of constructing internal improvement works c.
local character in which neither they nor the State
large has any, or but very little Concern
They have heretofore considered the mixed basis o.
the federal number as al appropriate means by which
these objects might BIO attained; but the grand oo)e
and design which they had in view WAS nc, to Obtain
one basis or another basis end their ends Sc
curity and protection and far as am concerned and
40 far as bslieve their interests their wishes
oo,cerned the means indifferent long the object
10 carried out
In regard to the safety Of slave property enter
tain no sort of apprehension. Most woir will be hs
day to this ealth-let tie blacGness of tn
shadow of death rest upon and enshroud t-whcn, to
,-,orl the slay e.u,oer shall