Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

which lie declares is mali due Where has OIL
Eirg!nias sense of Justice gore. when they deny rs tha
which che OF her most distinguished admits
will not half repa, US: Where is her Justice gone
whsn lhcv treat rs unworthy Of confidence and pn!ica
equality those who have Defended them through to
and danger. disease and death if gentlemen dstrls
tosc hardy sons Of the mountains Il Is because they
know them moi They k.vS no, ;icir love of liberty
iIcr deep devotion to the rights Of Lan their strong
of justice and equality, and their undyns patriot
ism. They always have ani always will be rs devoted
to their country and its liberties rs the needle to the
poles. And if tie period should come, (Which may
God in mercy forbid; :hen The liberties OF this country
Shall be DESTROYED and the Of hope TO the world shall
sct IL rise more forever then amid the rcary desc
laons OF th: darkest hour those same people will be-
found keeping their ho! ygi's around the alter Of free
dom, bathing lis feet with their scaldng tears and
watching witt, painful! anxiety the last lingering ray
that shall be emitted from that uminary
Re,aarAs IF .Nr .N.lH7I'. # Ncnrg IN Committee Of
til" lFhoI". lieaMssd"p, prji ah 1851.
Mr.. MARTIN, OF Henry. have been patient and
nlt,cEiyc listener for large portion Of the time 10
The able discussion, that has occupied this Committee,
Tor more than weeks. ] had determined, from
considerations, deemed proper By myself, no to take
any part in this d:Scs>!on-a decentralization
which IN Ill probability sho'ld moi have departed. but
.nr the frequent aG! direct illusions. which have 1ccI
made the district which nave IL. honor. in part 10
represent upon t floor. If other gentlemen and dis
tn.Ishc gentlemen have expressed their "nbarr3>s-
mcat 1T earlier period of this discussion III speaking
upon exhausted bcct and 10 wcarled Auditory,
assure YOU, Mr.. Chairman. that il is with no affected dill
idencc that engage in this debate without that prcpa-
ration and arrangement al my views which Is not only
iuc to myself but TO Ike suhect and 10 this body: ior
whatever may have been said in certain quarters about
The character Of this Conrcntnn will venture the opu
ion that no gentleman has participated in this discus
ion, who has mol 10 it impressed with the fact that
he aIdre. sing highly intelligent, asscmhlage.
complain oino gentleman, who la. thought proper
10 refer 10 The district which in part, represent. 1t
has hccn done in courteous, and legitimate course Of
debate and only IN The rl2dation and presentation OF
their Views, after the manner which gentlemen have
thought hest. Allow me To say that the peculiar inter
est, which gentlemen from certain quarter feel or that
section OF country, from which come. is Of recon;
origin for perceive by reference 10 the debates Of that
distinguished body Of mcD who assembled in the city n
Richmond some iwrntr years ago. 10 revise the State
Constitution, that the great Captain ri the Western for
ees tic late Philip Doddrlgc in the presentation Of
nj views, IN his opening speech upon the question OF the
DaS: Of representation refers with peculiar interest TO
The con,ic. oil Patrick and Henry and that he makes
an effort which is carried out TO eXcn, in tine
O. discussion here Ia identify their advocacy OF
reform :"h hcir support of the white suffrage basis OF
repre- cntnon. Standing in the relation do TIC pco-
pic Of the three counties, which compose my district,
Patrick, Franklin and lienryonc Of them the county
Of ms nativity and present residence another for ten
years the county Of my adoption and having been prose-
cutting my profession than fifteen years. it all OF
them and thrown continually into dircc, intercourse with
the people OF those counties under such circn-
stances 10 De Gn0rdnf of their views upon this or any
other subject, should regard myself wholly inexc
sable. But if were TO rome here and knownpy Eisrc-
present their views. wishes opinions upon this
other great question: likely to he made the subject Of
rcbcra ions. should regard myself as rccrcpnt 10 eve
~ principle. which should control faithful representa-
tive and every consideration. which should govern the
conduct of an honorable man.
| was not fortunate in my canvass as some gentle
men, who have addressed this Convention 1t vas not
ny coed fortune 10 have been honorcd with seat upot
this Ioor without announcing mysefas candidate. aac
without participating in the caayaS.-nor did adopt
the policy resortcd 10 BY various gentlemen from different
parts Of The state, Of presenting chart card, in which
: contained M opinions upon the various que. tion
OF reform vet will venture 10 assert that in no iii, ics
IN thi; Commonwealth all the great questions OF
Constitutional reform canyaSScd, more extensively hal
they We're in the district from which come. Early IL
the month o! June last in company with some ten c;hcl
gentlemen of my district. commenced the canvass
which was kept up through the dog-Iays, until the ior
Thursday in .ing.t. and the people b. each and all oil
s addressc, not only at every Court house in tho
district! but ii nearly every nes hcIhood from the 10,
of The blu: mountains III the county oi Patrick. IL the
Siaurcn river in The county Of Franklin. We were in.
vitcd arbcu- gotten up b. the people themselves ;c
and present our :iGws upon hc yariou, Questions
Of Constitutional reform. There were three separate
ickcts-thc Conservative ticket, embracing three gen
.!cncn of character and distinctions the white basis
ticket, headed by my friend end colleague from the cotn
Is OF Patrick, ably supported b. young gentleman OF
ability and extensive and influential family connexions
from the co,n.r-anda gentleman, u member 0i
tho bar from The co:tv o Henry who colitsscr s;.s
tanned himself ably, ard five Eii=eG basis reforncrs in
tic field and not OIL: u" question Of The basis Of repre-
scuaior. discussed iu!iv nj every meeting bat ali
the questions Of Constitutional reform we're ll!, debated
in every county in my district In the very first speech
made | announced that the principle OF representa-
tion which world govern my conduct should | be
honorcd with their su!irages, must be such principle
would protect all the diversified interests of lie
Commonwealth, and that should not under arv state OF
things, support any basis of RESERVATION, which world
not Afford full and adequate protection TO all the rights oil
Eastern Virginia maintained throughout the district
and during the entire canvass. that if the mixed basis o
representation, the basis of white population aud tax
alton combined effected that object as believed il
would not having IFS details, that should suppo.
as the correct basis OF reprcs snuton This state
things was maintained in the district do 10 S day:
before The election II was perceived on all sides Thai
We had AL unequal contest, 20 long the conscrvatn
and white basis tickets organized with each three
candidates. il was therefore though; best 10 arrange
ticket, with three uiXyd basis rcormcrs, they nigh
be upon cqa footing with tie three mixed basiS costr
varcs and the three white basis rci0rmcrs The eta
Vas that 81 TIC candidate withdrew, lea ing ioI,r tIp
u.e reform Inixcd pass. ticket against lrce iaiy.. In
IS conservatives ami three white basis cclormers lie gc
suit Of Inc election The selection o! NV yong friend
ard colleague from. the county III franklin Mr. G. Al,
ncaSg,j and Of ny venerable friend and colleague fr.n
the couaty OF Patrick, (Ilr. stuart and OF myself
lis the every where and in that district as e!sc
where, that ocr than the questions Of principle enter
cd extent INTO the canvass. am aware tha
some 7l,c basis voted for me, upon the grod ;ha
was an advocate OF reform, ard doubtless other, from
personal considerations, but il is equally true tina, som,
mixed basis men supported ny friend from Patrick Ir
S7vAErC An! If 10 any extent personal consideration
controlled TIE result THAT election. so far from interim,
as gentlemen who have addressed this Committee bay
done, thai the personal strength and popularity Of n,
young friend from Franklin. ilIr CLAlpoayE) and nv
self accounts Tor tie result it is much mere fair 10 nft
that the gentleman, who was distinguished member o
the Convention Of lS29-2G, who had been for q ion.
time. the Democratic ecctor in that Democratic district
and who had been also member Of Congress OF IN
United States, had derived mo.e benefit from persona
influence and personal considerations than did my youn
friend and myself. Thus stands my district upon hi
question.
1t might here DC thought necessary by some, that
should notice the proceeding Of public meeting held
the county OF Patrick and presented to this body e,
weeks since BY my colleague, r. STrAnr But the OF
ect of that meeting and the extent to which my conlnc
here should be controlled by those resolutions Of n<tru
tinns is we'll understood in my district-and in n
fof bn,t hon &c ID, IL