Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-10
speech of Hon. JOHN VI. Bolts, in the yir-
sihia Reform Convention, In Committee of the
Whole, Monday. April 81
TIE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.


sinia Reform Convention, in Committee of tn
"hoic, Monday, April 81.
TILE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
The Convention then resumed the consideration i
Committee of the Whole, Dir. MILLER in the Chair, .
TIE report of the committee on the basis and appurtol
ment OF Representations
;, The CHAIR stated the question TO be Oh the propo
si'Inn of Mr.. Scorr, of Fauquicr
hr. BOTFS. BY the general acqiiescence Of thi
u.J anu ny lis courtesy, was permitted on Saturda
last, TO occupy the floor this morning in presenting
proposition IL the consideration Of the Convention
winch IS moi strictly within the rules Of parliamentary
order, but which thought was better 10 be pre-
schtcd now, so that il might have its due weight am
consideration with the Convention, before any vot
could be taken upon any of the other propositions We
before it. That proposition which have submitted
compromise upon this great question: was laid upo
The table Saturday and has been this morning for tin
hrst time, placed in the hands OF members. The prop
osltion is in the following words
81. The Legislature shall be formed Of two distinc
branches, which together shall BIO called the Genera
Assembly Of Virginia.
=. One of these shall he called the House of Dele
gates and shall consist Of one hundred and fifty mem
bcrs; seventy five of which shall be chosen for and b.
Tie several countless cities and towns living east of thu
Blue Ridge of mountains, and tho other scvcntv-liy
from those counties, cities and towns lying West of TIT
Blue Ridge
3. The other shall be called the Senate, and shall
consist OF members, half of which number
snail be chosen Tor and by those counties, cities ant
towns lying East Of the Blue Ridge, and the other hal
Tor and by those counties, cities and towns living Yves
OF the Blue Ridge; for which purpose each division
the State lying East and West of the blue Ridge shall
DC laid oil into DISTRICTS and each district sllaI
be entitled to one representative.
4. There SHAH be uniform system of nd valorcIr
taxation upon every description and ecies Of proper
" in the commonwealth real, pcrsoiiM and mixed, ex
cept such as may be specially exempted by vote OF
two-thirds OF each branch of the Leg islaturc.
s. 1t shall not be lawful for the Legislature to create
public debt, without at the same time or during the
same session, providing for the payment of the same
by increasing the rate Of per ccntagc of taxation in such
manner and TO such extent may be sufficient TO meet
the payment Of the debt when il becomes due. No bill
apprnpratl!!s sum of money exceeding dollars
shall become law except by vote of a majority OF
the whole number elected Of each branch Of the 1egis-
aturc.
That is the proposition which present as a fair, just
and equitable compromise between the east and the
west.
Mr.. Clairmal am not insensble TO the peculiarly
Of the position which occupy upon this floor an
eastern representative. know that al this moment
stand almost solitary and alone upon this question |
indulge the hope shall not stand alone by the time this
question shall hc put 10 The final vote have not tho
power the coqurncc Of my friend who sits before me-
Mr.. GoopE. and who concluded his remarks Sal!
urday to enable TO deal with this question in the fig
shall not deal with ca,aracts and cliffs, the
and the green fields of the mountains. shall address
plain. dry, fear embarrassing argument. 10 tho
reason and To the judgment Of this Convention and
pccialIy to tho Judgment of the people Of eastern Nr
gra.
am not unaware of the fact that the grosscst mis-
apprehension, the grosscst misrepresentation have
been made in regard TO the real character of tic
promise have proposed, and that there is at this time
some slight degree Of public prejudice existing asans,
it, Notwithstanding that. approach the subject with
out tie slightest degree Of embarrassment or dldencc
except that which arises from m apprehension of my
deficiency and want of capacity to do justice to
this great question
have heard much, very much-much from both
sides of this question in which / cannot concur
have heard great deal to which | am forced by
nv nature To dissent, and which i'll my Judgment
would admit of IN easy answer. desire TO avoid the
necessity of answering my one, or OF attacking any gen
teinans position wish 10 deal with primer Piles and
not with individuals or their positions | know that
when attack the position of any gentleman upon this
floor that make him ut eieny to the plan thn
I myself have proposed. This il natural. There are
few me1 who resist aud overcome this common feel
in, of our nature 1t is evidence Of superiority Of
mind when you do fnd an Instance so rare. wish
could persuade myself that was altogether free from
its influence and that could rise superior to it myself
There stand before this Convention for its couLcra
lion three distinct propositions. Mine is not yet be-
fore it. have only Indicated my purpose to offer 1t at
the proper time, when it shall become in order to do
The first proposition is hat which sgenerally known
40 Schedule 4 the second proposition is COMMONLY
know, as Schedule B; tic first being an eastern propo
st;ou for the mixed basis with apportivnment Of re-
,rs.su,atiDl aad the second western proposition for
Suffrage basis The third proposition is substitute Of
lr.d b. the gentleman from Fauqucr, (AIr. ScoTT,)
which recognizes the mixed basis, and presents a
portnnnlcnt .
wish it to be understood that upon this question
10 nt pretend stand upon eastern western grounds
stand here acknowledging and recognizing my obliga
finn Of fidelity Ia nv immediate constituents and
nr dutv to tis great commonwealth recognizing no
more obligation ur nlegianc TO the counties of Neck
l,nnrr lltsyyaua and Halifax than do to the coul
ties of kunawha, Augusta and Ohio.
In reference to these several plnns-if had no
mat arnl objection to urge matter OF argument
Or OF princip!e-it would be enough Tor me to know
that YOU cannot recognize adopt either the mix
pl lr.is or the white basis, without rendering the
Constitution which YOU are to present to the PEG.
nle of Virginia. unacceptable to ut least one hall
II This State My purpose and my desire il. MS far as
can rs any possibility to present Constitution that
will be acceptable to ull-tat will give power to none
except the porer Of protection.
find 401 lo4 white persons in eastern Virginia pny-
,v tax amounting to :3lT 34suT, lind claiming upon
Inc floor of the Legislature of Virginia majority Of
io,lrteen members | find the other hand white
,opulation in the western part OF Virginia, amounting
% 494, 743 persons, and paying tax of sls5a.'2l'
.laing also majority of fourteen in the Legislature
Now is this question fit for compromise IL Ii SUB
Get that ought or ought not to be compromised Is II
subject that can cannot be mpronised-conpro-
missed to the satisfaction Of ALL and with dparagement
700 and sacrifice of principle upon the part OF nonei !!
! my task On this day 10 undertake to show that II
,upht to be- and can be compromised. For what pur-
bose does the east desire mn ority of fourteen III tne
cnslatiye halls of this Commonwealth ID II TOT Tue
protection Of their property? If it is. it will he my
ask to show that by the compromise have rresehtG'
hat security is more ample and more permanent tfh ev
,nv other proposition that has been presented cay 10
Lc east il YOU want fourteen majority, for the pnr
nose of obtaining po for powers sake to Cypress ts
west, ciH not gire TO non. will give you PoM' ~
protect yourselves but not to aPprcs' others WIN s
10 the vest that If YOU want your majority OF fourteen
for the sake of porer and power only VIII ",'hno.u
sower from you then except the power TO sut
selves against the oppression OF the other WI! esa
in this constitution of Virginia no principle 'e coeIs
the constitutional power one man or one SCI % men,
onnrcss another man or set Of men, but FIJI give
och tho mower to otecttieuselves what i@ei pray
eastern gentlemen Of Virginia, is to DC maoe OF ts
mower; You would not ask me to give you power
You would not ask to be given power by any one 10
,ress any portion OF your fellow-ctizehs ana you u"
not mean to use the power thus 1t Is an idse ana ur
maut power fit for nothing but to beset n!sciei' ois
cord excitement and jealousy among tic Inherent parts
of the State.
II was with this feeling that entered upon INC III
lion Of this subject, satisfied as was that some
W Ill hc ,dopt cd which would avoid the difficulty