Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-23

poiuou Vi out OIesA449o VI = othscscsss 49,
ton ofthe State. shall not deter me from
pursuing that course which drink is nos
only due to thosc whom l have the honor
to represent upon this floor, but which, I
think, will protect all the great interests
Of this proud commonwealth, and will
harmonic and fraternize the feelings Of all
portions of Virginia. Upon it. il we give
the people the reforms that they demand.
constitution can be erected satisfactory
to all, and protecting the interests Of ALL
The mere fact that l am thrown in my con-
ncction here from ono section to another,
will not deter me from pursuing that course
which | think Is not only due to those
whom have the honor to represent, but
right in ITSELF
The Basis or Representation.
The Convention then resumed the con-
sideration in committee of the whole (Mr.
Miller in the chair) ofthe report on the ba-
sis Of representation
The Chair stated that proposition A was
before the committee together with the re-
port from the compromise committeerefcr-
red to it by the Convention.
Mr.. MARTINI of Henry. Isuppose that
it will now be in order to amend PROPOSE
ton A by striking it out and inserting the re-
port Of the committee. Will that be in or
dcrl
The Chair. 1t will.
MIR. MARTIN. Well then, / submit
that motion and on that proposition wish
to make very few remarks. Theremarks
which shall submit will not be SO much
in support at present of the report of the
committee of compromise as explanatory OF
the course Of the committee, and think
that it is not only due to the committee but
due to myself upon the present occasion.
When few days ago this body by the de-
cisive vote of "a to 81 sustained the propo-
sition which had the honor to submit, to
constitute a committee for the purpose Of
seeing ifpossible whether this difficult ques
ton ofthe basis of representation could be
| adjusted, and after had been selected as a
member of that committee, on consultation
with the other three gentlemen from my sec
ton of the State, We agreed unanimously
that We would take no action upon this sub
Jcct until we had taken counsel from the
gentleman with whom we had been acting
for the last three or four months. In this
private conference between these gentle
men and myself, we all concurrcd in the
opinion from very many considerations
not only from his high character but from
the prominent position which he had occu.
pied before the country on this exciting
question of the basis Of representation, thai
there was no gentleman with whom we
could with more propriety confer than with
the distinguished gentleman from the coun
ty Of Fauquier Mr.. Scott.) Accordingly
the evening before we met our western
brethren, we had a conference with tina,
gentleman to see what his views and opin
ions were as to the plan of compromise
that might unacceptable to every portion O
thepeoplc of this commonwealth. Upon full
consultaiionitwasagreed betweenal of us
gentleman from Fauquicras understood
concurring, that if we could get compro
mise with one house based upon taxation
which would give to the east a majority O
fourteen members in the senate, and the
other house based upon the suffrage basi.
which would give to the west majority Of
fourteen in the house of delegates, with a
re-apportionmcnt in 1862 upon the same
principle, and re-aprorlionment in 1870
on thesameprinciple; and in case Of a fail
ure on the part Of the legislature in 1870 to
make such re-apportionmcnt that then the
question Of the basis should be submitted
to Unqualified voters ofthe commonwealth,
that that would form such acompromise as
gentlemen east and west, without any sa-
cri6ce of principle. without any surrender
opposition, might with propriety stand by
not only before this house but before the
country. That being the agreement upon
the part OF the eastern portion of the COM
lmlttee,wc went determined to use every
tar effort upon our part, not in the spirit OF
diplomatists meeting communication from
the agents Of foreign State, but animated
by the spirit that should animate all Virgin
ians upon question of this sort, and to meet
our western brethen in spirit of brother.
hood and to see if it was practicable that
this question of basis could be adjusted and
arranged. We were engaged in our con-
sultations-anxiously, laboriously, painful
ly engaged the entire day and nearly the
entire night succeeding. 1t is useless to
detail before this committee now everything
that occurred. At the proper time if it be-
comes necessary lshalldo so. Suffice it to
say that nothing occurred in that committee
but what each member of that committee
would, | have no doubt, be anxious should
be known to the whole Commonwealth of
Virginia.
After the effort at adjustment had been
made for some time, it resulted in the re-
port which had the honor on yesterday
representing to this body. Although l
am aware that in the opinion of some gen.
tlemcn with whoa, l have had the pleas
ure Of acting and with whom expect to
act IN connection with this subject, that
too much has been surrendered Oh the part
ct eastern Virginia. | yet think that it is
such proposition Of compromise as as
an eastern man, representing eastern inter-
ests, can fully sustain myself in voting for,
before the people whom have the honor
IN part to represent upon this floor. But
as there is an evident indisposition, from
the temper manifested this morning, to 90
INTO any elaborate discussion on this sub
jcct, l will not detain the committee with
any further remarks but will move to strike
out the entire of propositioa A, except the
last section and to insert in lieu thereof the
report of the compromise committee.
Loud Giles of question:
Mr.. SCOGGIN demanded the yeas and
nays and they were ordered.
Bathing I'm the Dead Sea.
Heated and fatigued. we prepared for a
general bathe-asa private party; for the
PILGRIMS determined tn reserve their ener.