Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-02

delegates hereby instructed to abandon their seals
aud withdraw from its further deliberations.
With the permission of the Convention VIII make
few remarks in reference to the sixth resolution. IL
will be observed that this meeting was held Oh the Zsl
OF March, three days previous to the adjournment OF
the legislature That they should instruct me III this
matter will not appear to you at all surprising "heh
inform YOU that did not even address the people upon
this subject in my court house was nominated
hy district Convention which sat somewhere about the
;rst Of July in the county of Cabe fortyre miles from
nv home did not enter into the canvass until some
S or erht DAYS subsequent, and then went nto some
counties omy district where never had BEEN The peo-
pe OF that region scarcely knew what my opinions were
anon TIE sui feet Of the basis They took me upon Trust.
They have therefore, perfect right to instruct me
viii, reference to this subject of basis any other mat
ter they think proper connected with my representa-
five duty, having issued no sway bill whatever.
Placed in this situation, trust shall be pardoned
for saving that with whatever regret should leave
this holy before the business, for the TRANSACTION OF
which it was convened, shall have been completed.
will be constrained to do it i'll obedience to their III
structions How my colleagues may act, or what tlies
NAV think about this matter is not for me TO say Su
Gee to say that instructions coming from that cous
try although only out OF the seven counties VI u,
district a large distric-for have very niue uouoI
hut that HE counties will average thousand square
niles cur',-uuless otherwise instructed sla take as
The deliberate opinions, and wish OF the whole district
and act upon them accordingly, cheeriuily ana promptly
Befor, sit down and request the clerk to read the
preamble and resolutions, desire to address single
jr.in,rk 10 the senior member OF the fchmoha dciea
ton if he is in his scat the worthy Chairman OF the
!Comm;.rs, of comfy courts and county organization.
i,,,.na m his remarks and the relation ot his tNe-
cnc, in our little pleasant love feast upon yesterday
N,u,-lter and it was with small degree OF sur
prise that heard him put 20 much stress uFoh 1he
wcrd "pri,ipic" that he would not depart IRON Tie
nrnci Of the mixed basis Now. sir desire that gen
Itema,-iI h. will be kind enough to do so-upon The
very first OCCASION when he is again called up to give
his experience laughter, to tell us what principle
cher, is in the mixed basis. have been anXlously de-
Iibruting about this and must confess that am 50
dull as not TO perceive it if it is matter OF principle
the gentleman stands upon here Ii gentlemen are de-
tarmned to make principle the excuse for carrying out
their views beg that they will satisfy us that they are
doing il in accordance with principle Will the worthy
Chairman of the Committee county courts and county
organizations permit me ask him question or two Ill
reference to this matter. Suppose You put nineteen
tweutieths Of the representation upon taxation, ant
one,wenteth on white population, reversing 1t put
nineteen twentieths of the representation on white pop
uaon and onetwentieth on taxation is not this sth
principle Are YOU departing from the principle
proposition rs elastic this one OF yours IN this basis
nf YOURS is, in my humble estimation no principle al
all
have put myselfto the trouble of examining the detn
tions Of this VOID principle will read them to gen
temea. and lay them upon the table OF the reporter
that they may 60 into the much abused supplement- II
order that the people both Of the east and west may
see and ascertain if they can apply 4 single one Of
the definitions to this mixed basis The authority
bring here is one OF the very highest kind, and have
no doubt will meet with the highest favor 1t Is no;
Webster any Of your American authorizes. Inc
authority bring is the last London edition OF barclay
I IL InE, he ri
on page 7GS 1t defines the word principle rs follows:
Principle, {prncipium q beginning taf) The cause,
source or origin That which denotes thing to be
what it is. In physics, that which contributes to the
essence Of the body In chemistry, the frst ana SIM
pest parts whereof natural bodies compounded, and
into which they are resolved by fire. fundamental
truth from which others are deduced The ground or
motive OF action. 4 tenet position in which morality
is founded
Iron which of these do YOU found your basis:
Besides, l do not understand what they mean Gy
the word mircd applied to this basis OF theirs 1t
is utterly impossible in strict language, insist it
is utterly impossible to mix up money and men,
You may mipgc them together, but mix them
you rsyer can. If you do mix money and men, they
will not stay mixed long.
the gentleman i.o Mason to the RULE BY which some
latitude is given to remarks in presenting memorials
The rules of order to be founr in the manual By
the rule of parliamentary proceeding the gentleman is
limited in presenting memorial to giving a simple
statement Of its contents submit whether 1t Is III or
der to go into the discussion of another question:
Mr. FISHER I cheerfully acquiescc i'll the deci-
sion of the Chair which suppose must have originated
out of the remarks of the gentleman from Orange Sr
WooLFoLE.) Laughter
The SrcrErsgr then read the proceedings of the
meeting % follows:
I'm pursuance Of the previous notice meeting OF the
people Of Mason county was held Mt Point Pleasant on
- ~. 1at - lt,ro andy NJ
BIZ calling the Hon james W. H. Beale to the CHAIR ana
appointing Major Charles Clendenn, Secretary. jaime:
Fl Couch. ESQ. explained the object Of the meeting
and on his motion the Chairman appointed DR.. join
j. Thompson, Ma or Andrew Bryan, John Hall. VIM
W. Newman James W. Choen, Captain Alexander Mc
Causlan,l an! Peter Knopp committee to prepare and
report resolutions expressive of the sense OF the meet
ing.
The committee having retired for short time, re
.urneI AMI reported the following preamble and
lutions which were unanimously adopted
Whereas. the State Of Virginia has long suffered from
the consequence Of government which has neither
provided for the people the greatest degree Of haPp
ness and safety of which she is capable" nor "most
effectively secured them against the danger OF mai
MISUNDERSTANDING aud whereas the ma ollty OF the com
munv in pursuance their indubtable unaenable and
ndeseasibe right desire to reform, alter abolish the
government; in s.ch manner shall be Judged most
lucve to the public veal; and whereas there is now
in session 10 the city of Richmond convention pur-
por,ng to represent that majority and having for its
ostensibc object to effect the desired changes but
which convention is so constituted as that the majority
Of the community have not their proper voice or due
weight in s deliberations we, therefore, ctzsns of the
county of Mason being portion of the aggrieved ma
;or;r observing Inc spirit manifested BY this Conven
lion and anticipating only continuation of our griev
ancns and perhaps all indefinite postponement Of re-
Jress have met III primary assembly to assert our right
onJ declare our views and intentions from which ON
wishes NAV he known and our future action Inferred
Therefore, !, .,.,.,s ;; H.. .,
aggregate will Of the people entrusted to the hands
few for mere purposes Of practical eHect mat tost
few derive no rights immunes or powers in perpetu
ty from being made the temporary agents OF the people
that the will of the majority affords the best ana only
practical test of the whole and that, if the changes M
cdehta to progressive community the power OF gov
eminent should fall into the hands of minor suci
government is upon the very rights of man $3.50 taett
abrcgated and annulled, and can only have temporary
existence until such tipe succession based upof
true principles can be established.
8 ResoLcrG That the maxim that Individual Tree
men are equal, forms fundamental principle IN ou'
government, that as property is not necessary 10 con
sttute freeman and asst is incapable OF conferrne
virtue or capacity, so should not confer government
mower nor Should it be estimated SO as to add to the
public weight ofone or many.
q Resoirc1, That the State Of Virginia, in her nde