Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-27
HE INES TERA
Col. Randolph and his Constituents.

Col. Randolph and his Constituents.
The Charlottesville Advocate referring to the
resolutions, touching Col Randolph's votes in the
Convention, adopted by the citizens OF that coun-
tv at the late general musters of the two reg-
nents of the county, says:
at will be seen that he is instructed. with
Piled unanimity to move reconsideration OF the basis
and then vote tor resembling 1t; Or failing
10 do so, he is requested to resign.
"Itwas objected to the meeting held here on April
Court day. that small to give instructions tor
the people of Albemarle; but we presume that this
ground will hardly be taken The two regiments
embrace all the adult males of the county between the
numbers those who should nave o6 sen pen
were absent it is reasonable to suppose that majority
OF the voters OF the county participated IN and anprov-
ed of the proceedings Of the meeting 1t would be very
difficult, nay might say impossible, to assemble so
large number OF the voters any other OCCASION ex-
eept upon the day OF an important election The ln-
atructons them must be regarded expressing almost
the unanimous sense of the people of Albemarle with
regard to the compromise OF the basis question recently
adopted by the Convention.
sit is stated that similar instructions will very soon
be sent from Nelson"
Col. Randolph, is his card to his constituents,
says:
81 ask your Instructions whether l shall move, &C.
cording notice this day given, in pursuance OF re-
cent instructions rece ved by me from Albemare, to
reconsider the vote adopting the compromise, with
view to its rejection. will obey implicitly whatever
way you decide. | ask that the instructions be
unequivocal, that lmay not be left in doubt that they
be by sigma ture poll and from majority OF the vO
ters II no such expression Of opn ion is given, shall
be bound consider the district as dissenting, and shall
decline the reconsideration the 18th OF June.
desire most ardenty 10 be instructed one way or the
other according your pleasure wish TO be relieved
ofthe responsibility. 1t disruption OF the State must
come desire you to take that responsibility con.
TESS, with doubtful expression Of your will, should
the reconsideration with most painful sense OF
the ultimate effects OF my action"
From this it is manifest that Col. Randolph is
not satisfied with the regimenta muster instruc-
tons, which unquestonaby furnish as conclusive
evidence ofthe sentiment of the great majority of
the people as it is possible to obtain Should the
citizens OF Albemarle put themselves to the trou-
Bile of holding poll, or signing their names to
reconsideration of the Compromise, they will
still be great way off from constraining him to
act in accordance with their views. After voting
against the mixed basis which the Eastern men,
bers had agreed to support 0he substitute OF Mr..
Scott of Fauquier) with the excuse that it was
not the precise mixed basis which he UNDER
stood to be the mixed basis of the Convention of
1929 and then, because of instructions from his
district, undertaking to vote only for proposition
as being the mixed basis intended by his con-
stituents, it was plainly 10 be seen that Col Ran
dolph was fully determined to disregard the
spirit of his instructions. 1t is impossible for the
people, in their primary assemblies, or in written
expressions of their views to contemplate all the
issues that may arise in parliamentary contest
Hence if delegate really desires to thwart their
wishes, it is very easy tor him to do so; and we
do not believe the people of the Albemarle dis
trict can contrive instructions which will hold
COL Randolph fast. His proclivity to desertionis
in one part of the body, and it will break out in
another. We observe that his apologist in the
Charlottesville Jeffersonian has justified his vot-
ing against the substitute, which was simply the
principle of the mixed basis Invested of all details
of apporlionment, by asserting that it would have
made SHE State Wing forever and day." and
claims credit for his votes against striking out
proposition A, of which the same authority re-
marks: ave ourselves think, from all we can
gather, IL uas an effort TO defraud The whigs of
their rights" The defence is certainly as con-
sistent as the subject of it.
The following passage in Col. Randophs card
demands word of commentary:
con the Is h., the report ofthe compromise committee
SLIGHTLY modified was again introduced with com.
lar but extending the time OF submission TO the people
20 1870 requiring re-apportlonmen OF the Senate on
taxation and the House OF Delegates suffrage in
1860 aud giving the West 2 majority on Joint ballot,
by giving the East H. instead of 10, In the Senate. This
proposition would have cen voted for by large ma
jory of the Eastern delegation. Mr.. SCOTS motion
was to strike out the report OF the compromise commits
lee and insert his. The question being divided was
lost the motion to strike OUT he Eastern delegation
voting for itwith few exceptions. The only alternative
was TO vote between these two propositions There
was no other before the Convention took that which
appeared safest for The East Alter abo.ious exam.
nation of the Auditors report, back TO the year 1920
and testing the ratio OF increase in the West oftaxaon
and population believe that by Mr.. SCOTS PROPOSE
ton, the West in 1860 would have large majority in
the lower House, and the Eastern majority in the Sen
ate be reduced to or g. Thought certain majority
IN the Senate for is years better protection to
the East against excessive taxation"
If we did not entirely misunderstood Col. Ran
dolph's remarks when he submitted his proposition
for mixed basis, on the principle of adding all
the white people to the dollars paid in taxes, and
dividing the aggregate by $50, to find the divisor
for one delegate, he distinctly argued that, al
though the rule would at present reduce the East
ern majority, the reduction ,oouldb be more than COM
pe''saed hereafter By the greater relative increase in
the taxation Of the East. Now this is directly in.
consistent with his argument against Mr.. Scott's
Compromise, that the reapportonmentt proposed
of the Senate after the first ten years, would reduce
the Eastern majorty TO six Or eight. 1t is worthy
of notice that Col. Randolph commits some errors
in his statement of Mr.. SCOTS proposition. Tie
basis of taxation in Senate of so would give the
East IA majority, instead of ia. and Mr. Scott
proposed reappcrionment on the same principle
n 1861 or 2, instead of 1860.
Mr., Fnqua explained in the Convention,