Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-09
The Western Committee made the fol-
lo,v;nc nronositions successiyely.

| maftec Of Conference, dPPof"fe" ~
| friends of equal representation. TO the
Committee Of Conference appointed oy
the Ec,tern members Of the Contention,
in Joint Committee, Saturday, May 10,
1851. :,
LIST. That the House Of Delegatessbali
he annortioned on the mixed basis as IN
proposition A, excluding the capltation
tax on free negroes, giving to the counties.
SC. living east Of the Blue Ridge major
tv ofthirteen in house Of one hundred
and fifty members.
That the Senate be apportioned accord
ing to the qualified voters, giving to the
western division of the State majority OF
two in Senate of thirty-six members.
That in the year 1862 both Houses OF
the General Assembly be apportioned ac-
cording to the number of the qualified vo-
tiers of the commonwealth.
I'd. The same as the preceding, except
that instead of mandatory provision IN
the Constitution for the appointment OF
both Houses upon the suffrage basis IN the
wear 1862, provision be inserted requir-
ing the General Assembly in the year 1862,
to submit the question to the qualified vo-
tiers of the State, whether the same plan OF
representation shall be continued, or whe-
tber both houses of the General Assem-
bly, shall be apportioned according to the
qualified voters.
Sd. So to modify the first proposition
submitted by the Eastern Committee as to
provide that the House ofDclegates shall
consist of 15G members appointed accord
ing to the qualified voters, and the Senate
of so members apportioned upon taxation
exclusive to taxes on licenses, law process
and free negroes, giving in the House of
Delegates majority of IA to the west and
in the Senate majority of Ia to the east
with provision that in the year 1862 both
Houses be re-apportioned according to the
qualified voters.
4th. That both Houses be apportioned
on the mixed basis as in proposition A.,
excluding the capitation tax on free ne
proes, and SO to continue until the year 1862
when the House shall be Inexperienced ac-
cording to the number Of the qualified vo-
tiers.
The above propositions were success
lively made accordingto the order IN which
they are here given and were each accom-
panied by the declaration OF the Western
Committee of the entire readiness on their
part, and on the part Of those for whom
they acted, to unite in any and every pro-
per limitation upon the legislative power
| in regard to taxation and appropriation,
and the protection and security OF proper
ty.
Resolved, That a committee OF five be
appointed to inform the eastern meeting
that this meeting has unanimously APPROX
ed and adopted the report of their com
mittce of compromise, and 10 confer fur
Their, If requested, with commltteeon the
part of the eastern meeting; and to inform
that meeting, through Its committee, that
tlis meeting can accept Of no plan Of com
promise which does not ultimately, in a
reasonable time, recognize re-apportion-
mcnt on the suffrage basis, or the submis-
sion of the question of re-apportionment to
the decision qualified voters at the polls.
hope YOU will examine these several
propositions of Compromise, coming as
they did, from committees composed Of the
most ultra men, and compare them with
the one which has been adopted by the
Convention. 1t will be observed that each
proposition of the western members, was
accompanied with the explicit declaration
of the committee ofthe entire readiness on
their part, and on the part Of those for
whom they acted, to unite in any and every
proper limitation upon the legislative pow
cr in regard to taxation and appropriation,
and the protection and security Of proper
| ty. left the meeting before the propo-
siiions were reported, and must acknowl-
edge that | was no little surprised when |
first saw them, and then became satisfied
that compromise was inevitable, and not
until then.
Soon after the Convention met on the
morning ofthc 18th, Mr.. Martin Of Henry,
moved that committee of eight members
be apponted-four from the East and
four from the West-to take into consid-
Grafton and report to the Convention, a
fair and proper adjustment of the principle
of representation in both Houses Of the
General Assembly. After some inmate
rial amendment the motion prevailed by
the larger vote of 74'aycs to 37nays. The
committee was then appointed by a RIGA
rocc vote AT night, the eastern members
held a meeting, and adopted a resolution
pledging themselves to vote down all a
mendments until they could get such a
Compromise as would be acceptable to
the East. Mark the language, Fellow
citizens, q Compromise was all that the
r,1st .a0ao aimed at, having given up the
mixon bas;sin despair.
On tho ith, Mr. Martin, Chairman OF
the compromise com'nltiec,prescnted its re-
port, providing in su,'1staneethat the House
of Delegates be so appo. uoLTd as 70 give
the West II majority in the t. !ouse Oh Dfi-
egates, and the Senate was to e.ye 'He
East 10 majority, and that in 1865, if lie
Legislature could not agree upon an APP
portionmcnt, should submit the question Of
the basis of representation to the qualified
electors of the State. On the next day,
the vote was taken in committee of the
whole, on striking out mixed basis report
a. with the view of Inserting the compro.
mise repe.', voted in the negative and
thereby defeated the motion to strike out
because | had some faint hope LIFT that
proposition A might siill tc adopted. In
This, however, was soon disappointed
for a motion to strike out A was soon made
and carried, I, Of course, voting against
it. That night the Eastern delegates held
another meeting, at which one of the mem
bers declared that he had not only voted
the will of his constituents, but his own
will, to carry out the mixed basis--but, he
was now satisfied it could not pass he
would not therefore be hound by the action
OF that meeting--a compromise rds lHeri-
table. and he musibe left free to select the
best he could get. The meeting then re-
scindcd the resolution adopted It former