Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-15

duty there need be no future quarrels about !ne
of representation If YOU wish to increase ~ IT.,
population or in qualified voters improve YOU W.. rnmb
Connect Yourselves with the interior States OF n,S
lic and they will pour upon you N Eeypt,and
forms tho products of region more fertile I'm rh
.oa.s for Fol commerce more to BIO desired tn' '''
of the lndies IT, Gentleman from
But must pass to other topics The s"rn london
Fauouier (Mr Soorr) and tho gentleman t mi Cd ba
mir. JAysEr) are determined to pressn. 'no not vii
sis to the people, and nothing else ,r.inst ex
ling to take any guarantee in the consnr;,.on rher
cessire taxation, or improper apPtoIp bahav;or hui
will take no recognizance i0r oui The mixed ba-
must keep us in custody. Laughter =. tho noona
sis of men and money must be pusheu ~ m p ~
Well it is perfectly understood lna nuent that mo-
want it. Does any doubt Tor ,,.;o sh,1i "a mh
;ort of those to hon this constitution sna DC SUP
Joiity Oh lose w -, the mixed basis; presume it
Iii ~ .onapdsJ that the fftynIne members on tins
70 fron we,t of the Blue Ridge smong whom
there Is not one mixed basis man ie
| .;."t and th,t they represent some nlnety-thrco
constituents anu Of The White inhabitants and some if
.housaha ns s;orty Of those who will be qualified to
vote under the new CONSTITUTION. Ileao
Of white inhabitants and '1.e,s dsteo g o cue
t"o-.iiiu 20 on.c district and onc-lird Of those in
uose ~ III" s;trct Besides these, there large
mhcr Of white basis men Ia other districts east OF the
mountain, greatly exceeding tae numoer OF miSea pa
SIS meu 70 ue have no doubt. Now, in this state Of
th,rS ,br r;ll gentlemen offer the mixed basis, and
the n.onc 10 adopt it Why press that which is
perfeety we'll known to be unPalatable to large ma
or,v ofthoss who to vote upon it, and upon whom
j. Il - onerate man burning with fever bcgs you
ror water-you have in your power to give him pure
water from the chrysta fountain, but you wanonly and
deliberately refuse to do it. You give him from the green
starnant pool and bid him drink that or nothngdrlnk
ar die This would be but parallel Of your action
This occasion, should you stubbornly adhere to the
nurpose expressed of submitting this mixed basis pro-
| nnosition and that alone.
Is this course becoming the representatives of the
peope of Virginia. When did they forget, that
formy to the popular will the duty of the public
agent; The gentleman from Loudoun, (Mr. JAHSEr, J
maintains that he has absolutely power to offer them
any thing else. That he is crbbed and hedged about
by the requirements Of the act Of assembly, under which
the people elected us to this Convention and which
provides that shall, when assembled, consider dis
cuss and propose constitution, He takes the ground
that being elected mixed basis man, he is bound
propose mixed basis constitution, and that he has no
authority to afford to the people choice between two
constitutions, to be submitted to them We have
asked our opponents to submit two constitutions but
will inform gentlemen what they will be asked do
If they adhere TO their purpose Of proposing the basis
Of representation combination of population and taxes
it will be insisted on by us that the basis Of qualified
voters the white population, shall be submitted at
the time, as an alternative proposition, in order
lat the people, by their free choice, may take
lat which is the most agreeable TO them We mean
to test the devotion of gentlemen to popular rights and
to that majority which you confess has the right to
form, alter, or abolish the present constitution, and to
Judge for itself what other form will be most conducive
to the public veal the opportunity of speaking its will
and executing its Judgement we will take the same
constitution (for have doubt shall be able to
agree in al other provisons) we will not cross I, or
dot l. differently from your own, but along side Of
your figure Of brass and clay We will present the basis
Of qualified voters, and will ask the people to look
apon that picture and upon this" and to decide for
themselves which best reflect. their image We
sill let them choose for themselves whether they will
lake their thirst from the mpd stream, or from the
filthy gutter.
No power to do this thing Why, when did the gen.
eman from Loudoun become such strict construction
st; Laughter. He certainly was not troubled with
such difficulties in former years when we were together
chen, there is the gentleman from Fauquier, (A1r.
corT) who has got himselfnto straight jacket also
;.aughter.1 Here are, in full Convention for the
lrpose Of devsing scheme of government to be sub
lifted to the people: and to be ratified re .cted BY
hem. As to part of this scheme, we cannot agree,
portion of this body believing that the mixed basis
If representation will most conduce to the public veal
while au other portion is of opinion thai the basis of
aahed voters will best attain that end. Now, in this
ema, ask you to PROFOUND both these schemes OF
representation, and let the people decide for themselves
What we but agents of the people: What is this
Convention but preparatory committee Of the people,
20 consider and nut in form that which they have
served themselves the exclusive power to act upon
nd finally dispose Of And shall clothe ourselves
withhold from the people the very thing which know
hey desirei
MIR Chairman, am anxious to help my friends out
Of the difficulty which they profess feel. II We have
power 10 submit this alternative proposition, the
people have power to act upon it. Yet. will any
say that if do propose the basis of representation in
The alternative form, and majority of the voters ex
press their preference for of them, that it not will
become thereby part and parcel of the constitution, and
oe binding on the whole people of the State:
Why, sir, carrying out the rule and the principle
which has been announced, could never have
constitution the majority never could alter, reform
abolish the old one, without revolution. You say that
it not competent to hold convention, except the
platform Of the present subsistiLs government That
the present governmental majority must take care
that the convention to be called, be framed the
scale Of power with itself The gentleman from Eau.
quier, Mr Scorr went 80 far as to intimate that if
the Legislature had provided for this Convention, on
any otEer than its actual basis, would have bcen in
effect overthrow of the existing government. Well,
We can then have no convention except such an one as
We now have one with majorty Of It's members from
the east, correspondingwith the majority in the Legisa
Then connect with this the other suggestion, that
when we have come into convention must carry out
the opinions of the particular districts which have sent
u.s. and submit only such constitution may be pre-
fcrred by our own particular constituents, without the
power to propose at the same time. any thing else Is
it not obvious that the governmental majority, may,
this principle always prevent change of the consttu
ton If the people reject their work, and another con-
vcntion be called it would be called in the way,
and propose the same sort of constitutions and 50 on
in endless succession This notion puts it completely
within the power of this ruling majority either 10 per-
pctuate the existing government to force down the
throas of the people what is distasteful to them.
We demand, as have right to demand, that you
either propose now for the adoption of the people, that
form Of representation which you know they PREFER
that, least you give them the opportunity Expressing
their wishes BY the submission Of alternative propo
sitiou. Can you refuse this Will you refuse iii
To the argument already urged against the adoption
Of the mixed basis either here by the people, others
may be added connected with the practical operation
Of such system. 1t will be representation based in
part upon wealth. {" Rches,' told, take unto
themselves wings and fee away" The representation
will partakc of the fuctuation and instability of that
upon which it rests.
In the hands Of that majority which the system itself
creates governmental power may be perpctuaed in the
east whatever may be tho growth of the in popu
aon orproperty One half Of the representation is to
De upon taxes the Of taxation may be changed
at pleasure by those Interested the repre-
scnation We are told BY gentleman that power will
always abuse the trust condcd to it. Eastern gentle
cannot trust u.s. They tell that it the consul
nation of human folly found government in and
confidence Yet they ask US, in the adoption of this
principle to trust them for the honest and faithful adj
ministration Of the taxing power. Sir it is the axe
IL