Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-04-30
NO xAIV.
VIRGINIA CONTENTION.

MONDAY, APRIL Zl.-~heSOlutiOns Wefo
presented from different counties in favor Of
The White Basis; and instructing their dele-
gates to withdraw from the Convention In
the event of the adoption of the Mixed Ba-
sis. Laid on the table and ordered to be
printed, "a,
Mr.. Chambers said, TO prevent the pres.
ent debate from becoming interminable, he
offered resolution for taking the vote on
Saturday next. The resolution was laid on
the table. gr.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole, when Mr.. Bolts proceeded to
give his views at length in favor Of his Com
promiseproposiion onthe Basis Of Represen-
tation, and against the other pending prop
ositions. He read his scheme, as follows:
COMPROMISE pRoposEb By MR. Borrs uPoF
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATIONS.
/. The Legislature shall be formed Of two
distinct branches, which together shall be
called the General Assembly of Virginia.
Q. One of these shall be called the House
of Delegates, and shall consist Of one hun:
dred and fifty members; seventy fiye OF
which shall be chosen for and by the sew
eral counties, cities and towns lying East
of the Blue Ridge of mountains, and the 9th
er seventy-fve from those counties, cities
and towns lying West of the Blue Ridge.
3. The other shall be called the Senate,
and shall consist of members, one-half
of which number shall be chosen-for and by
those counties, cities and towns lying East
of the Blue Ridge, and the other half for
and by those counties, cities and towns ly-
ting West of the Blue Ridge; for which pur.
pose each division of the State lying Fest
and West of the Blne Ridge shall be laid Oh
into districts, and each district shall be
entitled to one representative.
1. There shall be uniform system OF I'D
valorem taxation upon every description
and species of property in the common.
wealth, real, personal and mixed, except
such as may be specially exempted by
a vote of two-thirds of each branch OF the
Legislature. -,
5. It shall hot be lawful for the Legisla.
ture to create public debt, without at tho
same time or during the same session, pro-
viding for the payment Of the same, BY in'
cressing the rate of per centage OF taxation
in such manner and to such extent as may
be sufficient to meet the payment oftbe debt
when It becomes due. No bill appropra'
ting sum of money exceeding dollars
shall become law, except by vote OF
majority of the whole number elected et
both branches of the Legislature.
This he regarded as fair, just and equi'
table compromise between the East and tne
West. He was not insensible to the posi-
ton he occupied. He might stand alone,
but he hoped this would not be the case
when the vote was taken. He desired that
there should be made Constitution that
should give offence to none, and with no
power but that of protection. He cited the
disparity of population between the East
and the West and desired to know whether
it was not a question for compromise. 1t
would be his task to show that it could be
compromised and ought to be comprcmIsed'
He referred to the admonitions OF excite
ment which were continually coming into
the Convention from the West, and contend.
ed that if they shall call another Conven-
tion and submit Constitution side by SIDE
with ours, that the result must be Dorrssm
or Division of the State. He argued to
show that the Mixed Basis afforded no pro.
lection to property, and that the Bill OF
Rights reposed all power in the people
He argued to show that the ad rdforent sys'
tenn of taxation was the only correct one,
and that every man should be required to
contribute to the support of government ex.
actly in proportion to his means. He cited
the great men of the Convention of'30, who
were in favor of compromising this question:
On motion of Mr.. Martin, (Mr. B. giving
way,) the House adjourned.
fuEsDAY.-Mr, Bolts resumed and con-.
eluded his speech in support Of his plan Of
on the Basis of Representation.
He could not see why there should be this
fear on the part of the East of an attack on
their property by the West: He urged his
scheme for the East-with it equality was
preserved, and when that was destroyed,
with it went the protection to property
He was for perpetual security, and not mere
power, which would only last 10 years; end
what was 10 years in the history ufjE gov
ernment. He regretted the spirit Of dis
rust which existed as to the West. Why
should we distrust them! Mason and Dix
on's line divided the sentiment on the sla.
yery question, and what man South OF t
had ever proved false Not one; and yet
he idea Is held out in the Virginia Conven.
ion that the West of our own State Is not
O be trusted. When have they been found
,ecreant to their duty or their trust on this
question. -
Mr.. Scott, of Fauquier; desired to ask .
,uestion of the member. His scheme pro-
,oses to divide the State, and give seventy
i've delegates to the East and seyenty-hys
O the West-how did the member distrib-
lte the apportionment. Of representation ~
he different countiesf
MIR. Bolts did not feel comfetent to work
,ut the apportionment-bis scheme only de-
,ided the principle. The question Of APP
,ortionment West might be referred to z
Western Committee, and the apportionment
East to an Eastern Committee. Let the
West be according to the White Basis; and
he East according to the Mixed Basis
lie merely threw out the suggestion, SO that
ach section might be accommodated with
ut forcing its views on another. He an
Iounced this great moral truth II he were
Western man, with one hundred Thousand
majority, he would never be satisfied with
nv thing less than political equality. Thea
ct them take the perpetual equality of Bic
cheme, which would last ~ long as tie
lasted. .,l,,ts