Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-20
THE CONVENTION-STlLL ON THE bA'io eo1o
TInN

We were IN hopes after the very elaborate an" "".
discussion OF several moa,hs--aitar HE h''e'o'
| test rotcs-after the repeated aEa P''i'l'. ; .
members-tllat the further discussion o' '.i -
least was at IN end, nnd that votc so''s INV 49,
mo ora have been registered But, yesterday from 10
3 P. NJ the sluccs of debate on Tue oas, "''' ''
onen-e sole effect being rivct still more strongly me
| ;,;o sc rv member At late hour vote
v,s talon md bv nm overwhelming vote, only two
IN rho n.o,,ive ,he suffrage basis proposition slrick
on ort Jmmedia ey afterwards, the mixed basis pro-
nosi,ion A was also stricken out ny minority OF TO-
These votes and the brief but cmphalicaly sgnf-
c,n, eynonations of Eastern who declared that they
stood 6xedy and immovaby on the platform OF the copro
mise which passed committee of the whole convinced
bevond the possibility Of doubt. that the principles of TINT
would be into the new constitution
Tho West unanimously agreed abandon their favore
suffrage basis in order rally upon the Compromise and
enoup Eastern men yesterday renewed their commit;as
the Compromise to make certain its adoption. With these
facts in full view why devote much time 10 the
raj discussion the subect The details of the
NAV properly be amended but this should OCCUPY but little
tme We believe that should tho Convention 90 TO work
ndustriously and establish the important reforms which
the popular heart Graves and adjourn in reasonable
time, the people every where will receive the work OF
the majority of the body honestly seeking to maintain
the peace and pepeuity and safety of the whole State
with much satisfaction than if still more days and
weeks devoted the continued agitation OF the basis
quesonespecialy there has been universal express
sion Of determination in the Convention grant the fullest
and ceares the subject of slave property and
taxatien.
The question pending this morning. is Mr. Bolts
lion nscr, his compromise basing representation of both
federal numbers and white population combined
In his remarks few days since Mr. stated that pre-
he
the specific proposition offered by him and rejected viz
equal number of representatives East and West. His
present proposition competing with the Compromise
ported to the Convention from the Committee Of the Whole
VIRGINIA BEFoRM STATE CONVENTION.
MONDAY, MAY 49, 1851.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment
Prayer by the Rev. Dr. KISGsroRD, OF the Baptist church.
The journal Of Saturdays proceedings read and ap
proved.
GUARANTEES IN RELATION APPROPRIATION.
Mr. FERGUSON laid upon the table, and gave notice Of
his intention SUBMIT at the proper time, the following
proposition in regard to appropriations for internal improve
ments
relation to appropriations for acorks of internal imprors
No subscription 10 any work of internal improvement
shall be authorized The part Of the State until accu
survey thereof be made by competent engineer under
the direction of the Board Of Public Works. and the entire
cost of such works. nearly possible, be ascertaned
2 No appropriation to any new work of internal improve
en shall be authorized by the General Assembly until those
which the State has already subscribed may hereafter
subscribe under existingaws shall have been completed
abandoned, except hereinafter provided.
g. 1t shall be the duty OF the General Assembly as
practicable with due regard the financial condition the
Commonwealth provide connection by railroad between
the city Of Richmond and the Ohio river and between
city of Norfolk and the town OF Lynchburg; the said rail
roads be constructed upon the cheapest and practical
BILE routes.
No appropriation the part of the State shall be
authorized any work of internal Improvement other
than mentioned in the preceding section but by The
of oriy Of all the members OF both Houses Of
General Assembly, and without at the time providing
the payment of the interest and the ultimate redemption
Of the principal debt when it shall become due and upon
the passage Of such law the ayes and shall be
tered upon the journal.
On motion Of Mr.. FERGUSON, the above proposition
was ordered TO be printed for the of the Convention
THE BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
Mr.. WlNGE1ELD. Will il be in order 10 now move 10
take up the report of the Committee of the Whole the
Basis Of for the purpose of ameldment
The PRESIDENT, 1t will be in order subm, 4 mo-
ton to take that report this time for consideration
Mr.. W1NGFlELD Then submit that motion
The question being sabl!ed 70 the Convention, the
and would be productive of mischief" ere by
ION was'd.rced to. l.
MIR Miller from the committee Of the whole Convention,
reported,
That the committee had had under consideration the Re-
BORT of the committee on the Basis Of Representation them
clerred and had directed him report the with The
following amendments:
Strike out propositions and in said report and insert
l. The Legislature shall be formed ofwo distinct branches
which together shall be complete Legislature and shall be
20 led the General Assembly OF Virginia
. One of these shall be called the House of Delegates
and shall consist of hundred and fifty Members to be
chosen bennay for and BY the several countless ces and
Towns OF the Common wealth Whereof eighty Delegates
shall be chosen for and by the countless cities and towns y
ing West of the Blue Ridge Of mountains and for
and by the counties cities and lying East Of the Blue
Ridge said Delegates shall be distributed and appoon
ed as follows, 10 wit:
g. The other House Of the General Assembly shall be call
the Senate and shall consist of fifty Members 10 be cleo
ted for four years. of whom thirty shall be chosen for and
by the countless cities and towns lying East OF the Blue
Ridge Of Mountains and twenty ioI ana oy ue cou ,
election whom, the countless cities and towns shall
divided into fifty districts to be composed Of contiguous
territory and compact in form may be. Each coun-
w. city and town of the respective districts, at the time
Of the first election Of it's Delegate or Delegates under
this Constitution shall vote for Senator, and the
Shes or other officers holding the election for each county,
city and town. within five days at arhest after the last cleo
lion in the district. shall meet at some convenient place,
within the respective Districts and from the polls so TAKEN
their respective countless cities and towns return as Sc
nato the person who shall have the greatest number OF
votes in the whole district. Immediately after the Senators
shall be assembled in consequence of such election they
shall be divided by lot into two classes The Of the
Senators Of The first class shall he vacated at the expiration
the second year. and of the second class at the
the fourth year. after such first election and which rotation
shall be continued benniay that oneha NAV be chosen
every second year; and for the election Of Senators the
counties of - shall form one district DC.
II shall be the duty Of the General Assembly IN the
wear 1865 reapporton representation IN the Senate and
House of Delegates and in the event the General Assembly
shall not be able to agree the principle of representation
make such reapporionmen then the Governor OF the
Common wealth SHALL by his Immediately there
after require the qualified voters OF the To as
sembe their countless cities and towns and to
clare by their whether representation in the two houses
the General Asscmbyo in either OF them shall be appor
toned according number qualified voters in the Com
monweah according the number Of white Inhabitants
contained and the OF all taxes raised by the Legs
lalure pad in the several countless cities and towns OF the
Commonwealth deducng heelrom all taxes paid on cen-
and law process and allowing delegate for every
part Of the said Inhabitants and delegate
for every part the said taxes and distributing
the number of Senators in like whether repesen:
taon shall be apporioned in both Houses OF the General
Assembly according oil the white population contained ln
or the whole of raised by the Legislature paid
in the several countless cities and towns of the Common
wealth.
s. shall be the duty Of the said shers and other officers
taking said polls within five days after the shall have
been closed certify true copies thereof TO the Governor
who shall ceupon early may be- ascertain the result OF
the said and make proclamation thereof 1t shall also be
the duty OF the Governor TO communicate the same TO the
first General Assembly which shall after the taking
the said VOTE and the said General Assembly thereupon
regular session thereof which shall be held after the
taking OF said vote, shall appoon representation in each
House Of the General Assembly, according the principle
of representation therein for which majority Of the quail