Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

The motion agreed To, an. the committee accord
| ingly rose.
The Convention then nd oGrncd until tomorrow lG"i u
| Ing at L. O'Clock.
E,arrss "f III. SCUTY NJ Caroline. IN Commi;tee 9;
ii" Whole, OF IMe$,:ay lpfH S. lSJl.
TIE BASIS OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| The Convention then resumed The consideration il,
committee of the Whole Nj N.LL:.E in the Chair o: the
report oi the committee on ihc Basis and Apprrt;Cn
Ilcnt Of Representation
III. Gil Al; stated the question 10 J.. M the pr"p"$i
ton cf the gentleman from Fauqucr CIR. Scorr) r
Srcrr, oi Caroline, being cntitcdto the floor.
! MIR SCOTT of Caroline, then and sad
Mr Cha;rn:.n ca.i" here Yesterday prepared l.
engage in the discussion ui the interesting and impor
tal subject which has monnpuiizrd oar Thoughts :lt
nur time for the last two months In claiming now III,
indulgence OF tbs committee. have not the pr",u:rp
ton 10 suppose that shall he abe 10 shed any ne"
tights up"!, the pathway "hci i to conduct To ctr coli
ci.tm bit simply to give uttcrSnce to thc vote" o
the people whose Interest III ,,a.t have The honor t.
reIrr-cnt. Enfccbr,i i'll .!Id and body. from i,'a?@-
ton trust rnv be- vard"c for saving that it Wa.
not without struggle, that brought myself To thu
conclusion ri thus ir"S.s$nH upon the time and la
thence nf this committee Cor very brlc sIacc. Til:
element Of he Oct;sun and the ardent and pasSi0rd
tone aud character which he debate assumed yc>cr
dav i,lnunisllrd me that oulln"w throw myself il
tI. brc,ch and rs far possible throw oil upon the
troubled waves and calm the troubled elements which
has agitactl deliberations FOR the last few days.
shall not therefore, at this tine. attempt 10 enter
nbrnteig into the discussion q The different saics
whicl. have been rendered Ms but shall content
self with defining uilv and rcc!,' The position which
occupy before nv people anal br.orc this c"iinvc a,
sha leave it to ai>c5t:nt urcI~cl: present more
nj ar,,. the views which shall .'rrr, and direct me il
the which may TAX. IN the >,ilc 6! this most
important question.
In listening 10 this most able and interesting debate
will not disguise conceal the fact that have heard
I:!uch to excite my admiration and much to create pain
and regret. Occasionally the passions of the drTrGvcd
human heart have obtained the mastery over we'll reg
u!atrd md well balanced Judgment. In the formation {"
the organic law of the Commonwealth. We should press
into our service the scvcrest judgment and he ma
urel thought. Excitement and frenzy should be ban.
,hcd rul our deliberations and should march up to
this question determined tn do ri ht without regard Ia
sectional ivi,im= We should regard this State rs one
great whole looking to the diversified interests and
H. unrneasurcd resources We sEoud seek to form the
organic law in such to foster cvcry re.
source and protect every Interest To accomplish this
most desirable end caness deliberation and forbear.
most Indispensable. Truth can never be cvcl.
oDril by sion never be through the me.
dunn Gf prejudice 1t he brought by the strug.
Gle of mind with mind and b. the comparison of opn-
ion with opinion
In this great mental combat which has been wareI
here for the last months, how, Mr.. Chairln do we
graft into the constitution the uixcd princ Pile Of the
white basis of representation They come here for that
purpose and some OF them it for that purpose
alone. Their people upon this sui ect know no division
They through their representatives upon thi. floor
unt and nothing will satisfy them but the white ba
81. On the other hand eastern gentlemen here
under the influence u their pledges 10 whit is
Is called the mixed basis Of representation In til. sup
port OF their prnc pies, they equally lionest and
equally sincere. Their people equally unite and
equally determined. The right of instruction. and the
obligation, 10 obey equally recognized and acnnw-
lodged BY both parties; eastern men would be regarded
false to themselves and false 10 the people who sent.
them here. il thcy. i'll their action upon This question
were to violate the known wishes of their con-. tucls
This, then, air is the attitude Of the parties in thu
Convention upon the Question before rs The west are
in the minority upon this floor. Who is to yie!
Shall the eastern majority yield I" the western nori-
tv. Surely no man would say this. Every principle
Of reason and sound policy would say otherwise.
Mr.; Chairman. the position which now occupy in
this body was never suight by me. 1t was trust 50
important and responsible nits character that thought
it wise To shun it than to court IT, But after the
nomination rendered and accepted, entered warm
ly into The The principles of the basis of rep
rescnaton was deliberately discussed by al the can
dates before the people. II share was then or IL ROW
white basis man in the district have not known him
Mr. FURGUSON. Was there any white basis cauL
dates?
Mr.. SCOTT. There was none, and if there hid heen,
ana tie issue had been fully a! fairly made up, 10 be
tried bv the suirag:l, Of my district, think hazard
nothing in saving that he could not have attained fv
votes in the district Indeed, white basis candidate
could not have been tliulhned up.
Mr. FERGUSON. The gentleman remarked that the
question va. clabor.te,y di-c!>sc in his district Nv
purpose in asking whether there white basis can
didae was to know whether not the question could
have been discussed If there no white basis cand
date Iapprehenl that the elaborate discussion" was
all on side.
Nr. SCOTT. The gentleman supposes that because
there WAS 10 white basis candidate in nv district the
discussion was all one side, 80 far as heard the
discussion the position nj both parties were stated with
canor and fairness and then caboratclv discussed be-
fore the people They We'll understood the principles of
the mixed basis nor were they ignorant of the prnc
p!es the white basis In casting their votes they well
understood what they were doing They knew their
rights and dared 10 vnGic.lt them But | wonder if
there was mixed basis candidate in the district from
which the number froti Logan aud Boon comes. If
he discussions iy the rule which M has Just
minated presume the discussion in his district
all upon side.
knowing then the views and wishes OF my people 80
fully and palpably expressed a: the polls. stand here
the exponent ot their will d:crninod 10 Sustain !: TO
the extent of my humble ability. This do not BE-
carse am driven to it by the force Of wha; know to