Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-24


the debate on the basis Question.
The ayes and noes wore ordered and the motion to
go into Committee of the Whole was rejected. ayes DC
noes IA.
Mr.. GooDE offered resolution calling for informa-
ton from the Auditor, showing the taxes on real estate
for the year ending September lS5O-Adopted.
Mr. ANDERSON renewed the motion to 90 into Com
mittee of the Whole.
Mr. CHAMBERS opposed the motion and announced
his purpose to modify his resolution for stopping debate
so as to fix Monday as the day.
Mr.. CLAIBORNE, ihoped the House would adhere to
its first decision.
Mr.. CHAMBERS demanded the ayes and noes, which
were ordered.
Inc motion to 60 into committee was agreed to,
ayes 54 noes So
BASIS DEBATE.
Mr.. LYONS resumed his argument. He commended
that there force in the argument that the mixed
basis coners peculiar privileges ha part OF the COMFY
munlty that ON the contrary the protection secured by
constituency by virtue Of the property Of few mem
oers ensured as much to the poor of such constituency
as TO the rich. The assumption OF Mr.. Botts that Rich
mond held this question in her hands, he willingly
accepted, for he believed people could be relied upon
more oonhdenty. Put the question in its true shane
whether the citizens of Richmond wished to deprive
themselves OF the power tax themselves and transfer
that power TO other hands, and his word for it. thew had
intelligence enough to understand their own rights and
interests They had shown their of the prophet.
OF protecting property by requiring every voter for
Councmen 10 be worth tl00. In reply to Mr.. Faux.
ners view OF the true mode of protecting properly Mr.
L. quoted the language Of James Madison in the Fede-
raj Convention, repeng the doctrine that the virtue Of
the people could not be relied upon He quoted also the
opinion OF hontesqueu that the interests of localities
should be represented If the contrary principle were
sound, the Western majority would have the right to
elect the whole Legislature. And he called upon the
East to look to it, that the doctrine commended for
by the West, might one day bring about general cleo
ton by the Western majority.
He considered the Compromise of Mr. Bolts most
extraordinary proposition Unlike Mr.. Leigh and 9th.
er Eastern gentlemen who expressed willingness 10
compromise after they defeated, the gentleman
| from Henrico submitted his in advance Mr.. l.. de-
clareG his belief that standing on its individual me rits
the scheme would receive but solitary voe There
was not Western member who would rise and an
nounce his willingness to accept it, except as means
OF puzzling and con founding the East. Its advocate
proclaimed that he would never consent to the repre-
sentation of property Yet gave more representation
to property than to persons. For it allowed the pro-
perty ofhe East to pare down the majority which per.
| sons would give the West, to an equality. He COM
pared this plan of peace the Trojan horse, and sail
that it succeeded. its author would have to bewad
the woes OF the East, as The of Troy depored the
desolaton OF that city Why, he asked was the scheme
OF ad valorem taxation made part ofthe Compromise?
1t was independently before the House be acred upon.
Mr. Boris said the proposition for ad valorem taxa
ton was submitted by him in October was advocated
by him before the Legislative committee, and adopted
by it.
Mr. LYONS had no disposition to deprive tho gentle
man OF the credit opaternity, but repeated that other
| gentlemen had urged the proposition. Was it
fixed part of the Compromise
Mr.. Bolts said 1t the ad valorem taxation was
stricken out of his Compromise he should abandon it.
lie believed the system necessary to the protection of
slave propary by securing it ag ainst taxation unless
the property of the West should be equally taxed.
| Mr.. LYONS remarked that the friends of the white
basis themselves offered the ad valorem taxation.-
And since the gentleman from Henrico declared tina,
never would vote for the representation of property,
since his scheme did give representation to pro
pey, why did he not 60 for the white bassl He would
thus secure his principle of representing persons lone
and at the same time all the protection 10 property he
thought necessary 1.-THE co mpromise did not provide
Tor the representation OF slaves as property ii did as
persons, and Mr.. L. asked how Western gentleman
reIished that principel The gentleman was elected
declaring his approval OF the of halt the
slaves though he then said he not welded to that
scheme Why did he abandon the ground of Madison
and Marshall, that hreehs of the slaves should be
represented! He (Mr. b. proclaimed that he would
take the white basis rather than assent TO division of
the State should the West present that issue. and in
another part of his speech referred to the dreul con-
sequences of the establishment of the white basis in Vr
gnia But the threat oil those Western counties that
ha spoken at all made the issus OF division upon
Compromise as much as upon the mixed basis They |
demanded the white basis, and held out division oil
the State as the consequence of their obtaining less
How then was the argument drawn from fear of divi-
sion avoided by the Compromise any more than by
the mixed bass9 But he regarded all this talk of diyi
sion as unworthy OF serious consideration, mere hun-
der got up for the occasion He had no apprehension
that the West would be for separation if the mixed ba
sis should be adopted
Mr.. MARTIN Of Marshall asked what were Mr. Ly.
ons own sentiments on the issue of white basis or d.
vision.
MIR. LYONS had answered that question again and
again, but would answer it once more. He would not
propose to divide the State But if Western gentlemen
should come to him presenting the white basis in one
hand and the rod of disunion in the other, he would
the rod and give them the basis he believed to be
right. lApplause,l
Mr.. MARTIN, of NJ inquired which did Mr.. L. him.
selfprefer, division or the white basis
Mr. LYONS. To wha, end is that question putt
Mr.. MARTIN The genlleman's sentiments have been
differently understood, and wish to be correctly in
formed.
Mr. LYONS then said, that the West should prev
in the Convention and put the white basis into the con-
stituton, and if the people should adopt such con-
stituton, he might remonsrae and resist it by every
lawful means. but he would not propose division of
the State tor that cause He reorted upon Mr. Martin
by putting to him the question, whether he preferred d
vision to the white basis7
Mr.. MARTIN said he had always deprecated division
at home. But he could not tell the circumstances in
which he might be placed. or what his course nigh
be.
Mr. Lyons. will state the circumstances. Sun