Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-06-11
From the Charlottesville Allocate Of May so.
[ooPrED BY REQUEST or THE wRITER]
For the Advocate.
,OL. RANDOLPH'S COURSE AS A MEM Der

[coPIED BY REQUEST OF THE wRITER
For the Advocate.
COL. RANDoLPH'S COURSE AS A MEMBER
OF THE CONVENTION.
AS the public career ofevery servant OF the people
Just subject ofcomment OF censure Of praice, we
ofCoI T. J. Randolphs before the district, fol-
seat in the Convention, the opinions which he then
avowed upon the basis question: and his sab quen
ton as member OF That body In answer therefore to
the card, which he has recently published addressed
the voters OF this District, we submit the following
statement:
LIST. Col. Randolph in ls29-3O was in favor of the
white basis Misrepresentation. When he became can.
ddate in June last, for seat in the Convention he adj
dressed circular to the voters taking ultra ired ba-
sis ground. He avowed his preference for the Federal
basis, which would have given larger representation
to the East, than the mixed basis. and declared that il
he tailed In getting the Federal basis, he would then
vote for the mixed basis, unless otherwise instructed
tie often in his various public addessesup the hus
change OIL his opinions o2930, upon the basis question:
and gave divers cogept reasons therefor short ex
from Col. RS "Way Bill" will explain his course
fully in reference to this matter.
"As basis OF representation, | prefer the Federal
basis with ad valorem taxation. Slaves constitute an
anomalous property They are recognized by our laws
as persons. Slaves are responsible Tor crimes may sue
Tor freedom and in many cases may act the agents OF
other persons They are recognized property which
can be acquired, controlled and disposed Of Recognize
ed thus in double aspect persons and property is
an error 10 view them exclusively as the or the
other As persons they are entitled to representation
as property they are subjects OF taxation How far
PERSONS they form basis of representation, was settled
by the Constitution of the United States and am dis
posed to acquielce in that ratio. 1t would appear that
at moment when this Constitution is SO seriously as
sailed by our States that should least strength.
it by the adoption Of The Constitutional basis among
ourselves. Diversified as our population is in interests
part Of the State shogd desire to carry out its own
views against the wishes of large mnorites elsewhere
no good can result from such coercion.
Ifthe Federal basis ayith this principle
OF taxation cannot be obtained, shall feel myself
constrained it not other,cise instructed, TO VOTE
FOR THE MIXED BASIS"
End. Shortly after Col. Randolplrs election with
these pledges, both oral and written, i. generally
understood he was white basis man, but that in dee.
renee to his constituents he would vote for the mixed
basis. During the five months and upwards he has oc-
cuped seat in The Convention. he has not advocated
proposed, voted for the Federal basis, which in his
card he said he preferred.
3rd The impression having become general that
Col. Rondoph was not sound upon the basis question,
engs held by The people Of all the counties OF
the District their April Cou rs, to instruct their de-
legates upon the subject Their resolutions were plain
direct and the point We give the fourth resolution
adopted in Abemarle, merely remarking that those
adopted in Nelson and Amherst were even stronger
still.
The 9TH resolution above alluded to was in the fol-
lowing words:
"lhat whilst we deem it inexpedient to trammel our
particular system of representation which ought to he
adopted we wish it to be distinctly understood by
them, that we uncompromisingy adhere to the mixed
basis of to applied TO both houses of
the legislature We would have thought that this is
language sufficiently explicit and that it would
not admit OF any doubt as to its meaning.
4th In the progress OF the Convention, the came
to be taken upon the basis, and Col Randolph having
voted ia favor OF propos "A" (he mixed basis plan
reported by the Committee0 10 think that he
thereby fully obeyed his instructions But unfortunately
for the view which the Col takes OF his course upon this
subject he voed against Mr.. Scots substitute which
apporoned representation equally between taxation
and population; and finally sustained an arrangement
by which the West will get the white basis in the House
ate, thus giving the West majority OF four upon the
JOINT bal OF OF the two houses Mr.. SCOTS substitute
1t will be remembered was lost only by vo,e, and
thus Colonel Randolph defeated it. How Colonel
Randolph can pussuade himself that these two votes
can be reconced with his instructions 20 "uncompro.
msney adhere the mixed basis of representation to
be applied both houses Of the LegsLature" we are
wholly at loss to conceive; do not believe tina,
human ingenuity all adequate 10 the task of recol-
cling them.
Lastly After Col. Randolph had voted tor The above
arrangement giving the West majority of four upon
joint ballot meetings held at the two Regimenta
musers n the county OF Albemare, strongly dsapprov.
ing OF his course, expressing the opinion that he had
violated the instructions OF his constituents, and re-
curing him to reconsideration of the vote or re-.
sign his seat certain these resolutions would be
followed by similar proceedings in Amherst and Mel
son. They were received by Col. Randolph on Wed.
nesday week last, and the next morning. he went into
the Convention, acknowledged the receipt ofhe nsruc-
tons, and gave notice OF his intention TO offer motion
reconsider in compliance with the wishes of his con
stuents. So swift was Col. Randolph to otey, that he
first named the fourth of June the day. upon which
he would move the required reconsideration. Some
Eastern gentleman suggested the l It'll OF June as
suitable day, and the COL acquiesced in the sug.
geslion This announcement plainly took the Western
members all aback, and produced an extreme Autterng
the White basis well thnsa
Eastern members, who having Teen elected as mixed
basis men, had violated their pledges and the known
wishes OF their constituents by voting for the called
compromise. On the evening OF the day, or the
next Col Randolph influenced by change OF opinion,
from what eau we cannot undertake to say, address
ed card to his constituents entirely changing his
ground, and making his motion to reconsider entirely
dependent upon certain conditions prescribed BY him
self Those conditions are, that majority of all the
voters of he District shall instruct him. either by hold
ing poll, or by signing written instructions.
Upon this we remark, LIST. That Col Randolph well
knows, that is at all times extremely difficult TO get
majority the people to turn out TO election espe-
ciay at this busy season OF the year. He knows that
in this convention district containing voting popula-
ton of least $780, less than 2200 were cast for
the members OF The Convention thus showing that more
than l4C0 voters failed TO vote, though the was
an animated one, the subjects involved exciting, and
eleven candidates, himself uded, traversed tie dis
ric for nearly three months, and cid their best get
full turn out. IDLY. We observe that Col Randolph in.
stead Of proposing to be bound by majority Of tire
tdS Deil6 WOSiu stcI CtcuTty, CcSL INDEX OF
public sentimenD declares that he will make, what
u.s. the very unreasonable presumption, that
every whose vote is not recorded upon the pro-
posed poll, who signature is not affixed to written
instructions, tauors his arse. Now, the Col. evil
IDENTIFY supposes that he occupies very high ground,
when he makes violent presumption-a presump-
ton which amounts to ths-lhat every man, whether
out othe county confned with illness, absent from
any cause, is to be considered solemnly approving
his course. Surely, if he had sought fairness, and
practicable expression OF the public sentiment he would
at least have considered himself bound by the mao-
ty of the votes cast especially meeting large
small, and no respectable fragment OF meeting, has
any where approved his conduct.
Under such circums tances, and as Colonel Randolph
has chosen 10 impose unreasonable and impracticabe
condltions-aier such decided manifestations OF pub
lie opinion and the time is sufficient, it becomes
a grave question be considered by the people of this
district, whether they will prosecute the question of
Instructions to COL Randolph any further. or hold him
up to the world having disobeyed their wishes and
therefore forfeited their confidence public servant
That he has dsobeyed them, there be no question,
nor can any special pleading by remarks in the Con-
ven,ion by printed cards. evade the sentence which