Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-07-17

ioFHis uetIidHueu Dy yOurcOnstltuentS. Nel
ther ofmy colleagues, | apprehend, attach
es more importance 10 them than | do
We find here, sir, large majority of thi
Convention, both east and lcsst, in favor o
the reforms advocated By US before oul
people. No matter what basis Of repre-
) sentation is adopted. sir, the reforms de
manded by the great body of the people
of this Commonwealth, will be passed by
this Convention. And, believe now US
have always believed since have beer
here, that if eastern members had stood
firm for the mixed basis, carrying it into the
constitution, as | think. they ought to have
done, the constitution containing ii. with
the reforms that would have passed with
it, would have been ratified by handsome
majority Of the people Of this State.
know that my colleagues have expressed
a different opinion. I do not agree with
them.
| My colleague has referred to the action
of this Convention on Saturday last upon
the motion of the gentleman from Kappa
hammock (Mr. Stro,her) to adjourn. The
motion made upon that occasion was most
unexpected to me- had come here tha,
morning hoping and expecting that pro-
position A would be carried by several
majority. After debate had taken place
| reluctantly voted for it; not because l
was in favor of a compromised did not
believe it would end in any compromise
hoping. however, rather than expecting it
would be ofsome service in satisfying some
eastern gentlemen who it was known were
disposed to compromise this question,
voted FIR it. Sir, | did not believe that cas-
tern gentlemen enough could be found
then, who were willing to abandon the
principle for which the east has been con
tending. The course of eastern delegates
here, within the last few days, seems to JUS
tify the opinion that it may be necessary
that the east should compromise this qlcs-
ton. My convictions are very decided in
favor Of the mixed basis. | desire, how
ever, to act with majority Of my eastern
friends as far as my opinions will permit
me. liza compromise is entered intoa al.
II ought to be such a one as the east will be
secure in accepting rather than the best the
west will give.
tween the east and west upon Saturday,
did not think there would be any further
propositions for compromise coming from
the east. ! voted against the motion Of the
gentleman from Henry (Mr. Mar,in) to
raise compromise committee; it however
succeeded. 1t is known here, sir, that the
great body Of the eastern delegation elect
cd no member of that committee from the
east. They were known TO be in favor of
compromise. These gentlemen. I do not
doubt. sir, were honestly in favor of com
promise. l supposed. if a report was a
greed upon at all by the committee it
would contain surrender of the principle
either now or hereafter. Such a compro-
Mise cannot receive my support
My colleague (Mr. Wingfeld) says he
has voted for this compromise as the best
that could be obtained, and he believes that
ninetcen-twentieths of our district had they
been here, would have agreed with him.
That is an opinion OF his from which dis
sent entirely for l feel most confident that
nineteen-tweniieths of them, if here, would
disagree with him and agree most decided
ly withme. This must be decided by those
who's us here, to their decision we must
both submit, and with it | shall be satisfied
| will not longer detain the Convention.
Mr.. SAUNDERS. We seem to have
got into a very pretty triangular contest
here, regular cross-frc. Now, sir, do
not think my constituents sent me here
exactly as an automaton to go for extreme
opinions whatever those opinions might be-
| came here knowing perfectly well, as
rejecting and intelligent man, that all gov
ernments are built upon concession and
compromise. | do not think that my CON
sti'uents had any idea of the proportions
that would be necessary under this mixed
basis principle to accomplish the object
and end that we are contending for. do
not think that there could have been more
than fifty conjurors or prophets in my dis
trict who understood those things during
the canvass. But whatever understanding
might have existed amongst ns, am very
certain that my constituents did not send
me here to walk on hair line. They
knew that the opinions Of all gentlemen
here would be subject to modification, and
without any disrespcct to my constituents,
! do not care precisely and exactly what
were the particular views of particular men
-evcnthc views Of my colleague. have
consulted the best interests of INV constitu-
ents under the circumstances of the case,
and have followed the best dictates of my
judgment in proposing form of govern
ment here for them and for the Common
wealth of Virginia. have resisted what
ever l thought was very unwholesome and
| mean to continue to resist it.
do not exactly sec the utility Of the
gratuitous lecture, somewhat awful ia its
form, which my colleague has read to me,
when it is very likely that on the question
pending before the house, shall be found
voting along side ofhim.
Mr.. LYNCH. | was not aware that |
made use of anythreat 10 my friend.
Mr.. SAUNDERS. did not understand
You as making use of any threat. No one
so understood you.
Mr.. LYNCH. did not mean to make
any reflections upon my colleague.
Mr.. SAUNDERS. did not understand
you as making any Reflections
Mr.. LYNCH. [ claim, IN what have
said, to be actuated by the same honest
purposes that my colleague claims for him
self.
Mr.. SAUNDERS. Ihavc not doubted
Il.
Mr.. LYNCH. And ask my colleague,
in all kindness and respect, if he had it in
contemplation when he wrote his address
to his district to give up the mixed basis
that he avowed himselfin favor Of in either
housed
Mr.. SAUNDERS. | have already said
that entertained no particular opinion on
the subject.
Mr.. LYNCH. I can only say that
think we were understood TO advocate a
combination Of white population and taxa
| t;nr, In la.h hn.,so-. q IA I cnn.,rt .ln..L.