Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-24
SPEECH

Of Col. g, D, CAMDEN, Of Harri1on, before
the STATE Convention Of Virginia, N Com
R1itteS Of the Whole, on tie Basis Of Re
PTCSsntGtion, delivered on tho 29M and
SOFA APril, 1851.
owe my thanks to the gentleman from
Ohio Mr.. Knote) for kindly yielding the
floor to me this morning, and l am very
much disposed to say, that if it is the de-
sire of the committee at this time, to take
the vote upon the pending question, will
not delay that vote.
Several Members, Go on.
Mr.. Camden. No member of the COM
mittOe feels more than do the response
bllity devolyed upon him as = member of
this body, from the fact that feel as in
competent as any member to discharge
its duties, l have felt the Importance Of
gathering information and knowledge
from every quarter, and | am free to say
that have derived great advantage and
much information from the able argu.
ments which have been presented to the
consideration Of the committee by gentle
men upon both sides of the question. II
is conceded on all hands, that the funda-
mental Law is inadequate to promote the
prosperity and happiness of this people,
and that it needs amendment. That duty
is devolVed upon us. We are not only to
reform and modify the legislative depart
ment of the government, but the people
expect that ne will propose notifications
in every departmeut-legislative, execu-
tive and judicial,
The executive department Of the gov
srnment is to be reformed by the election
OF tho chief magistrate Of the common
wealth, by the qualified voters-by the
abolition Of the executive council, and by
conforming it in other respects to the prin-
cipleu of free government. The judicial
department is to undergo various changes
by the election of Judges by the people,
and by holding them more directly re-
aPonSible to the community and the leg
islAtive department also is not only to be
changed and modified upon tho great
question of the basis or representation in
both HouseH of the General Assembly,
but it is to be altered in reference to other
important matters; and provisions of a
miscellaneous character arc to be made,
such as promoting education, extending
the right OF suffrage, &c. In the dis.
charge of this high duty, We have the
benefit Of experience. We call to our aid
the lights which have been shed by those
who have preceded us. The age in which
we live is one remarkable for improve
ment in every thing connected with tho
we'll being and happiness of man. With
reference to the question under considera-
ton, l deem it proper to state, that it is
necessary, according to my humble con-
ception, to look to all the important pro-
visions of the constitution. My vote up
on other questions of constitutional re-
form, may depend to some extent upon
the adjustment Of the question now pend
ing before the committee. | regret az
much As any member of the committee,
the great difficulties we have to encoun-
ter in the adjustment of the question,
frankly say, that came to this Conven-
ton with strong feelings and biaSes in re-
ference to this matter but experience has
satisfied me of the necessity of calm and
deliberate consideration, and to regard
not merely my own Immediate constit-
uonts, but to take an enlarged Wow of the
entire interests of the commonwealth, l
will say to my friends upon the other side
of the question, if they will satisfy me
that am in error, and that the white or
suffrage basis is not the proper basis to be
adopted for representation in the General
Assembly, shall have the frankness to
admit it, and l will either conform my
course to such conviction, or return to
those who have conferred it upon me, the
important trust that now hold from the
hands of a kind and generous oonstitu-
ency. One great embarrassment in the
adjustment of this question, is the haste
and manner in which the Convention has
been called, The gentleman from Fau-
qGler, (Mr Scott some weeks since,
when we encountered some embarrass-
mont IN the progress of this discussion,
.llaGe ! 'he declaration, that the fault was
IN '4e adjournment in October last, over
70 january l say to that gentleman,
tnaC the error was in the premature call
OF this convention. And will state fur
ther that the manner in which tb;a bodv
has been called together, has tendod vory,
much to produce that high state Of ex. ~
element in the West which gentlemen a.
much depreoate, We of the West, repre
senting majority of near 100000 of the
free white people of the State, find our
selves here with majority of II against
u.s. By adopting the principle of the
mixed basis, it should be but IL. Ac,
eording to our views upon this question,
instead ofa majority Of II from the East,
mere should be a majority of II from the
west: When these facts are taken into
consideration, is To be wondered at, that
the West is excited upon the subject /!
There being four from the East who ara