Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-05-30
VIRGlNIA-sTILL BETTER.
1.-THE WHITE BASIS. /"


This humbug Of the last car-paicn is being re-
vived for effect in this in spite OF the disasters
which befel the attempt two years ago. We do
not suppose more outrageous humbug was ever
started. Our readers generally understand the
matter. Gov. JoHSsoNs proposition, in lS4Z, when
Senator in the Legislature, was to apportlon the
Representation in Congress upon the same BASIS
as is adopted in the constitution for the apporton-
ment of representation in the State Legislature
The State being then entitled to eleven Represent
stives. be proposed dividing those eleven Repre-
sentstives among the voters of the State, instead
of among the population of the State. The prn-
cipe has been acted upon in South Carolina, Ala
bama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Nobody there
ever dreamed Of calling it an abolition PROPOSE
ton; and nobody here can call it sach except
through gross ignorance or intentional misIepre-
sentation.
The attack upon this white basis proposition is
sheer hypocrisy; because it s known that there is
rs wish to change the present superintendent in
Tennessee, and because it comes from men who
support Col GESrRY,-Col. GENTRY, who in 1913,
declared in public speech that he did not know
whether Gen. TAYLOR, if elected President, would
or would not veto the Wilmot proviso, but that he
did know he ought not to do so.
The Memphis appeal has this conclusive article
on this subject: -.a...
TIE WElTE BAsIs-Ihe enemies OF Gov. John
son in this end of the State have made frequent
ausions to the white basis question, with a view
Of getting up prejudice against him, but none of
them have ever taken the trouble or the pains to
explain the question, but on the contrary, have
done all in their power 10 misead the minds OF the
peope on the subject 1t has generally been IN
derstood q proposal TO amend the Constitution
of the United States, and deprive the South oil her
Ihree-ifth slave representation in Congress. Those
who heard Gov Johnson's exposition of his propo-
sition day before yesterday however, will see that
it is no great raw head and hloody-bones, after IL.
lie never has made any proposal TO amend the
Constitution in this respect to deprive the South
of her slave representation in Congress, but his
proposition was merely in Dstricting the State, to
adopt the plan of Alabama, Mississippi and LOuisi-
ana In ali these States, as We are informed, in
having off their Congressional Districts, it is done
agreeably to the number OF qualified voters; or, in
other words the slaves are regarded as being
equally difused throughout the entire State For
instance, suppose the number Of slaves in Tonnes
see is three hundred thousand and that the white
population of the three divisions was just equal
then each division would be entitled to count one
hundred thousand slaves, although the greater
bulk of them might be owned in one or two d.
visions This, it is evident, would have tendency
70 wed the non-saveLolding division to the slave
interest of the State and this is one of the reasons
advanced by Gov. johnson in favor OF the propo-
sition. On the other hand, the non-slav eholding
division, erjoying none n the advantages Of the
slave population, would naturally become alenated
to some extent from the interests of tie other OIL
slave-holding divisions Explained and understood
thus, it is evidently right in principle as well a;
sound in policy. The State is single body, and
every division or section should enjoy all the privi-
liges and advantages alike. This would have
tendency to harmonze their interests, and recon.
Gle one TO the other. Such is plain statement Of
Gov. Johnson's white basis principle, as we under
stand if, against which much righteous indigna-
ton has been expended by his enemies in this end
of the State. Verify they hard run for weapons
with which TO fight their battles.