Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-03
DEBATE on THE SOUTH CAROLINA MISSION IN

- - ~ inL sOIIH CAROLINA MISSION IN
- IhE hOUsE OF DELEGATES, Jan. 2sth
Mr.. JONES, OF Gloucester. said:
MI ofEAkEk-l dislike to trespass the time of the
house and II IS not my habit do so but under exist
hg circumstances, lest silence on my part might be ss
Gep''o'c VI hi'cohstructon deem it my duty those
represent coming as do from one Of the Congression
al districts which have been overlooked in the appoint
ment oil THIS committee to say to the House. that for
one was not little astonshed when that Committee
was announced to that three Congressional districts
TWO oil them comprising whole section of the State
had been wholly overlooked by the Speaker Now Mr.
SPEAKER attribute this entirely to inadyertency do
not mean to cast any reflection whatever on the motives
oil the speaker, yet cannot but look upon the
IN winch the appointments the Committee have been
made as most unfortunate claim that every section of
the state IS ehtled to representation on this Committee
II know anything about the essence of representative
republican government it is that every shade of public
sentiment, as near as practicable shall be- when it
be, represented That say my idea of representative
republican government and such in the appointment of
this Committee should have been the intent Of the Speak
|
Sir, when the number thirteen was announced, as
the number constituting the committee, i thought 1t
pointed unerrngy TO the representation OF the several
congressional Districts. IL is useless to say that differ
ent shades OF public opinion do exist in these Con-
greSSional districts stand here instructed represen
tatve on this very question of Southern Conference
les sur Instructed, by of the largest meetings
held in my county composed of members of both polt
cal parties and without party distinction to initiate here
the very proposition which has been Initiated by the
sovereign State of South Carolina. My own sentiments
am happy TO say, accord entirely with those instruc
tons and may be permitted further to remark, was
ten years in advance of them for early the year
$780, on the passage of the compromise measure by Con
gresS was in favor of similar action. But know, Mr.
Speaker, difference of opinion exists here As to the
property OF conference, among Eastern well ~ Wes
tern gentlemen for the gentleman from Culpeper Nj
HlrDOur sci he M lao
State, aud from large sayeholding district entertans
opinions on this question, the opposite oil my own, is
indicated by the resolutions which he has just had read by
the Clerk expressive Of lis views Doubtless sir these
resolutions meet with the sanction of his best Judgment
but differing with him in opinion, hope TO have the
opportunity of expressing my for doing So when
the general subject is properly mp for discussion. In
the Congressional district from which come Mr. Speak
err will venture to assert there exists the Western
shore no least, great uanmlty Of sentiment in favor
of a conference of the Southern States in any other
portion Of the Commonwealth, aud why ask, should
not that sentiment have been represented? Again, |
dsclalm any Intention of agibutng improper motives
to the Speaker but must be permitted to say that
deem It most unfortunate circumstance that be did
give to this matter more careful consideration be-
fore appointing the Committee. say tue free
v, because from the position occupy, an instructed
representative should perhaps, under any crcumsan
ces have been precluded from place upon it. | did,
however, desire that the prevailing sentiment of my dis
trct should have been represented on IT, Now under
stand that Is precisely the position in which the gentle
from Prince Edward intended to place himself; and
it in the Illustration of his position he has used argu-
which CRATE harshy on the of gentlemen from
the West surely, sir they ought remember and feel
assured after the explanation he has made that nothing
OF the kind designed but that he simply nten led
to illustrate the position, for which We contend, that
public sentiment should have been represented nearly
and as equally as practicable, that Committee from
every section and portion Of the State have deemed
it my duty to submit these remarks Mr. Speaker be-
cause know my constituents look to this with
peculiar interest