Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-04
The Virginia State Convention.
Deferred Proceeiing'.)
TUESDAY. APRIL Cd, 1861.


sition of the majority. 49,.
Mr.. MAcrARLASp-l say that the Complaints
against the Committees reports procceueo n'
10 from members of that Committee. ircmem-
her nerfectly the course of the gentleman from
Amelia in relation to the report. do not
mean to convey the idea that the COMMITTEES
was surprised by the position of any OF the
minority. / was about to state here what
were the facts in this matter, when Interrupted
by the Chair. If it is in order, | Will stare
now what meant to say when ] referred u
this matter in my address.
The CuAIRNAN-I. is not in order 10 stale
what transpired in Committee.
Mr. HARvlE-I understood the gentleman as
having no reference to my action III what liz
said.
Mr.. MAcFARLAND-None whatever.
Mr.. ScoTr, of Fauquicr--t understand the
usual time for adjournment is near at hand
desire to give to the Committee some Of the
views that entertain respecting the questions
that have been SO long III debate but feeling
reluctant to trespass at this time upon the eX-
hausted patience OF the Commilteee' WIZ "ss'
that the Committee rise.
The question was put and carried, ana inc
Committee rose and reported progress
II.
have prepared for the report ol The toiii-
mittee on Federal Relations, that desire now
to submit in order that it may be printed, with
Il declaration that at the proper time, "hen II
is in order, shall offer it. in oruer lhas may
have an opportunity Of recording my vote.
| will take this occasion Ia say, mat the
gentleman from Orange, CIR. MoRT"S) On yes
tertlay, did me the honor--the high liunor-to
say that was the strongest Union man III THIS
Convention, not excepting the gentleman from
kanawl,a (Mr. SrMNERs) | trust Mr.. PreSi-
dent, that there are q humber Of members OF
this Convention who are Is strong Union men
as am. would 10 God that had the power
and the eloquence Of the gentleman from Ia
nawha (Mr. SUNMEKs) 10 enabls he 10 place
before this Convention and the country my
views upon the great questions now agltatihS
the country. My constituents heard my views,
the views which | now entertain, ard upon u
iull, fair and candid expression OF them, they
elected The to this Convention thank dnh
That have not allowed any persons u reinaIn
in doubt about my position, and have not been
here for six weeks to have it now debated aS
to what position occupy. My constituents
know, and the members Of this Convention,
with whom have been brought IN contact,
know what is MY position. desire to place
upon the record Of this Convention my vote,
in order that there shall DC no possibility Of
mistake as to the position do occupy, aud it
is for this reason that shall offer The subsll-
.lte which have sent 10 the Clerk and which
ask may be printed.
The question was taken on printing The sab
stitu,s offered by Mr. Early and il Was agreed
to-
TAXATION QUESTION.
Mr.. WISc-There Is omc question that was
brought, some time ago before this body, III
the Convention, no, in the Committee OF the
Whole, which wish to inquire about aud to
know what has become Of It'll mean The
question of taxation.
The PREsIDESr-The question Of taxation is
the suhjec: now properly in order Il. this mo
ment
Mr.. WlsE-In what form is it rend:ng be-
fore this body?
The PRESlpESr-lt has been the question iii
order in the morning until tue debate was ar
rested by the Convection going into E"!:,'n.t-
tee of the Whole AMI consequently il is in
order ms soon us the Committee rises.
Mr.. WIsE-I mean to ask what the plrtcu-
lar question is -?
The pREslpENT-Upon the adoption Ct the
resolution offered by the gentleman irou Mo
mongolia, CHR. WnLEr.)
Mr.. WIsE-There is no proposition.
The PnEslpENr-Yes, sir, there is distinct
proposition OF principle in the first resou-
ton.
Mr.. W1sg-E mean no distinct proposition
Of constitutional amendment
The PRESIDENT-Nonc.
Mr.. WlsE.-I merely rise TO say that ! de-
sire at some time or other, before the Conren.
lion shall dispose Of this matter, if am able
TO do so, TO say briefly what know upon that
subject, as occurring ten years ago in tie Con.
yention that formed the present State Con>t-
tntion. claim upon that part Of the ne" Con.
s.itutiou to have been u part, ifnot magMa pG:s
That clause in the new Constitution | drew
with INV own fore6nger and thumb Is q guar
antce for the Eas, against unequal taxation,
when had waged siege Of eighteen months
TO destroy that odons thing which was called
a mixed basis. |. was that mixed basis more
than anything else, which made the institution
of slavery odious It was that which lnudc
property stand Up against numbers at voters,
and made numbers ol voters curse tue property
which subordina,ed to itself the minority Of
the white population Of the State. With ali
my might, with all my zeal, with all my head
and with all my heart, tried TO break dowr
unequal representation, and ~ith equal Zeal
tried to secure equal tayatlon. understand
that | have been uphraided in the West. and
am now cited and quoted in the West as being
the author OF tine exemption from taxation, oi
negroes under twelve years oil age. mere avail
myself Of the opportunity in this place, before
the whole State, to deny the charge. There
we're three points that made with my con>t-
tuen,s, throwing my bosom bare upon the
spears Of the popular prejudice on that ques.
ton in the East there were three rartlna!
points that | made with my constituents al
that dar: free equal representation; free equal
universal, uniform, al ratorem ta%at"r; aud
free universal education compromised with
my constituents upon every other subject, and
| appeal to them. who know the fact, ut hune,
TO saw whether this was not my position. And
Tow appeal to the members who represented
the West in that Convention, ard wig are
members Of this Convention, to bear zoe VII
ness if in the long and tedious effort that was
made to obtain equal representation i0r the
West, il the siege was not carried on ut my
instance. And to prove this, need but refer
you-for he was one Of the divided " est that
stood be me throughout-to Mr.. CArEEToH, OF
Monroe WIN. SMITH, o! Grccnor'er, now OF
the Senate of Virginia, was another Nhe'
even the gentleman from kanawha, (MT SrN.
xERs,)-when Mr.. SANCELs, OF Shenandoah,
despaired almost Of obtaining what they Game
to obtain, equality ofrepresentat'on; anl when
the question was started in caucus OF the
West, whether it was worth while for them
to remain here, it was at my instance that
they were kept here to obtain their rights
and was backed in the appeal to remain 10y
my friend from Monroe (Mr. CArEnroS)
He remembers it we'll my friend from ka-
nawha (Mr. SuMMgRs) remembers it we'll. 1t
was 1 that urged upon the Yves, to stand
firm, to continue the siege, to lay siege Ia
the majority, until argument and reason should
prevail, as they did ultimately prevail When
had finished the work with the West and
for the West, | retired from that caucus,
and then went over to aid the East in OBJ
tanning the guarantees Of equal taxation which
7 ho6 promse1 m constituents ap-