Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19

aware that there has been presented to the
General Assembly of Virginia enc solitary pc.
tition asking for call Of the Convention, with
the view Of changing the organic law in this
particular. Ono gentleman who addressed
the Convention this morning, think the gem
tlcman from Jackson, (Mr. TuRSER,) referred
to some action that had been taken upon the
part of his people with reference to this par.
ticulur subject 1t may have been that that
question was agitated there, but SO fir as am
informed, that question has never been present.
ed by the people of jackson or by the people
Of Virginia to the General Assembly of the
| State.
Mr.. TURNER Of Jacksonville gentleman
misunderstood me- The question was agtated
in Jackson, and it was agiiated in some other
sections Of the West
Mr.. CArEKToN.-lt matters not have no
doubt it has been the subject Of complaint and
have no doubt it may have been the subject
Of agitation on the part Of some people in some
portions Of the State But what / affirm is,
so far as my knowledge extends, that there has
not been one solitary petition presented to the
| General Assembly of the State asking that Il
Convention ght be assembled for the pur-
pose Of affording that redress. tWhy then,
should we press this matter now upon the
consideration Of this Convention? This Con-
Vention was called with reference to no such
object If a Convention had been asked for
any such purpose, presume it could not have
been obtained. This Convention was called
under peculiar circumstances and exigeucics
which may never. perhaps, occur again in the
history oil this Commonwealth And having
been obtained under these circumstances do
these gentlemen think it right, proper and be-
/
Mr. BRowN.-I wish to ask the gentleman,
one question. If I understood my friend, he
says, that this Convention could not have
been had but for the question Of Federal Re-
lations.
Mr.. CAPERToS sir.
Mr.. BRowN.-TAen want to make This i'll
quiry Of him. Can you have any hopo that
We ever can have Convention that will!
change the organic law2 five could not have
one now, could we have one two or three years
hence?
| Mr.. CArEKToN-I will answer the gentle.
man. apprehend it could be had at that time
| which seems 10 have been looked to rs the
proper time for reforming aud changing the
| Constitution with respect TO this and other
subjects To be sure, the Constitution does not
provide that in 1865 there will BIZ Conyen.
ton. The calling OF the Convention may be
superseded by the Legislature, but still it was
| contemplated at the arrangement ot this e cat
question Of the basis Of representation, that
the Constitution should be changed in 1865,
and the people of this Commonwealth have
seemingly acquiesced in this arrangement.
Mr.. WYsoR-Alay ask the gentleman one
question. | have heard it said uld repeated
here that there was some understanding in the
Convention Of 1S50-5l, some rli%hted faith,
! by which we are precludcd now lrora con-
| sidering this question Of taxation The gen.
tleman from Monroe CIR. CArERroS) us well as
myself, were members of that Convention. |
should like to know in what that understand.
ing or phghted faith consisted.
Mr.. CApERroS-The gentleman did not hear
it from HE. made no such declaration.
did not affirm that there was my such under
staSdng mentioned that it was an inference
from the action Of that body, from the acquics-
cence of the people i'll the postpone,uent OF that
subject until the year 1865. The great subject
which called that Convention together, was the
subject connected with the basis o.. representa-
ton That was subject upon which the West
were moro concerned than upon all other sub
jects, and the basis Of representation was ar
ranged so as to satisfy the demands ofthe West
ern people, and it would only have been So ar
ranged by their having granted certain qua
rantees and concessions to the East ! do not
admit that this was one; do not admit that
this arrangement Of taxation was one which
the members of that Convention did assent to
consideration upon which they should get
the white basis but that was all arrangement
made by the Conventions; and that arrange
ment was sanctioned by tho people in their
adoption and ratification OF the Constitution.
Sir, the people having accepted the Const
tuition under these circumstances, a Constitu.
ton that looked to q change Of the instrument
| itself in 1866, the inference was that the or
ganic law was to remain unchanged until the
year 1865. 1t is a matter for the judgment
and determination Of the people. They are
under no constraint They could have called
at any time convention for the purpose Of
reforming the organic law in this PARTICULAR
But, sir, now is Vf all others the most impro-
per and inopportunc time for any such cali.
Why, sir, the gentleman says that this
whole difficulty has originated FROM this
particular species Of property. 1t is known
that this particular species of property aboundS
in this portion Of the State and but very little
is found in the Western portion, and it is also
known that the people in this portion OF the
State are more alive, more apprchensire, more
filled with dread consequences Of the great
trouble now upon Us, than tho people inhabiting
the Western portion of the State; and submit
to gentlemen whether it would be right to cx-
tort from their fears and apprehensions that
which they would not obtain under other cir.
cumstances. If the people Of L stern Virg.
mia arc so apprehensive upon this subject and
their dread is worked up to such pitch thai
they are willing TO do now what they would
| pot 10 ,,uIor ofhur civ in order IN
have united action in resisting cncroachnents
Oh the part of the North, submit whether il,
would be right and proper for US and Tor them
| situated as VIC arc TO avail ourselves Of this
OCCASION Would we value concessions obtain.
| I'd under duress-for that is the effect?
Now, sir, when the proper time comes, We
will unite with these gentlemen in endeayoring
to obtain this reform in respect to the question
of taxation. This do net regard as the proper
time. | regard the effort now, as having an IN
furious effect upon our interests in respect to
the great questions touching our national diti'
culties. l regard it as not fair towards our
neishbors Of the East TO avail ourselves OF the
peculiar emergency in which we find them
placed, to obtain from them that which they
would not be willing to accord under different
circumstances In view Of these considcru-
tons, / shall vote for laying this proposition
upon the table, and shall at every conceivable
stage, resist the consideration OF this subject
during the sessions Of this Convention.
Mr.. JoHSsoN-I had not intended, Mr.. Presi-
dent, TO participate ut NIL in the discussion OF
this question. would not do SO nowebu for
the very ngular charge which etnanathd from
my friend fsom the county OF Harrison CIR.
WILSON, whom understood here today, as
aging that there are now more aoolltlonisls IN
the city of Richmond than there are in North
Western Virginia. Mag I ask my friend by
what authority he max = this assertionF
Mr. WILsoS-Thc gentleman misunderstood
ME. did not say that there were more aholl'
tiopists in the city Of Richmond than in North
western Virginia. | understand that we have