Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-02-07
SPEECH OF yyM. SEhDEN, ESQ.
IrnNrTTDpn

II is asserted that, to confne the ele,t;ve
franchise TO tie holders of real estate is 10 eyer
cise the very same cd Gus privilege which induced
ONT refaherS 10 abSolge themselves from all ale
giante to the British Ci.own-that tile taxes lad
upon articles imported into this countrv were
compliance OF as unjus, and oppressive, nicely,
because the Colonies were unrepresc1tcd in tie
British Parliament which imposed them. This
is The argument OF the advocates &c noticed re-
form; and tie Inference which theu dedi:ce f.orn
IT. rs, that the situation cfthat portion the neo
pie of this state, whose want of freehold nre
cludes them from partic patton in political n.
fairs, is precisely like that ofthe Colonies a, the
time they belonged 10 the British Crown, and
wee denied the right 10 pariicpatc in TIC for
nation Of the laws Ivy which they were C--yerned
But the SITUATION Of those whose wan; nt freelold
preclude' them from share inthe councils oFtbe
state IS tot liy different en- that of the 5loncs
at the time they were taxed hv and tIreDross n ri
il, the British Parliament; ( with due stlbmissjor,
tony adversaries, link l. requires 10 %. .l-aor-
binary intelligence iOd srern The d h'.resce. The
people OF THIS country who absOl,ed tEenls Give,
from tho british yoke corncls ned. thatir sy wore
taxed and oppressed by Parliament winch he's
its deliberations ~ distant land divided by an
immense ocean FROM the scenes cf Their suiIe..
ING, aud in which they had M voice, no, rot eve,
one Representative, to proclaim the grievances
undrr which they Fruaned. That Ptri,auea;
IMPOSED taxes, of wI' rb, no portion was tn / q
y "a by hoe who imposed theTn: rs,,rued the
E0Gstrotls power 70 suspend jhe Co!o,.ial s-r.sla
tures, and N short, too; urnn themselrey. TO e
EYIatc Tor the C1'Jnies IN alt cases w!atssereg-
rus was indeed, TIC vc'y essence OF tyrinuy
and presented to tile Colnne7 one of the mos,
fearful and por;en'ons -peciacle, Of self created
pow er and authority VIII oh usu~pation ever rear
Cd upon The liberi les Of free people But how
different is the situation oF those whose want Of
eehod don 6 item participation IN the coun-
criSof Ibis ate IIefe, laws are pas e 4 aud ius
tee administered before her eree, ard the hum
blest voice that finds is way mo this Hall, is
It's encd 10 with attention and respect Here, 100
tie representatives have the same re,det,ce, and
the same local aid general interests which the
mass OF TIE pc pie Eave and they can rass no
Laws TOR which they WI not he responsible, and
winch VII not operate upon themselves as well
as every o'her member ofthe community From
la"givers thus constJtu Ell. aud tied down by The
sacred IjunctIOns Of interest and duty, what in.
Ihrcs Can accrue 90 the community az large -
ie' mr., By very sfo~t and simple antithcsis, con.
tfas' tie Colonies, with The p,ople Of The presen.
d'y, aud perhaps Inc difference between the two
memorable perHd5 Of time will be still nore OBJ
yons - hgye already observed thai. during our
revolutionary s'r'iggles, o,iT law g;vsrs resided ~
adHereni and remote lard, and So slr wcre the,
from BENG d,pendcnt upon ;lic Colonies for any
oil their c0i.ticI powers. Giat they held on upon
Their sciF cseacl stations directly in opposition
90 the wishes ofthe Colonies. But how IS it nov,
%@w, our law.gyer- reside among us and arc
chosen from among U.S. anil der political power
and authority depend upon our free and vonu.
tsry consent. THen, the voice Of the people was
never proclaimed; rosg, Ills constantly proclaiu-
ed through the legitimate and constituted organ
Of the peoples viii Jgien, our iav.givers, so
iar from baying the sam local and general Bte-
rests with the Colonies, had views sud interests
totally indepeuden. oud dtsmilar; end pqrt OF
the very resources whieh enabled then 10 uphold
Their system Of political ~Ickeduess ard nisrule
was wrung ifcm tic mise les of tie persecuted
Colonies NoIq our law-givers contribute fair
aud equal portion Of tie revenue when they irn-
pose ana u'e whole Of 1t IS appropriated to de.