Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-01-30
4 ! =! ~, act o. las..s,l

w TIE supleCA OF orr present U4sEuSStOnf 10
assume for granted what is not even in the
contemplation OF the friends of the resolutions,
that our representation will continue after, the
constitution Is amended. 10 rest, as 1T present,
upon the basis OF territory. and not OF popula-
ton. True, sir, we cannot attain perfect euua-
lity. But shall we not, therefore, approximate
as near il as possible: The provision foy e
qualiziug our present system Of taxation, is a.
like miscopceiyed, and admits vt similar vim
dicatlou. This inequality. the offspring of our
own legislation, we could. without doubt, cor
rect ;bet the Select Comnittee have designed
presume, in imitation of the course pursued by
the federalconveution, TO provide that repre-
sentati0n and taxation shall be by the constitU-
ton lndisSoluby associated. The existing in
equality of taxation in our government has sri-
sen like the inequality OF our representation
since the formation of our present constitution,
and tue retention OF the one being ascribah!e
to the reaction of the other affords to the niia-
bitants of the lower country very strong argu-
mcnt in favor OF the proposed reform.
The honorable member, ia Illustrating his
own relation 10 this question, refers us to the
tranquility with which his constituents have
submitted TO the present inequality OF both
taxation and representation. He has told us
that the Borough OF Norfolk singiy paws Il
larger tax into the treasury of the common
wealth, than the county of Loudoun, and
greater sum into the treasury of the u. States
than all the rest of the commonwealth, taken
together Does the gentleman mean that we
shall understand that the Borough Of Norfolk
ACTUALLY pays. on only collects this tax, which
is undoubtedly paid b. the consumers the res
idue OF the Commonwealth, with pref, 10 The
collector for having advanced Il.
ihe honorable member may we'll he tranquil
under our present system OF Representations
Is Norfolk loses any portion of The wris hthere,
winch she might justly claim an her own right,
is she not amply unidentified IN the superior
privileges OF her neighborS /? Standing on the
wharf, from which the Hampton packetdai,y
sails, the gentleman may behold the shore OF a
ss.r,sl
the same weight i'll this government, with 95.-
900 of those petitioners whose PRAYER for re-
dress now lies upon YOUR table. II he embark
ON board this packet, Il few hours sail, with Il
favorable breeze, will bring his sight anoth-
er district, where the same poweris enjoyed By
5000 ireemen, and voyage of less than half
a day, vii! present to him third where t.iis
advantage is shared among white population
OF 5000 souis.-ii he will tAsl shift the helm,
and The wind admit, he will soon discern across
the bay, Il fourth in which the same power is
possessed by about twice that humber. Put
The helm about, aud ascend little higher
up the same hay, he will behold filth, where
this power is claimed aud exercised bv bun o.
200 souls. Tho four smallest OF these districts,
taken together having population Of 8,G3J
ireemen, with representation in tie Senate
equal TO thar of the whole trai.smontaip ccun-
try, which embraces as the report % the com
mittee states, three-fifths Of the widespread
territory Of his Commonwealth, and 2200J0 of
us free W lIte inhabitants.
The honorable me mber has spoken Of thcrare
Tor innovation. What eaterIBnovation can
there he made upon The maXims of our free
constitution, than this very inequality of rep
reSentation He has told us, in reference to Il
measure recently discussed IN this House, i'm
which he had the fortune to ben very large
majority, and III proportiona8ly small mi
nority, that we were seckin. to subvert a
Wholesome institution, foundedon the pTeiudi-
ceS OF a thousand years. | understand the al
lnsion OF the honorable member to be to the
usury bill. have only TO express my sincere
regret, that he did not come ont upon that
question. For, said Mr.. NJ as much as res
Pect the learning, admire the ingenuity, and
deiig!ltin the elOIuense of the gentleman from
Norfolk, should not have shrunk from cou-
test with him, OH the bill in question: sustained
as would have been, by the worthy member
from Henrico
We have seen impressively told, sir, that re-
vo!utions never go backwards; that they in
variably increase the powerof the magistrate,
and lessen the rights OF the people; has iha
honorable member forgotten the beautiful
picture which he so recently gave us OF the
glorious revoiution ofl65s, which bro't William
and liberty from Holland to England ?
NotunaS tegeS As.glie nu!dri, said the Barcns
of England, laying their hands upon their
swords III the presence eta British monarch
who proposed to surrender his crown TO the
Pope, and take it back fief Of the papal
see. Would the present Barons Of England
think you, sir, with all their horror of inaoya-
ton, thaui; the gentleman To transport them
back to the feudai ares which ne has So hiyhIy
extolied, to the field of Runimedeior 10 Char
ter island? Sir, if the BarOns dillingham; would
be glad to go back, the c0mmOners OF England
would moi agree to follow them How many
centuries were these cOmmoners Summoned to
the presence oftheir monarch for no other
purpose than 10 portion his daughter, or 10
supply the waste Of his Extravaganza How
long Is 1t gince they acquired the rank of a CO.
ordinate branch o the British Pariament?--
iheir liberty, the offspring of successive en-
upon the royal prerogative was
not finally consnmmated till the glorious era of
IGSS.
And, Sir, do we owe nothing to revolutions.
besides our portion of this debt of our British
ancestors? Ii the spirits OF our own fathers
now lowered over this hail, with WHAT ,ensa
tons would they hear the accents OF their
SONS" Ee'olIti rs ind the people with little
power. and leave them with less"
Sir, can account for the opposition of the
worthy member from Norfolk, much better
from my knowledge Of his character, than from
the weight of his arguments on tie
present occasion. That opposition, arises
/ am persuaded, from the most anna
able of all possible motives attachment to the
goodly tree OF which bespoke, and bernatb
whose shade we all ropoSe. Sir will joiu
him IN guarding il with holy zeal we win
not .ear 1t up by the roots to plant a scion in
its place. But will ne not permit us TO prune
It's branches into fair proportion, dig round is
roots, enrich its soil, and having thts entarr
ed the size, multiplied the number and heipht-
encd the favour Of its fruit. invite our bretbers
of the west 10 partake fthe delicious repast
which IT = III then abundantiy yield 10 us all2
=. 1 owe, Mr.. Speaker, an apology 10 the house
for these nasty aud desnltOry remarks. / have
turned any attention to this question, for the
first time within the last twenty-four hours. Ss
chiefly on account of some Of the doctrines as