Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-13

ma utyd, hat although Iii one branch al the
legislature, the representation should be
r. gua,ed by popuiaii"H, Yet that ~ ile
y pate, each state should stand on eQual
ground II MAS also iurihcr agteed that
the pie>id~Diia! vote 0i ed, II stale, Siouid
be equal to It's representation III both
houses
The principle that taxation and repre-
enta ION shall bc apporilOBcd by ihe
saue rule so obviously just as 10 find Il
ready preference IN lhe Cunve, ton {:
so obviously Just, thai those Who pretend
IN e. ndcnn Il. dare not, and never will
dare TO propose any other, is also part,
a fundamental part OF The compact, be-
tween The states
| These principles a well d. some others
| conceive To be settled by compact, anJ
| that II would h "A breach at lailI diid
| honor To attempt 10 alter them: d breach
so palpabie, ihal the state affected by The
| change, would he released Il ON lis obi
gallon TO The Union.
Blu, there are other pats of The system,
purell political IN their character, IN
which al tie states have an equal interest,
and which may therefore be modified or
altered, "a experience may prove 10 be
correct. The amendment projected and
| adopted as To- tie Ei0nncr OF voting Tor
| prc-idrni and wee president, is believed
| TO be of this character.
I US The conventional part OF The cou-
| siiiuilon settles tie prluclpi :, on which
| the states agree 10 eiIer into the cODiede
| racy and The political part, ascer,aIns
| the extent OF power 10 be exercised, and
| indicates the organs at lis eX' cuiiOR.
IbS principles seiilcd by compact ought
la be regarded a. sac cd. They should
| never be approached, uOr even mentioned,
but with reverence, still less ought they
10 be brought forward as an argument in
relation TO some new political arrange
ment because the matter having been
settled by agreement, 10y compact, the
account Is CLOSED. Ii you can break open
the sanctuary of ia, constitution, 10 take
| from II an argument, founded on any
supposed advantage. peculiar 10 one or
| more states, the foundation Of our pollti-
cal eCiiti is shaken, aud the argument If
once used may be used forever. Ii will
only become The stronger as II becomes
more familiar. Wires acqulri eundo.
Bui II the argument is 10 be used, q
| ought 10 be lailN stated.
lis force, IT there be any force IN II,
Is impaired by HE following considers.
tons :
|. We pay in exact proportion 10 our
r presentation, whenever direct lakes are
imposed aud though Ia lime OF peace,
our revenue Is derived principally from
duties, OF which, being consumers, the
southern STATES pay a great deal, Vet pre-
| ciSeiy at The time, when our means are
most limited, that is during a wal, the
system OF internal iaAes must necessarily
be adopted.
his inequality i'm the appOriionment
OF representations, says MT. kHg,
was not misunderstood dt The 'doptIOH of
the constitution q but 10 one auilcI-
paled the fact, that The hole OF the
revenue of The ii. States would be de-
rived from indirect taxes, (Which an
not be supposed lO spread themselves
over The several states, according 10 the
rule of The appointment OF direct
take, y but II was believed that part
of the contribution tuthe common hea.
" sury would be apportiOmed among HE
;ates by The rnie for Tie appOrilonmeni
" of r. representatives..
| do not believe that fully comprehend
| tins remark. Ii Is defective Ia eueIy point
Of view. What do understand, Ia wrong
| from beginning 10 END.
Whether the act under consideration
was anticipated by " any one" or
moi, is inmaierial The subject WAS not
misunderstood )" and even II The iaci
| hat not been anticipated, that cIrcum-
stance, supposing II To be susceptible oi
proof. which it is moi, would be also i'm
material.
Bml The fact iCaS anticipated. Before
| the adoption OF the constitution, The pe"-
pie wrre admohShed on thiS Uery point
The FcdcraiIsl (Nr. i2,) expressly states,
iitai IL Is evident from the state OF the
country, from the habits OF the people,
from the experience we "aNe had on
g the point Itself, Thai II Is imprdcticGbie
- 10 raise any ~ considerable sHm 10y
direct taxation. Tax laws bave Ia vain
been muliipllcd," &c. &c. In Amr
rica. ii is evident" continues the " Fe
" derdiIsi -" that we must tor d long Tine
" depend fort he means OF revenue, chiefly
" on such nuii.s."
Again: Mr.. King says. "ii was believed
" that a part OF The contribution to the
common treasury, would be apporlIOn-
" ed, &c. &c" BS whom was tins be
| Ii,v d Il this belief existed, II lay dor
maGi aud lnactVe for several years. The
| iir.t direct las VAS imposed M 1898.
| But al what time is this suggestion
made 2? Al the very moment when The
measure under CONSIDERABLE Is advocated,
| because liz contributions Ia The treasury
are principally from duties, the same party
| are ciamoTOHs for the encouragement oil
| domestic industry IAN encouragement by
winch neutrality-suspicious., and OF cOurst
duties, are 10 be diminished, and The re.
venue IA the same proportion, derived
| from internal taxes
2. From the statement already made, it
is 'xlremely probable, that Tie rule of
1888, for computing The Number OF in'
habuanis III each state, IN one Stale
more favorable, because II made no de-
ducilOn whatever, was proposed, by one
Oi the very sIaies ia whose behalf the OBJ