Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-04

county Of Frederick. The county Of War
WICK rays about one twenty -se, enfh part OF
the taxes paid by the county of Frederick :
andyet this little county, containing only thir
~ thousand acres Of poor land, with its sparse
population, has an equal representation ia the
,E.es'slainre, with the county Of Frederick,
ranqnIer, t4oudoun or Buckingham. The
county OF frederick contains white popula-
uon equal 10 that Of ten Counties, viz. Warwick.
James CITY. Elizabeth City, Mathews. Charles
City, King George, York, Nicholas, Mason
and Aliddlesex; these ten counties ha,e twenty
representatives in the Legislatures, Frederick
oniy TWO. The aggregate population Of FIRE.
derrick, Fauqhier, L0ud0un, and Buck IN CHAM.
Is 100000. There are twenty -four counties
IN The state, with an aggregate populat ton only
equal to the population OF these four countless
he four counties have eight representatives
III the House of Delegates, the twenty four
counties have forty eight; the taxes paid by
the county 0l Loudoun amount To SIAO60 as;
Inc taxes paid by the counties of Graysun,
Lewis, Morgan, Nicholas, James City, Lee,
fazeweil, Tyler, Mason and York. ffeen
counties amounts TO only S14093 O5 cents,
only twenty four dollars and twenty seven
cents more than is paid by the county of Lou
donn. In vain, we may be told, that ours is
the government of the people, extending TO all
equal rights and political privileges. The
time has arrived when tho people Of Virginia
must and viii thuk for themselves. The free.
holders OF Virginia do not constitute the third
oil the tree white population, over twenty one
years al age; and in consequences of the une
quail population Of the different counties, and
tue consequent unequal Representations, one
seventh oil the number Of all freeholders in
Virginia send majority OF delegates to the
Legislature. It's then evident that the la ws
arc moi passed by a majority Of the people,; bat
on the contrary, 10y very small minority VIZ.
one tenth OF the free white males above tween
y one years Of age; this por,isn of popula-
tion leslsates FOR the whole state of Virginia.
Let me then ask you, my fellow citizens, If we
have not long deceived ourselves with The lie
'ef, that we were living under democratic
republican government, dispensing to all, the
ss:::s .. equal r:;s...s !.l,a:.y ard I. !!
am right IN my calculations, of which, | be-
iieve the most sceptical cannot doubt, we are
iNins under guvernment, where the few pos
sess by The Constitution the power To govern.
IN opposition to the will of The many. This
KIND OF Government, all writer's on polite al
la" have designated an .4ris.ocrdey
do not wish you TO suppose, that am a n
advocate for unqualified and universal suffi aye.
would extend to every free white male ci
iizen OF lawful age, who had resided twelve
months IN the State, and subjrct 10 militia do
lles anu taxes, the right To vote for members
Tor The louise Of Delegates, but.nmt for The Sc
nate. The object i'm the institution of all gov
'rnments, is, for the protection of civil liberty
ana private property. That is. the hes. gov
'rnnent which ELECTS these ends " iih. the
least delay, and smallest expense. IL all a ci
''zen has 10 protect, is protected, he has no
'h'o mare To demand from the government
under which he lives. The citZrn having no
treeh7ld, If he We're permitted to vote for
member oi the House of Delegates, could moi
complain, u he We're prohibited from voting
i"r Senator. Ii he were permitted 10 yott
ior member Of the House Of Del, gales, h.
"ouIu nave representative 10 guard all h.
nao To protect; his civil liberty. This would
DE particularly guaranteed bryond the posi-
bi'i'y OF invasion: as there are moro nun-iree-
holders in Virginia han freehoders the nun
treeho!defs would have majority uf Repre-
sentaiives in the House Of Drlrgaips, SO iha,
M law could tie passed without their consent
For this very reason l would mt permit
Them TO be rep esentrd in The Senate; for as
they would send u majority Of representatives
10 the Senate, as well as 10 the House of Dele
gates, they would have it in their power to
impose all The taxes, III they were SO slSposrdl
upon real estates, without being affected hem
selves by the law. would permit the free
holders to retain the same rights they now
p"ssrss ihry should send REPRESENTATIVES, To
NE ~, rouse ~ Dctegaies, 10 protect their civ il
"otfues, ana representatives to the Senate.
''pro,rct their private property. If sucl, an
was made 10 the Cnnsfi,uii,,n-
who could complain? The citizen who has
us liberty and properly To project, would have
mem perfectly gna,d"J. The citizen who
nAs on'y ms liberty 10 project, would preserve
u "n'ioiaird-hc could mol complain, (ha.ing
no iands fImself) that he is not permitted IL
TAX the lands of",her men without their con
sen', whilst they are inhibited to pass any law
'es'r.c'ise OF his civil liberty. Ia the dark hour
oi caidtnItOus war,tO " HON 10 we turn our eyes
'M safely, and for succouf? To the hardy and
DISTINGUISHED uon -fretboIdrrs the hone and
s'pcw Of The country. Oftra have they pour-
eu out the crimson currest of life, in copipus
hbai'0ns 90 tiie altar Of patriotism; the bur
mems Of government are hedprd upon them
q tney sustain them with Camel.iike patience
hsir arms are ever nerved in The defence of
lnsir much loved county, but ihry are never
cum u 10 share the blessings or benefits or the
government they are Indignantly driven
"oi" We polls, az were brwers Of wood
ana drawers OF water, unfit 10 exercise
the right OF suffrage, the right To max,
'be hSs Ivy which they are governed
maj glorious privilege, dear 10 the hearts Of
lFtemen, That glorious privilege for which,
whsn this land was overshadowcd by the dark
ana pEicnioUs Clouds OF war, their fathers
Dattled on the ensanguinrd plain. In vain have
inc last ruddy drops grishcd forth from the
SAD heart OF the dying sUliier. The bright
boon OF liberty IS denied only to his destitute
children, impoverished and DISTINGUISHED by
the sacrifice of their paternal estate 10 save =
sinking country. Shall The few remsinine he
roes Of the revolution, upon whom fortune has
not smiled. be fold By lie SIMS ~ iLna.. =