American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-01-20

Political Justice and moral right. Delaware
Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, are the
Ionly states whose representation, 10 their several
legislatures depends the long laughed at and
truly ridiculous, though abomlnable and unj ust,
rotten borough-system Of England. That's GER.
tain district of country, or space OF land whether
inhabited by whites, blacks or mulattoes, or a mix
lure Of all--or by bucks and does, or bears and
wolves, frogs and mosquitoes, provided it hath
certain qualified bipeds enough in it 10 fill the place
Of representatives Of the people are entitled 10 an
equal degree Of power in the passage OF laws to
regulate the affairs Of the several commonwealth.
Ii is no matter whether district is fertile or bar
rem, large or small, ten feet square or an hundred
miles-whether it contains five militiamen fifty
thousand pays one dollar tax a million.
One county in Delaware has 22360 citizens and
another only i4,180, and yet they are represen-
ted by an equal number of members.
One city in Maryland, which sends tW0 mem
bers the houes of Delegates has much effec-
tive strength Of population and pays nearly as
much tax, as ten counties which send forty mem
bers.
One county in Virginia, entitled to ttro members,
contains greater number OF citizens than nine
counties which send eighteen members.
One county in North Carolina, with two mem
bers is equal in its number oil citizens to seven
counties sending fourteen members.
And yet we smile,at the English system That
has the plea of antiquity, the danger of reform"
in its favor-but what have we 10 plead from our
equally ridiculous delegations Of power? We pirate
about liberty and declaim in favor Of our just laws
we say that taxation without representation is
tyranny How shall we be Judged by that which
we chatter about that which suffer to be, and
sanction by its sufferance?
Virginia has made an attempt to do away these
wretched principles of her constitution, and failed
deefr ed Iep ma
authorities who had so long ruled the state. Even
in that liberty loving commonwealth, the Staunton
Convention, which had for its object equality in
presentation, was almost as much booted at, by the
possessors oe power, as Hunt or Goblet were for
the notion that Manchester, with $50 900 nhabi-
ants, better entitled 10 representation in the
British parliament than old Sarum, which sends
two members and has no inhabitant at all In Ma
lryland, the prospect Of reform is distant that
the aggreved have not thought it worth while to at.
tempt 1t. In Delaware there is present chance Of
success. But, Notwithstanding these discourage
mens convention was lately held at Raleigh, North
/ Carolina, which agreed upon "new constitution
Tor The state, the leading proposed amendments hav-
ing for their purpose the delegation of Legislative
power, in proportion TO the g federal numbers" OF
1.-THE people of the several counties
We, in Maryland, shall mark the progress of this
proceeding with great interest. If truth and JUS
Itice prevails in North Carolina, may hope tina,
their career will not be limited by the confines OF
that stale---but pass the line and be received in
Virginia. then cross the Potomac, and only stop
i'm little Delaware, because their work is to be fin
ished in that state, that ace, the people,, may gov
fern.
4 If any man has sught to say why these things
should not happen, lei him speak that we may hon
or him with Louis, the desired and Ferdinand, the
restored-two of the wises, best and most liberal
minded men that ever lived Niles Register.
Emanuel Taldor, Esq. is recognized by the Pres
ident of the United States, Consul Of His Majesty
the king of Sardinia for the Port of Baltimore and