Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-09

d,sSGflSfGcft0n with the gross fncqudaIy
in the senate, put forth in the very
same paper, which reproaches him,
with gross ignorance, or wilful suppress
sion of the fact, that the representation
of the senate was equalized in 1916 and
1917, and apportioned to the free white
population" AS Interpretations from
long essay, to the language of which,
the reader cannot recur, if at all, with
out inconvenience, are not easily de-
tected, and are, therefore, the more
likely to occur, read the following pas
sage, from the very paper, which is
charged with this complaint. Gin the
last arrangement (that Of lsl6-l7) OF
the senatorial districts Of the state,
that learned and eloquent representative
Of the Borough of Norfolk, Mr.. Taze-
well) did not only strenuously but dis
passionately resist Che was no alarmist)
the effort to form those districts OTTER
ritories having an equal number Of ,chite
inhabitants, and after two days discus
sion, he not only utterly failed, but the
senate themselves, unequal as ,oas then
the representation of the western coun-
ties in that body, acquiesced in the just
decision of the House of Delegates"
What epithet shall be applied to mis-
representations, SO gross, that if the
eye did not behold, the understanding
would not credit their existence? And
what has become of the learning and
ability Of gentleman, whose unques-
toned talents, no one, with more uni
form zeal, ever extolled, till to praise
were more cruel than to censure; since
every honorable man will concur with
the generous author Of GA friend Of
equal rights" that, of all species OF
hostility, that is least excusable, which
blending praise with unprovoked in u-
ry, and pity with insult, borrows the
garb of friendship, to deal more GER
tain destruction.
Admonished, by experience, that an
attempt to apportion representation in
this commonwealth, without any re-
gard to the colored population, might
not only be discussed, but effected with
out hazarding CONFUSION of the most
awful character, our prophet, of i'll,
amends his prophecy. The cause of
alarm is now varied. The threatened
CONFUSION is to come upon us whene-
yer it shall be proposed to equalize,
and apportion, on the principle OF the
free white population, "the representation
in that house, ,Uhich shall be entrusted
,uith the po,cer of originating money bill"
For himself, the freeman trusts that
such exclusive power will not much
longer reside in either house, but the
power to originate any bills, will be
permitted, like all other legislative
power, to be exercised indiscriminate-
iy by each. To this discrimination, in
the English constitution, from which,
this misplaced jealousy Of the senate
is borrowed, in that of Virginia, may
be traced, the origin Of the House OF
Commons, as a coordinate branch OF
the British Parliament. 1t suited the
meridian of a monarch, absolute, in all
things, but the exaction, at pleasure, OF
the money of his subjects. 1t accord
ed with the distinction, become in the
highest degree absurd on this side the
Atlantic, that taxation is not legisla-
tion. In England, where its ancient
efficacy was most bene6cially exerted,
for the acquisition Of legislative pow
er by the Commons, it has long been
imperative, upon that liberty, which
an unequal representation, and a cor
rupt borough system has leitto a much
"taxed people,
In Virginia, it cherishes an unbound
ed jealousy Of that branch OF the le-
eislature, which is considered, in every
American commonwealth, as the spe-
cial guardian Of the rights of proper.
ty, SO much so, indeed, that in some OF
the state constitutions, qualifications
of property are required of the suffra-
CANT to entitle him to vote Tor sena-
tor; but dispensed with, in the choice
of the members of the more numerous
branch Of the Legislature.
The people Of this commonwealth,
whatever means may be used to difiuse
unfounded jealousies among them,
must totally change their character,
before any considerable portion OF them
will consent to be degraded to the rank
of slaves, or exact Of the residue, such
humiliation.
l am neither the advocate, nor the
apologist Of our present unequal sys.
TEN Of taxation, which, If the poor
rates and county levy be added to the
receipts Of the public treasury, and the
total revenue and expenditure OF the
commonwealth, be regarded in all their
parts with reference 10 their quality
and purpose, admits Of no palliation,
except in the inability OF a crowded
and necessarily renewing House OF De-
- cd time IN DIGEST and ma