Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-17

.
once read these passages to which he should refer,
Mr. S. then read the following clauses:
"All are by nature equally Tree and inde-
tpendent-Goyernment is, or ough, to be, institute
ed for the common benefit, protection and securit,
T. of the people, nation, or community When any
GOV eminent shall be found inadequate, or contrary
10 those purposes, majority of the community
hath an indubitabe, unalienable, and indeieaslble
right to reform, alter, or abolish II, IN such man
ner shall be judged mos conducive 10 the pup
lie veal ~ man, or set OF men, are entitled 10
exclusive separate emolpments or privileges
| Fl ON the community All men having sutiicien
vd.nce oil common interest with, and attachment 10
The community; have the right OF suffrage, and
cannot be taxed, deprived of their property for
{ public uses, without their own consent, or that of
their representatives. In all caTi'al or criminal
| prosecutions, a man hath right TO speedy trial
| by impartial jury of his vicinage.- That no
man be deprived of his berty, except by he law
| of the land, or the judgment OF his peers"
! II has been affirmed, that under the admnstra
ton OF this constitution, there has been injIs-
tice; and that no say that he IL oppressed
wish, said Mr. S., that could support the
assertion OF the gentleman. But is there in
Justice? Is there no oppression? 1t is sound
!; principle that, ' The law should be the same for
h all, whether i, protects punishes.'' It should
/, be the same for the rich and the poor, for the
4 ireeholder and the non lreeholder Yet laws,
4 In r.1ny cases, discriminate between the wealthy
4 ana the poor man, and beiW cen The freeholder and
i him who is freebooter.
You exempt from the law requiring service on
i roads, the who is the proprietor of two or
more lahorng slaves. Your county lev es and poor
rates are assessed by the polls S the poor pays
! Tor bis part as much as another who is wealthy
These taxes should fall property, the only pro
! per subject OF taxation. In some counties they
! amount TO as much as the revenue tax and bear
with Srievous weight on the poor. They paid
by non -reeholde S, although the b II of Rights
declares thai no man can be taxed without the con-
sent of his representatives.
The Bill Of Rights declares that every man
shall be tried by his peers Nom reeholders, when
accused OF crimes, tried by freeholders only;
but IL ireeholder j. tried, non-freehodef will
be received on his jury. The non lreeholder is
not, by law, the peer of the freeholder, any more
than the common British subjec, il the peer of the
noble. You also exclude the non freeholder from
juries in the Superior Courts of Law in all cases
Is not this injrstice9
Your penal code has Disseminated in favor OF
the freebooter, ard often sGbjetts The poor man 10
infamous punishment without due trial. Ia I772 4
law passed for preserving the breed of deer: an
offender against of its provisions, # he failed
10 make present payment of fine If fly shil,
ings, and was not freeholder, was liable 10
receive, by order OF justice of the peace,
twenty lashes on his bare back. This lazy, in
deed, was passed before the formation of the con
sutution; but 1t was formed By the Representatives
OF the freehoiders, and remsined in force until
1892. BY the act against profane cursinp and
swearing passed in 1892, citizen who is unable
TO ray or secure the tine Of SO cents ma receive
by order OF justice OF the peace ten lashes
so disorderiy person, apprehended by a patrol
under certain circumstances, may, by order of o
justice OF the peace, receive tvs enty la-hes Ry
your Tobacco Law, there arc ~ q cases in which
citizen may be whipped by the order OF a Justice;
in one case, II he is unable o pay twenty OILERS
IN the other he Is liable be whippei without an
alternative. In lieu of fine of three doll.,s
twenty lsshes may be Inflicted by order of ius
uce oil the peace, on free white man. present AT
an unlawful meeting Of slaves. Fc. tradiar with
slave, free citizen may be fined twenty dollars
and ii Aot paid, he may receive, by order of =
justice OF the peace, 50 la-hes Thus We end thai
the stripes which may be inflicted on the naked
back OF Tree white citizen of Virginia are esti-
mStea al 90 rents IN some les, in others at )
cents, in Others at cents Yet tie BIZ! of Riebrs.
gives him tflai by jury in criminal case; and
what is criminal case, unless it be one in . hich
an infamous corporal puni-hmen, is intlicted' Such
aretbe terms on which Virgnian holds his laer
ties cannot, therefore, agree with the gentle
man from northampton, that there has been no
oppre sion in this Conimonv. slih.
1t appears 10 me, sir, That inii.tjcc is done IN
certain portions of this Common ..esrh. in conse-
quence OF the unequal distribution of representa-
uon, winch gives an undue share Of rover 10
other portions. II has been mentioned tia, he
siaVe population prevails in particular psrt nj
TINS Commonwealth. IL is true; and mark the -on
iisiqoence About the year 1857, a tax 3, as annu
laIy iaid on young slaves, and another on cattle
aier considerable disseG;on, he tax on slaves un
DER IL years OF age was abolished and az an ecl,,
VaIeht 10 the western Part of this State the tax
1 on cattle was also abolished The slaves thus ex-
tmp'ed from taxation worth 40 millions of dol
lars; The tax on cattle is equivalent During the
| late war, wien you wanted money, and raxcd ,bs
waich-seals and furniture of The non-heehoIders-
! you imposed tax oil cattle, and aIso n,
s!aVes between The ages OF nine and twelve years
leaving oil, under years of agc untaxed, although
| they are the bes, and most improving rroDer,v in
/ the state. Thus reaf 80 millions worth of nro
petty was still exempted from ,axa.ionl HJoreover
1 me lax on cattle was greater proportion of their
Vaiue' Than the tax on young slaves was of their
value.
| The superior Offices OF the CommonweaI,b have
not been equally distribute ed Draw line tbrougb
/ me Tsdie OF Virginia, ffom North TO South. snd
II VIII appear that in II elections Of goyernor
/ but one had been chosen from the Yves, side If
Thai line; and in all the elections OF Senator of
The u 5, only one had been chosen from fha,
/ part OF the State which lies 10 the westward ,f
| that line. Have we had no citizens sir TO fiji
nose oihces! That will not be asserted How
'hen Is this favoTiism 10 be accounted for1 Uis
because political power has been uneqIally divided
| ! will now make some com parison be,yee,
different parts OF the country on this side Of
lie Blue Ridge, to show the great ,neouali,v
! IN me distribution of representa- on The soma
'0tsi districts were intended TO be formed on
me pass OF Tree white population The coun
Ties OF Loudoin L Fairfax form district, and
b send Senator they baye' Delegates on tbis
4 UOOr. nc =