Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-22
VIRGINIA LEGIsLATURE.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
DEBATE on THE CONVENTIONS
tMr. Wallace. Speech concludedl
4 y L l. L

tM Wallace. Speech concluded
AS 10 the basis which Convention might ass
sumo for representation here il is impossibIe for
any one TO make probable conjecture. and az il
has been said, I" if county representation did mn,
exist in the Convention, they would INCORPORATE
the principle OF representation on free white no =
pulation; deem it proper 10 say, lest the remark
OF the gentleman might produce erroneous i'm
pressiens that cannot beiie,e the people East Of
the Blue Ridge, and those West of il. who have
slaves, will consent 10 regard the free whites as
the proper groundwork Of representation in the
Legislature. Tie county in which reside for
Instance, has a population, nearly one half of
which are slaves; and however nasnanimous thew
might be, still, cannot believe they would CON
sent 10 throw away that half of their numbers
wh'c" pays so large tax, In new adjustment OF
the representative basis. Gentlemen will not be
alarmed al the consequences predicted, if a Con-
vention be called without reference to county
nes 1t they will reflect, that there is an Immense
majority of the citizens of this State who are
shareholders; that they will be the men who will
DC dspu'ed TO this great undertaking and who will
be vgant 10 preserve all the JUS, Influence which
the numbers of this part of our ponnlat,on shonIJ
have in the distribution of power. should not have
noticed this part OF the gentleman argument had il
not been calculated to kindie that dormant passion
- ne bosom OF man, the last of power and enlist
i: on his sile. Sir, this House in the new arr
raDgement OF the senatorial Districts in 1915
which, the gentleman 20 much deprecates NV
opinion Of the proper basis for Representation in
the Convention, although of no importance in or
out of this House, shall be canJidy EXPRESSED.
when the time arrives at which ought 10 max e
it known.
But we have been told, that we shall have "uni-
yersal suffrage" if a Convention be called; and of
all the mischiefs which will grow cut of IL, / am
at a loss TO know how this conclusion is arrived
at. The convenfionists are not its advocates and
TOR my part, sir, will exemplify my ideas on
this topic, by the statement OF case which might
have occurred in the late war. Five freeholders
paid about six thousand dollars tax to support
the war,-tFho were also liable 10 render personal
sety{Se This sum would have paid one hundred
tweny-iour non-freeholders for six months
vi these one hundred and twenty four SOL
9, not the owners OF land, it is but reasonable
esuine, from our knowledge of their condition
me, that not more than one fifth hid property
Take then, one fifth from the whole num-
nd the tax OF the five freeholders pays one
ID non-heeholders for their tour of six
?, or fifty, for one entire year. Would /,
or pohlc, 10 commit the MON entous ques-
war or peace TO the decision Of those " lao
its burdens. The inequality in The con-
OF the ireeholders and non-freeholders is
throughout the whole State az that which
The case just stated. And, while the fl We
rs have supported the hundred who have
hey nave also rendered personal service
ts, distinctly point out the difference be-
Interests involved in tho question OF war
and u seems clear to me, that all the
ing The property Of society, should be
pse whose welfare is indissolubly con-
IT. If the non-freebolder administer,
nent, he will not have that guardian
Tninerce, for be has nothing to sell, q
sggregste) which lie will, who is inn
be aifectedby the regulations con-
'ut no objection can be made 10 the
freeholdtr; IN him are united all the
social a natural beng He
1w relating to the use or tenure ol
? viii not affect himself. and 81 aims,
laws violating the rights or liberty
ters the guarantee Of his own In
se considerations, how pow er;ul
feeholder has, 10 avoid oppressive
jndicious application of The
o improve The moral and social
lows, and % avoid ihc awful
And, sir, at the moment when
by other States for this aristo-
Government, every State in
qualification for her voters
Ell from residence, in other