Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-16

the tneQu0hty Of representations has been the
principal cause Of the excitement among the PEG.
pie. in relation to a Convention. Suppose they
had believed that sfdpes ought to be included ia
the ratio Of represen taon, would there have been
any just cause Cor this great complaint, that the
government was in the hands of the minority
No. Include the slaves, and that same minority,
which holds the reins Of power lin right full
~ as Is contendet) will continue to hold it--you
shift the basis Of representation from the counties
to he rurc. hut you throw II upon another basis,
which substantially produces the gerry same re-
suit.
What is the argument by which slave -represen-
tation is justified! Do they compose part of our
political community! ARE they members Of the
body po!itic' Have they any civil or political
rights which they themselves can enforce i'm our
Courts OF Justice, without the will Of their mas
tiers Their persons are protected to certain ex-
tent by the penal laws: so are horses and or3n
from unnecessary cruelty. Can il be said, with
out outraging common sense, that beings who
were purchased in foreign land as property, who
were brought here IA property and sold pro-
pcrty who are deprived Of all will Of their own
by the laws oil the country, and subjected to the
will OF others, should be regarded part Of that
community which is to form the basis OF represent
tation and which representation is to make the
laws OF the country. -
But they ought to be included in the ratio of re-
presentation il is coutended, in order to protect
their owners from unnecessary taxation. Ought
not the cattle and hogs Of the upper country be
included for the same reason. Suppose you place
the power OF the Commonwealth in the hands of
the slave holders, is it not liable to be abused
Is not power, place it where you will, liable to
abuse Can any substantial reason be offered WHY
the shareholders OF the country are the safest de-
positaries OF political power Heaven knows l
have no prejudices against my couutrylncn who
hold This species OF property. / am slave holder
myself; but the idea is really strange to nv rnnd
tina. the reins of power should be placed in our
hands because we arc slave holders, in preference
TO other portions of our fellow -citizens. repeat
again the proposition, that you may make any
thing you choose the basis OF Representations land
tardf,on, people, or any Thing else that can be
imagined, and that the power delegated will be
liable to abuse. The minority Of the community
Is the safest depository of political power and that
community consists Of the free white people Of the
State. Suppose you include taxation, in the ratio
OF Misrepresentation by which you throw the power
oil the State into the hands Of the wealthy, would
not the power thus conferred be liable to abuse !?
Could not this portion Of the community exempt
themselves from militia duty in time Of war, and
impose all i,s hardships, tolls and suferings upon
The balance of the community!
deny that there tiists any peculiar prejudces
against Slavery III the upper country of Virginia
They are dispersed all over that country and are in.
creas'ng every year. The time is not very distant
when they will be nearly az numerous there as in
other portions Of the State. At present the ine-
quality is very great, and, of course by including
them as part Of the body polite, it would pro-
duce like inequality in the representation.
The principles OF the Federal Government cam
not be regarded as just model upon which we
are 70 form State Government. II was matter
OF compromise and agreement between sovereign
and independent States. Ifit is lust model the
people ought to smut their mouths about inequali-
ty OF representation; for surely nothing can be
more unequal than the representation in one
branch Of the Federal Government, when little
Delaware, with her three or -four counties, has the
same representation as the great States Of New
York, Pennsylv ania or Virginia. Besides, there
are no slaves in the Northern States, and it was
known that great prejudices existed there against
slavery, and, Of course, in forming this federal
in relation to this species of property But in our
State, where none Of these prejudices exist, the
owners Of this species Of property must rely for
protection, upon the same source upon which the
owners of every other species of property have
to rely, viz: the honor aud integrity Of the COM
munity. fl .Natire Of Washington County.