Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-04


worthy of his hire" yet the employer pays him
not. How are the wages 10 be obtained?-by a
long, tedious, expensive law suit-poverty and OBJ
security, contending with wealth and arrogance!
Reverse the picture. How does the landlord get
his rent' He takes a constable with him (and
if he can't find one readily, he make one) goes
to the cottage of the labouring tenant takes from
under the wife in the absence Of her husband
the only bed-drives off the COW which gives
milk to the chldren,-in ten days they may be
sold and the rent in the pocket Of the landlord;
BY what principle of justice or policy is thi. bar,
6drouS distinction drawn.
Again. how does the road-laws operate. The man
who is so fortunate as to own two male tithables
is exempt from working on the public highways;
all other able-bodied free white male citizens
all compelled 10 toll along side of the slaves of their
more fortunate neighbours.-How are the coun-
ty levies and poor rates raised? Not by levy up
on lands; but upon personal estate, Slaves, hor-
ses, &c.) and upon free white men, in the shape
OF poll tax, when too, they may not pass one
particle OF property; and here let me pause, &
ask the friends ofliberty, il a man be not emit
tied to representation, has property, why is
he subject to this levy, which is only aro-
Their mode of taxation? Levies, and poor rates,
frequently exceed the tax paid into the state trea-
sury Notwithstanding land is exempt from coun-
ty lcvies ii does not pay into the State Treasury
per hundred dollars value, as much slaves, and
horses do which are also subject to he taxed,
at the arbitrary will Of your sub-legisature, an
these inequalities; this manifest injustice? The
reason is found in the fact-that andholders elect
the lawm makers, and that landholders are The la,c-
makers.
The Executive branch of the Government is du-
Y organized both as to its manner and efficacy
In the great jealousy and adherence Of regal pre-
rogatve the Executive has been rendered too
feeble. In opposing barrier between the Legis-
lative and Executive departments, (still dreadng
EXECUTIVE eDcroachments,) the trainers Of the
4 Al
too wide and too strong. The Judges are not as
accountable to the people public servants
should be in republic The powers of the county
courts are too great and underlined They
are ut present, deserredy the most popular branch
of the Judiciary; they aLs mister Justice without
money and without price, and with some modifi-
cation, would be unexceptionable. Glance for a
moment at their mixed character and eXtraoriina-
ry powors they exercise sub-legislation by which,
as l have shown, they have taxed and may tax
the people, To as great extent the ordinary
Legislature. BY their power to nominate members
Of their own body, they have the opportunity of
fastening upon the community, family dynasty,
or dynasty to suit, the views OF certain parties
Scarcely officer in the-county civil or military
Is constituted without passing through their hands.
Although these powers have generally been faith
fully and satisfactorily exercised, they are too Ii
able to abuse to be safely confided The beauty
and harmony OF the scheme of government
has been disturbed by the orbits Of the three great
prescribed. The Legislative, Executive s. Judicial
Departments were designed to be separate s. dis
hnct, & neither should exercise powers properly
belonging to the others;this arrangement was as
signed as check upon those powers. and as
guards 10 the liberty of the citizen. What is the
state OF things at present. The Executive and Ju-
dicial trying 10 fitch from each other, and the
Legislative swallowing both up in its vast vortex:
The member from Brunswick (AIr. Drom-
COOLEY with a view TO show that there exists no
nj int fhn ctlhsa of,
equality OF representation, has entered upon an
elaborate, statistical, and arithmetical calculation
upon the subject of tdrdti0n and population
within certain geographical limits, which may be
strictly true according TO Cocker, and serve to quiz
ct the gentleman's own conscience; but doubt
whether the hardy yeonanry of the country will
be satisfied with it.
BY what authority has he taken the Blue Ridge
as line OF demarkaton? Sir, the grievances of
the people not confined to certain limits thew
exist in all parts of the Commonwealth. Had the
gentleman selected the large and popuous coun-
ties OF Loud0un, Fauquier, Culpeper, Albemarle
Halifax, Pittsyl vania, Bedford Augusta, Shenan-
doah, Frederick and Berkeley, it is probable
he would have arrived at different results
The member from Frederick, (Mr. Smith) has
furnished the Senate with much better calcula-
ton, founded upon comparison of the counties of
Norfolk, Gloucester and Henrico, Gncluding the
population OF the Boroughs respectively with the
county Of Shenandoah.
Mr.. Speaker, protest against the tyite dogma,
that taxation and representation should 20 hand
in hand" in the contracted sense in which it has
generally been used. Taxation is properly one of |
the considerations upon which representation
should be founded, but should not be the exclu- |
sve one. Are there not in society personal rights,
as well as right ofprOperty? And should they not |
be represented? Shall free citizen be drafted as
a militia man-draSged from his family and fire. |
under heavy fine and forfeiture
OF life, TO fight the battles Of his country and de-
tend tue prODeTty of freeholJers and law mako rs |
even unto dedth-not be entitled to representations
be told II he escapes the peris of the bloody bat
tie, & returns TO his country & his home YOU shall
not go to the poles and vote for representative
you have 60 not given sufficient evidence of perma-
nent common interest in, s attachment to the com
munity"-because forsooth,he has not few dirty
acres of land? Forbid il justice Reform it We |
spirits Of departed patriots! Blot from your Consti
tuition this foul stdbI ! will not farther multi
ply instances to show the glaring defects in the
present Constltuton-the bone and sinetU of the |
country feel them, and the remedy is at hand
Gentlemen have discussed this question of Con-
yention, as if every thing good was to he lost in
an attempt to alter the Constitution. Sir, their |
fears are groundless. have no doubt the best |
features will be re-adopted l have too much |
confidence in the good sense of the yeomanry of
to suppose they would regardless of ex-
perience, launch into the wide field Depreciation
reject all that had proven valuable retain all |
that was worthless, and go farther in search of adj
venture. Pass this bin and you restore Tranquil |
lily
Ifa majority Of the community are not for
Convention, the minority, like true republicans |
will yield without murmur. If there should be |
majority for it, the people will peaceablyassem-
BILE, choose delegates TO frame a Constitution better
adapted to our altered condition, and all will be |
'ceH In doing this, they will demonstrate, that |
altering or amending Constitution, is not a revo-
luton.
Mr. Speaker, fear from n remark which baa |