Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-30


The State OF Virginia is peculiarly situated
There Is one portion of the State which owns
large nuinberof slayes--there is another portion
which owns but few slaves--siaves our pin
cipal subject of taxation. large division OF thai
portion ct the state, which, possesses large slave
property, and which consequent Is pays a consdera.
Bile amount OF revenue, has but litlo of the f.nis
Of the Commonwealth expended on its account
IL asks nothing Of the governments. The other
porton-cf tue state which owns comparatively few
slaves, and which consequently pays but a small
amount OF taxes, asks much OF the government
and has considerable amount OF the funds Of the
state expended for it in different modes Now, is
II at all strange, that the revenue paying districts
should be unwilling to put 1t Into the power OF
the non revenne pay lug districts tax ther pro.
perry at pleasure, for the purpose OF carrying into
effect measures i'll which they are scarcely at all
Interested?
have rights which appertan to our property
as well as TO our persons-we form communities
fos the protection Of property as we'll ms our
persons, and when the community proposes 10 strip
US OF our property rights, Is it at all wonderful or
unreasonable, that we are DESTROYS of retaining
them; that we resist the proposition,
speak for myself and for several of my anti
convention fIiends, when say, that we are for
renedying all the real grievances, under which
sion. (not an unlimited one, howcver,) of the
right OF snf!i age-we are fos reducing the
number OF the House Of Delegatcs-we are for
aboiishiDg the councii-we arc for looping of
CNSiy ECuuHuancy--We VIII with the con-
ven,ionists in remedying all these abuses most
cordiaiiy--But, at the same tune we must claim
The privilege OF having property protect
ed-what security have we that our property will
not be taxed TO tyranncal extent. il we put it in
the power OF the legislature TO tax IL at pleasure
Shall 1t be said that we will have sufficient; secu-
ry In the justice and generosity of The leysiature
W hen was power ever known to stay her hand for
such considerations these? 1t is very clear that
the conventionsts desire the treponderance in
the legislature
IN Their power to prosecute an extensive scheme
OF internal improvements-io this end il would
De necessary either to borrow money on the ere
dit OF the state or TO raise the requisite sums of
money oy direct tax on property-Suppose the
money to be raised by loans, and as usual under
such circumstances, lavished with high hand on
the proposed objects. We will further suppose
the proposed works TO be completed. and after the
completion, instead of being profitable they bring
the State in debt. The stock borrowed must be
redeemed. How would it be redeemed. In no
other manner than by laying tax en- the revenue
paying districts-What would be more oppressive
than tis-Ihat the revenue-paying districts should
suffer tor the prodgality and 70 ~ of the govern
ment IN the prosecution of schemes not intended
Tor their beneft-The other alternative that of
raising the requisite sums by taxation is perhaps
more g!minsiy unjust and oppressive than the rails
ing Gift by loans.
II the revenue-paying districts place il in the
power of the non revenue paying districts TO tax
their property at pleasure, had we not nearly as
wen enact an Agrarian law at once: II is indis-
pensably necessary that property rights should
be protected. II they are not the main purpose
Tor which we entered into state of society is
frustrated. The influence which the revenue
paying districts hold i'll the lower house. is sufi
Gent protection OF their property rights. It is
Just as necessary that our personal rights should
be protected, (and they are proiected:) the per-
sonai rights of every individual in the Common.
wealth arc protected by the representation in the
Senate.
Every true yi,ginian must regret that there
should be any cause of difference between The
Eastern and Western divisions OF our State. And
we must beg OF our fellow citizens, with whom we
are forced to disagree, reflect, that we shall
pursue that course, which we intend to pursue,
purely in self-defence. Surely they viii have
more Justice,smore magnanimiiy and forbearance
than TO oensure us for obeying the first law os ma
turc. MODERATION.
THE CONVENTION
There is a variety OF projets on foot for fixing
the ratio OF representation in the Convention
The bill reported by the Committee, takes the
Congressional District prcsentatioa--i delegates
to each distTict.-Mr. Doddrdge yesterday pro-
posed as substitute to the Sd Section, % districts
founded on white population alone coring 10 The
Census OF i52o.-Mr. Mason OF Frederick, proposed
20 districts on The principle (vi.c population
according to the Census OF l620)--Mr. Pitts OF
Essex proposed an entire bill, giving Delegate
10 each county.-A representation on the Senate
rial basis; "a districts founded on the census OF
1910, is also in agitation-Also Representation
giving one at least 10 the smallest Counties and en-
iarging the number Of delegates according TO the
population Of the counties. Projects cnougt-and
probably more TO come But, ont of the multi
one will be adopted Thc bill did not come UP
yesterday for discussion according ~, the order Of