Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-22

have said that they were equal in their popula
tion and IN their SOIL and hence, equal in their
city to sustain taxation How are they represented
Dy two representatives from EACH This is all YER,
Wen; here Is no inequality no Injustice Rut Ruct
ingham becomes dissatisfied she SAYS will NOT ron
sent that my free white citizens shall be put upon
lever with slaves: will have new constItu. ION am
representation shall be based upon "white nonulaN
ton exclusively" The new constitution is adon,ed
ana goes INTO operations and what Is IN. 81. ~;
w ny the efiec, Is simply this; while Albemarle has
tie same number Of population and paws the Same
amount of taxes Buckingham has represontotivas
while Albennrle has but That is the effect
ne present contest is touching the Treasury: and
mere While these two counties pay the same amount
OF tax, one oftlem bHs double The representation Of
the OF her What cha ce would tlbeInarle have n
gainst buckingham i'll matt - Of future tayationa Is
it not pLin that Buckingham might Law upon her.
whatever tax she plenscs: If Albemnrle had the
least regard Tor her safety, would she not rather saw
that she would live wtbnu, government. and de-
iend herself by her own streRGtil as she MIGHT a.
Gainat all who should invade hera ii 9uekinaha, is
To have representatives, 10 her one ,bourb the
TWO counties pay the same taxes, Buckingham NAV
levy Wha. she peases and spend it as she peaS-
eS ask gentlemen would this be right 1t would
not be right. Nh unprecedented man will say it is
righ'; and say that such Il government could not
stand TWO years. 1t cannot be right. Rucknrhap,
would have no object while The black population Of
A!beparie had the same representation rs her own
population. But here, on tho doctrine of represcn-
taion pride begins to work II is wise pride which
always looks at its interest And surely, Abemarie
will never conses, % 4 principle which puts the
whole control into tile hands Of Buckingham.
Thus far have supposed the taxation of tho two
counties to be equal
But now let us look little farther. Albc.narlc.
long bet're buckingham settled, had among her
own population poll tax her bla J, reputation
ihis was her own concern, 1t made no difference at
that time to any body but herself and she found it
convenient But after time, her white citizens 90
over James River and settle Buchinuharn and it is no
longer matter of indifference, but it becomes an i'm
portant question. Albcmare has hair her population
obliged to pay this poll tax, while Buckng CHAM has
none TO pay: and yet the ability Of the two is by
the same.
Thus then, there is now difference between
these countless one has to pay douJke tax while it
is at the same time but ha represented. Thus the
former difference of TO has nov become differ.
encc # 10 /, to in reprcsenton, and to in
taxation Gan any man say that this is safe condi-
ton! Ought IT to be acquicSced in? 7 call uDon
gentlemen on this side the mountains to RECONSIDER
this subject and capdiGly to say whether the pian
proposed does justice to the country in which they
live? To say whether such basis of representa-
ton Is one on which any Government can be cNpec-
ted long to stand?
say again, that comparison VIII hold, as to
any one OF the other States; but thar does hold as
1t respects tile two portions of the Union, under the
Federal Government. What did Virginia contend
for, when that compact entered into? That the
black population should be excluded in representing
her in the General Government No, SIR no such
thing. she maintained the principle. that represent
tation and taxation should go hand in hand that if
the enumeration of her population be reduced,
an account of the slaves should her taxation be
reduced a=o or she never could be safe. Such was
her demand, and such the decision of the Cen
erai Government and, accordingly her taxation was
laid IN proportion to the number of her inhabitants
which allowed in the enumeration.
But it is said, that this is uniar-.hat RI is merely
case, and proves nothing. Wei. them let
us leave supposLion, and come actual realities. I
will take amherst, whose population is 10000, and
wall take Harrison, whose population also is 10000,
while the white population is 400. Here are two
counties, with the population: and how stands
their taxation: Amherst pays $4,000, Harrison but
Sl789-Now, on the principle of the white basis of
representation, Harrison will get representatives,
and Amherst only one, and not quite that Here,
then, you have Amherst, paying $1,000 and Harrison
but $4,000 difference in taxation, in fvoar Of HGr-
rison, of to Il and Amherst With ! representative
and Harrison with Q: another difference in favor OF
Harrison OF to l. ut the two advantages together,
and Harrison, by the white basis, gets to / over
Amherst Gun Amherst approve this? ] contend,
that such system, is not safe ore. The same
thing will lake place all through the State.
We have come here to contend about the TTeasu-
ry. know that no man car come upon my land,
and deprive of the possession OF 1T; but what
curty is this if he tax it rs he peases, till nc
takes its whole value away, and may do what he
plcases with the money? What can do? / may
complain and ever so loudly: but that is all. Two
can always vote down one and if this power is to be
given, in,uy Judgment, we had better not send our
Delegates to the Assembly at all 1t will be but
useless trouble ana chp CiSC- tody tiISIe my
counties like Abemarle aud another fifty like Buck
inrham: the one of these classes Will have fifty re-
prcseDiatives, the other will have 100 What chance
can there be for the fifty? And extend the same
state Of things to the whole Commonwealth, and
where will be the difference,
But then have heard something very consoiato-
~ about three tenti,s Three tcnths is less than one
4i;r5 .4Tbomarlc TO get something morc--wclf,
give her the three tcnhs-aDd then Buckingham will
have 100 Delegates, while Albemarle has 66. Again
I ask, what chance will there be for AlbemaTc2-
Suppose through oversight she is not only taxed
according to her ability pay, but the poll tax has
to be paid too. What chance will she have TO resist
such an representative possibility is there that
che should be able to control any of finance
whatever? Has she any, the least chance TO defend
HERSELF None whatever. l repeat, we might Just
we'll to all practical purposes, leave the western
delegates to l"gisate for by themselves without
giving ourselves the trouble to attend
No Sir. If our Government is to stand, representa-
ton must DO in proportion TO taxation: dony US this,
and the result will be oppression.