Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-11-05
whole No. 1851.

after fNing the qualification. 10 ascertain
whether every quuhhed person should stand
upon an equal footing with every other Hs
avowed his object 70 hc, to establish prinri.
pies IN regard to their ultenorapplication 10
any county or district, sapposc A TO have $50
votes and b 30 votes. WIN YOU allow A or D
TO represent the county or district Suppose
each of the $50 votes have freehold with
roo, and that the 80 have, besides the quail
ilcation, ~ 600 each in addition. III you 60
then by nttslabers, Ais elected, ifhy property,
u Is successful Adopt numbers then, and A
Is elected; and if by the other standard, of
which we have heard lately, u Is selected
Gentlemen say, that this proposition does
not bear upon the question before the House.
lie begged TO be excused, for saving this was
the very question involved May not some
gentleman say, thai government IS instructed
toprserre property; that there is an intrrmi-
nable contest between wealth and persons
thatifyou give undue ascendancy 60 numbers,
they would exercise rapine over the few
Would they not tell you, that no guarantee
could be offered, TO save property. hnthy pla-
eng the government IN the hands OF the few.
who had property Bat. the question before
us IS settled by the spirit OF this nation-by
all our free institutions, and the equality ard
Justice on which they are founded. What
then does this resolution as<P Nothing but
what is already sanctioned by our practical
insimtions--and all that is wanting IS to an
nounce 1t IA the Constitution. The present
Constitution seems to admit this equality OF
rights. He read hc clause (Which provides
that the right OF voting shall remain as hereto
fore exercised) Ii Che present Constitution
does settle It, there can be no objection to
sanction II, IL II does not, why should we not
settle IT,
The other resolution relate TO the right OF
representation---tha is. 90 the effect of the
right OF franchise when excrted. They are
but corollares from the preceding resolutionss
that like numbers shall confer like power a
representation, without regard 10 property in
the aggregate amount. Representation IS the
effect OF numerous suifrages. II all suiirages
be equal. does it not follow that the aggrega-
ton of equal numbers ought to produce an c.
quail amount MIR. Il. said, he had hitherto
stated the case Of only one county. But loes
it not apply to every county, Locality can
not alter right. II wealth cannot confer the
right Of representation in Norfolk, why should
ii apply TO the county of BrookeP Ii then tho
difficulty does not arise as between different
counties, ought il to arise among the differ
ent districtsP But it is there that difficulty
docs arise IL wealth is moi to regulate the
votes in one county, shall il prevail in organ
zing the districts themselves For the gold
and slaves of one district, must Won call ior 4
greater number of people m another distFacR
That $50 men in one district with large pos
sessions. shall equalize 300 poorer men m a.
mother district And is the evil less, ber' 80
il is disguised, Ii it be contrary to the pein-
ciples Of our republican institutions to esstl5-
lsh this unjust rule in favor of wealth. 10 ea-
tablish il in the counties, will it be iustin -
pyng il 10 dissriet2 He considered il nysn-
ing more than an ohgarchieal principle. -
give the minority Of wealthy men an nscen
dancy over the majority Of the people----ials
extending to districts, masses, what YOU r
fuse to do for the elements, the couniis
The very fact that you apply It q na s~'s
gives II more dangerous effect A grain
gunpowder may explode IN iady's bouini
without agitating her blume--but colleel i =
masses, and its explosion will cause tower -
topic and castles TO fall
He contcnded that such principle corr Up
ted and injured the persons themselves 70.
whose benefit it was supposed TO he exercl ad~.
1t win first produce faction, next the emf 'oy-
ment OF the sword, and finally we may terms
nate in despotism VIII you not pepars ia
people to yield to the influence OF wcalsis--
The men Of property themselves arc Hcep'y
involved in this proposition. The chie to ~
who have tempted their followers 10 forage
beyond their borders, have been 1t last eo,n-
PEELED to pay black mail to their followers. =
We are all concerned in keeping pure those.
institutions to which we are indebted for orr
prosperity and happiness
He presented another rernark---thst suf-
frage is the cause, representation the effect
What relation, then, is to exist between the
parent suffrage, and its child Representations
Is there to be no family likeness? Rel resen--
tation ought to be the mirror which il It be
perfect, must throw back the image OF the vo-
ter in all its features and proportions. Iia
could not conceive how representative can.
exist without conshtnent--and how repre-
sentative can otherwise than reflect the inter-
ests of the constituent?
Mr. T. concluded by saying, that he had
contentcd himself with explaining his Resoi,i :
tons, without anticipating and answering OBJ,
jections that may be urged to them. II, ho"ey-
er, he should hear any objections presented
in the course Of the debate he would then Ar
tempt to answer them Ii he could. Tn; .
was however excepton---lt was IN retainer -
taxation, which his 5th Resolution had anu
cipated. lille read the 5th Resolution.l
He contended, that each person ought tn
pay taxes in proportion TO his ability = faj,
that representation and taxation were founded
on different principles; not different sure" ms
issuing from the same glen, and Afterwards
re-unifing; but springng from different Ir',n-
tains--that representation was founded o. ne
principle of numbers, and taxation ON In a.
bihty Of persons to pay.
He concluded by declaring that upon 4
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