Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-10-31

large class of the community is excluded from tie
polls. Many excluded because they under res
trant Others because they have not sufficient eli-
gence, and could not exercise the right benecialy
safely for the community. Whenever tie elective
qualification shall be fixed, all should stand terms
OF equality aud he agreed with the gentleman from
Norfolk Sir. Taylor that unless 1t was So VIC should
only oEcn the door tlo admission OF arisocratc
influence.
lie would ask by way OF illustration in what mode
the constitution will be ratified! w i'll il, not be
submitted the people, They may exercise
their sovcrcign functions either directly in their own
persons, by their Delegates. phcy NAV act for
themselves refer the matter to the I.cisiature.-
II the Constitution, the most important subject Oh
which the people can aCt is to be referred To mum
bers, und all to participate equally, why should
not this be the in elections TO the Legislature?
Bot he did not deem it necessary to say more on the
subject OF the basis of represent atom and he would
"iftr some brief views for the purpose of shcw
ing that the am endment ought NOS to be adopted.
I The amendment combines persons unti taXation.-
WE are told that property being important Gle
nent ought to be represented. He hoped that gem
ticnen would not confound matte4s connected
with tie foundation Of government, with the princ-
PIES connected with the PROGRESS Of government
People hive property, and should he protected in
their engagements, and it would be- Idle 10 say that it
: was not "a hit subject for representation Bat that
does not eucidate the question. The lights arc oil
OF character they the rights OF citizens. and
the government must protect lis citizens. Every
principle IN government Is opposed 10 the idea that
the iate est OF the citizens may be neglected. The
necessity of that protection of property which would
secure Cganst the assault Of the utiqant he fu!y
admitted and that t. c:,act this i .,-1"l participate
IN representation. He presumed that man had
ever thought OF proposing, SO to regulate TIE elective
FRANCHISE as to give cato to the protection OF prop
erty Bp; because man had ten times the pop-
erly oi another, he as at disposed, tit &C
count to allow him ten votes to the yot. Of the
other If You throw power into difer,i,t districts.
they will still have tie same power. Should thy.e
be combination OF tie ing'as 10 take the PROPER
ty III 'hc Sta e, will this piun OF protection ,r eli
al rk IL. no
tect part from taXatiou
| We are told that they WHO contribute by their
purses should on that account have political pow
err Every one Is bound to contributes the property
holders III their purses and they who have NJ prop
ty. arc bound to contribute personal services,
which Is snHl.sinies attended by Imminent hazard.
They are liable to be called to military sr. vice
III tiina OF wnrto go into the field Of baitlc, ria;
their lives aa ii necessary topour th@ic blood for
he co-aElon defence. Can there be iiraor tax IN
posed Oh citxcn?ttali to have power in or o.
portion 10 their services, these surely cuti
tied We must discriminate. Learning auI talent
have their inference III society, bu. they comac-
tent 10 obtain power for themselves, without cs.u-
tive AID He maniaincd that repre-, aton and
alton ought no, to b. combined They were different
IN principles, and governed by different rules
The rule OF taxation Is TO contribute lf the
means of the ud!v dual The rnla OF representation
IL 10 give suEfi age ior the cnr.!nca tcnc.t. IN IL
ustration has been borrowed from or revolutionary
struggle with Great Brita!n br; that was hot Il case
III point. We then claimed the right of r.s.taucc
because we We're taxed wiihon! having ii voice in
parliament. We c"nteuded for self governments,
reius:ng to be bound by lass made not ONLY a
gainst our consont but without consultation with
! MS. We had no representation in the Bit
4 isii Parliament. lie would c4ly make few
! additional 'emar!is. 1t said tx IL were
different Interests in this Commonwealth ibis
merely proved that the different parties Of the Com
monweat did not constitute the same cou1rnunitv-
4 that ali the popuii;iI We're not identified no gen
tlctnan had adv anced this doctrine. But Virginia
forests were uniicd-tiicre was 10 idea OF any sep
aratin, must DO the case if there were interests
: irreconccab!y at with each other. /: it we're
necessary that the minority should have qua co
against the oppression CT tie majority, they should be
separated. blu: there existed such dscor!au priu-
cipleS. The interests 0i Virginia Eo rreconciic-
able, and nc baggGd gauteinrn not suffer this
fiction ocunilictns interests inisCad their judg-
II 'nts If there be conflict Of interests, tilt.
:, plan proposed worid not prevent it. There were
opposing opinions among gentlemen some subjects,
of which our internal Improvement was There
Il Is james River into est and Shenandoah and PO-
tonac nerc In cases of this kind there NAV he
a combination of interests by which other interests
orthe Commonwealth may be injured. But there
was remedy for this hat in the virtue and moral
feeling ofsociaty. He did not believe that was ne
cessnry there should be of faith in governments
nor that they shoIli he wat he'd with much al
onsy. He believed that they must be founded OF
the faith and good feelings which exist III society,
81 else parchment securities good for nothing sc
must come at last to the NOR! CT Tic con!Iu
nifty.
Ito would ask If the very proposition TO secure tho
! minority, By giving them the power would not give
at the time the power Of abuse, and thus lead
I to the very conflicts Of interest which we fear:
Give the power, and there will be continual dispo-
sition to violate Tie security Of property. The WAY
TO preserve property, is to prevent tho holders from
opposing each other The amendment has tcndeTl-
:! cy to impair the great political experiment arc
! making. Those who believe the people capable OF
s"lfgovnrnment, must be discouraged when they sec
Ia provision Of this character introduced into our
Fundamental law.
Mr.. COOKE said this was the Grst pause which
occurred and hc would avail himself of 1t to correct
a misrepresentation ofthc gentleman from Northamp-
=, ton to an admission OF his. which he, (MR. ~
used Us valuable to the purpose he had in view. lie
supposed him 10 have admitted that in truth and in
fjtc'. misruie occurred under the existing
Constitution Of the government, in any department
oft. This was = total nisconception of his mean
inr He made no such admission nor did hf advanc,,