Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-19

be given it, II the powers Of the government is pu,
into the hands Of tho maority-they endeavour to
prove, that power in tho minority Is essential to the
protection Of their property, and that such ~ the sin.
gular 'tton OF society, that while the pro-
perty OF the minority IL exposed TO retain injury,
by giving power to the majority, the propsrty and all
the personal rights oi the majority, eectuay Sc.
cured by giving the power to the minority e.
vidences OF this peculiarly they find in s unequal
distribution OF the slave property among the dliferen,
districts OF the state, the unequal contributions Of
venue from those districts the variety aud supposed
conflict OF their local interess-They shew that the
great body OF the slaves is held by the Eastern districts
OF the ea,b;-they endeavour to shew, that
the taxable inhabitants IN those districts pay much
greater average tax per capita. than is paid by the
taxable Inhabitants OF the Western districts, that there
Is subject at taxation in the West which is not also
found in the East, and on which a tax would not be
quite Furthermore to the Eastern to the Western
people-and subject Of iegislaion which the in.
erest Of The East could be promoted at the cxpence
the West-that the interesting subject OF Internal
improvements, particularly, while the interests Of the
Eastern and Western Districts variant il not hostile
and plans might be adopted 10 enrich the latter which
would impoverish the former, Yet the East would
have adequate motive TO do injustice TO the Vest
aud they thence infer the propriey Of giving to the
East power in the government somewhat proportion
ed to their contributions OF revenue, power adequate
to the protection OF their propery;-hey thence also
infer, the perfect security Of the West against the
power OF the E,st-and the alarming danger,-that,
IL the power OF the government, were in the hands OF
the Western people;-whether they think the rule Of
the majority would probably carry 1.-THE proper
~ Of tho Eastern people would I've unusy taxed, uniss
laws affecting the value of r slaves aud danger
10 the of the community, would be enacted,
aud schemes adopted, which might apply the revenue
contributed by the East to the Improvement Of the
taiss oil the West
This is believed to be fair outline Of the principal
grounds on which the friends Of the compound ratio
rest its deience.-Some subordinate consider atoms
have been called to their aid, and many ingenious,
able and eloquent arguments have left it wanting in
nothing but intrinsic merit TO recommend il to af.
fections and our judgment.
readily subscribe, Mr. c., TO the proposition that
indispensable object OF every good government the
security Of property, anil that government which
does not afford that security be safe depository Of
the liberty aud life Of the citizen;-but utterly deny
that there is any thing in the peculiar situation of Vir
ginia which should induce to look for that secur
ty in the power Of the minority, which threatens
the serious dangers which gentlemen apprehend from
the power Of the majorty.-Ol the contrary, insist,
that the majority have more to fear from the power
Of the minority than the minority has, TO fear from
theirs-hat under the rule of the majority, property
will he secure legislation Just aud WISE the
people more happy, and the country prosperous
ITO be Continued1
Mr. Rses, O.~ Minister at Paris, had his first au-
dience Of HIS Most Christian Majesty, to deliver his
credentials, on Sunday the 25th October.