Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-24
CONVENTION.

Substance Of JIr. CHAPMAN JOHNSONsS Speech
on the oasis Of itePresentatOn-( coNcLUEp.)
learn Mr Chairman, thet-othcr fears are INDUCED
ey the ontlenen of the East, from The transfes oa
power to the West:They fear not only that The es-
tates of the West are to be improved bit ,hat the
poor OF the West are to be educated at the expense
OF the East 1t Is most deeply to be regretted that
there Is any thing IN the local Situation OF particular
property IN Virginia, which gives rise TO so many,
and such apprehensions Interests the most penerul
and most important those most Intimately connect
ed with the prosperity and happiness of the whole
people,-the general protection of property the i'm,
provement of all roads and rivers the education
OF our people and the organization of our government
all, by the plaign influence Of this unhappy cause
are made the subject of local jealouses and party
contests What is the foundation SIR of this new a.
iarm? For nearly fifty years, have had from time
to time various plans Of public education submitted
to u.s. and discussed in the Legislature and before the
people. Some of Them no doubt, have been wild and
visionary; but believe not one of them has ever been
so extravagant as 10 propose general tax for the ed
ucaton of the poor. The farthest that any of them
mas gone has been to propnse that theschoo districts
should be taxed, in aid of the contributions from the
Literary Fund.- for the education of the poor of those
districts respectively But what warrant is there for
supposlng that the education of the poor from the
public purse, Is western interest that their poor
are more numerous or less educated than yours.-
There s none and it ought to be remembered, that
the most extensive schemes of public education if not
ALL that havS been submitted for the adoption of
TINS State, have proceeded from Eastern politicians
D.
pretended TO the security Of property the dancer of
unjust levy and application Of the public taxes will
really attend the unqualified rHnsttr of power IS the
appropriate remedy to be found in retaining that pow
or in the hands Of the minority?-I think not.
Appeal if you please to that cautonary doctrine ne
the gentleman from Fauquer, which teaches that the
greatest newt OF Constitution is IN giving to roy
ernmen those powers only which are essential to the
general welfare and apply the remedies which it
suggests.
II you think that your slaves will be unustly tax
ed, prescribe in the Constitution proper limit upon
the Legislative power;-X the ratio between the tax
on slaves and real estate, according some lust stan
dard;-declare that the tax shall be nd v1ISren and
equal on both, and that the one shall never be taxed
without the other. In this will cheerfully ca, oper-
ate WIN YOU satisfied that such provision would be
just and efoctual Any law imposing u tax in viola
ton of 1t, being forbidden by the Costitution would
be void every one Interested might resist the nav
mont NJ the tax, and he would be sustained by an in
dependent judiciary
Ifyou think there is real Danger that the pubic re-
venue VIII be unIusty applied partial objects of in
terndl Improvement IF you really think that the spi
Ft Dr internal improvement requires rather to be
checked than encouraged, limit the powers of Do,er
nent upon this subject aso provide that no law an
propriating the public revenue TO such objects or
borrowing money for them, upon the public credit
shah DC ebacted without the concurrence Of specified
naornes IN both Housesrnaio offour-
three-fith, or whatever else might be equivalent to
the whole restraipg power winch your fvorite basis
would give you However reluctant / should be to
uuu W VIC sIfoHg snackIes, which nature has
posed upon the power of legislation on this subject
could not hesitate to adopt such limitations upon
the power Of the majority rather than yield it to the
minority.
If you thiak that guards arc necessary to restrain
the improvIdent application of public MONEY TO the
purpose Of educating the poor prescribe them ut your
pleasures for myself, give you charte blanche on
this subject.
IT none OF these cxpcdicnts will impose an efectual
estranE if the power Of the majority is so great.
that you fear its great strength will Danish ali the
bonds imposed upon lido Dot clann this uBcontroIa-
Die power for the mnority there is an expedent by
which it may DC denied 10 both Apply your basis