Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-05

mace. no, s.T, no menace. suppose, SIR, q man \
were 10 meet me in the road and claim my watch.
answer. no. sir, is my property. heircd il!
from my father. He very politely tells me, it Is
his; and sluhough he means menace, not the
least, yet If do not surrender the watch TO him,
he will cut my throat, or physical force. Sir,
would II be less threat, because Of his mild and
polite disclaimer THE great principle TO which
before adverted, "that those who pay, should lay
the taxes, is what our forefathers commended for.
The old constitution which they established has
produced grea, happiness, and although il may want
some revision. so as 10 eQualize its operatiOn this
its great fundamental principle, should not be torsa-
ken. L. ~ 'he work OF the illustrious grandfather
Of tho gentleman from Frederick, Tor which he me-
rits eternal gratitude. And much fear that the
gen,lcman with bis" metaphysics! entitiss,"i a.
bout TO do away the many good realities which his
great ancestor bestowed on his country. Mr. Chair
man, the gentleman from Fau1uier. prociaims with
ven.ion as God Almighty made u.s." Nov, sir,
presume, that must not be taken literally, for at
least we would like to 70 into Convention with
clothes on our bachs. But he exclaims--What,
sir,-the white man with Eve slaves. 10 have three
votes! Why. sir, If we 90 into Convention as God
Almighty made US, according TO the gentleman's
wish, the white man and Eve degrees should have
six votes But sir, this is all abstraction-sheer
abstraction. We are already q civilized people,
with a gOVern,nent--we already possess various
rights, both of property and persons We should
30 organize Convention as 20 take care of the
whole. would not wish property 10 rule alone,
because that would ensure an arstocracy, and the
oppression OF the majority Of persons. | would
not wish persons alone 70 rule without regard TO
| property at all, because such principle would
lead to anarchy and convuison, and terminate ia
despot'sm In medic tutissimus tho. will pur-
sue the middle course-so "a 20 keep the govern
ment in The hands OF the middling class OF socie-
| ty' who can never have n motive to Cypress any
body. VIII pursue my first great principie--the
principle OF the revo,utiou-"that those who pay,
shall lay the taxes" I will hold in my hands, the
= fhpr nIn A.:
| principle. will steadily apply them to every
plan that may be suggested and il will bear sd-
measurement by these not, 60 will I support or
oppose it. will not be deferred from my pur-
pose BY the Score-crotc OF arrstocracy and oil
garchy, on the one hand, nor seduced from what |
believe just, by the alluring. aud il may be tri-
! unpbant, banner Of flaming democracy, on the
other.
Mr.. DorDH.DGE's reply to the Speeches of
Messrs Old aud Miller, of PowhataH and MIR.
Parker OF Northampton, on the 9th instant.
Mr.. cHAIRmAN: The principal argument re-
ied on ny the members from Powhatan and North
aInpton IS, hat persons and property being the o.
Jects of governmental protection ought both 10 he
represented in the Legislature, and there fore in
{ Convention.
; One Of Che members from Powbatan has gone
so far as 10 say hat slaves in the time OF peace are
equal in usefulness 10 the lower classes Of white
iahourers, and aid much TO The strength of the
country, and lie contends that the represen,atio
IN Congress- and the plan Of the first section OF
the OIL under consideration, alike defective,
| IN omtling TO provide a representation OF their
whole number instead of three fifths. Indeed, one
| OF the Delegates from Powhatsn, the first who ad-
dressed the Committee, has said that property is
more especially entitled TO representation than per-
sons. His argument is this II persons possessed
OF property hold the Legislative power, they can
not LeRsIate injuriousy personal rights with
out injuring themselves; but if persons ,oithout
property could i-cgisiate orer property, they
could exercise this power injuriously without at
iectng themselves. The other member from the
same county has assumed the revolutionary max
I'M, that representation and taxation should 90
'iann and hand, aud has endeayored press il into
me present service. BY this maxim, he afirms,
Inc great Earl o! Chatham made the King OF En-
gland tremble on his throne. Finding the princi-
pie OF slave representation to be growing every dav
mere odions. he has endeavored 10 support the bill
on the new pretence, that il was intended not to
produce slave representation, but was founded on
coInbincc ratio of persons and property.
The application OF the great maxim that taxa
ton and representation should go hand in hand, is
sPeciois indeed, but is not well founded. Doctor
franklin has placed this claim in its true light.
AZ the period OF the revolution. the King OF En-
gland held the thrones OF England and Scotland
by descent, and that of ireland by conquest The
three European Kingdoms now composing the
united Kingdom or empire, were separate and indie.
pendent OF each other. They were alike subject
TO The same executive head, but each had its
own parliament in which the estates Of each were
represented. Taxes in England are considered as
grants by the Commons to the King, for public
uses. The Commons of England could tax the
people OF England, but not those of Scotland and
Ireland; and so vice versa. Doctor Franklin con-
sidered the thirteen American Colonies a, &C.
cupying the same relations TO the monarch and
people of England did Scotland and ireland.
Each colony had its own Parliament or General
! Assembly, by whom clone they could lawfully be
taxed, and the principle asserted by the revolution
was no more than this, that the COLONIES having no
representation in Parliament, ought not 10 be tax
ed by Parliament. The principle had no person.
ai or Individual application, or il ithad the COM
monwealth has from its birth lived in the contnu-
al violation OF the principal itself; for from the
hrst, the nonreeholder has been subjected to tax
alton alh ough,he has had voice in the choice of
a preventative.
The Earl Of Chatham, however, has never said
what the enemies Of reform now contend for that
man who is taxed for million of dollars, ought
70 possess ten times as much political power as he
VINO is taxed for one hundred thousand. TWAS
reserved TO the republicans Of the present day 10
advance this alarming doctrine.
the answer 10 gentlemen this head, NAV be
stated IN few words. Taxation on property, and
protection o., property, should go hand in hand A
citizen taxed for million, has that million pro-
/ tected by government, and he who is only taxed
one dollar has that dollar protected. The account
| is thus settled But personal and political rights
are concernsof an incomparabIy higher order
and require equal representation. The statesmen
Who claim that the possessor OF wealth must 90
vern the majority ss the only means Of protecting
mat wealth, do in fact assert the principle of 90.
vernlng country by an ogarchy Of few veal
thy, individuals. According 10 their theory, the
protection oil property is Of more Importance than
Tie protection OF all the rights Of person, political
| or reig!ous-a theory which S7e cannot admit
phato eli II.