Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-15

sesuons sno u the gotefoment were always taitb@
fully administered, would occur still schooner. This
Is surely no unipportant equivalent for the absn-
donment in the General Government OF the
claim to a full representation oil the other ,wo-
fifths.
TO apply these observations TO the great cues.
ton OF the basis OF representation i'm the State Co
| vernment: IT, in the latter, we concete that free
white population Is the true basis with what face
with what countenance, shalt we DENY the Justice
OF the same rule in its application to the General
government IL, true, that our black population
should be taken into the account in the apportion
men OF representation in the latter, because also
TO be taken into the account in the same proper
ton Ia the assessment OF direct taxes, how are
we 10 avoid the concusion, that they ought TO be
taken into the account in apportinnng Representa-
tiyes in the State Legislature! Especially when il
is considered that the State Government has no
other means Of raising revenue but by direct
taxes and, therefore, the stakeholder is constant
~ paying the price Tor the additional representa-
lion claimed on his account, while the General
Government has other and inexhausiiblc and easy
means OF raising money, which mako the resort to
direct taxes, scarcely ever necessary, aud, there
tore, the STAKEHOLDER is only occasionaily and al
long intervals, called upon to pay the price Which
he gives for the additional representation in Con-
gress, allowed on account OF his slaves saw
therefore, that every argume ut which can be ad-
duced TO prove white population TO be the true
oasis oil representation IN the State Legislature
applies a fortiori to the Federal Legislature
The on-Slaveholding States derive relative
~ much less benefit from the enumeration
OF three-hfths OF our slaves in the assessment
oil direct taxes, than the non slav eholdine from
the slaveholding portion of Virginia from IA x;n,r
their slaves And taxation being the price paid
IN both cases, can we give up the repre- ,entation
Claimed as fair equivalent, the liability to taxes
stii continuing, in the case aud that the most
Important, and consistently deny it in the other
where the concession would be of less Importance!
Can Eastern Virginia consistently make the GREAT
er concession to her Western brethren and refuse
the less, demanded on the same princjpIes 10 her
Northern brethren! 1t must be plainly seen
men, mat the principle once yielded in the one
case, would be denied with q very bad grace in
the other. Ii would be conceded in the end TO
the General Governments; and the first fruits of
the establishment Of the principle in the State Co.
vernment, as have said, would be the transfer
OF four or five representatives i'm CONGRESS- from
the East TO the West. For, though the benft of
the rule Is readily enough claimed for Virginia
OF the United Sates--tha is, that in apportioning
representative three-ffths of all other persons
except Indians not taxed, shall be counted
the distribution OF them over the State by the
same rule, is complained of by the West as great
grievance. They say, the representation should
be apportioned among the different parts of the
State, according to white population. Now, the
!usuee OF this demand does not appear 10 me. Ii
to be allowed additional representation in Con-
gress, on account OF the slave none SO good re-
preventative Tor him, so good protector rs
his own master: There is just the same reason
lot preserving the rule, in making the apportion.
ment within the State, as between the different
States. But, can any man doubt, for moment.
that, 1t you give the people of the West the pow
or, they, will do the deed Tomorrow. Ask of
those who have conversed with them, and know
their opinions on this subject. Give them a re-
presentation in the legislature, according to white
populations; and with the aid OF two or three coun.
| ties Immediately below the Ridge, and which
GO with them in all their views and feelings thew
have the power.
|
and think they do clearly as that the shadow
follows the substance, is there any thing so i'm.
pera'ivs in the justice OF the demand that we are
constrained TO yield II at all events! Is il SO
clearly and unquest:onably the only correct prin-
ciple OF representation, that in obedience 10 lis
mandate, we must become hewers of wood and
drawers oil water in all time 10 come to our
| Western and Northern brethren! that we mus,
surrender ourselves as voluntary victims, TO be
| inundated on the altar of their cupdity when
! we have il in our power to say to them nav?
thlnk not. On the contrary, I am as fully per-
suaded, as can be of any political truth. that in
| our case, combined ratio of taxation and free
white population, is the only correct basis of re-
presentation. For what purposes are governments
instituted! For the protection OF the rights of
persons and OF property.-These are the two
great interests that lie at the foundation of all So
ciety. Destroy the balance, render either in
| secure, and Society is dissolved; or the govern
ment becomes hateful despotism in fact. what
ever it may be in name. If persons alone are re-
presented, without regard TO property in State
where its distribution among the different parts OF
the Commonwealth Is very unequal how is proper
| ~ TO be secured from undue burdens, or even
| from arbitrary seizure and distributions? If pro.
| perty alone, the Government would be an odious
aIistocracy, trcadiDg the necks OF the poor.
! increasing their personal services at will and
grinding them TO POWDER Governments in short.
which no one has the folly or the harlihood TO de-
! fend, though the East have been gratuitously de.
nounced as its advocates, because they have con-
tended that property should not be excluded from
all consideration in constituting the Government
That ii should be thus excluded, is a proposition
Totally untenable. And why, 1t is, as have
said, one OF the two great interests that lie at
the foundation OF Society, and into which all the
rest may be resolved. II is property that through
the medium oil taxes, must support the Govern
ment in peace and war. Ii enters so constantly
largely and necessarily into all the affairs of men;
is the object OF such eager pursuit, and, conse :
quently, OF such frequent contention that il con
sututes OF necessity, in one shape or other, the
subject OF 9-10ths Of the laws of every civiIizes
nation on the globe. Yet ii is TO be excluded from
all consideration 10 the constitution Of the lie esla-
ture Look to the expensive machinery of po-
vernment in all its branches, executive and Judi
ciaI, as well as legislative. How are thew EN-
pioyed! Principally in redressng wrongs rela-
ting to property, and securing and maintaining its
rights How paid? BY taxes on property And
shall property be thrown entirely out Of view
in apporioning representation? Shall taxation he
thrown out oil view, in spporoning representation
in the Legislators: Such was not the opinion of
our ancestors who achieved the revolution. In
their creed, the ideas OF taxation and representa-
ton were inseparabIe. In defence of that princi
Sple they fought, and bled,. an conquered; and
| transmitted TO US the fair inheritance we now en-.
JOY. Such too, were the opinions of the trainers
OF the Federal Constitution, as is evident from
the clause oil that instrument already quoted for
apport ioning representatives and direct taxes
and further that they should bear some lust pro-
portion, indeed a gerry erGet proportion 10 each
other. And n ia matter of snec;.l ,,~..i.-