Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-15
GOMwM YTRIOWe
DEBATE ON BASIS OF REPRESENTATION
liz COMMITTEE oF THE WHoLR THs CossTIrgTioS.
MR.. TAZEWELL'S SPEECH,
IONC J. q DID
NJ NJ n

MONDAY. Nov. 16.
II gentlemen had said. that sound policy required
that in Virginia, negroes and muatoes, whether bond
or free. should not participate in the active exercise OF
any political power, most willingly would he have
senel 10 such proposition. But when the question 10
not who shaii and exercise political power bnt
upon what basis ought snch power TO he erected, he
could comprehend the force Of the argument which
while seeking 10 fix population merely that basis,
would nevertheless disregard all other than the FREE
white population Domestic slaves Of every SORT whe
Their black white, may he excluded, under the ide
that they ought not 10 be considered persons bat
property merely: hut whv but free white per.
son should be enumerated. in establishing the number
Of the pie the basic of he could not
conceive. Women, minors, even aliens and many o.
Tiers whom propose to admit the enjnymen nj OF
the right Of su age all, nevertheless to b, coun.
ted (proviled they be whits) in forming the bssi,
OF represenation hut noue others are TO be computed
although they he Free vrtuous. Intelligent, and rich
az white man, in the whole Siate-Suppose, said
Mr.. Y. Hong merchant to come bither from Ma
Gao. bringing with him numerous xions and much
wealth, suppose some convu.ion in the neighbour
ing republics Of the south, Mexico for example should
force hi,her many Of the inhabitants of that country
free, vrtuous intelligent, and wealthy any posi-
bile reason he assigned why the unmixed descendants
n such emigrsnts, natives Of Virgins, should be ex
cluded from the computation OF numbers whilo ever
emigran, from part Of Europs. before he be
a citizen, must he estimatc Such rule cannot
be traced to any principle Of right any maxim Of
sound policy. The true rule is that in representa-.
tive government every important interest in the socie-
w should have s particular Representatives; and that in
the election Of such representative the majority OF
persons duly qualified according 10 law, whose
peculiar interest he Is 10 represent, should have tbs
privilege Of electing himand in defining the socie
" 90 10 be represented II must be measured by terrific.
rial limits. by spportionng representation TO the dif
erent electoral precincts OF the state, you attain the
great desiiers'um nj ~ representaye government.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. said Mr. r., capital and labor are
the two great elements Of the prosperity Of every se
each NJ these il necessary 10 the existence ofhe other
Tor without labor capital would be worthless, and with
out capital, labour would be useless. But although
hus essential 10 each other, beweeD the two there has
existed Struggle from the beginning, which in the
very nature ofthipgs must continue 10 the end Of time
To reconcile these itrriog elements and 10 confnc
each within ts proper sphere, IL the business Of good
government, Bat In the adjustment Of the powers Of
government, " too much influence be given to either
Of these elements. mischief5 must result society -
" too much weight be allowed to capital labor Wil
surely be oppressed, and II too much influence be e
ven 10 labor capital l. 81 endangered Oppressed
labor SEXES power to redress tie wrongs, capital endsn
gsred must rurchAse power 10 protect lie rights. Al
though IN perpetual conflict il passes human wisdom
20 separate these conflicting forces. You might AZ
well expect 10 separate the soul rom the body Of man
and IN rres~rve hs existence as TO separate eapla
from labor and 10 presefve society You may subject
either you p'esse 10 The dominion Of the other but
the experiment only be made by that sort Of revs.
luton which Of necessity must end 10 snarchy and