Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-31


represented in the Coprcfition that formed the
Federal Constitution.
Af,er all, said Mr. Is, saves-mus, be regarded
uRneroy ns property. lie had not heard it assert
TSed, that they have rights a. men. The argument
I'll fdvor OF slave representations and
on the basis Of population and revenue, which is
the index OF property. was tNe same. He had
already shown that property represc ntation con-
troverts the principles oil the Bin of Rights in
this, that its avowed object and certain effect are
TO enable the minority % ccntroul the majority.
Besides lac said 1t was unjust in itself, ha, an in
dividual owning S5c00 should under the spc-
ctous pretext of protecting it, h.ve the ascendan-
cy over two individuals, who oyaH. only $1,000
each Their property, though less IN amount, IL
exposed TO the same rapsci;y he fears in them;
and surely there ID as much virtue in majority,
as in a minority Their personal rights. aiso-not
less important, certainly, than pecSnary rights
are ait az his feet, and subject TO his mercy.
Mr. II. said. be had proceeded thus far, on the
sup2Qsition that the excess OF property is in the
hanD OF minority, aud had attempted 20 demon
strate, that even under such circumstances, it
oughtnot to he represented But, this was not
the fact. You might, said he, arbitrarily select
minority, who have more property than the cor
relative majority: But, you cannot find con-
tiguous mass OF people, in an integral section Of
country who constitute minority, and at the same
time, have the excess of property. Slave popula-
tioni' chiefly confined to the country East Of the
Blue Ridge. This composes the balance of FRO
pcrty. l.frreud-:.' dG 'is;s the West is nesriye
rich as 'he Hast AZ. theisiote. who hive last cf
tll5 ne AYR 80; lSt iyt-st ttn IL nc y Otc.-rO u
that wh,ss. Gsn. the surplus of property. They
constitute majority -! hc white population OF the
State, by the census of 1870, which shows S.i5 $50
whites, East of the Blue Ridge. and 2i3,2T West
ut IT, or difference Of l067T6, in favor OF the
East, equal to proportional majority of rather
more than 10th. Is not this sufficient TO protect
their property, -
Mr.. B. said, it was with reluctance tina, he ad-
miited the existence OF opposing sectional inter
ests, and in his best Judgment thought the diver
sity rather imaginary than real. But, that
the people of the Ecst acted upon that pr,n
cipie, was obvious. 1t avoyyed, IN converse
-ton out o, doors-it and felt in every
movement of that body. Point out 10 an advocate
OF Congressional Districts, the inequality OF -popti-
ia,'nn in the Districts that lie East of the Blue
Ridge that contains 1000, and another
op,J0o-tfe will reply, g ii is unimportant-it is
all omong ourselves" He asserted, then that the
minority Is with those who hoi'! the property, and
have AZ identity Of intcrest.-You may eGualize |
approximation on the bass Of white population by
the censt's OF 1920 ~ any form you please, and
they wi! sal, i iu -"Vua to about 10th
divide tiie State into % 5.s'.icts. equalized on
che basis Just HlcitioGed. an here will be IL Dis
trictS East. sn'! X -. Of tl. I.un rtiqca diff
ference OF Districts ~ fsvo- s.: the former. OIL
the Senatorial D,Stri-,s as they now stand |
there is majority oil b Districts in the East-of !
the Congressional Districts, majority OF in the |
East-N ow, sir said he, canno: our Eastern Bre- |
thren, be contentei with majority II Districts !
IN IL or even with in D? j. acje - .9tc,y bu.
IN the magic number s?
We are told said he, hat we ens,t % make !
some concession. We 30 make 2 c,:., -,, and /
most iap1rf,nt orc. W iltlrg ~ the census o. !
i52p. We have s's', 'gich show HAT Te ere en- !
ut!ed 10 'Ncl sv"ats Y".lf sn ..:.cr tap tn. !
census wqtI.i p.-,, - Nv ~ rt.o-- ~ 80 I;
there were .ttif'it I',si sf ' :.i,,e l,.i,.,.
and 81 7s5 West BY the returas OF 1928, there
were $3.50 East, and ,1S5 West If the total !
white population has increased in proportion Gas
may be fairly assumed, tor the rate Of increase Of
persons OF different ages, is the same,l there are
NOW ST6,GlD whites Mast nal 90. L
Make an appOrtionment accordingly, and of %
Districts, II will be in The East, aud 10 3 in the
West-equai to difference in favor of The East, |
OF only Ia Districts. The census of 1920 gives
the East majority of Districts in %; and is il |
no concession TO agree 10 this!
II is painful, said Mr.. b., to observe the alarm
and distrust with which the people of the East,
view the honest efforts OF the COnventiouists 90 re.
duce this Governmen mt to a pure republican form
They seem to regard Convention Oh the basis
OF white population, a monster which is to swal.
low up property, liberty, and all that is dear
10 them. We ask them to meet US, on the middle
groune-the census of 1920 or even on Senafori-
al Districts; but they shrink back as ON the brink
oil an abyss, and lily 10 the iarthest pon. Of retreat
Ihe y" lear oil change, perplcxes Inonarchs." The
lyrant IN his Palace, encircled with guards turns
pale at the shout of the populace without The
tortured Imagination OF the Usupcr sees daegers
In the air, and hears death shisks in The wind
But, trust, said Mr.. u, the fears OF our brethren,
however unreal have NJ iOuudat;on in A conscious
ness OF power, lily gotten, or uniustly Withheld.
MIR. b. said, there was another prominent fea-
tiire OF the Bill, which he should notice. He was
surprised 1t should have attracted little attention
from gentlemen, VINO advocate 9" recurrence to
fundamental principles?' That surprise was height
ened by the reflection, that the principle involves
no local Interests sectional ieaiousies and might
therefore, have been expected TO command the |
equal consideration OF all. lie meant, that clause
which provides that none but freeholdeTs shall be
eligible to the Convention, and none but freehold |
ers shall vote for them. The Bill of Rights said |
ne, declares, that all power is vested in, and
consequently derived from the people; that magis-
trates are their trustees and servants, and at all
times amenable to misunderstanding TO this prin.
that is, the freeholders, and non-freehoiders in I
one undistingushed mass. They framed the ma ,
chine, and confded its management TO certain le- !
gislative, executive, and judicial officers aud to !
the freeholders. The freehoiders are public func-
,ionaries" the trustees and servants of the geO-
pie, and amenable 20 them. They are in fact |
part oil the governme mt land thu main spring which
moves the whole. As long the Government lasts
fright OF the trust 70 them by the peope
they must cOntroul IT. But when il is 10 be |
changed, who are to do it, Those who created il, |
or those who derive powers from it, Assuredly !
the former. Yet here is a law-passed by the !
Notwithstanding that freehoders, chosen by |
treehoderS, shall alter or abolish the government
II is nothing less than the government, changing
the governmental PJpablc usuFpdtion OF the |
rights Of the people.
Who are the people, said he, within The mean.
ing OF the Bill Of Rights! Reason aud necessity
indicate that the term is not to embrace every an
mated being. Idnerant3 belong to no society,"
Criminals have forfeited their estate Persons I'm
der are To ne t9tsn into Ito ac.,,nt