Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-14

equal from all men, without distinction Of fortune
except what may arise from the apple alton of poll tax
10 n country having slaves.
Such some Of the features OF the Old code. For
the new let us suppose every other branch Of
oppe oil from our presf system, aud poll tax to DO
levied on the free white inhabitants Of the Common
wealth without reference to the distraction OF wealth
IT, instead OF cherishng il, he desired to keep down
the West such are The present facilities for descending
the river Ohio, and many Of its tributaries, that but
little ingenuity would make the trans Alles hany co,n-
try wilderness, again, tit only for the habi,aton Of
beasts Of prey. -
Gentlemen reason, as ifthe only power in govern.
ment was taxation; as they have represented the pro-
ection o property to be almost the sole end Of lsgi
ton They forget the numerous laws, which protect
the rights q persons i'm peace, well az the i'm
portant shield, which the around him In war.
IL cannot have been forgotten, that during the last
war; was proposed aud not without apparent reason,
TO exempt part OF the militia the board from
military service, beyond the limits Of their respective
countless regulation which might have been extended
80 Tar as greatly to augment the pressure OF military
What are al the laws which limit or extend the pc
Rod oil military service! That exempt apprentices and
| burthen OF which, the weshy can escape by hiring
substitutes; and to which the poor must yield obe
denee. however relue'sntly he may leave his home
without master; his wife without husband; or hi,
children without parent TO protect them.
How many laws there with respect even to pro-
perty, which operate, also. upon tho very body
ners and character OF society," Disappointing abour Of
its iruits and bringing dscredt upon the country which
obliged to acknowledge their sway! Such are those
laws which withhold the payment. or suspend the legal
remedies Tor the recovery OF just debts which in fne
drive commerce from land, designed by nature 10 be
her voured abode, and her choicest in
TO absolute curses.
Society owes other obligations 10 itself or 10 II,
members. Protection from foreign violence and the adj
mni,ration Of justice, are Of indispensable necessity
But the intercourse and educate OF its citizens have
aso claims upon its attention, that wise government
has hitherto, disregardcd.
These subjects are among those, however, that fill
opponents with the greatest alarm They have de-
n0unced all ATTEMPTS Adj
OF the state, at public cost whether by road. or canals
and this, because Of single experiment which has, Il
seems, been badly conducted.
The people Of James river Il seems have been dis
s,ppoined In the result of avoritc improvement. A.
the member from Albemare demonstrated. they owe
that disappointment TO themselves alone.
They bought whistle, found it dscour.ed not such
music as they expected; and like spoilt child they
have broken il in two, and thrown itaway. IL may
presume to advise them, and at least sincere in
what say, will tell them to finish their canal to
Lynchburg; then quadruple they well may, the load
OF their hoa': substitute single horse, old man.
and boy for their mpeliing power, instead of half
doven able bodied hands, and they WILL no longer find
cause to complain Of the money they have expended.
But what has this failure TO 10 with the que s,ion be-
fore us? Did not the first in this all, in favor of
Convention precede this James river scheme of i'm
provement. ard dill that spring up in this city:
As for the late Charlottesville Conventions, it had any
other than western origin.
l will leave its vndi alton, to nv venerable learn.
ed anal patriotic friend, (Chief Justice Marsha now
sitting before me, who fear, will give his support
no prejudice against the Improvement of the roads and
rivers OF the Common ealth.
The education f'he people is also. object of dread
ana me OIL oil 1919, which passed the House OF Dele
gates, by very large majority Notwithstanding its pre-
sent unequal basis oil representation, has been the topic
OF special denuncation aud complaint.
We are told that we wish to acquire the mower of
educating the mans child the expense Of the
rich confess, am ashamed to hear such sugges-
tons at this day, and in the Capitol Of Virginia Al
though, perceive no connect between them and
the purpose OF our present deliberations vet thew
spring from source so respectable, MR. Gresr) that
must believe, being worthy OF the gentleman from
CulPeper. (dr. Green,) they merit my notice. Such
cause ought not to suffer, for an advocate The
bill referred to, with all its inpere ctons | attn vii.
ing to let rest upon my head But Of defence
Since 1919, we have applied Si5 900 a wear TO the
education Of poor, and 10 900 children are mper-
iecy Taught Tor about six months in the year. by its
| application. =. -,
New York has,a present i'm her free schools open al
all times, equally to the rich and The poor more than
900 children; and tohe State Treasury the annual
cost of their instruction is 800 900 Bv The iudicons
application OF this sum. she has elected individual zeal
and wealth sufficient TO do the rest of this beni6cent
| labor.
Connecticut. whose school system Is an improyemen nj
upon that OF Massachusetts, and nearly ancient, a.
Its importation from Scotland in l6l7, employs in i,s
support arevenue OF ,000 She finds that sum suf
hcent to educate all her children, in number more
man as many thousand. once visited a gentleman in
thaI state the pures if not the most perfect Common
wealth. In existence, who worth several hundred
thousand dollars though with but four anil twenty
acres Of land near his dwelling He kept several car
| ne soU OF MS coacnman went TO the
schosl with his own grandchil'. Both were we'll
taught.
Excep; in the county OF Brooke, where about five
dollars year sufces for the education of her poor
children, the annual charge upon the Literary Fund
Tor every pupil whom il nstruct where less tina
eight dollars while in Come thi. expense as we
see, Is very little more than fourth of that amount
corresponding as IL does with The cost of instruction in
| the parochial schools OF Scotland.
viii the rich any where complain of a system which
while The children Of the poor instructed enables
them to educate their own, at cost so reduced? And
~ The education OF the people, who are every where
in America, the acknowledged guardians of their oyy
rights, the source OF all political power a subject Of
| mere eastern or western interest. in Virginia!
who are the people Of tho West! Are they not our
ieiIow-cizeDs friends and brothers, Whence did
they spriDg!-From the EasR Have they forgot tbeir
common origin! TWAS with extreme conce rn that
heard the gentleman from Cupeper, (Mr. J. s. Bar.
oouro declare, few days that the West had not
proper sympathy with the East and urge in proof Of hi.
charge that during the invasion of the Commonwealth
In the last war; their resenatives on th, floor voted
against The Defence Bill Of lSI5.-They did not hear
he emphaeay said, the " sound of the cannon of the
enemy, nor behold the distress Of the Ear:" and there
lore, felt II not. He would trust them with poIi,icaI
power. Sir, said Mr. NJ, thi. very Defence Bill
was the Offspring Of the joint Iabour OF Delegate from
LoudouD, and gentle from Augusta now sitting in
my view. call upon my patriotic and liberal friend
to repel charge, for which, there is not in truth the
slightest foundation IL many western delegates voted
against this bill, so did many East OF the mountains
which divide va, az welt they might IL became law
as my honorable friend (AIr. JobnsoD) can testify who
must well remember the numerous ifnpcrfectioos
which remained in it, and the basis OF taxi,
lion anil ...s,ax ..-l.s. 4.