Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-27

ment OF Virginia, wneresio use very houey
phrase, but one that exactly salts me case, we
can't lake step without breaking our shlns
over some Federal obstacle.
Sir, con readily see very strong motive tor
wishing TO do away all past distinctions 10
politics, to oblitera,e The memory oil OLD as well
as of recent events, and once more 10 come
with something like equal chances into the Po'
iitical lottery.
l., me return TO my ilus'ratioh. Wha'
provision is there, Mr. Chairman, either in the
Constitution OF Virginia Or The CONSTITUTION o.
the Uoi,ed States which establishes II as prin-
cipIe ,ha, the Commonwealth OF Virginia should
be the sole restraining and regulating power 90
the mad and unconstitutional usurpations Of
the Federal Government? There is no such
provision In elther-ye in pr ac,ice, and IN fso',
the commonwealth Of Virginia has been TO my
certain knowledge, for more than thirty years
the sole coa,rrpoise and check on the usurpa
,inns Of the federal government, so far as they
have been checked a, aIl:--l wish that they had
been checked more efectuslIy
For a long time, our brethren Of the South,
because we we're the frontier Stale of the grea,
Southern division Of The Union, were dead TO
considerations 10 which they have, fear awak-
ed ,on late, Virginia was left alone and I'M
supported, unless by the feblr aid Of her distant
offspring Keaipcky 1t is because am uhwil-
ing 10 give up This check, or to diminish lis
force. that am unwilling TO pull down the ed
iGce Of our state GO, eminent tro,a The garrett 10
The celler; ave: down 10 the foundation stone
will not put in hazard his single good, Tor
all the benefits the warmest advocate oil reform
can hope to derive from the result OF this body
The gentleman from Augusta told US, yes
terday | believe, or he day before, or the day
before hat, q really do not remember whlch)
that slaves have always been subject OF taxa
ton in Virginia, and that long while ago nea,
cattle had also been taxed. In regard 20 these
horned cattle, think they have occupied full
as much attention as they are entitled 10 in this
debate. Blu, let il b. emembrred that we were
then not taxing the cattle Of the uesi, for there
was no west, but few scattered settlements
beyond the mountain; and what we have been
discussing was the proportion Of axrs paid by
the east and ,h- west. No sooner was An in
,erest in this subject established beyond the
mountains, than The tax was laid aside. Al
that time, sir, the Commonwealth OF Virgins
was throughout aslaveholding Commonwealth:
would 10 God she were SO now And is II.
then, SO wonderful ,ha, slaves should have been
subject Of taxation! Yes, sir: Virginia was
then not only throughout, a slave holding, bu'
a tobacco planning Commonwealth. You cant
open the statute book mean one OF The old
salute books, not those that have been defacrd
by the finger Of refo'm,-and not see that to-
bacco was, in tact, the currency, as well as sta.
pie Of the state We paid our clerks fees in
tobacco: verdicts we're given In tobacco: and
bonds were executed payable in tobacco That
accounts tor il all. While large portion Of
the state has ceased 10 be ave>holdIng, and
a sill larger portion he's ceased 10 be tobacco
planting community, the burden has rested on
the necks OF comparatively small, unhappy,
and, will say il, prescribed caste in the com
muni,y. Not that any such efftc. was intend
ed when all were tobacco planters, taxes on
slaves and 'obcccO were fair and equal. But
time, the greatest Of innova:ors, has silently
operated to produce this great and grinding
oppression. My nativity cast my lot there. ]
am one Of them. | participate in all their in
ters,s and ferIiegs. And If / had been told, -
until had the evidence Of fact to prove it
tina, one Of the crea, slave holding and tobacco.
planting districts, would lead itself 10 the sup.
port Of the report Of The Legislative COMMIT,
tee, unmi,igated, or, 10 ust term for which l
am indebted TO The gentlemen from Spo,,syl
vanis, unn,oAifed, undulcifed by any hing to
give il q wholesome operation, | would not
have believed it Nothing but ocular and au-
ricular demonstration would have made me be-
lieve i, possible. For my par'-l had not on
WAS the gentleman from Chesterfield has said T,
better never have been born, but, being born and
grown up as am, il were better for me thai
mills one were hanged about my neck, and
asl into the u,,ermost depths Of the sea-
han to return to my constituents, after having
given d naked vote for the repor, Of The Com
miitre.
Sir, when speak Of danger-from wha' quar-.
ter doe,i come from whom? From the corn
and oat growers on the Eastern Shore, the
Rap3ahannock and the Pamunkey? From the
n, ermen on. the Chesapeake? The pilots Of
E'izs be'h City? No, sir from ourselves
from he grea' slave holding and !obacco.plant-
ing districts OF The state, could not have
brought myself 10 believe it-no:hing could
have persuaded me ha' the real danger which
threatens this great interest. should spring from
those districts themselves. Ard arrogant and
Dresu,nntuous as IL NAV aDDear in me, tbesr