Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-23
CONVENTIONS.

Substance o .Mr. CHAPMAN JOINSONS Speech
on the basis IF RePresentdtion--( coNcLUEp.)
Ilearn Mr.. Chairman, that other fears are INDUCED
by the gentlemen OF the East, from TIE transfer OF
power To the West:They fear not only that the e.
tntes of the West to be improved, but that the
poor of The West are to be educated the expense
of the East II IS most deeply to be regretted, hat
there Is any thing III the local situation of particular
property in Virginia, which gives rise to so many
and such upprehensOns. Interests the most gencral
and most important, those most intimately connect
ed with the prosperity and happiness of the whole
peOpe,-the general protection OF property, the i'm
provcnent Of eli roads and rivers, the education
Vi our people, and the organization OF government
all, by the mallgn influence OF this unhappy cause
made the subject of local eslousies, and party
contests. What Is the foundation sir, of thus new a.
larm' For nearly fifty years nave had, from time
to time, various plans Of public education submitted
TO us, and discussed in the Legislature and before the
people. Some of them doubt, have been wild and
vsionary but belleN not one OF Them has ever been
eXtravagant "a TO propose general Tor the cd
ucation of the poor The farthest that any of them
has gone has been TO prOpn5e that the school dsticts
should be taxed, IN aid OF the contributions from the
Literary Fund tor the education of he poor of those
districts respectively. But what warrant is there for
supposing that the education of the poor from the
pu ic purse, Is western interest that their poor
are more numerous or less educated than yours
There Is none; aud It ought be remembered, that
the most extensive schemes o public educaton If not
all that have been submit ed for the adoption
this State, have proceeded from Eastern politicians
But suppose that the danger which has been ap
pretended to the security OF property The danger of
unjust levy and application of the public taxes vii!
really attend the unqualified transfer Of power IS the
appropriate remedy to be found in retaining that pu,y.
or in the hHnds Of the miuoTity?-l think not.
Appeal, 1t you please To that cautonary doctrine o.
the gentleman from Fauquier, which teaches hat the
greatest merit OF Constitution, is in giving 10 guy
ernmcnt those powers only which essential to the
general welfare and apply tho remedies which it
suggests.
Ifyuu think hat your slaves will be uniustly tax
cd, prescribe IN the Constitution proper limit upon
the Legislative power-lX the ratio between tho az
on slaves and real estate, according to us stan
dard;-dcclare TINT the tax shall be nd u1iOrei aud
equal on both, and thai the shall never be taxed
without the other. In this, will chcerfUlly co opeT
ate with you, satisfied that such provision would be
lust and eliectual. Any law imposing tax viOla
ton Of it, being forbidden by the Constitution would
be- void; every Interested might resist the pay
ment Of the taX. and he would be sustained by an in
dependent judiciary.
lfyou think there is real danger that the public re
venue will be uniusty applied to partial objects Of in
torna mprovcmcnt,-fyo you really think that the spi
ut uf internal improvement requires rather % be
checked than encouraged, limit the powers of govern
ment upon this subject also; provide thai no law ap
propraiing the public revenue to such objects or
Borrowing money for them. upon the public credit
shall be enacted without the concurrence Of specified
molorties III both aoriiies ofiour-sevenis,
threo-hlh, or Whatever else might be equivalent To
the Whoe IcsTalng power Whch your iHVOrlte oasis
would give you. However reluctant | should be to
add tu the very stroag shackcs, which nature has i
posed upon the power Of legislation 90 this subject.
| could not lIesl'a,e to adopt such limitations lyon
the power Of the majority Father than yield it to the
minority.
II you think that guards esSaTy TO restrain
the improvident application of public money TO 'hc
purpose OF educating the poor prescribe them at your
pleasure; for myself give you charte blanche on
this subject.
fnono'of thesr cxpcdionts will impose an efIectua
sas:gaint; u th0YpTrg Uf tho ua,usty q 80 great