Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-11-19
TIB 8AlBTTlso
MARrtNsBURG, Novrnsrs 70. 1900
THE CONVENTION
JCe5,,ssJ,. ~,

auon oil the Select COMMITTEE I.nJ IT, -
henoaeats offered thereto.) TO 5eter,,;na a.
OASIS Of representation, w
Inc Char stated the question .,a
floor. vas ehu'ied 10 fh'
Mr.. Upa'er then rose, in pursuance Of h,
argument lie recaptulated the points which
Ie hao attempted to establish the day hefare--
ne repeated, that there was no abstract =
fo'r,, ~ inc majority to govern the
t;H:.i ii' -,aat there was no such fousda
hon either in the laws of nature. or - nn'.'
pact-:aat there were tive species ~ ,,,a eon
nes, a majority OF person. and a ma;nr;;', :,
ahteFests--tnat however, In certain c;rc1n,
stances, II was proper that the na;a,itv .,
tu,iocrs Snoeid govern, yet there was no ex
eihPu9h "here great diversity of interests
Pret3ueu' ana that property was entitled Ia
Protsctioii' Mr.. u. then proceeded To ;lbs-
trate ms positions by additional a arguments
:. tie stated the case of our contest with C,a.,
BrItatn, where the principle was maintained
that taxation and representation ought 70 ro
together. Such was the foundation of orr
CLAIMS at that day.--Mr L. commended tina, r
fhoSe VINO are taxed, have no means of renre-
sehtatton, there would be no way of deternin-
ing Row much protection they received from
the government, and how much they ought tn
contribute. lie referred to the very pr0posi-
t u0as on the table, for proof of his positions
wy t9r example, IS 1t not proposed to give
universal suffrage? Every man is subject to
the operation of the government: to 6gLt it's
oaities, and incur the punishment of lis laws.
and yet they are not all entitled to vote and
administer the government. II is because thcv
nave not the accessory quantity of property.
mat they are not permitted by the propos;-
Mons on The table 10 exercise the Right Of Suf
trage
aar. U; examined the position that had been
euVahced on the other side, that property
coeio 4'rotect itself. He contended that If II
were moi allowed share of representation,
Weaiia could only protect itself, by an impro
per exeruon of lis iaiiaeace; by bribery and
corruption. And suppose he was to make the
proposition TO gentlemen on the other side.
Sha' a hey would pay all the taxes OF the 60
1ernnient, they should have all the power
Fer h.s own part he might be willing to a.
gree to the scheme; bat would those gentle
men also concur la IL?
Mr. u. calleo The attention OF the Commit
Zee to tae manner IA which the present Con
sttudon was formed. He stated. that the, o
very interest was represented-an that all
these various Interests have grewn up under
ats provisions and pledges and is it proper
now to violate these established rights
W QUA 1t not wear the appearance even of
violence aad oi .raads He stated that II all
she Interests Of this Commonwealth were the
same, there would DC no necessity for pc
cuiiar organization Of its power-but such
was act G4e case. He might say ti.at almost
tue Whole carriage tax was paid by this part
OF The ,>tate--out this was small ITEM What,
ho"eter, would gentlemen say when they
We're told that the tax on slaves had paid a.
bout ~ per ceat OF the whole revenue of the
St@t5' As the tax is now imposed. you FIRST
la TIE iaborcr as property, and then yos tax
tiie very article which it produces-You tax
the slave first, and you afterwards levy tax
Oh TIE carriage which his labor enables us to
purchase.
Nir. u then referred TO the influence which
this species ofpersons gave US in the affairs of
The General Government--and remarked that
Ut constituted about l-l1th Of the whole Re
presentation IN Congress He begged the
committee to recollect in these days Of nno-
Fation how much influences our decisions NAV
nave upon the question-and if we throw out
all consideration of it at home, how can we
JUSTIFY The adherence to il in the Federal Go
yeinment?-lfa proposition was made to a.
mend the Constitution the United States in
that respect, how could Virginia. with all her
consistency in the cause of principle, resist
tne amendment, after having adopted diff
ferent rule in her own Constitution
He aiiided to the argument, which the
Western members urged; that there was no
danger OF abuse, if the power was given to
them For his own part, he apprehended no
such consequence from the present citizens OF
the West; but what guarantee can they give,
that tins dIsinterestedness will become per
peTldi inheritance and that those who come
alter them may adhere to the just course OF
their fore-fathers? But .gentlemen had SAID
that this slave interest had extended to the
West, and that the population was increas-
ing. But Mr.. u. contended that the interest
was at present so small in the West as not to
affect in any material degree its wishes ana
regulations that there were reasons IN
operation, which would prevent any great
multiplication of slaves m that directon-such,
as the prejudice against this species OF proper,
ty--their contiguity TO the States OF ONO ana
Pennsvvania--and that from these and vari-
Gus other reasons, and slaves must principally
be confined to the lower country
MIR. u. then examined the principle oil guar
artee which the Western members propose 10
give-and he admitted that it was as good as
they could furnish, if unconnected WIN any
portion Of political power. But Mr: Y. con
tended, that there was no efficiency IN pa
per guarantee-and what sort OF virtue Is
there in piece of parchment, when hsy
NAV take away whenever they please! nc
examined the various guarantees Which ia"
been offe. ed--and contended that they were
inefficient for the object contemplated, eNno'