Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-04-28

founded upon the title 10 the property. should be
disposed to substitute for this interest in tho cult
walton of the soil; by admitting every free white male
citizen, twentyone years old, who resided upon and
cultivated the land to votes for while an interest in
the soil has generally been regarded as the best as
surance TOR Permanency and usefulness In political
associations the principle of election and representa-
ton, has been extended much beyond it, in almost
every state in the Union, without any political mis-
Chief How fur election ought To 90, is n question
Of policy, not Of political or natural right and is
rounded upon the safety and prosperity OF the public,
and influenced by the local situation OF territory, hab-
ITS and pursuits of the citizens In manufacturing
States, IL ought not to be ditfiIsed CONNER
cial States. In agricultural States it ought to be
more restricted than in either
You Will perceive that have taken granted,
that suffrage will be enlarged. / suppose this opin
ION ought now to be generally entertained 1t APP
pears 10 me necessary inference from the passage
OF the law providing for the assemblage of the
vention
Suppose, however, that suffrage is SO enlarged as
10 AUNT every free white man to vote, without re-
gard to the landed interest is then important to
consider whether any restriction ought to be applied
to those who have no lands. Isit good policy to adj
NIT nou rceho!crs vote for seuetors and reprcsen
tatives and be eligible to those Offices? think not
tthey are admitted by the e!ecting power, (as think
It probable they may bc,) the reeholder should
not be eigible and should only vote for members of
the popular branch of the legislature. Every man
VINO cultvates the land, his personal estate also
Many men have personal estate, but land. IF the
man who has land, be elected also by those
WHO nave no lafln 10 make laws Tor society," he dI
rectly In situation, where his cupidty may he excl
ted and II his interest Is to guide his legislation he
will take the land, what is worse, his interest will
prompt him constantly to burden it with taxes, and
exempt his own estate. This cannot happen in the
other case. The cullivatcr of the soil has personal
estate also and if he reduces the taxes upon one he
must increase them upon the other and therefore,
Cannot escape. Nor is he under any tempta; ion to
make the experiment. Political power can only be
controlled by political power. And man reasons
badly, who supposcs himself secure in his rights;
when their security rests upon the moral restraints
upon human action The freehold qualification should
be retained tor the election of senator's and both SEN
ators and Representatives should be freehoders.
The civil divisions ofthe state Unto counties, is the
present mode in which the principle ofrepresentaton
Is applied inequalities the population and terrific
ry exist, and believed TO have an influence in the
legislation of the State. Two modes of remedying
this inequality to be considered one is by uniting
the smaller counties, ahort twenty OF them in differ
en parts of the State the other by taking the popu
iatlon, and dsregarding territory.
! The smaller counties aneraily contiguous to
each other, and so situated to be readily united,
without injustice to the public TO the people, ap-
prehend If they were united until their population
was equal TO ratio be fixed by the constitu-
tlon to be an average OF any contiguous territory and
population entitled to representation, and elect alter
natey and IN succession, the representation, it would
remove the presentoblsction, while few counties of
more than an average population after this reduction
OF the number. raight be allowed an additional dele
gate, for any excess of population above the ratio;
4
mode has been adopted by come of the States and
no injury or injustice results from it,
| If population is substituted for the county plan
shall the whole population be taken? Or the white
| population alone? Or the white population, and
portion othe slaUes, the Congressional representa-
Ton Is now' Population is insisted upon by some as
the only principle Of representation. This l appre-
lend Is not true in fact know il is not in practice
NO state IN the Union adheres it. in both branches
and almost every dsregarts it (practicclly) in
the senatorial branch. Vermont, Rhode Island
ONO kentucky and Tennessee, approximate more
nearly than the others. The other states believe
! large portion of them, hnoo. violate it (ft be
Prlnciple) by excldng portions of their citizens on ac-
count ofresldence property, citizenship, by making
Unequal portions of population, equal in the Senate;
by electlng by counties towns &c. or by ejectno
| by electors, chosen by the people
III population was the only principle of representa-
tlon or any principle at ALL it never would be disre
arded, or violated to this extent. regard popu-
iaon as one Of the modes in which the pripcpIe of
representation may be applied, and therefore aues-
ton ofpoiIcy. And while sec no grave reason to
icect II IN great many cases, where the State
is small, or ITS population enjoying equality Of po-
hI'cd9 17Sht$, would not admit the Onty mode or
tie BEST mode. of applying the representative rrinc-
pie ana especially, wien portion ofthe population
were denied any active political agency and were
also subject to direct taxation, the slaves are with
1t population is assumed as principle the same
argument ut appears to mel necessarily proves If
should be the whole population. This is not the Oh
Iot % nose "io are desrous OF adopting it. 1t is
The waite population alone. IL is not proper under
any circumstances, in Virginia, that this point should
be corcedcd III the Convention, or elsewhere The
power to tax lberate, remain with the mas
ter, or 1T IS gone; and the temptation to do both
would be too strong, to be associated with power
IN government to do it without the consent of the
owner.
The subject properly. think excites the deepest
interest IN The eastern and middle country and ap-
prchend will be of most difficulty. should pre-
fer greatly to arrange this question of representa-
tom upon the first plan If that should be for,nd
inpraccabe, and the slaves entirely excluded, It
would be necessary to provide in the Constitution
that slaves should only be assessed and taxed in the
same proportion the land, and no others included
III the assessment than those fit for labor and giving
to the Senators negative upon every question Of