Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-15

and to make any other ndaton.. and perform
such other duties ~ may be required By law.
go. Resolved. That the proceedings Of the several
Boards ought to be recorded and preserved by such
officer a. tho General Assembly shall designate aud
that the Commissioners ought 10 receive moderate
compensation for their services, be ascerained BY
law, and paid out OF the county funds -
6. Resolved. That each Commissioner Of Police
ought to he Conservstor Of the Peace within his coun
~, and II holding no Office, or employment, ncomps,
BILE with that OF Justice Of the Peace. ought 10 be in.
cuded in the Commission Of the Peace"
In supporting the Re soution Mr. 8. said he was one
oil those, who believed, that there certan priori
principles In Government. which all just Governments
ought toregar; and that those who paid resrect to
these, tyrsnnical in their character One of these
principles. long concurred In by every friend Of ration
al freedom, was, that tho contribution levied from the
People, ought, in all cases, 10 be regulated and
trolled by those who were to pay them. Now. the
county courts, under the present system, possessed in
some cases, extensive power Of taxation,
than belonged to members Of the Lsg.la,hre derived
from their right to make county evie for the repair Of
highways, the erection Of public buildings and vari-
ETY. Of other objects, placed under their especial control
He thought that court so constituted The county
court known 10 be- ought not possess such pow.
eu. twas a body which did not emanate from the
People at all, Il responsible to them. That
they should be thus taxed, by agents they had Them
selves never chosen was clearly against the republican
maxim, that the taxes OF State, ought to be controlled
| by those who were expected TO pay them.
Locking round for some substitute for body of this
character he had directed his eyes to the example of
statesmen. His general conclusion had been that
taxing power extensive should reside In persons an
pointed for the trust by the People themselves. In
modifying the principle, he had derived much Ight
from the previous discussion In the Convention He had
TO all the reasoning the subject Of the coun-
courts had rejected what he considered the perver-
'ions OF prejudice aud paria'i'y, and was satisfied
reflection that this taxing power in improper hands
Adverting to the light he had thus received, he hal
dawn mp and submitted the propositions Just read
-Thnking that the principle OF the corresponding re.
atiOnn Aim -Lss-
mary ingredient in the plan, and that could be most
oeneiiciay extended 10 comparatively small aud limited
districts of country. -
He had assigned .hree Commissioners for the small
est Of three divisions and Tor the arges leaving
The intermediate numbers TO Legislative control The
inhabitants OF these wards respectively, would best
know who in their wards were the most suitable per-
sons TO he entrusted with the proposed commission
these commissioners were TO be erected into Board of
Police Tor the purpose oraisug and applying the coun-
ty funds.
were bodies which did not gnate with the People
They were Instituted in the first instance where
counties Were created, by the act otthe Governor on
the suggestion probably Of Senator from that mart
ohe State and thence forward The appointment oftheir
members depended on the choice of those already
OH the bench. The objections to this arrangement
were many and DESTROYS; insomuch that
trary opinion had, far he recoected, been ex.
pressed by any bodythe only difference Of opinion
was, as to whether the evil could be corrected and II
u could, IN what manner! Ii was true they under
the general control OF the laws:hut no asked gentle
to look the probable influence of the Legislature
in such body of men. The Legislature assigned them
the general authority under which they act, and 1, laid
down certain limits to that authory but thew had al
most un limited discretion to the application of the
| county funds, which opened wide field. IL was idle
expect that the Legislative control could ach the
EXERCISE oil such auust. The Justices brought
into Office. and kept in office by those who were area
dy in possession OF il themselves All that the Govern
or did was TO commission themihat the practical
amount OF the natter-and he put it to gentlemen to
{ u hNHu tft.taE g.
tory for the delicate and important trust of the mower of
| taxation! power which reaches every man and ne.
netrated into all the crevces OF society Was Fl and
becoming that 1t should be left where il could not BE-
supervised and controlled by the people, for whose be-
neht alone taxes were laid, and for whose advantage
| alone they ought TO be expended
fanny objection could be urged against the Man Ia
had proposed. it would probably proceed from an I'M
Willingness to call out the people to elections except
IN the choice Of their delegates to the General and
elats Governments Mr. s. said he had little TO Offer
gentlemen who dreaded much that the people should
exercise their dearest privileges: but he trusted he
should IND sufficient number OF those who concurred
with him in the sentiment. that though might be un-
wise 10 carry the matter 10 by two far multi.
plying elections that tho people might with all safety
he suffered to assemble in their little ward TO
choose ward Commissioners Such officers would be Sc.
lectcd With more extended view to the local wants
Of the people than was taken by the County Courts
they would have more equabe and pervadins inter.
est in the we-being OF the people. Yet while such
Board would be decidedly popular in its character, it
would not be destitute Of sufficient rmness and perma-
nency. This would be secured by causing them 10 90
out OF office in annual rotation.
Another advantage which he hoped would connect
self with this pan would be the abolition of the ex
i.'ing Politician exacton which demanded an equal
share OF public burdens from the same number Of in
dvdnas poor and destitute possessed of the
greatest opulence. He trusted such tax would not
survive the deliberations of this body.
Tie looked Tor time when the burdens Of the coun.
try would be laid upon the property of the country
when me poor man would not be called TO contribute
an equal share with the rich in openn g and improving
the roads OF the counrythose avenues of
and internal trade in which he had comp raiivey hui
little interest but which contributed in so essen, de-
gree TO enhanre the value Of the rich mans estaesas
| things stood now, the wealthy laptholder who pos.
essed hs oOOO0 acres had the value Of his estate more
than doubled in some instances by the Isbour of his
poor fe!ow citizens. This was an Injustice which he
hoped 10 see forever done away
There was ano'her object which he WISHED TO COM
m" 10 these boards oil Poce-So much the more com
pick ami delicate any was in is nature in the
same proposition mpor ant that the peope boul
have The control Of IT, Such trust was the manage.
fnent OF the system oil Education, which was destined
ashe iondiy believed, 10 bring its blessings equally to
me door Of the cottage and the palace an to distribute
us dement's around the hre side OF every family. The
state had already the skeleton OF such system but il
was az yet but little more
But when he spoke Of the importance Of educ ,jon
ana expressed MS hope to see 1t universally difised by
wise and efficient system OF laws he wa, far from
meaning, ION the contrary he revoIted from il with bo
rofD that contributions were 10 be levied from the
wealth OF part OF the State TO he expended in ed
GAZING the children Of another portion. Far very far
was such purpose from his mind His plan was The
very reverse Of This. He wished that the burden Of
educating the children In each ward should be laid on
the ward Itself Let those who were to .nioy the hem
eht, bear the con- ribuion Let the Police Commis
soners create fund for education LAYING the burden
eqaaNy wi'hn each ward a prlucple precisely ST.