Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-21

consider black population Far the greater evil of tho
49,; 49, II ~ evil which we no more remove
ti:cir lands. would offer my remark with dosi-e
TO consider this question without prejudice crinc
here determined to form Government which would
recognize such rights were known and acknuw-
work udvantaseously in practice. As TO tho police
existing in the countcs, that OF collision,
each county attended 10 its internal concerns,
and there was no cause of strife that ground. As
to personal rights they the in all parts of
the States no difficulty existed in that respect. the
whole difficulty was accustomed by portion of tho
State having half of its population consisting blacks
and slaves, and the other portion of il being inhabi
ted altogether by free white citizens. shall endca-
vor to coniine my attention 10 this point.
And first, observe, that nlall the Republican Co
vernments which ever have ever can be establish
ed there must be some proportion between rcpreser-
tation and taXationSumc conncxicn must be prescr-
we'd between them or the Government will no, work
well. On this subject, have written sentence or
two which express my sentiments with some p-cci-
sion, and with the leuve OF the Convention will read
them.
Mr.. Y. then read as follows:
To enable tbs the better to decide on whl. repre-
sentation should be Jdsed, will enleavorto pon,
out the prncip : and rules, which should have an
influence ON the question
Representation should be III proportion. q. is no.
in exact proportion, it shout; bear Just relation ~
taxation. For If the tax ieryins Community he We
~ different from the pa ing community. the
power ct thetormer the lit Ell will be exc -iSci
oppTeSsi :ey--The question then arises, hcSy shall
we base representation, that 1t shall in lust pro-
portion tn taxation? Taxation, whether of an midi
viduai. Of Il community. county, should he in nro-
portion To their ability 10 pay. No rule has ever
yet been discovered which III practice, would exact
ly Indicate th'S ability to That which h1S been
generally adapted Us best, isnumbcr3 or popuation
fther thu ability pay indCatn d bv numbers ar
population, the lax TO be paid by the diilr.nt parts
ofthc country, viii III general bear some relation 10
numbers, aud the representation may be safely based
on population; hltit must pc the wh &c population
from whose abour the rcv.uur is derived II will
illustrate the application of these principles more
plainly, hy taking the clsc cftwo counties instcnd
OF Inc E7st ana Vest i-ris Of The Slate.
Ihese, sir arc the opinions which will rovcrn my
course here, and which will direct the vote TINT /
shall give. am settled i'll the belief that tbcrr,
orght 10 DC q connection between those who lew.
taxes, and those who to pay the taxes levied
In the consideration of iie question, our situation
las been compared 10 that OF other States i'm the
Union: hut the comparison Will not apply II, aI Viz
gnia has onehelf OF he' territory largely Interested
IN black slave population: while the other half j.
inhabited by white population exclusively. There
Is no other State IN the Union similarly situated il,
the - States where alone this population prevails.
il prevails throughout he whole S ate in nearly
quail prolortion So that the discussion which occupies
u here can have no place among them. There is no
one State whose condition furnishes correct anal
ogy; but an apology does exist. and TO the extent
IN the condition or the Union taken c.b;eetivnI,,
Hln what was the determination that Convent ION
n Of
things, only existing upon larger scalc' Wbsi
was the exp"dent hit upon to meet the difficulty and
which did m 'et that difficulty and remove it, II wns
the princpl" that population and taxation should cor
respond to each other: that the slave states shoud
be taX"d only in proportion to the population cnn
merated Ihis principle was supported by VIRGINIA
herself, and 1t was adopted and established by the
Federal Government III its wisdom
There Is another way 10 consider the snbjuct and
l. orc am fond OF applying all subjects winch
am called upon 10 c"amine that Is 10 WORK out the
Tuc-3 trace the principle out into ito prac ical de-
tails Let Us, IN TINS way, attempt examine the
rule established by the existing government mud
BY that which IT Is proposed to form To get rid as
tar ns possible. Of all inCumberance from prejudice
for prejudice does creep into this matter am com
strained to believe, when see men of equal intel |
lcct and equal integrity. directly opposed TO oach
other IN their opinions respecting 1t, / will sup
pose the case oftwo counties and will suppose that
we are the jury N".ich has the question as no
tween them will take for this purpose, the conn
ties of Albemlrle and Buckingham: counties con |
taInlg the same amount of population ana the same
quality of soil: but with this difference between
them; Albemdrlc has one halfOf it's population con-
ss;ing of black s;--Buckngllarn has its noou
iatlon consisting of rec white persons only.-IIow
will the government which now exists operate in
these two counties,
have said that they were equal in their porr,Io
ton, and IN their soil, and hence equal IN their cana
city to sustain taxation. How arc they r-n-oscntrd.
BY two representatives from each This is ali very
WELL here is no inequality, 10 'jus'ice. But Buck
i IL
that my free white citizens shall be nut upou
level with slaves: viii have n constitution; and
representation shall be based upon white popula-
ton exclusively" The new constitution is adopted
and goes into operation: and what is the I;.ct2
Why the effect Is simply this; while Albcmarlo has
the same number of population and pays the same
amount of taxes; Buckingham has representatives
while AlbemaT!e has but one. lat IL the effect
The present contest is touching the Treasury, and
here, while these two counties pay the same amour,
OF tax, oftbem has double the representation of
the Othet What cha. &C would Albcinarle have A.
gan5t Buckingham III matters of future taxation2 Is
1t not plain that Buckingham might lay upon her
Whatever TAX she plcascs? If Albcnir!c had the
least regard for her safety, would she not rather saw
that she won i've without government and de-
fend herself by her OWE strength as she fnipI,t A.
gnlnst oil Who should Invade hcF II Buckingham is
10 have representatives to hoT one, though the
two counir5 pay the same taxes, buckingham may
levy wha; she peascs aud may spend " ,he pleai-
cs. ] ask gcnilCmeO would this be right, Il would
not be- right. No unprotected man will say it il
rgh'; and say that such government roud no.
stand IN no ,,I.s NJ