Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-11-23

with Jus, balance Of those interests, where
they are conhc ing"
Mr.. FrrzHrGH resumed. ! did not misun-
stand the gentleman sincerely wish l had
done so. He did not. i. is tree, desire The di-
vision Of the State, if the government should
be organized on what he deemed fair princi'
pies, but when he came 10 exlialn himself In
rrla ION 10 these principles, 'hey con,is'ed 10
throwing the whole power oi Legislation ih'o
the hands Of minority OF The people. Against
the doc trine Of disunioD have uniformly pro.
tested, let it come rom what quarter IT might.
would preserve the integrity OF The State al
, Il II hazards. Mr. UPsHUR here rodded ASSENT
! Tie gen leman from Nor hampton agrees with
me. I rejoiee al il. He i, one OF the earliest
Of my f nds whom have hid the plrasurrto
meet on the presen, occasion; and 'ho"ght,
from nv recollrt tipn OF his character ~ 10 mcr
DAYS, as we'll a>.frnm whal have seen OF I'm
here. miph rriy o. his r. Alous CO opera ION
! in whale,, r wool have ,eEde"cy Ia p om"te
,h- harmony Of ~ deliberations, and TO pre-
serve the unity IF he Sass.
BuI, SIR IT, return 20 ,hr SOB Jet from which
! was called off ny the gentcman from Chester
| field. If il be re,lly - ,yrannicas ~ vest IN
majority q power to levy AXIS 70 which ihry
he mseIves are 10 contribute j. proportion 10
| their properly, what snail We say 20 the con
verse Of the proposition, where the ninori'y
| are TO be entrusted not only with he purs"
strings, bu, with The lives and iihellie, OF thasr
in whom they are unwilling to recognize any
| general community Of inie'esi with themselves!
| Ifthere be yanny in he case. l. is hrre, where
the in,erss and wishes Of frw are TO DE sub
| slitu,ed for the interests and wishes OF The
whole
To that argunent which has been deduccd
from the peculiar character OF the proper'y
most prevalent in the eastern section Of the
STATE, ! am willing 10 allow is full weight
Participating very largely in tina description
Of roper,y myself, cannot br otherwise than
alive 10 any dangers thai may seem 10 threaten
| it,. And be assured sir, that my own interest,
Independent Of a sense Of justice, will, a. I'll
| time, secure my T. alous co.operation In what
ever my be necessary to protect u against dan
! gers, either present or IN prospective
What, then, arr the Dangers 10 which il is
really exposed! None, Iapprrh-nd, and uonr.
| in truth, 10 which reference has been made. bu'
that Of excessive taxation. And even this Is
acknowledged 10 be very much diminished by
the diffusion Of the properly in gu sion over
every portion Of the stare. Yes, sir, slavery
unfortunately exists even IN he rrmotest r.
gions OF the wes', and il its subjects be less nu
merous there than along the shores OF the A.
lsn,ic, their general disrrihu i'm, in smaller
numbers, especially in the Valley, ensures at
interest in relation 10 them. that will not Tail
10 unite with The more powerful interest in the
east, in opposing any attempted INJUSTICE in
relation to them.
But I, for one, am not disposed TO rest on
this as my only dependence. The very fact.
hat this desr rip,on Of properly has hitherto
borne SO disproDortionate part Of the public
burdens. renders i, & subjee, for constitution
| al protection. And j; is with this view, that ]
have already proposed SO 10 limit the power Of
taxation, as 10 distribute the in.posi.ions Of
Government among the diff rent descriptions
Of property, exacll, in proportion to their rela.
tive value. The &c, Of mis- must, Of course,
| be, what all viii acknowledge to be iust 10 re-
Guce ,he tax on slaves 10 precisely the s,me
level with all the other taxes Of the STATE.
Blu, am told by the gentleman from Cher
te' field, lhst this is meJe paper guarantee, 10
| be executed or not, as thr whIm and caprice Of
| the ma jorty may hereafter determine.
A paper guarantee! And what, Sir, are all
! the limitations on the powers OF the Govern
ment, provided by the present Constitutior?-
| VIVA, that very organization Of the Legisa i've
Department you are so pertinaciously seeking
to establish! What, in fine. is the Constitution
ITSELF All, all mere paper guarantees! And
when these shall have become, IN truth, as va,
Iurless as they are represented 10 be, the fac,
itself will furnish conclusive evidence of The
pr"gress Of corruption, and Of the uu6 ness Of
the STATE for the continuance Of r. publican
Government. Until then, however, mus be
permitted 10 hope, that the provision 10 ques.
ton. If adopted, will furnish US ample security
againsr the apprehe nded danger If excessive
taxation.
Nor, Sir, does it seem 10 me more difficult
TO provide agains, another spprehended evil.
me- an the un ju>t distribution Of the pubic
revenue with a vie" to internal improvement
The gentleman from Fauquier (Mr. Scot his
exhibited this danger in all lis details. He has
presented 20 rs every variety Of interest, east.
ern AID wrs'rfn. northern and southern, upland
and low'and and has called on Us Of the mid.
die country especially % lock to our own i'm
meaiate Interests on this 'bj.c, Nj. Chair
man I E .nnoi act liz this suirit shouId dem