Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-12
COntinucd RON lsl p.:.e. !

DrIeTGtes--the GiStrlCt
the Sd district 4 and the 18th district And th,,
I'd ana Sd districts 1.-The heart of the State" would
have together GO Delegates instead of So on the
" llite basis.
The gentleman from Albemarle (Mr Gorlon) and
the gentleman from Loudon MIR Mercerl have also
told the committee that If representation be appor-
toned according to white population alone, there
would still be Il considerable majority of DELEGATES
cast OF the Blue Rldge.-rhe first gentleman says
inc majority would he 10, and the other sa - would
be 2O--lIere again the gentlemen compelled to
resort to the census OF 1890 to sustain their position.
If IN argument you VIII grant gentlemen their pre-
misses, st IS very easy TO prove any thing they wish;
but ] must again insist on holding gencrncn to the
Auditors estimate Of the populou of 1929. | cannot
consent that they should adopt 1t when it suits them
and abandon it when ii makes against thcm--Why
Mr.. Chairman should talk about the census of
1920, when 1t is manifest that no superintendent Of
representation under the new Constitution which
may be recommended by this Convention TO the
people, can be made under that census:-'The
Delegates in 1880 are to be elected under the old
Constitution-and in 1880, new census will be taken
under the authority Of the General Government
and the first superintendent OF Delegates that can
ever take place under the Constitution VIII be
c6lformabe to the census OF 1880
The gentleman from IIoudou fMr. Mcrcerl has
told the committee that there would not be naior-
Is of white population west Of the Blue Ridge before
1850, and that the transfer of political power to the
west would be gradual.-This information is no
doubt kindly intended by that gentleman TO allay
the approximations of the east.SVhile NAV be dis
posed admire the philanthropy which prompts the
information, | cannot admit the premises necessary
to enable the gentleman to prove his position
Here again he refers to the of 1320.-Accor-
ding to the Auditors census the white ponUlation
west of the Blue Ridge is now 5l9,5l6--and on the
east of the Ridge 362,745. If the white population
continue toncrease in the same ratio has increa-
sed since 1890, then in 835, the white population
west of the Blue Ridge will be 375,3I0-and east of
the Blue Ridge 372, 293, being n majority of 3, OH
west of the Blue Ridge.--T acknowledge Mr.. Chair
man, that on this subject have heretofore been
y1lIcfo Ir1, md
others to adopt my did not suppose, until
saw the Auditors estimate. that the majority of
white population would be west of the Blue Ridge
so Early as 1885.
nave said, NJ Chairman, that if there were no
slaves IN the State or if by unanimous consent they
were 10 b. forever exempted from taxation should
still vote for the amendment under csnsiderat on-
Those who have the power Of laying the taxes ought
10 be directly responsible 20 those who are compelled
opay hem--not merely in name but in fact.-If the
Report of the Legislative Committee be adopted
then taxes to any amount may be imposed, contrary
to the unanimous wishes of those who nav 3 of the
taxes. and imposed by agents who owe no resDoDs1-
bity express implied to those who arc compelled
to pay he greater portion of these taXes-Ilike the
gentleman from Hanover (AIr. Morrsl can imagine
no despntsm more oppressive than that-which riycs
10 one man the power of laying taxes and imposes
the duty OF paying the taxes those who have no
controui over laying them WHY is it., sir, that the
Constitution Of the Unitad States, and of all the
several States, give the power of originating laws
imposing taxes to the most numerous branch of the
respective Legislatures? 1t is because the most
numerous branches of the Legislature are more i'm.
mediae'y the representative of the people, they are
elected for shorter periods and compelled more
speedily to return TO the people and give an account
OF their dship--Those who pay the taxes
ought have complete cOntrou over those who have
the poWer0f laying the taxes, otherwise the taxes
Which IN free government should be considered as
the voluntary contributions of the citizen for the SER
vices Of the State woud be, in fact arbitrary exac
lions made by irresponsible agants.-If the amend
tD fhp Of
adopted, this sauary and necessary controul will be
preserved; but II the amendment be rejected then
taxes may be laid by those who are not responsible
to those who are compelled to pay them.
Let us see, Mr. Chairman, what has been done by
other States in this Union in fixing the basis of rep
TesentatlOn in their respective Legislatures We
have been told In the progress of this Debate, that
fifteen States Of this Union have adopted the white
basis without regard to any other consideration and
we have been urged to follow their example.-IIere
again am that the honorable gentlemen who
have made this assertion had no intention to deceive
the committee but | am equally certain that thew
have reckoned without their ho-ts.--Instead of Is
States having ado ted the white basis u1quaFGed
there but six who have adopted that basis without
modification And of these SIX neither of them are
OF the old thirteen States of this Union--and of
them States created within the last few c6ore -
The only States which have adopted this basis
anlqpakfe9 Kentucky, Ohio Indianna, Illinois,
Mississippi and Alabama murt beg the indulgence
CT the committee while | refer to the Constitutions
Of the other States particularly on this subject
In Massa chusetts, where they have no slaves the
representation in the Senate is based entirely on tax
alton, and in the House of Representatives every
town having $50 ratabe polls is entitled to repre-
senta i've and every town having 375, is entitled to
representatives
In Maine every town containing 1900 inhabitants,
IS entitled to rcpTesentatiye-and so on increasing
until a own has 26,250 inhabitants, when shall be
entitled 10 representatives,, and torn ssqY eUcy
haUc HGn Representatives..
In Now IIampshlre. The repre- .entation in the Sen
ate Is based on taxation alone. In the House Of Re
present ativcs town having 50 ratcablc polls Is
entitled to representative, and town having $50 is
entitled t. 2.
in Vermont, towns containing 80 taxable inlrabi-
tants arc eathd to representatives, and all others
without regard to population, are entitled to I.
In Connecticut, Chat IInI ofsteady habits to which
the gent eman from Lpudoun wished he could trans
port all tn members Of this Convention 10 witness