Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-14

Z
at one tifne nrcra'!eG tipt large number q !
votes habaen given in the y stern couLtr, and lH.
the e'pres ION o: public opnionon that c,"ason ir-
Lls'ied OF course. taF OF The r,ute ST teur
OF the different parts OF the State But ii so han
pens, that The vote or the two divisions wac -eN.
nearly III proportion to their poPulatsoR III 1890
" ncreas Il ne relative Increase Of population his
teeh az much Greater i'll the West has been sun.
| posed, and full vote hnd been tGkcn the rnaoriiy
ought to Lave been ysry far beyond ws.a; wos or(,;.
! ally obuiHcl. ~ ~ .."
Nious result that 23,o96 voters IN iiat division oftht
19tatc from which come, are, the plan of tho
gentleman from Culpeper, to elect more represcr
;atires in the Legislative body than 1896 in the
lower division In other words that IL votes beIiro
tide water, are hereafter to outweigh in the political
scale, 20 votes a6ooe tide wate1-aud that solely on
account OF TIER superior wealth. -
Will not stop for the present to inuurc ,vhe,har
's DO reasonable and just; but do ASK in the same
spin. IN which lie quesi ion proDoundcd by the
gentleman from Norfolk (hr. TaylDrl whether su,
an arrangement Of the political pow az would be CON
s'stefi with the republican principles of our govern
ient: II 1t were proposed to Introduce it into our
county elections, TO graduate the influence fvotes bv
the wealth that accompanied them give to sixteeH
'luent il" Tie power TO select their fyorile repre-
sen atlVGS ia opposition 10 the united voices of three
end twenty OF their poorer neighbours can there be
Goubt Of the spirit IN which it would be met :
" oEid II not encounter tone of INDIGNANT rcmon.
STRANGE, u every corner and section of the state
ininghng isc-i, as well with the l0Wland wave, as
with u" mountain torrcnt2
and is the i-Iuclpla varied Is its enornlty lessAn
ed: Are its evils avoided by the sectional cbarac,nr
WIN Whic II Is proposed to invest it? To my mind
sir, this Is its most objectionable shape. when inc
qualities are crea ed amongst those who are living IN
constant communion With each other, and whose gen
cFa interests are one aud the same, spirit OF ox
preston Is controlled by the influence Of social inter,
course; ana the best OF power, if Yield not to TIE
Suggestions of patriotism is lost amid the calcua-
tons Of eXtanded and uniform interests
Bat when these inequalities are sectonal when
the few in one quarter are empowered to control the
many in another; where, 10 what benignnni influence
are the latter to look for protection to lhcir feelings
and their interests? Not TO The Justice and rnaqna
nlmty Of those in POW l for we have been ein-
phaiicaIy told by gentlemen, that interest is the
ruling II not The only spring of action TO man; and
surely they viii not ask f:om the majority. Il conf
depce. on which, from The beginning they haI4,
refused 10 rely. Nor can that majority depend fpr
security, on the prevalence of general interes,
throughout the country; 70: the very Concession de-
handed Of them rests for its Justification on tie c,
istoncc OF separate AID distinct interests.
Bat agan SIR, If sixteen voters are, by the inst.-
mentality OF wealth alone, to be made superior IL
twenty three, where are You 10 stop? Where are
you to draw the precise I.e Of deynarcation to Re
publican Government? Must not the same princinja
under change of crcumsI ances. concentrate power
IL yr- fewer hands? Il, as the gentleman from
Northampton (AIr. Upshur) supposes no1oritv OF
interests must always prevail may not that majority
which Is now confined to l6 in SO, attach itself in de
progress of individual accumulation to q IA Q .,
even to one? And When under the influence of acit
faVorte principle, power shall be thus concentrated
shau be tod t"at we are yet a Republican People?
VIII not say that in the progress Of events such
Grange III our government may not become ncccss1,
ny. viii not say, that state Of thups lirhf mn,
be imagined, in which myself should br constrained
TO vote Tor It, But the same page that would contan
the record OF my vote, would present in connection
with it, the declaration that Virginia was no longs
fitted for Republican Government. Bur suppSsr
that III all this am mistaken, and that our Repubc1n
principles are not endangered by the proposition ~
tic gentleman from Culpeper. We are ce-taint,,
about 20 depart, and in no measured degree. from
Tie PLAIN and simple rule Of government, sustained
by eNpcdGncy, no less than by reason and Justice
which conides the power of legislation TO Inaiori
ty rather than TO minority. L. there any reason for
this departure? And If there be- is it not now MO-
posed to 20 far beyond what the necessity of ito
case requlres' The lower division, to which have
referred, IL is acknowledged, contains larger a.
mount OF property, and pays u greater proportions
OF taxes than inc upper; 1.-THE excess about 1854 OOC
and hence IS inferred, that unless the power conte
ded for, be obtained property viii be without an adj
equate protection Ii this can be made manifest
pledge myself to abandon the principles | have
brought with me TO this discussion, and 10 no alone
with, and under the guidance or lie gentlemen from
below. ~
Security to property, Sir who does not feel its 70.
ccsslty NLo OF the members that are present
docs not concur With the gentleman from Norfharnp[
ton III thinking that security of property il the mos
efficient If not the only security to personal riGhIC5
is 1t OF any consequence to me to be able to keep nv
BODY beyond the limits Of Jail, to roam where
please, 10 do what please, or even to Contribute Inv
my vote to organize the government under Which Ian
i've, II that very government Is TO be uncovered
II e"a', 'nh proper, TO Wres from the
means OF my subsistence, and TO throw inc poor and
pennyless on heartess world! d sir the property of
thc country ought to be, and must be protected AZ all
hazards; but let gentlemen beware, lest m providing
Ior It's security hey expose to dangers THAT do not
| naturally surround IT. but in attempting to throw n
round 1t the robes of protection, they incautiougIv
invest 1t with the shirt Of Nessas. To certain cx
tent property carries within itself the means 81
proiccton.-NOt in its corruptinr Influence as rofor
red to by the gentleman from Northampton; but in
the facilities it affords for acquiring knowledge, and
alhuslng benefits IT ought to be the aim OF ia
WITHIN the scope Of political Institutions 70 for.
! lily and strengthen this power Of seii-protecion-
Lot them guard it by just regulations against ,npro
per invaslons Let them increase its facilities for
action, IN all cases where its aim is to procure leg
mate advantages to its owner, or gratutous benefits
70 Tie community In which it eXsLs Ind Lot B; be