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

or division OF the State contains peculiar species
II property on which tax could he laid, that would
lot effect equally the West. IF that were true
We might still inquire with due submission whit
would prevent the East, Fit should have the power
rom laying larger duties upon property in the West
man upon the very same species i'll the East? What
IS TO prevent the East, if it should keep the poyer
from drawing moc circle around its own terrific
ries, which the taXgat should never pass,
There nothing to prevent this but sense of JUS
'ice, ''the still small voice of conscience" which
would speak with much effect to the greater num-
Der as to the smaller. You may say that the oy-
preston of such measure would be too outrageous
to be attempted bu: 1t is certainly not more so than
the assessment Of tax, which, in nu me- is ulriver
sal, while i'll fact, its weight would fall entirely OH
single section of the State
II appears further, only that the basis Of tax
alton and population might, by ossibitty lead to the
result of very small and inconsiderable minority s
getting tie whole power of the government into
their hands; but the reasoning by which pentlamon
have been persuaded to adopt that basis would prove
II 1t were of any force, that the most unnportant
minority might have tho right the just title to that
power 1t Is conceded tina. no line of distinction can
be drawn between minorities of different SIZES
" ell then, suppose the ship owners, who are mNny
OF them extremely wealthy, to say, we posscS.
peculiar species Of most valuable property which
no earthly power has right to take from u.s. but
which nevertheless 9aay be taken from us unless we
have the prevailing influence in the councils of the
republic; because may be taxed without others
being affected by the tax. What answer could we
give them: Gould we say you too small mi
norty? Yhey would tell US to draw the line of de-
marcation; they would say us this circumstance
adds weight to our arguments, for he smaller the
minority the likely it is to be oppressed and
yon have DO more right to iniure and wrong small
number than large one The owners of town lots
anu other town property, in Richmond Norfolk, g.
other towns, might set up the clam by priority
of reasoning: so might many other classes of people
fhuS we should behold the spectacle of thousa nc
discordant Interests rising UP and warrinp for spre
nj il;o I,
sown by Calmus But though small section of
the State can have right to demand without the
consent Of the remaining sections, the supreme pow
or IN he commonwealth, it has unuusstionablv 2
right to withdraw i,rn government it dslkcs anC
to make stlpuiatlonS with it. In the present case
the majority, ought 10 yield perfect projection to She
minoriyt, ant no wore, and this may be done BY
granting 1t the pre-loninauce in he Senate We
told that the upper House must always Weld f.
the lower. We allow that it has commonly done
SO, because 1t right for it TO DO so. 1t has sur
rendered because 1t believed the lower house to be
the truCst index of the will of the constituents of the
SGnaie; coming directly from the body of the
people than the latter branch of the Legislature
But if the Senate deega ted for the very pur-
pose OF resisting the encroachments of the house o
reprcsentativcs-if the Senate should no forth fron
the loWlands of the East while the other hons,
should come from the mountains of the West there
could then be no just cause, we huInbly apprehend
to fear similar result
1t Is probable that if the basis proposed by The
Eastern members were to be adopted. no great eyi
would grow out Of it at this time; but VIC hope tina
the Convention IS engaged, not in the puny effort t
frame constitution, which may endure for only
fleeing moment, but that it is filed with the lofty
the sublime aspiration, to devise form of govern
Incnt which may stand unaltered and uuhurt G,i
conni less amidst the rise and foil and other vi
cssitndcs of surrounding empires. 1t should therefor,
not be swayed by temporary considerations. eff wer
to select" says Gbbon 'that period of the world il
which the condition of mankind was most hapuv an,
prosperous, would take that which elapsed between
the downfall of Domtian and the accession of Com
modus." But the form of Government which unde
the regns of NeEps grajan Adrian, and the An
tonnes produced such uneXampled happiness was, OF
the whole, deep and dreadful curse upon the Ro
mans RUSTICUS.