Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-03


Speech Of .srr. NORRIS (ef Haaorey) -coseluded.
Numbers, it will he thus seen, did not constitute
the basis either in IL il 1882 either in the reg
uaton of State constitution, or of the Federal
authorities and institutions. He would ask if there
WIS no great interest concerned in this question:
asa M Nh HERS is mo interest to be
rIru from Culpepcr protectsl Is there not n great
interest which is in jeopardy. What is the position
OF ms State: How does it stnnd' On this side OF
the Blue Ridge We have $40 900 slaves while OIL the
other side there are but 10000 On this side above
t',ree-forths Of the whole revenue of the State j.
s1ised by taxation; on TIC other side less t,- ono
fourth Is raised In the Western region 40 con,;,s
embracing one OF the lovecst vallies IN the world
extending between the Blue Ridge and the Ohio draws
annually from the public chest more for its Judicial
and oher expenditures than the whole which it con.
tributes. Yet we are asked, while we are thus nav
ing more than three fourths of the whole revenue
and the West IS paying less tilan one-ourth. and
when Inc West is drawing more annually from the
pubic treasury than the whole she contributes TO it
we are asked TO adopt article into the Cous,itl.
ton, by which the whole of the POLITICAL movers ~
the State and all the Interests of the tax pa vino nor
ton, arc to he transferred to the West He did
not mean TO insmuote that the gentlemen from the
est are at all interior IN honor the people OF the
East He believed there was 10 greater purity in
the one than III the other. But he would ask If
thev In our places, would be willing TO agree 10 sncb
transfer OF power? Would it be republican in its
tendency What Is the money raised by taxation in
Tree governments Is it the exortion of powcr-
tle forced contributions OF the people for the
maintenance OF privileged ORDERS Tor the sup
port OF Kings and Mobiles? Is taxation here the
wight to take from 10 SO or 100 per cept.
without consulting opinions or our interests? Not
So the money raised by taxatioi in free governments
Is voluntary donation for the necessary expenccs OF
me government made either directly by themselves
or nedately by their agents. What then iftlcrc are
agents who are TO levy taxes for others than those
whom they represent /, Would it be sufcion, ~
teat te taxes are TO be raised for he public pr
poses lie was surprised to hear the gcntleman
from Norfolk, Mn. TAYLoR) say that taxation. and
representation, are streams from different fountain
running to different oceans In modern tnes- :.
would not go 6ac. to the days OF Greece and ONE
concerning whose Internal gov ernments we have but
uncertain lights to dvect usbut as his limited
reading had gone, States owed their no,,,i
branches to the British House IF Commons tba,
u'oue Us 10 represent ation: had atternpted to
improve upon H. and others had taken IT ae If ,rAs
The House Of Commons was constructed &c mon
who paid the taxes which they laid and Originated in
compact, that they, and their con,ttuents would
pay ceruIn sums 10 the King for the public service
reservng TO themselves the power 10 refuse the aids
wilen'thcy were not convinced of The proprety or
necessity ot granting them. This power of granting
aud refusing aids has raised the House of Commons
70 its present height OF power, siIIce il leaves with
them the discretion to withhold the supplies unless
they shall be satisfied with the reasons which accom-,
pany the demand for them. The construction and
practice of the House oil Commons, therefore were
hostile to the idea expressed by the gentleman from
Norfolk that taxation and representation were from
distinct fountains. and tending different oceans
Tho idea could scarcely be sustained that those
whose money Is granted should be taxed by their
own agents. Gentlemen had told us that he nor and
virtue, We're the only basis on which confidence s
founded. lie was not disposed 10 depreciate the
sanctions o honor and virtue. But he could only
take settled principles for his guide2 jealousy md
vigilance he contcnded, should lie at the root OF all
government. Would not the gentlcmun from Fred
erick, MIR PowET!) be shocked at proposition
that the Legislature of Ohio should be allowed ~
tax the peoPleof Vrginia' Yet there was no doub,
that the Legislature Of Ohio, is corpposed of homo
rable men, who feela warm interest in the prosonrtv
oi virginia lie had no doubt that they are attach
ed to us ss people. WHY would the peonlo of VIZ
gina revolt from such q proposition? MOI bcrnn.o
they were not assured Of the intelligence and virtuo
OF the Legislature Of Ohio but because thew would
'eel' that IN imposing taxes Virginia, none bat the
people OF Virginia, would well know how 10 d;str
bute the burdens. 1t is not ONLY importont Tho,
this should be the in free Governments Int :,
was further OF Importance that the agent who lovs
the tax IS should be one who has to return home 10
pear lns proportion Of the tHxes or nj least IN no
accountable 10 those who do paw them If il ,vore
not settled principle why is the tax living povor
confined to the popular branch of the Lerisatnr.2-
~ rests on the principle of their responsibility to the
great mss Of the tax payers. This is the corner
stone on which our State Constitutions rest-tbc,e
may be exceptions, but TO can dispute the ron
eral truth Of the rule. %"
" we rrant 90 gentlemen on tho other side tho
power they desire, how could this principe Of ali
rec governments be brought ~ Oucrate tinon Fac
tern Virginia with her 400 900 slaves confsbntin,,
- much the greater portion Of the revenue of the
State IoXatlon is the voluntary donation of tbosa
WHO pay The taxes who interested in the objects
70 wh.ch they are to be applied and who by having
mem testify ther approbnton Ofthe course OF their
agents Take The basis Of the white populetion an5
you deprive that portion Of tbs State Observation-Disclosures
in laying the taxes in the Same proportion which the
contribution ofthree ourhs of the revenue beoys 10
that Of one fourth All this is swept from us If We
surrender TO YOU this poRer.
The gentlemen oftho West may perhaps desire
70 construct an Emllcan or an Appian wov or a
splendid aqieduct; he did not design 10 cast riJi
ceic on The spirit Of informal improvement, but
s'n1e gen'lcmcn ore disposed 10 90 much further
uiSn othcfs on tins subject. There are some who
t'lnk they must bring tho Potomac ond the Ohio
,eeeuher' and tunnel the Allegheny rnountains.-
1--WE nc pownr 10 the Wost, which is now saked
,o'. ""a hy VINO pay ono fourth Of the taxes win
nc 10 SITUATION TO impose burdens on those who NV
'ne pher three fourths, for tbs accomplishment of
sIlecs wnch the latter believe to be impract,cabs
~ ''s'iuPts ,'i the hSst will vo against appropri
ans. which theV will raOard ne