Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-05-05

.ence Of the poor # ever! parish from the poor
est class of its Inhabitants.
If 10 these pecuniarv fxac'ions, IN Inc shape
of a poll tax, there b. added the ,tcoilec'lon
that every male ithable, with single exception
in favor Of Tie proprietor Of slaves, is called to
work upon The public high way al the di'ereaon
OF its over seer, can be mater OF surptize tha'
the sons Of poverly in Virginia migrate TO The
wrs,-'ha, old age is often seen 10 to''er on It's
Jus able cru,ch, without the hand oil hIial Pie'y
to steady is ire bling footsteps? Al 'he pr
riodical re,nrn Of thaI census, to which so ma
ny other states refer with exultng pride, whole
counties Of his commonwealth mourhi"hy
,urn, for the measure Of their sensible decay
Two Of those bordering on tha, ct y ur memo
ralists, sustained. together, the loss OF three
thousand souls, BY the last census OF the Onl'>
ed States; ard the commonwealth, hers ~ De
held ,esul, no, less afflicn'e, the re'a'l'e
increase of her black, by a ratio greatly exceed
ing ,ha, OF her white population
Your mcmoria'ists are yet proud OF the lana
Of their nativity, and would conct al, ii conceal
mept would not be criminal! On snch an occa-
sion, their sense Of these common Ills, when
they cannot but attribute, in part at leas' 10 Inc
defects Of their political institutions.
For like rtasons, they are led 10 state, maj
thew feel themselves peculiarly aggrie'fd by
system Of unequal representations
To travel no father back than the last ses-
sion of the general assembly, they feel no il''ie
| uneasines SIS In observing, that simple act oil
incorporation for canal company, received In
its favor. exclusively OF the country bordering
on the river, the navigation OF which II sought
10 improve, the entire voe of bur five counties
on tide water. while it enc ountered the undivid
ed opposition Of 10 less than nineteen OF those
counties, added 10 all the boroughs Of the com
monw wealth.
Two o,her vo,es Of the same session, corro-
DO, ate the painful inference deduclble from this.
Although facts are not wanted tor the pur'
pose, this hnmiliating topic shall not br en-
larged. Some reference 70 il, Is, al present,
ex,ored from your memoralls's, by the pre-
| SUMPTION so often urged against any amend
ment whatever uf the constitution, that no IN
Jury has re.u!ted, o" can be apprehended, from
| the inequality Of the presen, representation
YoaI memorialsts confidently belrve, that,
however lot al interests may oppose the mea>
sure, majority Of the people OF this common
wealth Will concur with them in opinion, that
a pI uprr season has al tngth arrived Tor en-
towering a convention TO amend some, or all
at the detects, when lime mas ulsCloNtu lh t"tl'
constitution If governmrnt.-Ihey trust, in
decd, thai the body of the people in the lrast
county or 70 ough Of the 'sta'e, oherishing as
they mus, an attachmen, to the great principle
Of re representative government, will scorn to re-
,ain a politic~l power TO which they are no,
Justly entitled
Your memorialist' have approached their re-
prrsrnta'i,es with respect, but, al the Same
t,.se, with the fr,nkness and canGor OF free
men, who tn know and value their rights -
II is in This spirit they ssk, not your consent,
bu, your aid ,o5--dress tn ir wrongs.
They me an not 10 advise how this relief can
be bes' afforded, but they respeo fully intimate
their wish, that the sense Of The people may br
taken, at the ensuing spring eIec ion, on the
oucs'ion-whethrr there shall be a convention
for the amendment Of their s,are cons i'u ion,
,ha, provision be made by law, in the event
tina, such is the pleasure OF maj 'rily Of the
pr ople, for the choice, a,semblaee, aud accom-
modation Of such eonsenlion and for The sub
mis- sion IF lis acts, when completed, to the
same majority for their ratification or rrjec>
lion.