Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-03-20
DEBATE ON THE CONVENTION.
MIR. DRAPER's spEEcH-m Il, senaie.


taxes for the support of government paid than
twenty times as much other counties that If
called ION to send forth their citizens to rope, an in
suding foes sent than twenty oftheir citizens to
give battle by the side of from of tho other
counties; this far, they, counties, equal
but a. men they were equal bat when they come to
count political weight, then the counties stood as
equal, aud the men were Us unequal as twenty TO
one; this was not regarded by them just it was an
Infringement Of the spirit of the bill of rights that
hooks to equality The people, therefore in demand
ing convention, nave shown Willingness TO recti
y tins inequality; why then shall we 30 frame this
bill a. not to accomplish their desire, il be be-
cause minority OF the people have moro representa-
tves here than the majority have, and this mi
uonty still wish to cling to power.
. II has every where been urged that the whole
population Is not the true basis of Representations and
the reason assigned is that the western people would
impose undue burthens the STARE property Of the
eas therefore white citizens are not TO be coun
ted according to their numbers; in other words you
wish to weigh your siarcs in the balance against
free men Mr.. Speaker this is what ice cannot
sujnla to; why shall you be afraid trust us with
equal power, and at the same time require to re-
tain power in your hands which enables you to man
u,c on Ives, property liberty if the slave property
Ito be repre entcd, then why not have all property
represented! the herds of the west we'll the
ave- OF the east! do you not possess the power of
loyyng all the for the support of government OH
oar cattle (which have heretofore been taXed,) our
os,s, hog &c and exempt your slaves entirely from
taxation? Gentlemen smile, much as 20 say we have
IT..
Iavc never manifested any disposition to impose any
Thing like undue burthcns your slaves; our notions
about taxation are these, that all taxation oug to
to DC as nearly practicable in proportion to the
whole value of property OF every description, real
personal, and mixed; it ought 10 DC because the
protection afforded BY government to persons, is
equal to the poor, well the rch and for the pro-
lection which government affords to our property,
We ought to pay Ill proportion to the extent Of the
protection viz in proportion to its value; the poor
mans mite Is as dear to him, as the rich mans all;
therefore the poor will cheerfully contribute for the
protection of his iWfe according to its value, rs the
.ich man does for his supcrabundance according to
IT'S value; to personal protectiou the poor man rem
dcrs equal personal services with the rch therefore
III that respect, he has high claims to the protec
ton Of his personal rights without pay as the rich
man can have these sir, are my sentiments In rcla-
ton to taxation, and have heard a different
sentiment expressed by a western man, if We were
how in vention, in order to quiet your apprchen
Sions, we would willingly incorporate in the constu.
zion guaranty that neither your slaves any other
species of your property should not be improperly
taxed Sir, on any scale of representation you viii
hold in your own hands the power ofincorporating
s:ch guaranty, and my word for it, the western
nembers will unite wth you in adopting it: we arc
Il trust, yes know it, too honest to wish to
take Your property for use.--I had hoped
AIR. Speaker, that in this body at least cahnness
ahd temperance would prevail i'll debate. and
tlat nothing menacin5 would be thrown out but we
have secpr elsewhere much angry discussion and
great deal was said about physicdt force, which has
c fa tight to rule NV opohh Sst ty il f sRg5bS
Why majority has a right to rule is very different
iconsder that vrtae honesty and confidence are the
great Hsunents of all free institutions supposInr
Tins To to be the case each composing this com
inGny Is supposed to be actuatad by honest motives
10 tins there will always be exceptions from the fa-
ION nalarc of man. but these exceptions are never sup
osed to uppy toa orty;} therefore are bound
20 presume all to BE- honest in his opinions, where
diversity Of opinion arises, the presumption is that
TIE opinions Of Lte ulj0riIy are right. And hence
tlie duty of the minority to obey the express will of
tle majority you may rely 1t Mr.. Speaker that
whenever this ClItUe and this confidence ceases tn
exist among that will fast approach that state
IN which will not be qualified for the endowment
of rational liberty. Sir when this confidence IL this
yrtue ceases, factions will arise, ambitious men will
head those factions, strife Will cnsue force must then
be substituted for confidence and virtue and despo-
tlsm will follow In the sequel. May that day never
arrive in this land, because fit does the temple OF
liberty will be shaken to It's centre. am therefore,
and al western Virginia are, willing to have conf
dence in eastern brethren; we look to the whole
of Virginia without drawing geographical dstinc-
ions, as our own common country, and 10 al other
citizens rs one band of freemcn; all We ask ON our
part is to be regarded equally honed, as equally
Zee, equally trust ,oo,thy-Mr Speaker havs w,
given no evidence of devoted attachment TO
tire whole of the commonwealth; do not Us cheer
July contribute to the extent Of means. 10 tic
support OF government any other portion Of tli,
State? Sir, have not given yet stronger cvidcn-
Ces? Secure beyond mountains. we DEFY the al,-
preach bfany foe, yet the plains of Norfolk whitehead
WITH tue bones OF western men, shcg the alacrity
with which the of those mountain rcniols Obey
'hrr cOuntrp's call TO aid III defending the homes OF
their eastern brethren from the destruction "a an u-
ieeling yet powerful invading army and navy. Recall
TO your recollection September 1919, when the Cap
itoi of the Union in flames her army beaten, and
the officers of the federal government Dispersed
when the same enemy almost hotvly expected
in this metropolis, when this Capitol was expected
to share Tho same fate With that at Washington, with
what alacrity sir, did tho sons of the west armed
with their deadly rifles, obey the proclamation Of the
tiicn Governor, and fly from tho extreme parts
0ithe State to this place? Was this Dir. Speaker
for the hope Of pay, Jas has bccn said elsoghcrc;
What. pny man Tor las iifc they were actuatcd by
>ob,'r considerations. But many ofthese latter per
sons never did receive any pay Do gentlemen for n
moment believe, that the ptiiu sum OF So month
Induced those to leave their families with all the
comforts OF hnDs, IN land Of health, 20 risk their
ives on the scoboafd whore djgepsc was more DANCE
aud more fatal TO them than any fDc2 No sir he
tiiis opinion has tI,t,