Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-29
VIRGINIA CONVENTION.



often proxies Cd b-torc Wit. mos, perfect sincerity.
have told you that entertain no distrrs. Of the
honour and sincerity Of the people Of the West and
further, that did list usl their sons as the Ger
t!eman from Brooke considered the gentleman from
Notthampt n, 20 have done: and feeling this think
1t due 70 the candour which belongs 10 this tala:e,
to declare my full and entire conviction that il the
power 70 the uttcrmost of their claim shall be
transferred 10 the people Of the West their sense of
Justice VIII restrain thcm from wiliuliy doing the
open anu apparent wrong of levyug unequal taxes
on this specrs OF propelty 10 the cxoncraun OF pro.
pnrty OF dltrren; kind. do not believe they
VIII do any such thiLg. There is not TO be found
IN this land, any body OF men prepared to com
init gross, appa cnt ana warton wrong. Much less
Wo'i,a inPute such purpose to gentlemen from
the est, some OF whom, am glad to regard as per-
suial friends and all OF whom hope Will Ions. con
tliiue to be brethren OF the same poll; caI family
Ba', will this honesty be any guard against such in
iuence as | have described Sir, | dread not the
vices ofmy brethren but opinions that to them have
the shew ofvirtue. fear not their nlcditated wronr
but their misguided philanthropy.
extend the remark to the exercise of the taxing
power FOR objects IN which have little interest
DO apprehcht this from the wantonness of power
ana the reck!essncss o. rapacity? disclanl such
thought NO, Sir. hive fears of their wlliu i'll
iJustlce But, is there any Safeguard AGAINST dclu-
sion on this subject Can smut my ewes AGAINST.
the light that beams from all experience and sbcws
the facity otpcrsuading men that tiey are in In,
line OF duty and patriotism, though interest aIoro
stimulates The effort and sways the iudrments Ard
on such occasions the virtues of the REPRESENTATIVE
stand not security, but as the very source Of
our danger; !ii&n he shall think that he is co.!or.,
ing 20 NC Wishes CT his cons i;uenss and cersh,r
the interests OF all may say therefore ,yrho,S;
mitch voience to gentlemeu's feelings that if there
are any dangers arising from the power Of tayuion
they are 10 ce resolved into no disrust of their in
tesrty, but that all the danger proceeds from the
different views and different interests OF parts and tho
Whole commonwealth and the representative virtue
OF cher hing those of his conslituens
there Is ano her view of the subject They allow,
q
the form IN which we ask 1t extends too far and on
aoles us to intIc The vc-y Injustice on them In other
respects which we profess to fear from them on this
Il Call the attention of gentlemen to the d,f;,ren,
functions of the taxing power as in one and =; IN
other hand. With as it is conservative and dcfnn.
sIve merely We dc not seek for its exercise b,
serves but to prevent ITS exercise by others In them
the danger Is from action-not from the powers he
ing fettcred, but from its being left free
admit tiiat the power if given us for our protec
'o exists Tor other objects and may be used for ner
sohi oppression. But beg leave to call the atten-
ton OF gentlemen to the position on which rcst Tho
argument nave no distrust in the honor snd vIr,ua
OF the W est-and claim the same Confidence as do
20 the Fast anticipate in quarter the EXERCISE
m aruiet9Ey power ana found the argument
on mat very principles Their security is hat which
Is furnished by considerations which tbav ,,,r =;
vlndication OF the West How can ,vo $50
themin Their personal rights without afectjn.r all
parts OF inc state equally? unless we be guilty
open, confessed naked act of arbitrary poVver5 TJoyy
can any Constitution be so framed as to onard 81
ga'ns violence and arbitrary power? turn rentIe-
men argument against theniselves-if any 1prt of
the Commonwealth shall have made up their MIL
40 lace the o2prs0ruin of such conduct vonr Constr
tuition anu all Its guards ceases to be Of an,, COLI
NO matter where power is by constitutional repula
ton, 1t cannot be retained Resort r,rst no bo -
an arhCr- and that arbtcr sweeDs vour Con.t;t
ton and your Republican Government torether firm,
the face the land. ~
ana mere let me notice one of the arguments Of
tue gentleman from Augusta (AIr Job1sonN he
made an ominous remark which have not forno,te,
de SAID that IF we of the East had no slaves their
places would be supplied by white men," In what
sl9nlncaJlon did he make this remark Sunnos.
their places were filled by white mem tben u!a 49,
asking nuch less than we entitled to-
put thelr places are not supplied by white men =
w nat then? are you to form Constitution as if
they were not here? AS if they did not belono 70
tue Commonwealth and formed no part of itc iSto
ests? The observation shews either that we asl,
less than is our due or it gives cause for the fore
bodiDg that the Constitution Is IN he fash;,
as slaves were mere intruders here to whose e1,
Isience no regard is TO be ryeD ID
fernlit me 10 make another observation fold
You mat III looking at this important and delicate in
teTest, 1t was to be regarded not merely no 1T,
o. TAXATION but that VIC ought to look stc,d, ~ III
the dangers which surround it. Is il naceegoru e
me to tell tins assembly that in REGARD tn fJoso
ess' respect Is to be had to legislation which affect
1t even as property? That wise regard 10 inf ar.
ana feelings to the eastern part of the State nrosat
an irresistible claim or brethren Of the west not
70 push tier theoles SO rs to take away from ms tho
po"GI 70 govern our slaves, and make laws of police
TOT thsm. by the transit of power to hands not a-
Gnanted with our situation and dangers and shielded
oy Pnfer OF mountains, who have no fears to sbar
p'H 'heir ,n!ci!ect to the approach of owl ord -
Know not how to adopt laws 10 the wants the cond;D
non, tne feelings, and the passions ofthe slayos in va
gaFa TO those who retain them in bondagc Interests
noi 0, properly merely, but Of life ITSELF are pca
l pass with much pleasure from such subject to
view more congenial to the spirit in which ni,
ca thls Convention Sir. came here not to exasoo.
Iat' out 20 sOohe the aspcrtics Of other minds. not
TO arrest the march Of reform las far as reform ,t
70 be allowed to go but to enter OH the task oF Sn
pairing the constitution, in perfect GOOD faith vii,
PROFESSIONS not upon my lips merely, but syrinTin
rom my heari; not made on this floor to suit die or
caSon' but resolved ON and promulgated before came
mere. reject as an unworthy Suggestion. tbc do
mat the course Of any member here IS intcpJod az
mere deception to 6cguc this assembly and to cheat
'ie P'oDe OUT OF tbelr rgIlul claim TO reform +,