Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-29

ne PcoPsc' halioh, OF community Ot all the Nafr
rus modes and forms of government, that is best,
which is capable of producing the greatest degree of
luppincss aud safety, and is most ecctualy secured
against tho danger of ma-a administration" &c.
by 'his ttwould be seen that the majority have
right To establish government III their Judg-
ent to produce the greatest safety and happiness to
tue people, and To guard against ilic evils OF ma-ad-
He would admit that where the con-
diton OF society was uniform, that no part OF the
country wa likely to be injured by the action OF u
majority from any other part. the rule which pro-
scrbes that majority shall govern, s the best which
can be adopted. An intelligent people will always
be found active and vigilant III the pursuit OF their
own interests and these interests may bc safely
conhdcd TO majority, having proportionaby great
CT share in their interests. than 10 minority-a ma
lority WALL III such cases, be moro likely to decide
properly, than minority. The very principle on
which our inst itutions founded IS that the
Jority have interest III them Without discus
sing these which ho considered abstract principles,
T, 10 which ave have only 10 conform nearly our
condition ind circumstances will permit TO do
he would pass on to consider whether u majority III
Virginia could not practice oppression upon the mi
nority, for their own beneit-and whether IN the
precise sitha ion Of Virginia, circumstances might
not be such as to place minority;n such situa-
ton to dread the majority.
He then rrncceJedto express his belief that short
time, tho majority OF the Vince population ufthc state
must I've West OF the Alleghanoy noun; aims
| Ii was shown by the return which had been receiv-
c from the Auditor, that while in 1920 there was
difference OF 10000 between the white population
of the Western. and the white population of tho
Eastern Dominion there is now only difference OF
between 10 aud 10000 II such had been the liz
crease within the last ten wears, VIC must expect
that III the next ten years, the remaining difference
vH be entirely cruaicated. He had prepared II
statement with a view to show the relative proper
Ton which The population OF the W est, bears that
of the East. But he found that the return whic,
had just boon made from the Auditor makes the
population OF the Valley more BY about 10000 than
he had calculated it. With this explanation he
"ould submit the statement which he had prepared
! Inc white population west OF the Allegheny was
/ IA 1870 1854, aud IN 1929 1871 .38l. making M
increase OF 1900, or ratio OF SO per cent: Tn.
slave population OF That district IN 1890 was l3366
ana IN 1929 f7.l73, making an increase of 3SIs
being ratio of $50 per cent: and the free colontor
popua' ion OF that district in 1890 was 1922 md r.
1922 l47l, being an increase OF 40, or ratio o.
~ icr cent.
The white population of the Valley, in 1920, wa,
l2l ,O94; and ia 1920, I38I3S maknr nm ,n,ro,sf
OF l7,)ja, or ratio OF ii per cent rhc slave DO
pniaiion OF the Valley, III 1920, was %, 785 and II
1879, 31,5j3, being an increase of 7n8 or n ratio
OF ~ per cent: ANA the free cooured population o.
The Valley, in $40, was 3,c75, and in 1920. 4Io2
se.aS al !@c.caSc Ct; Oh, about IS aud fraction
per cent.
The white population Of the Western Dominion
III i8(o' was 2ol,2O8, and in 1929. 1885, MAKING
All increase Of 81, eos, being ratio OF 26a prr
the slave population of the Western Dominion. m
1873, was 1851, and in 1929 III making mn IL,
crease OF 1860, or ratio of III per cent? the fire.,
coloHred population OF the Western Domni.n, in
ia~o' was (07, and n 1920, 1858, making an in.
crease of 800, or 4 ratio of 81 8-t0 pcr cent
The white population Of the Eastern Dominion. in
l6@o, was 348,373, and in 1899, 2,745. MAKING
an increase CT 1892 ratio Of per cent: The
save population OF the Eastern Dominion, in 1920
was SSl 99S and IN 1929, 307 ,593 making an increase
OF per cent; and the free population OF fLe so,,e
district, Tor 1920, 3es7e, aud in la2n ae Gao
Ucing an increase OF G,o6i ratio of 81 per cent
lie proposed, III The next place, to taln view n
,,+
Would state TO the Committee the amount of the tay
es levied, ard also Of the taxes paid from which i
would be seen that II he made the taxes paid. th,
basis OF his argument, 1t would operate still more in
Jurlolsiy against the West.
According 10 the returns Of 1896. the taxation
!evied west Of the Allegheny, is $4,000 so. OF
which there was paid s33,770 II; the taxes levied
10 the Valley, amount TO 500 537 22 of which tLere
was paid S56,oG2 o6, making an arurecatc of fave.
ievled OF $50 %, and ofaxes paid Of $40 72 on
The taxes levied IN the Eastern Dominion. arc
81 go TO- OF winch there was paid s294.497 30.
The ratio OF taxation then, between the E1s, and
West, ls ds So &c for ST., in the amount of taxes To-
We'd; and as So 81 to ST. the amount of taxes maid
The taxes assessed per head ofthe white bonua
1,on' are IN tins proportion: West Of the AIeghany
Sl.3 cts IN tue Valley, 45.5 Cts; in the Eastcrn
Districts, o. cts; in the Western Districts. n a
cts.i and the average on each white iudividn.I
Throughout the State, Co.. cts.
ms inequality proceeds not only from tho rur,bor
OF slaves Oh tilS side of the mountain b,,t no ,,I
take any other species of property JTc ,yNn,I '.,,
the slaves altogether out of the question If tapoe
were levied on land alone 1t would be found tbo, IS
mead would he contributed this side Of tho rnc,,
tam and only 81 on the other side. When we Iook
into these details, we must be satisfied thai hc~ "
no SiGie article OF property which the East i. M,
taxed N much greater ratio than the West hnr
thS inequality o&i1s, because the mass of propcrtv
lies in the East. FNF'ity
From the very nature Of property and the condition
OF The country, this inequality must continue Il can
not be changed, even if the principle of the amcr =
mcnt wo q adopted Whenever we con conduct ,be
government without taxation, the white popnlo,ior
VIII be the basis OF representation; but while tho or
Vcrhnent must be supported by tho property offbe
country, that property must haveits infnenco in ,he
representation He would ask what motives tho We
ught nave To misuse power when they had obtained
81 great object in that section of the count,v ~
might be gathered from the history of our is
ia'on' ana one which universally prevails there l. r.
nave roads and canals to facilitate the rnnsnorttior
ui thcir produce TO market This desire had gro,r
Up INTO an enthusiastic passion. The history Sf n,,
Legislature proves that tho representatives. for, no.
yond the Blue RIDGE have pressed every rre,s,,r
looking to that object by almost an unsnimoug vote