Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-12

;onei amongst the counties, without regard 10 por-
ls'iOn--aud the House OF Representatives, is appur-
toned according to federal numbers, but subject 10
this modification that each county shall have least
and not more than four nanberS---und counties
having 3O00 to have Delegates 1000, sand
10000 and upwards, Delegates.-in Tennessee,
both Houses are apporoned according to taxable in
ha0Itans, including siaves-ln Louisiana, the Sena-
torlal Districts are to remain forever unchanged,
without regard 20 the increase OF populatioll-and IN
Missouri each county is to have representative ut
least q the urr counties more than one, according
TO population Ii, sir TO be Influenced by the
example OF Other States, by which ought we to be
influenced, by the example Of II States twelve of
which are old States, some Of whose Constitutions
h''Ne oeeA tested by the experience Of near hall
century or shall we follow the example of our youD
ger sisters, some Of whom are so voting, that they
nave not yet had sufficient opportunity OF testing
the wisdom OF their measures? The gentleman from
Houa'n' Alr. Mercer read to the Committee, eN-
tracts from the Bill Of Rights, preiiXed to the Con-
stitutions OF number Of the States, 10 prove ,hc
equality of al! men and convince the House. that
the white basis, without regard TO any other cOnsjdo
ration, ought to be adopted. It Is true. that seven
OF the States, have Bills OF Rights declaring The
equality Of all mcn--and that the majority have
fright to alter and modify the government as they
please Notwithstanding all these Bills o Rights, we
mud the wise men who made these Constitutions.
like George Mason, and his conpatrots OF 1916, who
made the Constitution of Virginia, wisely modifying
general principles IS to adapt them to the partic-
uiar situation and circumstances, of their several
was
to it, rather han to make the coat without re-
gard to the dimensions of the man, and compel him
to wear 1t, whether it fits him or not THUS, hIr
Chairman, will all wise GW gvers act. a Constitu-
ton, although it may be made according to the most
approvedideas OF theoretical perfection 0! but little
value, unless il be adapted to the circumstances OF
the country, for which it is intended And cotcnl-
porary eXposiLionS of the meanug OF instrument,
made by the authors OF tile instruments themselves
are entitled 10 more respect, than the elaborate
and ingenious essays, of subsequent commentators.
we were told yesterday, by the gentleman from
Loudoun, that for the last seven years, there had
been no State tax IN Massachusetts. and New HenD-
shire, and, therefore, although they had provision
IN their Constuton oT basinr represent alton in the
Senate according to taxation it had ceased 10 ope-
rate III practice; and white population now alone
regarded. ] wlliiag follow prcciseir in the
footsteps Of New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, on
this subject. Let Us have the power OF protecting
ourselves from unjust taxes long il is nccessa
~; and the moment those into wl6sc hands the 20
l!tica power Of Virginia seems destined shortly to
pass can so wisely manage our concerns, as to cx-
cpt Us from taxation, for One ain ready 10 adopt
the basis OF white population alone. Yes, sir. am
prepared this day to Srcc 10 these conditions;
and on our own principles, if he amendment prevails
as soon as we havcno taxes 10 pay, white population
alone will be regarded.
In order to slew tin inequality cf taxation and the
necessity that should induce those sections of the
State paying the greater part Of The taxes 10 aduD
the proposed amendment beg leave to refer to
some statements, and calculations, have made ON
this subject, founded on the Auditors Report The
whole Revenue o!the State paid ilto the public Tsz
$Wy, in the year 1928, and arising from taxes or
land, slaves, Torres, carriages, ana licences amour
ted 10 33G5,l20 80 Cts. II this sum be divided bv
632,26l, which is the whole numbcrur white in
h&oitanR, according to the Auditors calculations il
VIII give 56 cts. mills, the average taxes paid b
each white person III the State In making this cal
cula;ion, have excluded free negroes from the eg;
mate oil persons paying taxes 10 the Stale because
nave no doubt Of the fact that throughout the State
T1nS- -;l-,t>.
lie Revenue, SO little, not TO affect Tie accuracy off
my calculations The county iii which reside con-
tans, unfortunately for the me twcA;ieh part of
the whole Tree negroes Of the State and the free ne
groes OF that county, do pay $50 OF Revenue to
the Commonwealth, and from the information Of h
er gentlemen, believe it will be found t!a; fer nc
groeS are equally wort hess throughout the State
Ii any portions ofthe StIe, have more respcctab,eI
class OF Tree negroes than we have, / congratulate
them With us, instead ofcoatrihu,ing to the wealth
or revenue If the STATE they are perfect nuisances
While the average taxation for each white person
IN the State is Sc cents, mills, the average paid in
the different districts, is rs follows
In the LIST District (wost of the Aneghany) i8
In the End district (the Vallcy,) II
The whole country west ofthe Blue Ridge
averages o.
In Il, the sd district, from the Blue Ridge to
In the 4lh district (tromtlc head of Tide,
to the sea) ~ O
The average of the whole country cast Of
the Blue Ridge, is a1
There is no subject of taxation, in witch the
" est pays much tax per head according to whiteI
population, as the East. To shev this, | must begI
The indulgence of the Committee, while refer to mn.
other calculation have made
The whole land tax ASSESSED in the State
C6utnot HPad iD) amounts for each
white person. to o. =
In The LIST district, for each White person,
it amounts to o
do do 4, OF =
West Of the Blue Ridge, the average is Is
In the Sd district, for each white person,
it amounts to 20
l. do do Il, .i -
East of the Blue Ridge the AVERAGE i ri !
80 that for every dollar of the land tax, for each
WHITE person, paid by the people West of The Blue
ltidgc' those on the East side, pay s. 10 cts for
rao Glaze cauts .uas