Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-13

Republic was, at one time, vested in single in
dividual. His laws were so excellent to give
rise, in after ages, 10 ingenious specuations, whe
Their il better to have few many law -givers,
and, i'm reference TO that subject, ~ recolect.d
the opinion of celebrated writer, who ccntenied
that, the more numerous the law makers, the
wider range OF their selection from among the
people, the greater certainty there was of iheir
unde Istaading the Interests, and representing the
wishes OF the people. The truth Of this iemark,
lie insisted, was unanswera5e. 1t would apply
with peculiar force in relation TO the formation of
new constitution. The trainers of such an in
strrment, coni1g directly from the body of the
people, and representing the existing political
sub divisions OF them; and having mixed with
them at their COURTEOUS IS, sc. would know their
wishes--and when the new constitution was pre-
sehted TO them Tor ratification or rejection, they
would have II in their power TO make explana tons
ana induce its ratification. A constitution formed
| by county representatives,, would, therefore, be
more apt to be ratified. Such Representation
would, i'll nth, be more apt speak the real SEN
tiuents of the people, and that too, OF p,qjority,
| II gentlemen please
| MIR. Parker acknowledged that, in fact the
present was a struggle for pD,oer-and in such
| struggle gentlemen ought not TO claim all--They
| ought to permit those with whom thew were con.
| tending, TO have hold y: end of the staff al
least There was great danger that the distribution
! oil power by the new constitution would be very
like to the principle on which the Convention was
organized. district system, in addition TO the
| TO throw such preponderance of power into the
hands OF particular sections of the country that
the rest mig ht indulge fear from it, AT pre-
| sent, the power was so equally divided in that
Rouse that no member dare rise in his place and
make proposition that would Cypress any one part
oil the community. Rut, give TO any one section
| an overwhelming preponderance, and how long
would this be the case? For his part, he was de.
srous that the principle Of county representation
should be consecrated by the Convention He
was willing TO enlarge the number of the Senators
TO bring them more Immediately from the people
In TACT, he was disposed to organize that body up
on any principle almost, that gentlemen might
| think most expedient, provided The representation
by counties in the House of Delegates was pre-
serVed-And he would even go further: he would
give TO the Senate the power of originating bills
power which might be found salutary. Let the
House oil Delegates remain upon the principle of
county representation, and any check or balance
that was proper he would establish in the Senate
| ms system was surely fair--and he did not see
why II would not answer the ends of gentlemen
lie thought that unless we began now to show our
| attachment TO county Representations; and unless
the Convention should be impres with the con-
viction that this the public wish it was gone
| forever.
| Complaints had been often made, out or DOORS of
! the injustice OF the Eastern Country; and i'm the
language OF a most inflamnatory pamphlet, lately
published, OF the oppressive misruie Of the tide
,cdter Country. Now, in what, he asked, con.
sisted tis tnsrule and oppression? Let us enquire
ht'ie INTO 1t. The Underwater nisrule had, in
fact, given to the West every thing they had ask
! ed. 1t had been the very making of in. OF the
generosity and kindness of the tide wa and mid
die country, our Western brethrcu had never h adj
| any just cause 10 complain. When they complain
ed oil the difficulty in getting to their courthouses
and attending to county matters, owing to the rug
gee surface OF the country, and the number and RAJ
pdity OF their mountain torrents had not the tide
water mlSruie given them countless regard
less oil the increase of their representation i'm the
| IL. OF d.? Mir. p sad that when he had the honor
| OF seat in the Senate, he had often opposed the
creation oil these new counties; and he apprehend-
! Ell, that the gentleman from Brooke wished nOtc
that his resistance had been more efectua than II
had been (alludng TO the fact, that the small coun-
ties In the West were in favor of a County Repre-
sentaiion) when our commerce was depressed
and general embarrassment prevailed, the West
nad asked Tor banks. They were given 10 them.
! In the name oil humanity, they had asked for a
Lunatic Hospital; it was given TO them. Thew
quaTrelied about its location but at length nroncr
one was made. They asked for an Arsenal, and
the same thing happened-In asking for an Arse
mal, ne trusted and he sincerely believed, that
'hey had not in contemplation, at the time, a re-
sort to the physical force that had been so on
nously alluded TO in debate. In 1916, the Leafs.
nature, III ms opinions in violation OF the Consiiu-
uoh're-organiZed the Senatorial Districts, TO give
| more equal representation in the Senate to the
west. A majority of the Legislature thought il not
! unconstitutional, and he glad that the Repre-.
sentatlon had been thus equalized. Mr.. Parker dis
Grained WISH 10 contribute single spark to the ex-
citement TO which this subject was calculated IN
give rise. What had occurred in that House and
Out OF IT, by inilammatory publications. seemed IN
require some offset; and so tar as he had mad, II
ne did 1t in the spirit of the most friendly and am
icable ieeiing towards his Western fellow. citizens
Tie was sure he could not be blamed for showing
mat - the Underwater msrule," had given TO the
west every thing they had asked He acknow-
iedged WIN pride and pleasure, that during the
war, When powerful enemy threatened the
invasion OF our Eastern border the citizens of the
west rushed down 10 defence with zeal and
WIN an inpetuosity, not unlike that of the torrents
!. OF tnelr naive mountains. They had received
their reward from the Public Treasury; thew had
received reward far more pTecious-the heart
felt thanks and acknowledgements of a grateful
| people
| The question natur .Ily occurred, who bore the
principal part oil the burdens Of the government?
Tie meant not TO investigate this subject with nm
Kind or iiliberal feelings. His ONLY object in adj
Verhng TO IT, was 10 show more fully the nature s.
character OF =" the fide-,Odter misyttle," OF which
we had heard so much complaint. In 1914, the
hevenue paid into the Public Treasury, was S6y7 =
2l9, oil which all The counties West of the Blue
| Ridge paid only $t35, 425-In 1916, il was $735,.
462, OF which the Western Counties paid onIv
Sib3,347 The people had paid il promptly and
/ wlihngly. Indeed, he was they would not
only nave paid ten times much but would have di-
ell in the last ditch her than our sacred soil shod
have been disgraccd by the occupancy Of sue
cessiul enemy. But, most Of the money thus paid
during the war, had been applied TO the paw
ment and equipment OF troops-The United
states became indebted to US thereby; and
subsequently refunded the money. what had
become OF that money! Had il been placed i'm
the public treasury, as he thought il ought TO have
been, to be applied TO the ordinary purposes Of
| government; that people, already harrassed and
! embarrassed by excessive taxation might have a
respite from such burdens'-No. This was not