Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-19

InOmps0n,
bsyiy: Upshur and Psrrin-o6.
NOES-Messrs. Barbour (President.) Jones, Leigh
and Taylor Of Chesterfield, Gies, Brodnax. Dromxoos
Alexander, Goode. Marshall. Tyler. Nicholas, John.
quhart, Randolph, Leigh Of Halifax. Logan. vsnsble
Stanard, foaday, Rosne, Taylor Of Caroline Morris
GarAea Barbour If Culpeper, Scott, Mscrae, Green,
azewen L1yai. pren,is, Gris'sy, Bates, Neae, Rose
| The Honss being fail, on notion Of Mr. Pow.
ELL, the House returned to the consideration of the
Let resolution Of the Legislative Committee which wa,
again read as follows:
Resoived, That In Te apportionmeneof representa-.
ton In the House Of Delegates regard should be had
to the white population exclusively.
Mt VENABLE then rose and addressed the House
IN nearly the following terms:
This question Of the basis Of representation has been
so ably and fully discussed in the early part of our
sittngs that had concluded not TO say word upon
IT, being we'll convinced that any abses possessed for
its discussion fell far short Of those which had area
been exerted the side disposed to espouse Yet
have been taught by observation that tho more
intelligent and more eloquent than another may never.
theIss be unable exactly to express the keas Of another
on any given subject | conclude, therefore, that 4
may possibly say something, after all the discus
sion which has tsk>n place, that may serve 10 fur
nish reexion at least, (hough have but little hone ot
Affecting the votes OF any as presume the question
will not be finally acted upon to-day. II may have an
other good effect Il very possible may have gons
wrong. and obviously wrong: and it is possible some
gentleman may set right. To he right and exactly
right, my only wish. wish lay the foundation OF
Government so that IL may work well In practice For
am Tar from thinking, Whatever be the form of the
practical operation is beneficial. In the course of the
previous stages OF the present discussion observed or
thought observed, feeling in members directed
against those who live in those parts OF the State where
the slave population exists which seems like prejudice
toward that portion Of their fellow citizens Possibly
have been mis- aken but II any such feeling does ex.
ist TO those who feel say that those whose lot like
mine |, cast where that species Of population exst.
m brin g uu oh
OF things than those who dwell where there are noun
tans have had in placing those mountains where thev
stand Both are evils but consider black popula
lar the greater evil OF the twoant IL evil which we
can no more than those gentlemen can remove
the mountains from their lands would offer nv remark.
with desire to consider this question without pre-.
Jndice came here determined 20 form Cove mt
which would recognize such rights a, were known and
acknowledged those rights Il must secure, or Il can
never work advantageously in practice. As to the
police existing in the counties, that cause of COL
Iison each county attended TO s internal
and there was no cause OF strife on that ground As
to personal right they the same in all parts of the
State; no difficulty existed in that respect The whole
difficulty was occasoncd by portion Of the State
having half gifts population consisting Of blacks and
slaves, and the other portion Of it heing inhabited al
together by free white citizens. shall endeavour to
confne my attention to this point.
And FIRST observe that in all the Republican Govern
ments which ever have or ever can be established
there must be some proportion between representa-.
.ion and taSaton-Soms connection must be preserved
IL
On this subject have written sentence or two
which express my sentiments with some precision,
and with the leave Of the Convention viii! read the
Mr.. v. then read as follows.
To enable va the better to decide on what represen
taon should be based, l will endeavour to point out
the principles and rules, which should have an iufu.
ence on the question.
Representation SHOULD be in proporton mr. n M, in ~
act proportion, II should bear just relation TO AVIATION
For 1t the tax ieopng community be very different
from the tax Paying community, the power of the for
mar h lasfas u~sli
The question then arises, how shall we base resresep
taon so that shall be in just proportion to taxation
Taxation, whether Of an individual, of community
or county should b, in proportion to their ability TO
pay. NO rule has ever yet been discovered which in
practice, would exactly indicate this ability TO paw
That which has been generally adapted as best is
numbers or population II then the ability pay, is
indicated by numbers population, the to be paid
by the different parts Of the country, will in
bear SEINE relation TO numbers and The representation
may be safely based on population; but must be the
rived will illustrate the application of these prin
cpes more plainly, by taking the case of two counties
instead OF the East and West parts of the State.
ne'e, ST. are me opinions which will govern my
course here and which will direct the vote that shall
give am settled in the belief that there ought to be
connection between those who levy taxes and those who
are 10 pay the taxes levied In tho consideration of the
question: our situation has been compared 10 that Of
other States in the Union: but the comparison will not
apply at all. Virginia has one-haf of her territory
largely interested in black slave population: while the
oci ma Is hhaDited Dy white population exclusive
w. There is no other State in the Union similarly sit
aed in the y. States where alone th, population pre-
vais prevails throughout the whole State i'm n.ary
equal proportion, that the discussion which Us
mere can have no place among them. There is no one
State, whose cond ton furnishes correct analonv but
an analogy does exist and to the extent i'm the condition of
the Union taken collectively And what was the deermi
haon IN that Convention which framed Constitution to
suit s.ch state of things only existing upon larger
scale! what was the expcdient hit upon to meet the
dficulty, and which did meet that difficulty and re-
move IT. was the principle that population and taxation
should correspond each the slave should
be taxed only in proportion to the population
ms principle was supported by Virginia herself and IL
was adopted and established by the Federal Govern
ment i'm its wisdom.
here - another way 10 consider the subject and /,
IS one am fond OF applying to all subjects which am
called upon to examine, that Is TO work out the
rnie-to trace the. principle ont into its prac.
c"i details Let us, In this way, attempt TO examine
he rule established by the existing government and
ny that which II is proposed to form. To get rid as
ID" as po'sb'e OF all incumbrance from pr, judce for
preJnuCe does creep into this matter, I an, CON-
strained TO believe, when see men of equal inteec,
and equal integrity dire city opposed to each other in
ther opinions respecting IL. will suppose the case of
two counties. and will suppose that we are IN. ;,rv
which has TO try the question as between q EN-. viii,
lake, Tor his purpose, the counties OF AbemarIe and
buckingham; counties contaning the same amour nj
population, and The s1Ne quality Of SOIL but with his
difference between bem Albeinarle hs. one half of lie
population consisting OF black Observation-Disclosures AZ
It's population consisting Of free white persons onIv =
How VIII the government which now exists opera,e
in these two coUniesi
have said that they were equal in their poouIa,o,
ana IN their SOIL and hence, equal in their 10
sustain taxation How are they represented! By two
representatives from each. This IL all very WE'LL hers
70 10 inequality, no injustice. But Buckingham be
i'm 1fanaf aafu lie u.