Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-06

su.ioi and the laws subsequently enacted in conor-
ny 10 inc spir THAT constitution, prescribe the
fss 9y which the possession ofproperty is 70 be reg
';iateo IL hrs been said that state Of nature
Periect equality, such have described it. r.
gether IDEAL and that all the existing governments of
which We have any knowledge, were formed by peo-
PIE VINO Were In the actual possession of property
shu not att TO contropert the truth OF this as
seTtion but shall contend that it does not shake the
position have taken; inasmuch as thoy must have
acquired that property whilst living under some 9TH
right to possess it. And the onIy obligation wlnc,
restrained other individuals from sezinr upon and
appEopriating that property to their own use was the
assent which they had gwen, to the establishment or
cohInuahce ct such preeXistng government. Men
who have been in a state Of society ami are in thu
possession perty, ant! wish TO enter into n.w
compact Win others Tor the purpose ut PRESERVING
poih 'heir natural and acquired ri hts do not stop to
eqnirc wNat share they Grc to have in h. formation
OF tiiat Compact bat they go Into Convention viii.
those who surround them and insist upon the tor,,,
.on OF suT'' "a ssrernnicn US viii ai;antually secure
TO them the 1uIl enjoyment of their natural and nc-
CURED rights and they cannot succeed in this thew
withdraw, and refuse to became nebers of the socj
ETY. about to be established And this is so far the sit
uation OF those persons who hold property in TIL:
country at this time, that they have no rirht to s.
upon more than equal share of representation in
the proposed convention, with the rest of the conmu-
MY who hold no property; but after they have sons
INTO convention they may urge with great pfoprety,
that their rights of property shall he acknowledged
and secured to them by the constitution or form
Of government WHICH shall BIZ established. And if
hey deem 1t necessary they may insist upon the atop-
ton ofsuch provisions i'll the cnNst ul;nn as will efc-
tualy secure to them such sl.Qre III the mana cement
OF the government as they conceive the possession OF
property entities them to. Such provision sor in
stance Us that nDae but reodcrs shall vote at cleo
tons for nembcrS to the General Assembly or thai
all property shall be taxed in proportion 10 is actual
value.
But apart from any conscientious arisiu.. fn1n The
origin of the right or property, deny that the promo
hppf ctrpn Sl,-
this committee, that representation in the conyen
ton ought to be i'll proportion to the paid by the
people lnhabiting the different sections of this com
monwealth, has any foundation in Justice or in truth
Representation ought always to be in proportion To
the number of peoples taxation should he connnensu
rate with their ability to pay. It is by the owners of
property that most of the advanta ges resulting from
state of society enjoyed it is therefore but reasan
BILE that they should pay most of the expenses of sup
porting it. Mere personal rights may he preserved
and enjoyed almost IN state Of nature The hunter
who inhabits Int IN the wild recesses cf the noun
tas has nothing to tempt the avarce, provoke the
hostility ofthe freebooter, whilst he is usually blessed
with sufficient courage and physical strength to de-
tend himself. The pussessor of wealth ON the other
hand, has every thing to provoke an attack without
the requisite Of defence When he is ossailed
becomes necessary for HIM to cal III the assistance
of his INDECENT neighbours, ard he cannot nationally
expect to receive 1t. without paying nearly ALL il not
the whole Of the expenses incurred. 10 give Won a
striking example of the justice of the principle am
contending for, let suppose in which DO
zen individuals meet together, for the purpose c form
ing alliance offensive and defensive c'ovesn of
whom are destitute OF property, whilst the ~. i, is
the owner Of dozen slaves, besides u rrea, ..aI OF
other valuable property. 1t is evident that IL, Nner
OF the property neither possesses the power IL eteDd
from attacks from abroad or to keen his l.vcs in
subsection at home, without the assistance of his
cates-Wouid it not apper preposterous then in him
under such circumstances, to insist upon being re-
CURED to pay more than one Twelfth part the expe-
ces incurred IN defending his properly. and in keepnu
his slaves in subsection. Or that he should be allow
cd more than equal share in the management of
the concerns OF the company, III consideration Of what
he had paid over and above the rest OF his cornan
ions, when it obvious that al or nearly ali TIE
expense was incurred for his benefit.
But Mr. Chairman, If it were ascerlained las it ne
vcrcan BEL that property ought to be represented in
invention, still should contend that slaves are less
worthy to be- represented than any other species of
property. Every other species Of properly either
adds to tic strength and power Of the state or is
harmless in itself Whilst slaves are dcnd weight
upon the energies OF the continuity. LII tine of war
they furnish strong temptation to rnaraudinG enc
my to invade territory, for the purpose of carry
ing them off. They ever ready to &c. as spies
and to betray u.s. and are constantly on the watch for
an opportunity TO join the foe For confirmation OF
these assertions appeal to the history of the last
war; and point to the depredations committed on the
coast OF Virginia by the British troops. We told
by the first gentleman who addressed yo from the
county of Powhatan mir. Old that The slaves coz
tribute to the strength and defence OF the community
in time OF war, by laborng 10 produce the necessary
supplies for armies; this argument cannot avail
the gentleman any thing, for il II must be obvious TO
him, and to every body else, that il there were no
slaves amongst u.s. their place would be much better
filled by hardy and industrious peasantry, vino would
supply the wants of armies Mt Il much cheaper
rate, and who would be able and willing to defend
their country against all its enemies. On the other
hand find that nearly the whole force Of the white
population of the great slave holding counties is re-
CURED to be kept at home, to keep their negroes in
subiectfon and it becomes necessary that the people
of the west, should march down to- the SRA shore TO
defend both the masters and their slaves from the at
| tacks of the enemy.
shall not attempt to test the correctness Of tic cal
! cuations, which gentlemen have made, il order 10
shew the great contrast between the taxes paid by
the people the east and the people on the west Of
the mountains, and which seems to have afforded
to some eastern gentlemen such cause Of triumph
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