Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-03-27

curously inwroGght with the images oil the reign
ing monarch, and his children. The summit o
the pike supported crown OF gold, which enc los
ed the mysterious monogram, at once expressly,
Of the Inquire Of the cross, and the initial letters O
the name Of Christ. The safety of the I.abaruu
w as entrusted to fifty guards, Of approved valo
nd fidelity: their station was marked by honour.
and emoluments, ard some fortunate accident.
icon introduced an opinion, that as long as the
guards Of the Labarum were engaged in the exc
cntion OF their office, they were secure and in
vulnerable amidst the darts OF the enemy. In the
second civil war, Lucinius felt and dreaded the
power Of this consecrated banner, the sight oil
which, in the distress Of battle animated the sol
diers OF Constantine, with invincible enthu-
s'asm. and scattered terror and dsmay Through
The ranks OF the adverse legions The Christian
Emperors who respected the example OF Constan-
tine, displayed in all the military expeditions the
standard Of the cross; but when the degenerate
ccssors of rheodosius had ceased appear in per-
son nj the head Of their armies. the Labarum was
deposited as venerable, but useless relic in the
palace Of Constantinople'
To the Editors Of the Riiimond Enquirer
GENLLEMEN-l am an old man, have lived all
my life in the country, without medd,ng with the
politics Of the State or Federal Governmsut-
Having had large family to ra Use, educate, and
provide for, by my own exertioDs, l have not had
time to study politics; and, if had had the time ,
doubt whether have the abilities to understand
tefi.-- 1 he cali VI convention nrst made me
readthe Newspapers, at all spare times; aud, in
bad weather, on looking your paper Of the
18th inst, which reached me on the 10Th, whilst il
was showing, find that some person, who writes
to the Winchester Republican, and signs himself
A. d accuses the people East of the Ridge, Tor a
part of them) Of being Aristocrats, and of intend
ing to enslave the people West of the Ridge, be-
cause the Eastern people would not give to the
Western as many members TO the Convention, as
A. B. thinks them entitled to; and he gives us ma
AL n
tors, am not much versed in figures, having had
very little to do with them since left school,
which has been long time since; but I have not
forgot how TO add, substract, and divide: and, if
these rules are worked now as they used to be,
when | was boy, think they prove, that the
to Convention, and, in the Legislature, the 40
counties West OF the Ridge, will have SO members
ont of So, in Convention, which is over 1-3I.-
They have so members out of ais, i'm the House
OF Delegates, which is over I'D. They have
population of sol ,702, in all Of which, 254,20S
are free whites and 46, 494 not free whites
They pay Sl0l ,636 81 of the Revenue OF the
State; which is not 18th of the Revenue of the
whole State. The whole amounting to $423, 563
22cts., deduct the sum paid by the West, and you
have 1921 1926 20, paid by the Eastern people; of
which sum, 33 counties and the Town of Peters
burg, pays Sl95,S74 "a, leaving the balance Of
Sl25,551 rs, to be paid by the 33 aristocratie,
tide water counties, and the towns OF Richmond
Town of Petersburg, have population of 1862, l06;
of which, $50 are free whites, aud the other
33 counties and two towns, have population Of
30f, 55i: of which 1923 free whites
Now, Sirs, ii il was right in the men of the Rev
olution 10 rebel against England, because she
wished to tax us without our being represented,
ought not the Eastern people to insist, that the
same principle should be applied, and that por-
ton of the State, should have greater portion Of
representation than taxation! Ii that principle is
IF then far the East ha hed IN
enslave the West, the West has already enslaved
the East The. West has over 2-3ds of the repre-
sentation in the Convention and RI. of Delegates,
and they pay less than l-4th OF the Revenue. I
have heard great deal said about equalizfDg the
representation; but not one word about equalizing
the taxation. Do the people of the West expect,
that of the East will sit with our hands folded
and let them take the power of making what laws
they please, and of laying what taxes they
please; and leaving US the mighty boon of
paying 3-4ths Of the taxes, whilst they pay less
than i-4th! If they do, they are much mistaken.
l cannot think, that Convention of wise and vir-
tuous men, (and such, hope, will be the Conven-
ton that is to meet in October next,) will permit
one portion Of the State to pay over S-iths of the
taxes, and have less than BIDS Of the representa-
ton. They will say to the people Of the West,
you must pay more, or have fewer representa-
tives.- The people of the West must not belle we,
that free white population alone, is TO give the ba-
sis Of representation; population and taxation,
must be the basis, unless the people East of the
Ridge, are worse than fools. BY going into Con.
venton, we of the East do not intend TO give our
selves masters We agreed to 60 into Convention
to satisfy the West and to make such amendme nts
to the old Constitution would be salutary; not TO
give to the West the power of taxing us as much
as they please, and of expanding the money
where they pleased; more especially, where the
subjects of taxation are not held in common by
the tax-laying and tax-paying portions of the
State.
Already are the shareholders taxed 150 per cent
higher than the Iand-hclders Upon every slave
over IL years of age, 40 cents is paid The aver
age value of slaves, on which taxes are paid, may
be estimated at $500; the slave pays 20 cents
for every 800 value, whilst the land only paws
cents for every 800 value.
1 advise the Western people to take these
things seriously into consideration; and, if they
in earnest about going into Convention, to
amend the Constitution, and not with view of
getting power which they ought not to have, as
have heard them charged by some, to come pre-
pared to do us of the East justice; tor, sltho we
abhor the character OF aristocrats, are not to
be deferred from asserting and maintaining our
just rights. CLODHOPPER.
March 10Th, 1929.
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