Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-05

diiy consider sfavess Because they are almost the
only species Of property, that for years has been
looked upon valuable. They are almost the on
iy property whichwould command money. They
are almost, may say, the only medium Of ex-
change-for the land is either worn out by mis-
management, or If the land be good, its productio
cannot be disposed Of for their value.-A horse is
as much property slave, and is, therefore en-
titled to an equal consideration in representation,
If property be the basis. An individual, then,
possessing an hundred horses or an hundred cad
Of cattle, or an hundred sheep and hogs, ought to
be entitled to an equal representation with one
possessing slaves OF an equal value--an Individual
possessing salt well, an iron mine, or any 9TH
er ore or quarry, ought to possess equal share
Of representation with possessing an equal VAL
ne IN slaves, in stocks, in lands. AL! property
should stand upon an equal footing. 1t is not, then,
so much the species the raIue of the property
% be represented; and property is forever
changing its value, as that which to-day is almost
nestmabie, tomorrow, under different circum-
stances, may be esteemed worse than trash; and
as taxation TO be lust, must ever be estimated by
the value OF the thing taxed, il would be absurd
TO base representation on taxation, or on the value
OF property, which is ever varying" No person
oughtto be taxed, deprived of his property,
without his consenor the consent OF his represen
atve; but is Therefore just that property of one
sort, should be entitled 10 greater representation
than property OF another sori that the stakeholder
should have greater weight in the Councils Of
his State, than holder OF any other species Of
property OF equal value! Assuredly not.--Leave
every man TO acquire that species OF property,
which he considers most to his advantage most
useful to hun, most valuable, and give every man
equal rights and equal privileges, and when he is
taxed, whatever be his property, il will not be
without his consent, or the consen, of his repre-
sentative. Of majority of the representatives
OF all collectively.
There is a principle of human nature too, which
it is well to guard agains-it is that Of paying
court TO the wealthy. II insinuates itself into all
the ramihcations OF Society, from the humblest to
the greatest-"ls he rich, is he weal;hy:" is the
question that is eternally rung through all its
changes.-if he is, he is Immediately looked upon
as superior being-above the vulgar throng-is
" courted and caressed, high placed in hall well
come guests dignified with every favor,-hon-
| ored and almost adOred. Depend upon it, proper
ty will take care Of itself. 1t has attractions
enough. There arc none who not striving to
obtain it-none, who are satisfied with what they
have obtained-none, who will be deferred from
soaking it,by any taxation with which government
| can burden it, Il, is a whrlwind, into which all
are drawn sooner or later, ami after we once get
into lis giddy vortex, we never satisfied until
we reach the summit, tho too often, we know We
shall be dashed to pieces by it, violence. If re-
presentation be based upon property, upon tax
alton, which is upon the value Of property and il
| it be just only when applied to every species of
property, this will be the result: The mind of
every individual is exclusively his property, and
the minds OF large CLASS OF the Community, are
exclusively their wealth. BY the productions OF
their mind-by tile inventions Of their genius-by
| the coruscatons OF their wit-by the imagery OF
their vivid fancies-by the ciearness OF their per-
ceptlon, and the soundness OF their judgments
| they are enabled to live. We must then, allow
them representavesin proportion to this their pro.
perty, with as much equity you would yield
1t to another class OF citizens, account of any
other species OF property, by which they ena-
| bled 10 live.
contend, then, that property or taxation is not
the true basis, since property is uncertain and va.
| riabie, and since mind is property, and there is
nothing 50 unequal; ami if this be the false propo.
sition, it cannot be made true, by combining il
with the true principle; in the same way false
hood cannot be rendered true, by any combination
with true. 1t will sull be true in part, and false in
part-Exolnde, then, the false, aud adhere to the
true principle.
| But shall attempt to support the proposition
that the free white population is the true principle
by proving il 10 be derived from the natural right:
OF man, supported by our Bill Of Rights, which i:
but The echo OF these natural rights, and thus at
tempt TO answer the last proposition OF an Easte
Virgnian in this place, by demonstrating that bis
principle is inconsistent with the Bill OF Rights
and these Inherent ri shts. The Bill of Rights de-
clares, that " all men are by nature equally free
and independent'-the conclusion is, all, there
fore, should possess equal rights, and enjoy e.
DUAL privileges Slavery, its true, is ncon-
sisenI with this proposition; but long as il is
tolerated, we compelled TO look upon the slave,
not as individual entitled to the rights of other
Citizens, but as property merely; and, therefore,
they cannot be embraced i'll the proposition Ii
all who deemed citizens, then, be equally tree
all are entitled to equal representation (" An
power isvested in, and consequently derived from,
the people, mot from pr0peyty-and if il be vest
ed in the people, and not property, then the peo-
Pile have the right to delegate ii to others" Ma
gstrates are their trustees, and amenable to
them"-not to property, nor to the people and pro-
perty, nor to population on account OF property;
but amenable to the people, and in our state OF
Society, to the free white population alone
Sc That no men or set oil men, entitled TO ex-
elusive or separate emolumenis, privileges, from
the Community, but in consideration OF public
services''-not in consideration of property. The
Bill of Rights does not Declare that one class of
the Community, Shareholders for instance, are en-
titled to representation, (Which is great privi-
lege In consideration OF the possession of slaves
no, this clause is the mere consequence of the
rs that all are equally free; and, therefore, none
are entitled TO exclusive privileges" That cleo
tons OF members to serve as representatives of the
people in Assembly ought TO be free' This clause
involves the question Of the Right OF Suffrage,
which, on the present occasion, am not disposed
to argue. But il is quoted now, to show, that, as
elections ough. to be free and unrestraned so the
people, or the population of the State, are entitled
to free representation, unrestrsned by taxation or
any thing else. Even an Eastern Virginian will
not contend, that the slaves ought to be permitted
70 exercise the privilege of suffrage, and if he
does not, he will admit that the Bill Of Rights
should be construed in our government to mean,
that the free white population, ought TO be free jn
the exercise OF their privilege Of eleciing repre-
sentatves Ii the slaves be entitled at all it must
be upon the principle Of their being persons, not
property; because there Is no clause which saws,
n Rpn mt Aft