Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-02-14
MIR. DUNCAN, of Amherst, rose and said.

"'e ouN, Oh suolect OF SUCH vital importance,
as the one now under consideration, j must beg
10 be INDUCED, is only for short time-S think
tne Rouse viii be the more ready TO grant me
ms indulgence, when they recolect the unfinish-
eo STATE oil my remarks before the Committee, hav-
ing Iaiien OH an unfortunate time-a time when
the patience Of that Committee was exhausted
with these remarks beg leave to set out, not to
explore an ocean OF uncertainties, nor 10 wander
III me WIDE held OF speculation; but to adhere, if
possible, 10 those principles at which limited in
my remarks before the Committee OF the Whole
assumed 1t then, as position that we ought TO
establish Sertain fundamental principles, and that
we ought not TO depart from them, on any ac-
/ count whatever; and, Mr. Speaker, shall not
perhaps, 20 too far when l say, that the Authors
OF our Bill Of Rights, did therein lay down two
principles to which il would do honour TO tie
wor'd 10 adhere: nay, more-to which, will say,
the world would adhere, even war and blood
shed would be AT an end. The principles are these:
nrst, mat all men ara by nature equally free and
have certain natural, inherent unalenabe rights
me second Is, that all power belongs 10, aud is
derived from, the people. The abuse of these two
principles, i the Of all that hatred and lea
lousy, which is found to set Nations and States.
and different see tons Of the same State at vari-
ance. Now, sir, am sorry 10 say, that it is in
the nature of man TO do violence 10 these eDnob-
ing principles; and still more sorry say that the
nrst has been grossly abused by us. We have
followed that arbitrary rule, tina; power gives
right, without combining idea of that rule
within It's proper limits; the consequence of this
q
our bosoms, which will at some future day DART
rom Its angs mortal poison, that will penetrate
10 the very vitals OF this government; and he
gentleman from Charles City, Mr.. Christian, may
Tecoilect this as the consequence of a departure
nom principle. j will not say That we have as
YET done violence 10 the other principle which !
nave mentioned, but this l will say, that if we
est aDhsn The principles, contained in the amend
meht oil The gentleman from ALLEGHENY, yir-
ginia. VINO gave the FIRST written Constitution 10.
Inc w orld, and who set up in her Bill of Rights
principles as bright the brilliant orb of day-
yes, firginia-the Old Dominion-will be the
nTst OF the coniedcraed States, TO recede from lis
iohy heightynnd make an awful stride down TO the
dark shadesOf aristocracy.
Sir, L had hoped, that we were still endeayoring
10 reach the zenith of political glory; and aItho
inc ascent IS steep, yet l. had hoped, that as our
pa'!iotic fathers (many Of whom al e Sleeping in
their graves,) had shown US, that chains of me
quahty might be broken; and as they had in fact
gone so far a. to the chain which 4. tied Ms
WIN England, and had broken the seals of that
wonderlul book, which kept hidden from the ewes
OF all farmer ages, the true science of government
had hoped, say, that these considerations
wonl" make us sufficiently energetic and enter
prlzing,io turn over the m erious leaves and be-
come perfect in the science. But if we now turn
away IRON the course which we have been MR.
suing, we shall furnish 10 monarchs and arislocras
strong argument against the best form of Gov
eminent lii the world mean, eli-goyeInment.
But, MIR. Speaker, will not ,Iieye that thers is
man IN inns House, who " oud willingly sacrifice
principles al the shrine Of interest il he kne,y il,
NO, SRI cannot entertain base an idea or opin-
ION Of any man. judge IF others by MYSELF and
can say thaf my birth place being the land OF
W. ana having experienced the sweets there
OF, would sooner sacrifice INV life INV all than
would iamely surrender up those rights and i'm
muhi'ies, which are pointed out by the finger of
ana The hand OF reason. But, gentlemen tell
US, 'na' they VIII have property MISUNDERSTANDING
out this will satisfy them; and what secu,i,y do
'hey demand OF US! Why, sir, that thew may be
permitted to go into Convention with the same un.
equal weight which they have in this House; and
81 unueI 'ie Pretence OF saving certain species
OF property from high taxation The power is TO be
Kept Ia the hands Of a minority; and this too. be-
cause IL has been urged here, that thew who nav
Inc taxes, shall lay the taxes. Sir, let gentlemen
u,uase 10 ms position, which they have assumed
win so much seeming pIeasure-aye. with as
nuen delight, as if they had found ont new
masin IN government.
MT. Speaker, the doctrine 10 pute-ves a.
Pure-as the vernal breezes which fan the tors ~
our western Mountains. The mistake is not in
IL, which Is now sought to be made. Ietus trv
"hether gentlemen now seeking 10 establish
OF 10 ueieat ths principle, for which ihey seem 20
contend. w no pays the taxes in this Government
me Hee whhe males above certain age. But,
STD ii ask those gentlemen, w bo laws the taxes, I
| am TO be met with an answer that IL ia ,estr;ct
ed 10 ireeholdeTs; and is this 10 deviation from the
position which they have assumed. II il. and
u.y mem 70 get thelr own feet clear Of the net
"hcn lney mad spread for ours. DO not the poor
pay their proportion of the taxes in this Govern
heht; lhey do, sis; and 1 assert il without the
iear oil contradiction, that many of them nav more
'nah 'heir Just proportion. Sir, when came TO his
place, IL uevolVed upon me, to paw the Writ Tax
LOT tne county oil Amherst. thought il high: I'm,
the Clerk told me, before | left home. ibsi il ba5
Deen nearly athousand dollars 1t is now more than
iour hundred. hope il is no crime TO be in debt.
Is dare say that there are many other coun
ueS In the same unfortunate condition No,y s;r
who pays this four hundred dolIarsi or of ,yboss
pockets IS II drawn Cast your eyes upon the
aocket' and you wiilse ten ssits against poor men
lor one against rich man. IT, then, thew who nav
me taxes, shall lay the taxes, and there is TO be
any ditierence in the moral power attached TO
persons, 1t ought 10 be in favor of the poor because
Ihey pay more IN proportion, TO their capacity TO
pay s'han The rlch do. 1 suppose, Mr. Speaker,
ma' DO person ever intended 10 say, that if one
| man pays Ten times as much INFO the Treasury as
another, he ought to have ten times az much now
| En- ~ ne did, dare say that lac would he greatly
puzzled 10 apportioD the power, allowing 10 each
ms que proportion throughout the Community
| ne expression then, that they who pay the ta1es
slall lay the taxes, can admit Of but one me aniny
ana mat IL, that they who, a body polite nav
Ine taxes, shall, asa body polite, lay the e. res
mere IS another reason why the rights Of persons
should be secured before property is considered
and more especially those Of the poorer class ~
vino b gentlemen have told us we belong IL we 90
WIN The inajoriiy0 and the re ason u this the on
PeIoHOns OF government are against the roor
ms may De thought strange position. but me-
vfrtheless, II is fact which is exemplitied in all
incorporated companies; in all rnonopojies. sc
me poor ha'e nothing TO do with these things. they
Sahno' pafucipae in the benefits for want of The
iuhu,. row, ~ in organizing the Government, we
mi IL Il