Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-10-28

The question pending when the Committee rose
yesterday, being on the motion of Mr. GREEN to
ainead the hrst resolution reported by the Lcgis-
lstyc Committee, by striking ont the word "cxciu-
sivcy, anu inserting land taxation combined, as
TO make the resolution read,
"he'oteai, That IN the appointment of representa-
ton IN the House of Delegates, regard should be had
to the white pop1latiou, and tdTdi,oa CoD'bined."
Mr. GREEN SAID thot " had been has object, IN Of
f'ring this amendment, bring before the
the whole of the argument both sides OF the ques
ton. But nc was under the impression that some
one OF the gentlemen who had supported the origin
Sod TO open the discussion with inform tho
committee of the ground on which tho change con-
tempatrd IN that resolution desired and sust ain
ed. He hoped, therefore, Mat some gentleman
that side of the question would give his views in sup
port of the resolution reported by the committee.
Ma Lr,Gu (of Clssterirltl) SAID that he hoped the
friends OF the proposition which had hecn reported
by the legislative Committee, would, IN he first la.
stance, aeSgn some rcas0ts, support of that propo
sitlon-a proposition which proposes, III effect, TO
transfer the Government from the hands of those
who have the greatest stakcn IL s. 10 apportion Rep
rcsentation by RATIO aud apportiun Taxation by
another II was the object of tins proposition tu "a
tabish Representation upon the bass the white POI
pulaiun exclusively. while IN the ratio taxation
was to BE- distributed among those vino had a prop
erty m tire Stab, and who would thus be compel
led to contribute d double treble and even 4 quad
ripple proportion. He hoped the friends of this Prop
ostion this new Proposition, he regarded it
new III Tin history OF our governmental not
throughout the world, certsnlv new to us, would
give the rCusons by which thcy ewaycd To its
support; anal that those would be found more
satisfactory IN their character than those which pre-
vailed IN the French Sc, oo when the wild views
OF the rights OF man led tn confusion. anurchy, rapne
and scenes of blood, which terminated by mill
tary dcspotIsn. Such visionary ideas unless restrain
eat, must lead to similar consequences here. Such
were the doctrines which considered numbers only
worthy of attention, ami property undcservng OF
regard. Let them give reasons, at
least TO excuse sct-csieGm; to
excuse us for the tame submIs ion which is ex-
pccted of us, TO thIs-not they who advocate it
believe, but he aud tnuso who were with him.
think most cruel, palpable and crying uJus, ice
Let them give us some plausible reasons color
OF reason To ourselves-let them rI the
pIII, and disguise its bitterness and let them save
us from tire contempt of the present times, and
the curse OF posi- Gritty. u we shall thus
der their blrthright He called far some reasons
he expected some practical reasons, not metuphvsi
ca, not met aph ysIc subtcties, arguments found
ed IN distractions, but such had their basis IN aud
are applicable to the circumstances of the common
wealth. with which alone we have here to deal, that
we may understand the grounds which IT Is "
pccted That we shall submit and with pa fence the
injustice which is now offered to u.s. For himself
regarding the proposition, he did-and ne dis claim
cd any intention To cast imputat ion upon any othur
gentleman's motives or course-aa the most crying
injustice which had been infc; I'd in any country,
he must call gentlemen to assign the reasons by
winch II was hoped that those who we're now uppo
OF Representations
Nj. COOKE said, that nc could not but express his
lnIe sned establishment at the suggestion which had
Just been made by the gentleman from Chesterfeld
mat the principle oil representation recommended by
the legls alive committee (the amendment To which
Gnbesef8P Slir'R%na principle ,ic ' Sa
inquest onaby, set forth in the 'decirraion of tie
rtShts Of The people Of Viygilid." And indeed whcn
the Convention 0f 1916 promulgated, Ia that sTu
lnent, the principles of government OH which their
tan tbl f..a,p. dad ~. Il
principles shIch had received n cen[ury befDrs tho
deliberate sanction of tho Most enlightened friends OF
liberty throughout the word.-They did but reiferalo
those great and sacred truths which had been illus
rated by the genius of Locke and Sydney and
Nlllton:-truths for which IIampden, and a host of
his compatrots. had poured out their blood m vain
Driven from Europe, by kings and priests and no.
bes those simple truths received with ia vour
by the sturdy yeomanry who dwelt on the western
shores of the Atlantic. The love of liberty and OF
equality too grew with the growth and strcnc
with the strength Of the colonies. II declared war
at last, not only against The p0ioer of the kino but
against the ps,cliege of the NOBLE and laid the deep
foundations Of our republic on the soUereEty Of the
people, and The equality e men.
The principles alluded to, contained and set
forth in the declaration u the rights Of the people or
Virginia, were,
That all power is vested in, AMI consequently de-
rived from, The PeQPie."
That all men are, by nature, eqwrHy free" And
That majority Of thr community possesses and
OF necessity must possess the supreul. control Of s
concerns.
The circumstances under which this declaration
was made were Of the most solemn and IMPRESSIVE
Character. The sages and patriots who made it, had
Just before evinced their deep sense of the vital I'M
portance, and undeniablc truth, of the prirciplce
which il asserts, by involving their country for ;be
sake OF those principles in all the horrors of war
FOR the sdke OF those principles they had impered
ther iives Their fortunes, their wives their children
their country-aDd, IN one word all that is dear TO
man. For the sake Of those principles they spread
havoc ana aesOlalion over our country and consgn-
90 70 rum and poverty, whole generation Of the
people Of VTginia.
And yet these principles OF government wore sty-
led, even by those who had yesterday Joined In An
unanimous vote las unanimous lenst as nes,i,e o,a
tradcsnte vote cen be) affirming their correctness
these principles were disparagingy styled, Ly those
who had concurred in that vote, 'absfracti,ns" or
"mere abstract principles"
Now, Sir, SAID he, II understand tbe irnport
OF the term "abstract" when applied I'm n dis
paragtag sense, TO any general principle, it means.
that the principle, though true, as croreased
IS nevertheless expressed IN terms 80 general.
In nj nm, io IL,