Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-15

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justly regarded as iniocrab'e defects. We could not
here tolerate either It's monarchy, its arstocl acy,
the corruptions OF its House of Commons.
But the example of the House of Commons is quo
tea TO prove that representation is founded on taxa
ton True sir, that at early period of the Eng
sh history, the independent spirit of that people con-
tested with their monarch, the right of taxing them
without their consent, and last succeeded i'm main
tanning that contributions should be levied upon
them, without their consent given in Parliament
through their representatives. 1t is true also, that
me hr%hts and Burgesses originally summoned by
the monarch to vote supplies only awaited themselves
OF this power to eStort from the throne partcipa-
ton, with the king and his nubles in the legislation of
the Kingdom But what monarch or noble barons
have we here, from whom TO purchase with our
treasure, the right of legislation? And what peculiar
conheXlon can there be, between taxation an!rcpre
sentation IN country, where 1t is as much the set
tied doctrine that the people shall be bound by no
laws made without their consent, as il is that they
shall not be taxed without their consent? IVhenyou
nave established that the people cannot be taxed
without the consent ofthemselveS or their represent
tatIves you have advanced no farther in ascertainnr
now representation is to be apportioncd among the
people, than when the broad principle acknowledged
that no law, affecting life, liberty property, is
binding on the people Without, heir consent? Surely
'1e example OF the House OF Commons can rive no
support TO the proposition that representation should
he apportIoncd IN every degree to taxation. The
people OF tngiund never insisted that zach man should
vote his own contribution, that the votes OF their re-
prescntaiyes should be valued according to the u
mount of their respective Contributions or that the
several interests on which contributions were levied
should be represented, Ill the population their
wealth Inc poorest borough AMI the richest city, the
largest and the smallest sprc, had representation
without any reference to wealth. amount of taxes or
population The forty counties in England, send
each two members to Parliament not itl,stnnd,nr
t!4c' great GiSPaFlty III wealth aud population,
The residue OF The > Is members furnished hv Emo
land supplied by tie large cities and the small
Doroughs Without tue least regard to their wealth.
or their contributions 10 the Government: The
IyplV md
caiit, while some OF them would scarcely be aDc
TO detray the expenses OF their members duriur
single session, perhaps not az to pay for the wine
drank by them. at slng ie dIlucr The great coun
W o' MlddlcseN, and Its towns OF London and West
muster send eight members to Parliament If thew
are represented lii proportion their to taxation they
Wruid probably furnish majority Of tic House Of
Comnons. Astatenent Made by Bourgh, the rrcat
advocate o. English reform, referred to- proba b hv
me gentleman from CulpepPcr, Mr. !. S Barbour
sne"s tliat Ill the latter pat Of l7h century
IhduiestX and Is towns paid 265 parts out of 5l:,
or Tue "lio!e land tax OF the Kingdom permanent and
ahhuati so that proportIonutc represr ntation
would nave given Them u decided majority o. the
whole number ot English members.
cannot here forbcar to remark that -on,Ion,cn
nave seriously objected to the representation of
GERS because Ot liz tendency to throw the power of
government INTO The hands Vi small populous dIsric
whose representatives acting IN concert wond oyer,
an injurious nt!uence OVcrthr Legislation of The conn
try. hey 'tlI Us that Boston or New York or evc,
1''ltilor represented, IL proportion to its Inembes
"oaid soon Contract the councils Of it's State Aud
what Is the remedy proposed for that evP Iustc.4
oil sa'u'ary check by limiting the representation in
such oVcGgrown districts by anticipating the probabI
grown Oh tire tidc water towns III wealth md NOM,
lalioh, ana limiting their representation To u pros
cIlOeu member, II Is proposed to give them adtit;on
al power III The Governments by aId.np ,I,cIr yeanb
to their metnoers. The city OF RichniOnd which IN
on tue ratio OF tho White population would be enti-
tIed, Ut TINS time, to member univ-wuulu he On
titIed III the ratio OF its taxes than four and
Oh lic combined ratio to nearly three.
The principles OF revolution ha &c been onnoec
10; ana IL has been supposed that the spirit of our IA
tocTS WHICH refused submission taxes DDosed b1,
government IN which they were not rcDrrsented
Should INSPIRE just opposition 10 every schern, nj
representation winch was not appurtiongd In some
deSrcc 10 the amount or taxes Imuoscd. If +Is ~
deeu were the true principle of the rcvoh,,on :, =;
not wonderful how little regard vas uaid to il b,, th
fathers OF the revolution? ttat il did not find some
conspicuous place III their declarations of rigb or
haPe controlling influence in the provisions of bo
constitutions which they themselves formcGo RI, do
gentlemen seriously believe that the war of the row,
o4u'io'A vi Shated III desire to obuIn REPRESENTA-
uoh IL the British Parliament, proportional TO our
population, or indeed any representation at all Tho,
certainly do not for they ask u.s. almost IN di,.io
what would have been the fate of proposition from
Tie BRUSH PaFIamcnt To grant her colonies = rcnro
sCi'aIioh III tie House OF Commons, proporiuned to
their population, on condition that they wouId srh
init to be taxed! l unite with the gentlemen in s,1
posing taat our fathers had too much good sense too
much precedence and foresight, to have Consented IN
Sufreacr their own house OF business their own ,,
or ut legislating Tor themselves and taxing ,fon-
selves subject only TO the royal negatyes,to have
bound themselves indssolubly TO government act
ing at the distance Of 5000 miles from tiem to here
;r and their power, by he3o,.
ing an Iuteger OF the British nations; and hay -
GoLed ,o[cyer' all nope of independence uni,e with
them IN believing, that the proposition wouJ hs,,
b boen rejected; ana not less certainly would have
Oceh rejected, II they had been offered n rnnrcsI,
ZION ProPortlocd TO their population and fl
Di"ca' Inc principles of the revolution. tench ne
that no people should botaxed by Government GS 1
"non yAGy are not feprescmtcd but they do not IN
sSt Us t' taxation and representation sbould been
any gwen ratio to each other They would TotGor
leau 20 the conclusion that Representation i |I
organ through which the public Iyi acts nnon tIc
puDc interest 1t should be upporiioncd with the sole
H!cW oi fairly eIa1odying that win ''- S"'0
gentlemen endeavonng to iorLlry themselves ,r;,b
authority, and seeming desirous to sinIJ go i IN