Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-14

side of the Blue Ridge, ani counted against HIM and
men let us see, what sort of minority we have a.,
tempting to dictate terms to the majority
have thus, Mr.. Chairman, eudeayoureL to OK.
press 70 the committee what has been my unders,an
ding of some of the declaration contained i, tho
Dii OF Rights: TO prove that the assertion contained
IN the tiiTd section, that is, THAT the rnajority have
I'm indubitabe, unalienable and indeeasibe rio hi 70
rorm alter, or abolish it,, the Government) is true:
anu TINT there is large majority of the community
who must be fairly presumed to be in favor of ma
King the white population the basis of ion
IN the General Assembly.
shall proceed in the next place to consider the
amendment which has been proposed by the gentle
man from CnlPePe-, Mr. Green to the resolution re-
ported by the Legislative Committee. His PROPOSE
TOMS thnt representation in the House of Deratcs
shaf be based upon combined ratio of white popu-
ia'lon and OF taxation. The first remark which I
sfrlll make upon this proposition, is that cannot
perceive how it will be possible, If the amendment
shall prevail ever to apply the ue which it is in
tended to establish. Do gentlemen mean to ma te
the taxes now paid, the permanent basis OF repre-
sanitation If they do, they will find, that in very
short time, owing to the uctuation in pro-
perry, an the consequent change in the relative pro-
portion al taxes paid, in dffclen. sections of the
,thatthe representation will soon cease to be
lnst even upon their principles. I cannot sun
gase, that gentlemen intend TO make the law now in
force imposing taxes for tho support Of Government
part of the CONSTITUTIONS; for ifthey d. they n,i4
rs we'll dispense with the Legislative Body ao,ro ~,
tho most important part % il i@ty being TO re- cate
taH taxes according 10 thH ahty Of the pec,te In
my, and the necessities oc the Government Bnt if
the amendment prevails, 1, no, see how ne Isois
azure are to DC prevented from imposing the taxes
III such way to give one port IA of the corn
trunity, the whole amount Of power or represent atc
which it is proposed to derive from, the p.ymest of
ttXes For example, If the 81. le holders hav;nr
inc majority IN the Legislature, choose take to
themselves the whole rcpres ttation arising from,
taxaton all they hare to do, will he to collect tho
whole revenue OF the Commonwealth from tax IN
on slaves. But granting shut tire rule, if adopted,
can be applied which think mo G han doubtful.
fet us examine the principle which establishes and
tire justice Of applyn,5it.
Ino p:in3iple IS, That every ,tton Of the com
rn'nty shah be re.fasentcd III proportion the iaxe
n pays into the Treasury. And those who avowr
this principles attempt to sustain it, by saying that
Taxation aud r. present alton must 8lWays 90 orrther
and by computing -. social compact partne7 ship
between merchants, Danil Association, in which
every member is entitled to power in proportion TO
the capital stock he furnishes, Tn order to test
the correctness OF this principle, let how it will
WON, wien applied 10 individuals; md this the opy
Way al which principles of this sor can be proper
tested for /. is always true that principle which
canrot D. justly enforced between individuals belong
ing to the same community, never be Justly ell
forced against the inhabitants of particular district
VINO constitute part Of that community IF this be
correct principle, then the man who owns or Ir1ys
taxes on two slaves, is entitled twice as much
power as he who owns, or pays on bat one; and
he who owns, pays taxes q Thousand slaves
Will be entitled To etundr<d times as much power
rs he who owns but two, and one Thousand times az
much as he who owns but one; and Ike who OWLS no
elaves pays taxes will BE entitled to no power
At all Suppose proposition made at this time
20 act upon this principle and give to every pow
1T the elections THAT Is say, number Of votes2
corresponding TO the amount OF taxes which he paws
is there any here who would have tie hardlo Z
20 vote for 1t? Surely there is not Aud if such
g provision were cngraited in the Constitution do
you believe thatthe people would suInbt to il? Do
you believe that the Shareholders would agree to
be deprived of all share in the elections or that those
WHO own but from one to twenty, would agree
the elections entirely confronted by few, who own
from one hundred to thousand? It is impossible
any man can believe such system could be enf;1r-
ced. AMI yet, Sir, we are gravey called upon to
enforce this principle against the people OF the
Allegheny, which we dare even propose to estab-
iish amongst ourselves. say amongst ourseiues Sir
because ] affirm it mr. belief that the people of
my district hare much, nearly much interest
IN this question: the great body cf the people On
The eastern side of the Blue Ridge And shall en-
deavor, before take my seat, to prove that
much more strongly connected with the people of
This part of the State, by motives of interest," than
the people OF either the Accomack the Cupener
districts, from whose representatives we have heard
So much the subject Of imaginary separate in
tGrests.
Tile true rule as to taxation land it is one which
prevails every where is that every shall pay in
proportion to his ability pay, without any sort of
feuard being had 10 the political rights which he en-
Joys. This is the rule which has constantly been
acted upon by the Legislature of Virginia. in all
times past. have been astonished, not to say
zed to hear gentlemen complaining Of the great
Inequality betVXt the taxes paid by the people Of
the east, and those paid by the people of the VEST
and especially the taxes paid upon slaves over and
above what paid upon any other species of proper
ty, if these taxes unjust, and had been m
posed upon them against their own consent. And
who was it imposed these taxes? Was it the people
west of the Allegheny Mountains? No, Sir, they
iave never had the power to impose them. Was it
not the eastern people themselves? Nay, more, was
e not the shareholders themselves who imposed them?
Cnaunstonabiy it vas for you were very correct
~ told by the gentleman from Hanover, the slave
holders the Trccholders in this country Was it
20 he O Allpvh1nv hat
these taxes were imposed in the manner, and the
par cular species OF property on which they were
imposed No. Sir, it was to please the PEOPLE here
that it was done. The true reason Why these taxes
liavc been imposed IN the manner unjnslly com
pa!nod Of is that the principle, shat shall pay
taxes in proportion to the property they own prevails