Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-11-14
Tpe Constitutional gsabia.
lHEPoRTED FOR ruE RICHMOND WING.
VIRGINIA CONV ENTEON.
MIR. MERGERS SPEECu-Coxc,, nm,

all the foundations of property arr to be uproot
ed' BY whom By men of frugal habits, who or
!iooring lncossinty, for its acquisition, who ca,
hope to acquire it. only, by tue exertiols of hard,
industry from stubborn soil upon an uncyen coun,
tfy, and who Gun hold and enjoy it wien acquired
but under the protecting ,wer of the laiv,,
Tho tables have already quoted show that proper
ty Is dduscd, Is widely to the west as to the east
and, consequently the interest which guards its ex
istcnce.
Do not our Opponents perceive that the argument
Wlnch they dis!u;e fsuiu't the augmentation of the
mower of the west bat will be cxertcd to the pre-
jadicn OF the east, may DC retored upon them and
with the greater force; since they desire to keep
that, to which, they have, in truth, no tltlc and
winch must consequently be maintained by The lea
sousy, which ever accompanies injustice
nat, our oppoAents ask, has the nariority to ap-
prchend from the minority; The west, from The east?
Eor ii the proportions OF the pc ople Tie not thus
truly eXprcssed the east, has, Itself nothing 10 fear
from the proposed apPorton.peut Of power. What
then has the West TO apprchend? | answer every
thing from the very alarm expressed the gentle
len, who make the enquiry, in dread of the ap-
preaching ascendancy OF the west? Laws, to dis
courage the improvement of country whose inha
btants daily prompted forsakc it. by the tenn
tsoBs offered them, in cheaper laRds abroad; and
urure liberal institutions than they fluid at home.
Do you inquire what shall be Tie provisions OF
snch Laws? Some of them, VIII borrow from past !;
others from existing code
will not speak of the limitation Of sufrare 10 ,Le
constitution itself which degrades the non frcet OIL
der to the level of the save but will refer YOU To
defence. When threatened with French and In
dian war, the draft for military service WAS extended
by the General Assembly AL persons except SUCH
us under FL and above so years of age and ell
Jreeholdes or cotes, and al! Indicated CT bought
caatS.
Need 90 so far back What is our present body
OF road laws, but system of oppression upon the
iahourng poor, who taxed il personal service as
yell as by levy IN money, equally with the rich
Keep that highway Ill repair, which they have MT
the power to inure, unless by their footsteps
Nay TO work on the roads is duty from which any
proprie or of too SLAVES ID exempted Notwithstanding
his of the road IS nearly in the direct proportion
Of his Sycalth'
What may not say, of that system of poor laws,
which extends the resources of public charity, by
equal tax upon all without distinction of fortune
except what may arse from the application of poll
tax, to country having slaves?
Such some of the features fthe old code. For
the new, let US suppose every other branch of
ue Topped off from present system, and poll tax
TO be levied on the free white inhabitants OF the Com
:tnonweah without reference to their wealth.
II lnsteadof ccrishing it, he desired to keep down
the w est, such the present facilities for descend
ing the river Ohio and many Of lis tributaries, that
but little ingenuity would make the trans Allegheny
country a Wilderness again, fl only for the habita-
ton of beasts of prey.
Gentlemen reason, as if the only power in govern
Inent taXaton; they have represented the pro
lection Of property to be almost the sole end OF legs-
htion. They forget the numerous laws, which pro-
tect the rights of persons in peace, well the
IN var.
It cannot have been forgotten that during the last
war, it proposed, and not without apparent rea-
SON, to exempt part of the militia on the sea boa I'd
from military service, beyond the limits of their
pective countless regulation which might have been
extended SO far greatly to augment the pressure
of military duty on the West.
What all the laws which limit, or extend the
period of military service? That exempt apprentices
and slaves from the obligation TO perform it; but
laws, the burthen of which, the wealthy escape
by hiring substitutes; and to which, the poor man
must yield obedience however reluctantly he may
leave his home without master; his wife without a
husband; or his children, without parent to protect
them.
How many laws there, with respect even 10
property, which operate, also, upon the very body
inapners and character of society disappointing la
botu of its fruits, and bringing discredit upon the
country, which Is obliged tO,acknowledge their sway?
Such are those laws which withhold the payment, or
pend the legal remedies for the recovery Of Just
debts: which in fine. drive commerce from o land,
designed by nature to be her favoured abode. and
turn her choicest blessings into absolute curses,
Society owes other obligations TO itself or to its
members. Protection from foreign violence and the
administration Of justice, of indispensable ncces
sity. But the intercourse aud education Of its CT
items have, also, cs.ms upon lis attention, that
wise government has, hitherto disregarded.
These subjects are Among hose, however, that fill
oar opponents with the greatest alqrm. Yhey have
denounced all attempts TO improve the natural i'd
vaBtagcs of the state, at public cost, whether by
nent which has it seems, boen badly conducted.
Fhc people Of James river have been disappointed
III the result Of fdvourite Improvement Bit as the
member from Abemarc demonstrated, they owe that
disappointment to themselves alone.
Phey bought a whistle, found it djscourscd moi
such music as they cxpcctcd and like spoilt child
theyhove broken it IN two, and thrown it away. II
may presume TO advise them and am al least sin
cere in what say. will tell them to finish thei ca.
nal to Lynchburg; then qUadruple, they well MAJ
the load of their boats: substitute single horse, al
old man, and boy, for their caring power, nsteat
Of half a dozen able bodied hands, and they will
no lon5er, find cause to complain Of the money they
have expended.
But what has ibis failure TO do. with the question
before u.s. Did not ,he first vote in this Hail in ia
vor of Convention, precedc this James river scheme
ofimprovement, and did it spring up in this city
AS for the late Charlottesville Convention it haC
any other than a WcsfeYn orirn.