Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-05-15

anu mover uiC vote lOr convention. and init
mates, that these recent changes" as he calls
them, have been made a. to secure the election of
the Convention Candidate.'-We, unhesitatingly,
pronounce this statement, far as it relates to
Thomas Masse 10 be absolutely false. We know ne
voted for taking the sense OF the people, on the call
OF Convention, repeatedly during his service in
The Legislature; and, within our own knowledge,
the late Deputy Sheriff of this county states, he
distinctly rccollects, DIR. Massie directed him to
record his vote &c For Convention at the May
Court Of Nelson, in 1928; and that he (the She
riff neglected to DO so; which accounts for his
name not being on the poll book.-We are the
tiatferers of no man, the frGducers of none; and
we would advise the friends Of certain candidates
to use some more honorable method, to promote
their fsvores pretensions, than by slandering 9TH
ers Several Freehotders of Nelson
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
TO the People Of Eastern Virginia.
FELLOW CIrIZENs The eventiul period Is
at hand for tho election of members to the Con-
vention. Will you, in any instance, elect member
who IL in favour OF basing representation in the
Legislature upon white population only, to the
exclusion OF property, or taxation! Have you
fully counted the cost! Have you fully estimat-
ed the consequences? From the number of can,
didates for seats in that body, who advocate this
principle and yet appear to retain the confidence
oil their respective. districts, and to have every
prospect OF being elected, fear that you nave not
tear that the best and most lasting interests of
our country are in imminent danger. Permit me
TO. address few serious remarks TO YOU, on
this subject. They may set better heads to think
ing, and can do no harm. But, if perchance, they
shall throw q single ray of light into the awful
gloom that's before US, that single reflection win
! throw halo of consolation around my death-bed
Without further preface, ] maintain that con, /.
bined ratio OF white population and taxation is the
only just and fair basis of representation in our
case: that if we yield the principle that white
population alone Is the true basis in the State CO.
vernment, 1t Will be the first step TO its concession
/ In the Federal Government that every argument
! which can be adduced to prove il right in the for
ner, applies fortiori.s in the latter-that we
would, therefore, be obliged in the end, TO con-
cede the principle there also and that as the FIRST
fruits oil the concession here, we the East, would
be compelled to surrender large portion of our
| representation in Congress 10 the West, by tina
distribution over the whole state of the addition
al representation allowed us on account of our
slaves.
| Twill discuss the latter propositions first, and
then enquire whether, admitting these consequent
ces 10 follow, or supposng them proved, there is
any thing in the justice of the demand, that white
population alone shall constitute the basis of rep-
resentation so imperative, that il must be Welded
at all events, upon the principle " fiat ustitia, ru-
at celum." " q are entitled to a representation
Ia Congress proportional TO the whole free popu-
laton, and 3-5ihs OF all other persons, ercepf IN
dams. not fdred.-On what principle. Clearly up
! on the principle that they are subject to taxation,
that we consent to be taxed in tie same proper
the result of compromise between the conflicting
interests OF the North and the South, the nom
slayeholding, and the slaveholding States. This
was doubtless the most delicate and difficult sub
Ject oil adjustment in that great work. The South
ern Representatives understood the rights and in-
terests OF their constituents too well to consent that
white population alone should constitute the basis
| Of representation; but the most consummate ad.
dress must have been necessary 10 reconcile the
prejudces of the North 10 the admission of anv
of n,,Nctt III
was Indispensable to an adjustment Of the diffcu l.
ty satisfactory to all parties. The South no doubt
contended' that they were entitled 10 representa-
Ton Tor their whole population; but, were oblie-
ed TO be content with representation for 2-jths of
the slaves only, in addition TO the whites The
concession was nor without equivalent, howe.
ver as will be presently say, that the
principle ON which we were allowed n representa-.
tion ior Inc 3-oths was, that they are subject to
taxation-that taxation and represe NATION should
60 hand in hand, and that the latter to be avaIa-
ble must bear some proportion TO the former This
is manifest from the provision Of the Constitution
IL Is in these words, (Artice LIST, Sd clause of I'd
section y F" Representatives and direct taxes shall
be apportioned among the several states which NAV
be included within this Union, according to their
respective numbers, which shall be determined by
adding to the whole number Of free persons in.
GLIDING those bound to service for term of years
and excluding Indians, not taxed, three -fifths Of
| all other persons"
| Thus, indicating by the close and inseparable
connection Of Representatives, and direct taxes in
the same clause, and the apportionment Of them
on the same asis, that the principle, the reason
Tor giving us representation for g. 5ths of all 9TH
ers than free persons, was, that we consented TO
be taxed in the same proportion. This conclusion
Is rendered irresistible, II it wanted confirmation,
| by the exception, 9" and excluding Indians, not
taxed" Why exclude Indians, not taxed in
making the enumerat ien and apporonmentl Be.
cause, not being fnred, they did not come within
the reason Of The rule. But ! said that il was
concession on our part, (giving up representa-
| ton Tor the other 2-5ibs,) yet, not without its
equivalent. That is to be found in the fact that
neither they taxed they are not taken into
the account in the apportionment Of direct taxes.
There Is another The General Government
! has other and ample sources Of revenue, without
resort TO direct taxes; sufficient, and more than
sufficient, under judicions management for all the
purposes OF government, except when the country
IS engaged IN war with some great foreign power
| VI, economically administered and restrained with
IN its constitutional limits duties or imports alone
| imposed with single eye to revenue, would al
ways command for II the most abundant resources
for ordinary 0cC ssons, and for nearly all exigen-
| cies, without being at all felt by the people. And
even when those extraordinary exigencies occur
its powerful resources and high credit would ge-
nerally enable IL to effect loans, 10 be redeemed In
! more prosperous times, which would supersede
the necessity OF resort 20 direct taxes. That re-
sort. therefore, need be very rare Non, we are
enjoying continually and Justly representation
for 3-5lhs OF our slaves, while the direct taxes
(hc price paid for that rerresenadon,) which are
sppor!ioned according 70 the same rule, occur but