Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-07

enis) in any free government; principle which is at
with every notion we, as Americans, have been
10 hold sacred and which goes 10 make the cleo
tive power quadrae with ,reaih The design H. in ef
feet, either to make slaves constituents to the Legisa
ture, to make the tax paid them an ingredient
IN Legislative power. To both these PROPOSE ions,
have strong objections Sir, the plan will be utterly
unavaing the objecti,s advocates seek to accomplish
by IT,. IL the consequences which to flow from grant,
ing equality Of rgh ., are really such they APP
mehend tins scheme will operate prevent the
evil. .&'
The gentlemen en- the other side have discussed this
question, ~ II the injury much dreaded FROM equal
rights Of representation and an extension Of the right OF
suffrage vas 10 be confined in its extent peculiar
part OF Virginia alonef the white basis adopted the
most grevous must they think, 10 that
part OF the Commonwealth and nothing can save the in
trcs,s Of the majority Of The wea, of the Stats from the
danger OF misrule, when the power shall into the
hands of minority possessing little wealth or Influence
But air. what are the facts OF the Gaze, Fer il il my
purpose il had the ability which other
cmen conspicmousy display, to indulge in beautiful
speculation abstract theories in the b. lillian
cy OF illustration by classical illusions % history. My
view ofhs subject shall be altogethe practical Ipur-
pose 10 enquire how the population Of Virginia, both
white and black, can be rendered mos happy and pros
porous? And what effect il likely ensue from, the
proposed alterations in our Constitution
The State OF Virginia contains hunled and Eve
counties aud four boTonehs having representation
These counties are very various in their dimensions in
the comparative fertility OF their SOIL as well "a in the
character their respective population. The variety in
these respects, IL very great indeed. Som- of the a.
Counties II wo have respect 10 principles. which all
have been taught to hi-r sacred have redundant
population; that is they have people than, by the
present system, fairly repre- in the Icgisa.
ture:- and must have this redundancy any theory
gentlem may be pleased TO adopt, whether 90 on
the white basis exclusively the compound basi,
oil population and taxation, the plan of CIV
ing representation 20 ill the blacks. Nor /. il fact
that these dverses aud discrepancies ase scattered
bout the State, here and there only, wide distance
apaT'; h on the contrary, large portions OF the Stat
and numerous counties lying contiguous 10 each other,
present a.pcctacle Of these great aud striking inequa.
ties The question il, whether we shall, .obcrly and
calmly, set ourselves 10 remedy such state of thing;
or whether shalt press subject that i, calculated to
distress all, and practically divide in feeling by
hrst teaching us that We divided in interest the
suit ot which only I've 10 bring To conclusion
which all true friends Of Virginia cannot but deprecae
AMI which hope never to
DO gentlemen ask us for facts? Sir. state this as
Tact, Tor the truth oil which appeal 10 the documents
furnished us from The Auditors office. From he head
OF clearwater, teavng ont the coun'ios of Spotsylya.
ma Caroline hanover, The county of my friend, Mr..
Morris and the one which gave the first impulse 20
the revolutions Henrico, Chesterfield and the city oil
Richmondo what is the OF population aud taxa
ton as far West "a the Blue Ridge Thi. region con-
tans large proportion Of the white population OF the
State; ii wants but hts Of containing majority of the
whole number of slaves: il pays very diproportionac
share OF the revenue; and. if taken in xion with
the limestone valley, (Which | consider "a appor-
tanning TO the eastern portion Of the State in all
al in'crets) the tuo together aiming najoritu OF
the total ,ohtte populations; majority also of the
sldpcs; and majority oil the taxation ike wise, by
balance of $4,000. Well, sir what is the repre-
,ena'ion enjoyed by that portion OF the State this
iioor! The fourteen counies of the YalSJ have %
nsmhrrs The region from the heal Of tide ID the
Blue Ridge, have 20 counties and 30 members making in
all Sc Thus sir, that in House containing 81
delegates region Of the State comprising majority OF
whites, blacks, and taxation is represented but by So
members leaving thus majority of IS members in the
Legislature actually against majority OF hs whole
population and the who taxation of III State Cen
tlemen ask for fact; here they are. do not
discuss the sectional interests of these relative por.
tons 9! the State: Would to God that could con.
slider the interest Of them all AMI the s,ne but
these views forced themselves my mini in conse
1uence of the course pursued on the other side.
Morris this ALL the grosses' inequalities pres them.
selves To our vie in that part oil the ate which
tends from the head of tide the ocean: ineouatics
glaring indeed, when the parts of the State are
compared together. The Senatorial District of which
Richmond forms part, and other have in the
iiou'e oil Delegates, exclusive of Richmond, %, and
nciu'ive OF ldchmonh. 81 Delegates. Thus, whil- 5
counties al the foo. OF the Rdgs paying tax of 37 $50
have 10 delegates these two Sena'or'a ID. strcis have
~ delegates. and pay tax of $32i cnytha being
the actual amount CT TAXATION pad by tbs counties;
Richmond which pays SlS,o7s being Withdrawn.
Sir, DO not say, that the country below tide water
Good bless the country below tide and all Vir-
ginia does not pay ia full propotio of taxes but
AK whether the very bic opposition this floor, had
not better unite with in devising and p.rec
feasible plan for the amendment of the Constitution
than obanatey TO defeat every plan that b, pro-.
posed.
Sir, have made other calculations, from which il
VIII appear, that the representation in the extreme
west OF Virginia is redundant; that in the extreme
cast is also reduAdantj and That while both these
oil The State WILL if The basis of white population shall
be adopted, lose portion oil their rer esentaton tn
middle region OF the State, which lies between them
VIII gam as much as they lose. The strength will thu,
be carried to the centre, and il suffer death il will
be fo'n disease Of the heart, for which there is no
remedy.
Agreeby 10 The Census of 1920, the whole white
population OF the State 6O3,0Sl whites -425 L as
slaves, AMI the Whole taxes in the year 1923, was
i23, 1868.
The people west of the Allegheny mountains were
i3"lt whites, 49, slave@, and they pay $50 O00 in
taxes They have at present 26 counties AMI 81 del
eGa'es but, on the basis of representation by white
numbers they would have II only, fye less than they
hare at present.
The people of the Valley between the Alleghanv
AMI the Blue Ridge, had white population of l2i 096
ana $3.50 slaves, they pay sos 537 taxesthey have
~ counties and % delegates 1t equalzed they would
have ~ There a:s in the region OF the ate above
the head OF tde-wa,er to the Blue Ridge, Is7 Is6
whites, and 200 500 slaves; and il paws Si6i 40
Tel TO 90 dciega'e', mare than At present. The
population below the head Of Underwater had I6I IS
whites, T6 1876 slaves, and pays Si57, 1856 in axeE;
they have 80 ccun-s and bororsis ani 76 dele
IN are entitled TO 81 only, making difference IF 49,
have made other calculation which 20 TO she w.
That there Is 80 material difference in the result b.
tween basng the representation on federal number
am on compound ratio oil population and taxation -
There will be but difference Of representatives in
House OF Delegates containing 1870 members.
Now, ST., ak fil be wise TO equazs the reprc,en.
ia'ian oil the state on any principle? If il be- then
deny that there is any other principle on which il can
nc ihy done, but that OF bdsng il majority Of the
free white inhabitants.
Property sir, in amy just scheme Of representation i.
not to be regarded but belonging to the whole Of the
society IL in atistocFacy that the argument i,
"hch insists on giving IL political power a. possessed