Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-01-10

De right to apporiion the reprcsen alton apreeaby
10 white population and taxation, tie Con-
gressionai DISTRICTS as proposed i'm the bill will
as nearly as is practicable effect this object: and
surely there is nothing unreasonable or improper
IN principle OF representation, that provides for
the security OF all the rights aud interes to be af
eeted by legislation, whether of persons or pro-
perty.
Now, sir, tits demonstrable that representation
upon the basis OF white population or, indeed up
on any population, does not necessarily afford the
least security to the rights OF property: to illus
rte my views of this subject. permit me 70 call
| the attention of the committee to two coun,ie. 40
they stand in alphabetical arrangement on the
AUDITORS Report The county uf Powhatan( W hich |
nave the honor in part to represenD with a white
population OF 2492, pays tax OF $1,000 S4-the
3342, pays a tax of 1868 "a. Now, suppose these
Two counties were to associate and form a govern
ment, IN which the representation should be APP
poruoned agreeable to white population, is it not
manifest that Preston would control the whole
iegisiauon whether for the imposition of taxes or
the appropriation of the revenue! and, i'm this
state OF things, would il not be the interest of
Preston to double, nay, treble the taxes when for
every dollar that she paid, Powhatan would have
10 pay SIX or seven, and she (Preston) would have
the uncontrolled disbursement OF the fund 90 rails
ed! And, being her interest can il be believed
that that interest would have no influence upon
her legislation? Would not the people of Powha-
TAM IN all probability, become the pay-masters for
80 N4S hSNCVsoiy Improvements IN the county OF
Preston! and be told, that these appropriations
We're designed to benefit them as much as their
western brethren, inasmuch the effect would
be, to increase the facilities OF intercourse between
Inherent parts oil the same State: and althou oh il
might be difficult TO make the people Of Powlatan
comprehend how the increased facilities of intro
ducins western stock and whiskey into their couu
try, (Which would be an additional draught upon
their circulating mediumD would remunerate
them for the sums thus expended, vet thew wouId
be bound TO subDif-and time fI,o 81, IT.,
terest OF the people of one sec ton would be sac
rilced-at least, they would have other securi-
y Tor them, than what might be found in the Jus.
tice' mercy and magnanimity of the people of ano.
lher section; precisely the same security that the
veriest slave has under the most absolute despo,
ISM on earth. Take another example furnished
by an arrangement OF districts upon this basis nj
white population, drawn up by the gentleman
from brooke, and proposed as a substitute for the
hrst section OF the bill. Two of the eastern die
tFcts (tbis and the adjoning) pay an ale
TAX oil SI6,45o AZ, would be entitled TO 8 mem.
bers in the Convention, whilst 4 of the western
uls'ficts' paying an aggregate tax of $32,432 81,
would be entitled to I6 representatives: Now ii,
what security would these two eastern districts
have, II associated in government with those four
western districts, when they would have double
the representation, and pay considerably less than
one-haif OF the revenue? These rights and inter
ests must necessarily be endangered if not sacr;
fced.-Mr. Chairman, do not pretend ,ba, thas.
cases. which ! have mentioned, furnish fair re.
presentation OF what would be the result at Dre
sent oil the whole eastern and western people a.
sociateu upon tins principle, but it shews most
conclusiveiy, that there is nothing in the nrnc;
pie itself that affords binding security IN tho
rights oil property: fortuitous state of tbinns
may sometimes exist, where, from the similartv
OF property and its equal distribution representa-
eoh upon ,he basis OF white population would at.
ford the desired security: for, in such stata of
things, the representation would be the same unon
Tie one as upon the other basis but such similari
ty and equality of distribution, in relation 10 nro
perty, would necessarily continue, but for a short
une, II IL ever existed, and, consequently tbi,
principle OF representation would afford no astinp
security 10 the righ's oil property But we are
frequently referred for guide in the con,deration
oil t'iis subject TO elementary principes-lo some
supposed original state OF thngs-a state of ma.
lure, DIS II Is called, where individuals having M
other than personal rights associated ior proiec.
ION against the aggressons of others: where the
rights OF all were precisely the same none bav-
my as yet acquired the rights OF property 1 pre-
sumo Now, II such state of things did ever
exist, and such association was ever formed !,
was rather military than civil one: Uowerer ,
THIS may be, II Is perfectly certain that no such
state oil things exists at present. or ever can ex,.
ior' all laws and constitutions were repealed and
aoroS situation would be very different from
TINS supposed original one; and if we were hon |
ABOUT TO form new social compact, we should as
sembie with very different views, and for very f
ierent purposes instead Oh personal protection he
'"S "O'c oiDeCi, Consideration
would be, protection to the rights OF property ar
CURED III the progress Of society. Yes sir If All The
existing institutions OF the country were an,,,Ied
we should still possess these rights and before y
entered into any social compact whateyer.it would
NC uuly dictated by common prudence-to see |
that such an association gave the promise al Ioss,
81 difording the desired security But. agreeable
10 the elementary principles of some gentlemen !,
seems that lis such state of things we sbonII
nave no right TO stipulate for any Thing. There
eSs's IN me majority OF the whole people an in,
iere'f right to do in the premises preciseIv ,,i.
they please-to take from those who have 1ro,a~N |
W suppose-and give to those who have npne
hey may, sir, have the physical polDer To do Co
provided the majority is large but that does NO, |
I'D my opinion, constitute any right: and ,vben
!s n otte''O' measure oil force is resorted to- il
VIII supercede the necessity of al further argu
ment upon this subject-and | am glad tbat 1ho
gentlemen from Frederick & Brooke took occas;n,,
10 inform us, that they did not mean TO menace ~,
win this Tesort-ior, without such information
we might very naturally have mistaken ,br,,
nut - ior one cannot agree, that because, perad
venture, state OF things may arise i'm which r,,
rights may be wrested from Inc by force H.; |
therefore, am bound to surrender them volun |
iarily. NO, sir, until that period shall arrive 7
w mss, upon IL as matter OF right, that any DO
itical body, 10 be vested with the power NJ 3or,O
ing rules and regulations affecting tle r;b,s a''I
interests oi me and my constituents, shall he so
constituted, as to afford, as far as practicable 60
curlty TO those rights and interests I. sir. 5env
mat the majority OF the whole people have anv
, ~ en aishl 70 goyern-and deny thatforce-
as Is contcnded by the gentlemen from FredericL |
y brooke-is the foundation of all political no,yc
I'D ths elementary state of things referred 10 ,o
majority oil the whole people have no rjgft IN COS,
eTn; out what is derived from consent, express ar
pPleu' ana 'nat consent actual or virtual is the
oundation of their political fnr - 'i'e
II all the political bonds by which ,bis socio,,
1eld together, were Dissolved and ,ve ,yor 49,,