Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-20

ing consolation Of having used his feeble exertons to
prevent IT. he SAID that he fearful that the i'm
preston hau gone abroad among the eastern peo-
ple that the feelings and interests of eastern and ives
tern VngInians were adverse and he bad almost said
hostile IN the extreme This impression had origin
aieu ctiof In ignorance or In art and cunning mis-
He for one believed that the people of
Virginia have but great and important interest to
sustain the character of the Old Dominion, to adopt
ana pursue such course of policy will arrest her
retrograde movements and bring her back to her
cient greatness Those sentiments had been careful
ly instilled In him from his cradle and ne believed
that they were the sentiments of his constituents
lie SAID that his constituents and himself were Vir-
gnars, and have the feelings of them. For himself
he fet proud of her SOIL and bound her sons by the
strongest ties of brotherly feeling and affection and
from his earliest infancy he had been taught to rev.
erence the names of her long train of ustrious he
roes and worthes, aud claim part of their fame as
his birthrght with all that elevated PRIDE peculiarly
characteristic of Virginia. With such sentiments
he had lived and ifhc should he buried in the plains of
the MISSISSIPPI, or III the bosom of the ocean, with
such sentiments he sould die.
Mr. OLD SAID, that he could not but consider the
course OF argument pursued by gentlemen in opposi-
ton to this bill, as somewhat extraordinary. they
have declaned against it, as not being in accordance
with some views of principles of theirs
out have 10. attempted to slew, how it will operate
10 the INJURY or endangef the rights of the people in
any part OF the state. The gentleman from Brooke
MIR. Doddrdge,) who last addressed you tienounces
as containing feature of property Representations
never occurred any Convention befOre
out, he docs not slew that such provision is unrea-
senaie, or wond Operate inriosly to the rirhts of
the people, or that it is Incompatible with the objects
o All Zee Governments and the arguments of the gem
tlenciirem Frederick and Brooke do cert siny how
ever d,sciaImed contain strong appeal to our fears
\ portion ofther arguments NAV be rendered Thus.
we want Convention, and we must have it In orr
own way or not at tableware how you reject our
Demands, Tor we shall never make uno.,cr appeal to
this ousefarce (which sthe foundation of ali politi
cal power, is with though we dcprecate its nse
but IT you reject demands, look to the conse-
duenccs. Now, SIR are these proper arguments upon
such an Dccasions | viii now sir, endeayor to do
what these gentlemen did not. / will examine into
the merits OF this bill, and see whether it is Calcutta
Le@o TO promote the proper objects of goternlnent-
r what conceive to he the proper object of all free
government is to afford protection to its citizens
protection to their rights of persos and their rights
o property. he first of these objects, is simpcand
easy oi attainment Ill every representative govern
met because this class of rights uniform in their
character. The personal rights of the citizens of
Boooke, and of Princess Apne. of Accomack and of
Lee, together with those of every intermediate coun-
", are precisely the The representatives of
one section OF the state cannot pass laws, injurious to
tiie personal rights ofanoter section without eouay
affecting their own. But the rights OF property are
Oh very different character-they are numerous va
rious and difficult of adjustment; and in relation to
the IL Is manifest TINT the representatives from one
portion OF the state NAV enact laws, burthensoe and
oppressive to the people of another not ONLY with
oui feeling the pressure themselves but greatly to
their advantage 1t appears to me- therefore that in
every representative government, not the persons
only nut the rights and interest to be affected by le
gslatl"n, should be duly and properly represented:
ana more especially, those rights which cannot from
tnelr nature be Uniform and therefore, peculiarly liza
pie 10 suffer from partial and unjust legislation.
NJ. Chalrnan the power OF all free government is
most ieit by the people through the medium of taxa
non. Il his IS the power ofsuch government most
aoie 10 De abused 1t Is this power that excites SO
much anxiety upon the subject of otH present debe-
nj HON, of
ms power that has suggested the various propositions
tat nave been presented othis House. 1t would seem
therefore, that taxation and Representations are nece
sariy connected-that taxation should only enter
to, pu mainly regulate the superintendent of rep
rescntatol as the only means of guarding against the
abuse OF this power. But, is the object of ro-
Vernment to afford protection, both to the persons
ana P'Dperfy OF ITS citizens, representation based
upon Tue compound ratio ofpopulaiion and taxation
would seem to afford the fairest prospects of effect
ing GOTH objects; and | in favor Of adopting The
congressional Districts. the bases of represen-
ot'oh, because they are existing divisions of the
state, tilat approximate as practically ne
cessary, to this combined principle; 10 illustrate
which, beg leave to state TO the committee the
result OF calculations which | have made, in rela-
tom to the Eastern, Middle, Valley, and extreme
Western sections oil this Commonwealth The three
estern Districts for the election of members of
Congress, comprising % counties, contain popula-
ton OF l3l236, ofwbch I'll ,49 are free whites and
pay tax OF S35 ,442,01.--In convention composedl
OF oS members, proposed III the BILL this section
would, by white population, be entitled to ~ g mem
bers and by taxation TO 4-combined ratio (exclu-
sive OF the tractions) II and that is the number which
Is proposed TO be given to them BY the bill. The
whey DISTRICTS comprising counties, contain u
population of i67,4IG, of which 1872 III are white
and pay tax OF 6G,iY4 y5I.'Fhey would be entitled
by white population to ~ members, by taxation to
Is % The combined ratio (exclud.ng fractoils 6
ana this IS the number proposed TO be given them in
I he bl.-Ihe eastern DISTRICTS Comprising 80 conn
ties, the cities of Richmond and Williamsburg and
the Borough of Norfolk contain population o! 3OI
554, OF which 134J23 are white, and pay tax Of
Si26,551 6.-Thcy would be entitled, by white
populations, to l91 members, and by taxation to &c
--eombined ratio % 20, which is one and an epht
less than is proposed 10 NC given them in thc bill
Inc middle districts, comprising 33 counties and
Peter tuiu 6