Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-12-19

indifference. but becomes an important ossten Alhe
marie has hall her population obliged pay this poll
tax, while buckingham has none TO paw and vet the
ability OF the two Is by supposition the same
Thus, then, there Is new difference between these
counties one has TO pay double tax. while IL il at
me same time but hay represented Thus tho former
diuereuce OF TO has now become diff. rence OF 10
Ito In representation, and to in taxation. eau
any man say that this IL safe condition Oe ht IL 10
be acquescei IN! call upon gentlemen on this side
the mountains to reconsider this subiect and candly
10 say whether the plan proposed does Justice TO the
county In which they live, To say whether such be.
sis oil representation is which any Government
can he expected long to stand!
cay again, that co,npsr will hold, ~ to
any one oil the other States but that il does hold,
respects the two portions Of the Union under the
Federal Government. What did Virgnia coatend Tor.
when mat compact was entered into! That the black
population should be excluded in representing her in
the General Government No, Sir: no such thing.
She maintained the principle, that representation and
taxation should hand la hand that II the enumera.
ton OF her population be reduced, on account
oil the slaves, should her taxation be reduced also
or she never could be safe. Such was her demand
ani such vas the decision Of the General Government:
anu accordingly her taxation laid in proportion
e number OF her Inhabitants, which was allowed in
the enumeration.
But. is said, THAT thisi unfair-that il is merely
supposed case and proves nothing. Well TN en-, let us
leave suppostion, and come actual realities will
take Amherst, whose population Is 10000, and will
take Harrison, whose population also Is 10000, while
the white population is 400 Here two counties
with the same population and how stands their taxa
ton? Amherst pays $1,000, Harrison but Sl7S9-
Now, the principle of the White Basis OF repre-
senation, Harrison will get two representatives, and
hmnert only one (snd not quite that) Here, then,
you have Amherst, paying $1,000, and Harrison but
$2OoO: difference in taxaton, in favour OF HArri-
son. OF to1; and Amherst with reprsss nta,ive, and
Harrison with another difference in favor uf Har-
rison OF to Put the two advantages together, and
Harrison. by the white basi., gets to over Amherst
Gan Amherst approve this! contend thai such sys-
TEN, is safe on.. The same thing will take
all through the State.
We have come here 10 contend about the Treasury.
know that no man can come upon my land, s. deprive
mo OF the possession Of II; but what security Is this,
ne can tax II as he pleases till he takes its whole value
away, aud may do what he plcases with the money!
what can do! | may complain, and loudly
but that Is all. Two can always vote down and
ter not send our Delegates to the Assembly all; it
VIII he but useless trouble and expense Say there
are 30 counties like Albemarle * another 80 like Buck
ingham the one of these classes will have so repre-
scntatves, the other will have 100. What chance car
there be for the so! Aud extend the same state of
things to the whole Commonwe alth, and will be
the difference!
But then have heard somet hing very consoIatorv
about three enhs Three enths is less than one third
AIbemarie isio get something more-we give her the
enths--and then Buckingham will have 100 Dele
gates, while Albemarle has &c. Again I ask, what
chance will there be for Albeare? Suppose through
mere oversight she is not only taxed according her
ability to pay, but the poll tax has he paid What
chance will she have to resist such oppre ssionl-
troll any measure Of finance whateverl Has she any,
the least chance to defend herself None whatever.
repeat, we might just WELL to all practical purposes
leave the western delegates egslate for us by the M
serves without giving ourselves the trouble to attend
NO Sir. flour Government is to stand, representa-.
on must be in proportion to atom deny us ths and
the result will be oppression.
Under these impre ssons, and on these pripcipies /
shall vote here shall vote, not for the
oil 3d Of our black population but Tor the ,choie Of it,
say that Eastern Virginia is entitled, justly entitled 10
m and rhaps h., H.
Der, she makes great concession.
Mr. SUMMERS then and addressed the House,
on the other sides
Speech is unavoilably omitted thi, morning. but
WIZ certainly appear in next.l
Mr.. SCOTT now moved that the present subiec. be
laid upon the table,
MIR. DoDDRIDGE enquired for the reason. in favor
MIR. Scorr replied, that no respectable majority
could be obtained for the present pIan and that such
majority could be obtained for that Of Messrs. GoR-
DON and UPsHUR's
Mr. POWELL demonstrated against so unprec edent-
ell course, as that the avowed enemy Of proposition
should lay upon the table, for the sake of palnus
upon the consideration of the House against the wishes
oil Its friends proposition to which he was an open
enemy.
Mr.. GoRDoN said he should vote in favour of Mr..
SCOTS motion He should not change his vote upon
The subject OF the compromise. He thought the Con-
venton bad hid experience enough that the dis.
cusson OF this white basis could only have a ten
dency to protract its deliberations to no end. He
S'o"" 'o'o '" ray I" upon tne hoie ana take up what
was practical scheme. He saw plainly that the pre-
sent discussion would be interninabie. IL the Con-
vention were to agree any Constitution at ALL the
period allotted for that work by law very short The
subject had already been discussed for months and
why should more time he wasted upon its discussion?
Mr. DoDDRIpE said he the more disposed
to proceed
The gentleman from Albemare 10 for laying this
subject upon the table and thus escaping any direct
vote upon the question Of white basis in the House of
Delegates.
The yeas and nays would never be recorded and the
votes OF members forever concealed--He deinaned the
yeas and nays on the pres. motion. They were or
dered accordingly.
Mr. MERCER said that IL this number should sue.
ceed and the gentlemen should call up the proposition
OF the gentleman from Frederick (Mr Cook e, against
the viii OF the mover he should against that pro-
position.
Mr.. GORDON dsavowed all design Of concealnv
from his constituents or from the world, any vote he
should give or any thought he entertained on the SUBJ
Jects before the Convention.
Mr.. DoDDRIDGE said that that gentIeman was IN.
OF the last whom he shonld suspect of such purpose
but such would nevertheless be the eff 81.
Mt SCOTT said in reply to Mr.. POWELL I. that If the
course was unprecedented or unparliamentry he ma
learned II from the example ofthe~ gentleman from
Loudoun (Mr. MERcER) who had pursued such
course toward propositions which he had sought to con-
sumed two whole days in the attempt to force vote
upon them.
Mr.. MERCER said he wished the gentlem ian would
De guided by his example In othsr respects a, 10
this he was in an error: what he (Mr. NJ had endea
yored 10 procure was not the any one propo.
son against the will Of its friends, but on two differ
ent propositions combined
Mr.. LEIGH said, what his friend from Fauorer ,ro-
badly attended to the motion Of Mr. Mercer 10 pss
over the proposition of Mr. Upshur when IN had ire,