Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-06-19

Sirginiensis has drawn an afsuyaent from the
fact, that Virginia is and undivided, and her
government consolidated; and that OF the United
States, federative-which, he thinks a conclusive
answer to my reasoning from the concession Of
white population the basis Of repre- sentation in
the State, TO sijnila. concession in the Federal
Legislature, and s'so 10 my argument in favor OF
taxation or property as an element of representa-.
ton derived from the clause quoted from the Con-
sti,ution OF the United States Admitting all his
premises on this branch Of the subject deny his
conclusions. Though true, that Individuals ia he
one case and States in the other, are the p.riie.
10 the compact, il does not follow that just princi-
Piles OF representation, should not obtain in both,
nor that the Constitution may not, with perfect
fairness, be the result of comprot,ise between
conflicting interests in the former case, well
The latter. Nay, II II be not so, the government
will be rope Of sand, or a tyra,.t's CD. ain. Who
ever will read the clause of the Constitution,
dpportioning representatives aud direct taxes,
M ust be convinced oil the inseparabie come ction,
IN The minds OF its authors. between the subjects
oil taxation and representation, aud that though
the result Of compromise in its DETAIL the article
was adopted in the spirit of inviolabie adherence
10 thai principle as just and light ia itself. And
herein consists the resemblance bet,ve ell the two
cases. which makes IL perfectly fair to reason from
the one TO tile other, notwithstanding the diIe-
renee between States forming IA fedcrative r-pub-
lie, and single State forming Constitution for its
own government, that the different States stood in
relation to each other, with regard To the posses
sion OF very large aud valuable property, in point
OF justice aud interest the same ground with
the different parts cf the State of Virginia And
though, in the formation of the social compact, Il
must be allowed the phrase, the criticism Of Vr-
giniebsis to the contrary Notwithstanding the
counties are no, sovereign; neither the East
ern and cstern divisions oil thu, State separate
vcregnties. yet these considerations do not alter
the eternal principles Of truth and Justice; nor
prove that what is right in the case, is not
right in the other Nor do they prove, that if
f,-a L.. Is :. A.
ut oil one country or section, instead of being,
cessariiy for the benefit of the whole; and ii such
consequence is likely 10 result from given state
oil things, that the people of the came State may
not endeavor to adjust their conflicting interests,
as well different States If not and population
alone is the true basis Of representation in all ca
ses, then is government the most simple and easy
science on earth, instead of being the mos, abb
siruse and difficult The same principles, accord
ing to this reasoning, are equally applicable to all
possible states and conditions OF society, aud Con-
sutuiion -making,a mere past time. Ii would be
worse than useless 10 repeat my former arguments
here; but whoever is disposed TO review them,
bearing these remarks in mind, cannot fail 10 per-
ceive, though Federal and State Cony euion, are
" essentially dissmar in their formation, laws,
aud government; aud, therefore, that an argument
which would be true, when nsed as applicable 10
the one, would not necessarily apply to the other;
That in this particular case the argument does APP
ply, so far az The opinions and the reasoning of,
perhaps,the wisest and most august assemblage OF
men ever known 10 the world, are entitled TO re-
spect, to prove, that taxation is just element OF
representation; and that every argument which
can be adduced to disprove this proposition, and 10
establish free white population alone the basis
in ihe State Government, would apply for,iori in
the General Government. No one that has re- nd
them. am sure, with the exception of Virginien-
| els, could understand me going upon the
principle. that the different counties, the East
ern aud Western divisions of the State, are sove-
reign, and treating abont ,he formation Of fede-
rative republic;' or will affirm, that taken altoge-
ther--the only fair way of counting any thing
my arguments admit of that construction. Refe-
renee vas made 20 those divisions, for The purpose
OF illustrating what is just and right between the
real parties, the peopie-the equal rights u all,
In every part OF the Common wealth, 10 unequal
things-the right Of all 10 their property, and
not TO have it taxed, but by " their assent, given
by their representatives."
I'm Eastern Tirpi,,inu