Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-20


officers of own appointment. Mr.. ID. SAID he
az SO framed his amendment, as not To require the
General Assembly, absolutely, To take n census in
very tenth year. For time this will DC unavoda-
ly necessary; but alter new settlements shall 4
ecome filed with people and the population more
und less fluctuatng such frequent enume
atoms wil be less caled for, and may sometimes nc
dispensed with.
MIR. LrlGu suggested that each superintendent of
representation, ought to be followed by ass,ss
nen of the land tax. which Mr.. u. ssscnied, aud
modified his amendment accordingly.
Mr.. LEiGH said that while. by this appointment II
rs proposed co compel the Legislature To- make an
apporlonment. no new assessment for the land tax
was provided for. The consequences would be that,
while the increase of the whit, population III the
West would produce greater ratio than III the East,
the pcopie OF the West be- subjected to any
increase of contribution. tie took 1t for granted
that the white population fills up, aud the !nnds
cultivated, wenlh consisting III lands, Us labor
increasr. Not only will the value OF lands in
the population becomes dcnscr and dcrScr
but the very circum tance of the increase OF cult,
va"n. Will cause the increase Of the taxable proper
" of every description the lands And is II part
otthe design of gentlemen that the representation
shall increase with the OF population while
what may be the increase OF wealth. contribution
shall not increase? Looking at representation
distinct from contribution, provision is tO be made
;nat the representation ut the West shall be incrcas
cd, and no provision Is made for any assess-
men,s.
MIR. DoppRpGE stated that this was an omission,
and that lfthe gentleman from Chesterfield would
draw mp his proposition IN the shape of amend-
nlent, ne would adopt II.
Mr. LEIGH replied that he only pointed out the
difficulty for the majority TO amend not. IL WAS
a. pat o The province otthe minority 10 ud tAc
iority IN periectirg their schemes.
Mr.. MEE~ER moved tn amend the resolution by
Inserting provision that assessment OF the prop
cry subject to taxation should be made the same
time III 335.
Mr.. MERGE stated that he differed from tho Gen
t!eman trCm Brooke the subject of leaving d!s-
cretIon with the Legislature In England The cea.
suS Is taken every years, aud the had
cd most extraordinary increase of population. lie
referred 10 the utility, of these periodical returns of
tho of the and manufactures and all the bro
ducts OF the country.
lie also referred to the supposed expense Of taking
the census and to the which was taken during
the war, to ascertain the various resources of the
country The commissioners employed on that oc-
caslon, when every thing taxed from tho
picture on the wall To the carpet OH the flor
and from the mirror TO the cradle, and
when consequently the labor was nrch more one
rous than II could b. now, paid very moderately
lie expressed his gr-' iication, that the gentleman
IRON Brooke, had fixed the tunes for taking the cen
sus, between the taking of the United States census
Mr.. LEIGH expressed his qualification that the
genfloInen on the other side, agreed with him in
principle. He hoped the day would never arrive
when an assessment would be req red OH every arti.
Gle OF property, from the picture To- the carpet aud
from tile mirror TO the cradle, and the bed of The
child.
Some propositions made to amend 6, the res
outon was tprther modified when after few words
from Nh SrANARD on motion of Mr.. COOKE, tn,
resolution and amendments were passed over to ALLOW
time for the more deliberate consideration OF the sub
;ect.
The Committee then proceeded to take up the
third resolution
Tins resolution reads"1hat gh, suffrage shall con
nue 10 he exercised by all who eioy under existing
Constitution: Provided that person Shall 10y virtue o
his freehold only unless the shall he tie vau
of at least dollars for the payment Of taxes such assess
be required y aw: Aud shall be extended I ever,
tree white male of the Commonwealth resident therein
above the OF u years. who ew1s aud has possessed for
months who has acquired Ivy marriage descent or
freehold estate, assessed the value Of not loss than
dollars, for the payment OF taxes such shall
required by la ID who shall estate in fee
remander reyerson, in land the assessed value wo
shall he dollars Sd, or who shall and have Possessed
easehod estate with the evidence of title recorded Of d
originally not less than five years. and OF Which shall
u3eNpre o the annual value, or rent of dollars 9TH,
who for twelve months preceding, has been hstse
Keeper and head of family within the county, borough civ
or election DISTRICT where he may offer To vote and
have been assessed with part of of the Common
wealth within the preceding year. and actually paid the same
rovded nevertheless that the right Of suffrage shall not
exercised by any person of unsound mind who shall be
paper or commissioned officer soldier saiof or marine
III e service o the States nor by any convicted
any infamous offence by citizens born the Com
monweaiih unless they shall have therein for y
years. hedalely preceding the election which they
VOTE aud two years preceding said election, county CITY
borough or elocon district where they shall offer to vote rI
one n proving such previous residence, when disputed to
prescribed by law and shall, moreover pusess some one q
more Of the qualifications above enumerated"
MI LEIGH here read the prOviso 10 the first nuali
1calion-"provded. that person shall vote bv vr
tue Of his freehold only, unless the same shall be as
sesseu TO the value OF at least for the pay
nent OF taxes such assessment be required by law
The purpose of this proviso, i, to fix value to The
hrst qualification, and nay all understand the
meaning of the proyi5o. In the 1th qualification
the right of suffrage is extended all who arc hns
keepc s, and heads Of families, and have PAID taxes
without any provision 20 the precise sum 1ybicI
they must be shewn TO have paid Suppose that th
owner of this fee-smple is not the hnusckocpcr
VINO the mere tenant Is permitted 10 vote the -
tax which he may have paid. the frpcbc,'sr Is res
trained from voting, unless HE t~e snail be assess
Mr. l. ENLARGED or 80 i'j"-'icc Of This revision
,,nl,aa mn. EGo Accompanied by similar oroVI4
';E'to the honsekceper and after conlernIinr m,
whole principle Of the p'ovision he moved TO 1fncn,
the Oh qualification By inserting after the yo-,
TDonwealth the words to the amount of'
7 Mr.. RANDoLPH said he &c 10 make few sun
go.tions TO gentlemen who inovcd the amendment
ana ais, to tie Committee Ilc believed nc ,voul,
De hardly coniadiccd when he stated That the great
moving cau"e which brought this Convention tog,th
er, WIS the regulation ofthc right of suffrage. Al:
T. rths ouicry that has been raised on this subject
Judge my surpfjze, said Mr.. u when he ri n pop.
ne tVfsrrt IL q. 81 4