Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-29


mountto an unit. The gentleman may say whether
or moi am right That The numbers do very near
ly approximate, is certain. How much the differ
eucc may be, is unworthy serious elaboration. Here
then the gentleman from Augusta, aud the gentle
man from Loudoun, stand on ground OF the appor-
tonnent, which leaves the four grand divisions ofthc
State, almost they will stand on the mixed basis.
Ii you take the federal number and work by that
rule, 1t Will bring you TO nearly he same result
Now, II deserves to be mentioned us memorable fact
that this concurrence ofthrce different processes all
leading to the result shews the Justice and
gacl,y OF the sche1c Of the gentleman from Cupcp-
or, Mr.. Grccn.)
lle resortcG TO the plan of mixed basis flax
alton aud representation, not arbItrary-nor with
view 20 claim and "a CnnGucr power, hut mature
dehberatlon, weighing various Interests as they cX
island not from mere speculann-and II does hu p
pen, such is the influence OF the slave property,
(Which - not property merely hut men, on the other
classes of persons aud property in the community.
10 rondcr 1t Indispensable that they should nc consi
cred IA the ratio. And it is another aud most str-
king evidence ofthc sngacity and wisdom OF those
who originated the federal number. Il acts Oh the
JUS: principles of political economy The slave pop
niaton acts not only as tho lahouring power of suc
ety-but 1t takes the place of men. Wherever sia-
very exists and YOU look to the free mon of society
for MS government, and there Is any property uuali-
icaon, You arrive az the object, or very near
~ 50, by adding 3-5ths OF the slave population. As
by aSccrtaining al the voters aud aupurtoniug YOUR
representation according To numbers.
This view ofthe subject is cHnsung II present =
us point where all the processes meet aud coincide:
and then the only question Is tsccing this is the re-
suit by either culculation) not which ratio shall be
employed inst this moment; but what shall be fixed
upon III rule OF future appori comments. On lha,
SuhIcc' cry consideration of wisdom ana % convc-
- nee requires that G-,STd Si once her modes
OF ca'cu,aion ana Toxic the easy. simple practical
plan the Fcdc-a number, and make our apporton-
mont by that.
Why IRE VIC to take th-o Not arbitrarily. hu,
because 1t agrees with tie other processes aud be-
cause II any othcr is resorted for the future rule
You force an Artificial stHtc of THINGS BY huldnn
ont to politicians and individuals Inducements to
produce II. with vcw to unequal disti ibujiun al
Dol,lca power. II you take taxation a. voiIr rule
Legislation may be moulded. not by right principles
but sinister views 10 - influence on poiicai now
or; aud tuNaliun may he managed, % as merely /,
affect the balance OF that power.
Hyou take the rule OF qualified voters only. then
You encounter the difficulty Of accurately dccrmn
~ their number. The worry element OF calculation
Is wanting. If You go to tue Commissioners books
YOU encounter the toni and expense OF ernr al
the lawful voter, throughout THIS land: and YOU en-
counter besides, the active principle, al udcG TO hy
the gentleman from Augusta, leadiry men 10 make 2
false aud fraudulent CntatIon 90 the number a
those votes, and give an artificial CNGggctulon OF IL
aud thus YOU Will have on your books. host of nicu
of straw, who disappear at the polls Yuu 10 NOR,
ANA wonder hat the strong and MASCULINE mind OF
The gentleman from Augusta, dd not SEE tLis IAN
ger. aud roludiatc tie rule. u understood him
Alright, there IS no one mo regards with STRONGER
feeling oil torcbJdng and sOicuudc that part of our
duty. winch consists IN prescribing the qualification
OF 'ocrS thah the gentleman. have the authority
OF his Wl-!c political hc-(ar the lie OF 10 man
can bomure confidently appealed TO, to determine,
he future from the Iast ,--lOr this assertion. And
what wus' be the Consequences, II lie adopts t,is
principle Us future lest ofpohtcal power
The very first effect o! H. VIII he to turn the
thoughts % this Convention not to the consideration
OF Tn" reasons winch cgi'imatey belong TO the sub
Ject' bu' to lis influence the grand question OF
power.
The effect viii be, thai you ntcrposc barrier to
ialr canc d, and luGlcIOus decision OF the questions
affecting the limits of the Right of uSffiagc. | an
not sure that can exempt m}self from the opcrn-
Ton OF such an influence. fear that NV mind NAV
be turned away, from considerations Justly belong
Ng 10 tIoSc questions, by the important and decisive
lAnIence OF whatever principles We adopt, to rcru-
late The Right of Suffrage on ;Ie all absori,ino
question under considerations
Tins is iheincvitablc effect of fixing upon the ra-
no OF N.er7' as principle OF future action But.
what VIII be the effect in fuure' Fraud and sfn,i-
lation in fixing the number of voters. iusunernLI,
difcuiy WI arse IN getting at the real number oil
voters--And allowing you to gel at 1t first. vLnt
VIII be hc result hereafter; We propose, by the re-
solution ~ tile report OF The Lo0slalyc
TO extend the Right Of Suffrage, 80 as TO include
many new classes OF voters. We embrace all vii,
are mousse keepers. and have been assessed for
""" n"'o P'Iu r"V"nrc taxes. / hrc.
not # IT viii he carried 20 that cyfnnt-but ,t,,
a obtain, what d tie number ol qualified voters ,,hc w
opk 70 INC numbers, not now, but IN time Wien We n.
the zine TIC census shall be taken We cauot look t Gre
census onl 10 that taken in the year the aprooncn
s' be made; nod That w 70 Dc the foundation Of the alot
r'ent wei Md hat o., the oSpcuce At which tine a,c,n
nancy o Poucal power may be purchased, Ave- purchased
put up 10 auction and you the oicrcrs-Tho jcinuicnt
800 Toe payment Of county levy shilling tax VIII p1l sII
average $50 or 200 for each county, aud they may be- ,c
sumo have not taxable property. ne number of vote = n
' nmr taking as the criterion of suffrage the Payment of
s'cnpS arc probably auoU; 1000 Of tic RIDGE am
10y c c'i-ulon oi gentlemen tie other side there ar
lu OF @OOOO more above tc agc % ~ who cih.r have m
property M all or no taxable property co. sir vol s,o,y
a'e'ty member o This Committee kuovs that fofn the man
nrf m winch c assessments arc made, every Individual M i
""" nec pc asst may qualify himself vote 90 far as tina
t'i "uH' pthoa on having bis the commissioner
b'na ana 400 assessment 10 Oh prouert .ra. ti,
case on contractor or manufacturer who ms w o. ciloy 5f.
diy A1'frrs every ru" ~ rnI uiirct 90 IBIS beck a. call
'uh n" one "i '"cn may own dollars worth Of lavatL
90 p property yet eyc ui them may at PLEASURE 90 ,
oii-d oh ~ u- commissioner, affect ou u horse ar so
popry not subject to higher aN than cents and ,, ID
u' as property owned bYtm and Laio revenue tax an,
S "N OI pau" Doc ranks asa yocr, and than that bod
"iH "f INTO ihe computation when representation ia to H
upplHmrd. ~ ihs process, 10000 NAV be added to t
nunFOi Voers at an expense Of $500 and the If i
N ina ma cell oh.