Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-05

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rivalry and every expense seek the attainment Of
avorite object, how then will stand the question OF
powerl
Upon the basis OF white population, the western vote
Is estimated at 90. But of the western country, tho
counties oil Grayson, Montgomery, Wythc, Washing
ton Scott, Lee, Russell, Tazewcll, Logan and Cabe.
belong neither TO the James river the Potomac in
teresis. Their population entities them to twelve yotcl
which must be deducted from the fitysix leaving for
ty.iour To this add the vote of those counties this
side oil the mountain which have espoiised
either the James river the Potomac incres--Lou-
dodn, Fairfax, Albemarlo, Amherst, Nelson, Fluvanna
Goochland Bedford and Campbell aise the vote of the
city of Richmond, in all thirteen, and you give to the
combination the power of fiyseven agains, sixty three
II must then seek other alliances to be uccessful.-
Where will il find them? viii the south western
ties that have enumerated unite with them!
That bond Of sympathy originating in q common feel
ing of common injury, which has heretofore given SO
much power 20 the western vote may unite them un-
less you dissolve it, by adopting the basis of white no
puation and causing every local interest sympaso
only with the interests of the commonwealth. Do this
and there will be no better why the south
tern counties should unite themselves with tho James
and Potomac, than there would be, for such union
OF the Roanoke counties, below the Mountain
a. Will the Appomatox or Rappahannock interests unite?
This could only be on terms which would promise them
the achievement of their objects of improvements TERMS
which would swell the whole expences still higher and
multiply the difficulties of And il this object
Is to he obtained, only by combination of this sort it
win be easy to shcy that the compound basis would DO
no scci;rity against them. t
The compound basis. if any thing could, would car
ry the whole western VOTE in unbr ken phalsnx upon
this subject. have elsewhere, Mr. Chairman, refer
red to the well known intu snce of this vote In tho
Legisa Of Va; and this reference has been treated
here threat used to influence the this
Convention, Never was the meaning OF any one more
entirely msconceved, il il has been thought for mo-
ment that referred to the influence ofths back woods
vote, with any tho rcmoes in cntion OF h)ldin. il an
ferrdrem over the members of this Convention. Sir
i mentioned Il, with far different motives and, il il
wonderful that they shoal have been understooJ
= mentioned it as an evil which il was desirable to
remeiy-as the natural effect of that Of inius-
ce, which the Western people had long felt, a
reason Tor believing, that mpt 10 deprive them Of
power, by denying them their just share in the rep-
resentaion, would on many occ ssons defeat it, own
object, as il might give power to their
than you had taken from their number. III had be-
ieved that there was single member OF the Conven-
ion capable OF being influenced by such appeal TO
his fears. wonld have disianed TO address myself
him. But, lrepeats sir, that If there s any thing,
which could unite the whole We,,ern vote, in favor OF
the combined scheme oil Improvement, which
now considering, IL would be your compound basis.
Suppose them thus upi,ed:-the Western vote upon
the compound basis. is 43-the vote Of the nine Poto-
and James River counties On this side Of the Noun
tain, would be l6that Of the city of Richmond. nearly
3-makins in the whole 62 votes. a small majority. IL
the ten south western counties. any of them should
not unite. the combination must only look for oqui-
vaient, In an alliance with the Rappahannock Apo
mauox The whole force OF the ten south western
counties upon the compound ba els is hut voles-which
subsraced, would leave the strength OF the James Ri
and Potomac interests 81 votesand leave them 10
seek allies from the other districts.
~
upon either bass, the State IL perfectly safe from the
domiaa,ion Of any great local nterestthat upon
neither is safer from combin atoms Of them, il such
combinations be practicable al aIl;-hat in this respect,
II there be any difference between the two, only
be, that the compound basis the combination reQu-
ed may be little more extensive, and, therefore, little
more mschievous in its consequences. But, sir, when
we ascertain that the great body OF the State above and
below the Mountain directly interested in its
Improvement OF what great consequence is 1t to cacu
late the probability OF combin atons! The policy must
AMI will be cherished and whenever plans are present.
ed which recommend the sisclves public approba-
ton, by uh-ir apparent practcati:y and usefulness,
they will be adopted. Gentlemen have supposed, that
as the more expensive Improvements were best suited
to the western inerestsas the estates Of the
people TO be most improved by them, and they
contributed the mslest proportion OF the taxes which
might be necessary 10 defray the eypense,they would
he less careful In counting the evils and more dis
posed TO encourage cxiravagan and runous projects.
without stopping 20 enquire whether the western
people have most interest, in the expensive i'm.
provemens, am content TO have shewn you that the
Valley people at least Contribute for man, nearly
as mucn tax as the eastern people, the whole west
when the iaeqr,trs OF the last assessment shall have
been corrected will contribute fully in proportion
their ability TO psythat The of small property
parts with tythe OF his prois, with ,mtch cauion
and reluctance the OF large property, and that
the local taS in the form OF tolls Otherwise, which
the local district must pay for every Improvement III
at once rigid attention 20 its economy and use
fulness and guard the public interest My purpose in
advering to the argument now. is to shew the conse-
quence TO which ii leads Observe,-'hs srgumen nj H.
that the western people will advocate improyident
pendures Of public money in the improvement of their
estae' because they contribute unequalIy to the pub
lie treasure-to control which, power should b.. given
TO the eastern people, by giving them representation in
proportion 10 their taxes and numbers combined. Now
IT Is obvious that IL the money Is to be expended in
the improvement OF western esates the inequality OF
contributions cannot be the only the governing mo
tive with western men, looking their interests for
advocating the expenditure. Suppose the contributions
equal suppoe the western to pay dollar for dol
lar with the eastern and their joint contributions
be applied 10 the improyeWent OF western estates
would nohe expenditure still be an object of de sire to
western cupidity? How much difference would it
make in the conduct of interested whether for
the Improvement OF his property, he was voting
Que dollar Of each! You would have az little conf.
dence in him. in tie in The other. If il be-
true then that the western people are interested in inn
provemens that do not interest the east,aDd that they
would be tempted by selfish considerations 20 cxpehd
the public money in those improvements, without ade
quate indemnity, then IL mauifsst ba no sale guard
would BE- found for the interests Of the east, IN the cir
cumstance that the west paid equal proportion Of
the public axe In such state OF things some other
argument must he found and doubtless would he found
to justify the refusal Of power 20 The west We should
be told then AZ we are told now tina, 10 secre the pro-
perry Of the east from the power OF The west, the go
vernmen must remain IN the hands OF The eastern peo-
pIe and ba-is OF representation would he de-
yised 10 effect il Would not this lead TO the concju.
son that The tide water country, least Of all inter-
ested in internal improvements as The most impartial
bitef between the various local interests 10 the only
proper 6epository Of the power Of this government
Before I take leave Of the subject OF internal inn
proyemcnfs allow me brief explanation relative ~
one which seems to have been much misunderstood
here allude to the James River mprovemsnt-whic
has hec treated in a calculated cast ina