Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-01-07

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He tells tina, this experiment produced as much re-
venue from the East, from the West He supposcS
uat hc himself, few years before had ma e the first
proposition that submitted the Legislature
Tor imposing fax on cae-and that this single expert
"eh' resulting soiilerently from what anticipated.
GOOD assurance that the tax never be rcsored
sS tne means oil imposing undue burthcns the West
without examining the result of the laid durnr the
'a'e war; or cnqu'ring into its should he
skepcal i'm the opinion that cattle tax coHld operate
.equaiy, In the East and the west--equay upon
cotton or tobacco plantation, and upon grain growing
or grazing FARM and |, with all other wester n men
would be very unwilling 10 the question brought 20
me test oil experience Time may come when il will be
My friend from Chesterfield is mistaken in supposng
that he first proposed this TWAS Aabitually levied
during the revolutionary and for years after
wards-and no doubt, there had been paid the assessed
three pence upon the head of that very bullock which
was Impressed by an officer Of the revolution from John
Hook, and whose moaning low" figured conspicu-
ously in the cloquence Of Patrick Henry.
But, sir, il would not be difficult to- find many sub.
Jects oil taxation in the West in which he Eastern peo
pie have comparatively no interest Even their extern
sVe coal mines may at future day, be the subject of
burthcnsomc tax in which they would find no sympathy
east OF the mountains, except in the counties OF Ches
tcrieid and Henco. But look at the bountle5s stores
OF metallic ore which the western mountains every
where contain, and their extensive salt works. TO tho
gro"ta oil which theres scarcely assignabe limit;
aud you cannot doubt that disposition to impose unjust
purthens on the West, could readily find the means
Docs any one doubt how unequay an excise on distilled
spirits weuid operate? Unjust be understood as i'm
puuug to the people Of the East any disposition to i'm
pose unjust taxes or injurious legislation OF any kind OH
those OF the West do not believe they have any such
dlsposon--bu il Is my duty TO show that if they had
might be induged;-and that there fore we have the
same for Withholding extraordinary confidence
from them which they think they have for withholding
from the ordinary confidence which ia ex,onlod q,
the majority of equals
10 the proposed com pound basis Mr. Chairman I
have insmperabie objections ~ ts direct Object nd
erect VIII be TO give the power TO the minai " so s
natural ii not necessary qHpncc will he to p-op
ae that power, even although the re cons for be
ING II should pass away Tn process otiime, 1.-The work,
OF ,nternai Improvement may cease 10 he subject Of
J'aousy, andthe slave population may become 90 ge-
n'raly dused az 10 quiet al fears on that score-and
YET the power OF the government being in the hands
Of the minority they might regulate the taxes as 70
retain that power at pleasure. they would he the
cole judges, whether they would pay the purchase mo.
ney WIS to this even, Mr.. Chairman, that the gem
n"man from Northampton ssgaciousiy looked for w ard
when he asked the emphatic and sign6cant que s,ion
whether we were will ling to pay the whole expenses of
government and take it' wholc powerg No, cir r do
not believe that that gentleman had in Sonemplat ion
any such abuse of the power, which he de.i TO be-
stow on the minority-I believe that hs was me re
rhe torical quesonan vet IL coui not fail 10 emnd
us Of the value which ambition sets upon mower and
led ns to enquire what price the minority might be
willing to p,v for that which the majority would no,
or could not purchase Looking back but a few year.
ho we history 81 our own government, We taught,
by the extreme reluctance with which that minority
parted with their power in the senate, for which they
pAid the price OF double triple land tax-hovs
highly IL was valued by them. Considering the very
stuall amount oil the taxes OF the State Il can scarcely
be desmed suppose that the peopIe
o. the mountain would always be willing TO pay n dou.
he portion OF them, the price OF the power Of the
government. Whether they wouii or no, they ought
be exposed TO the danger.
/ Another and perhaps more serious objection TO the
compound ra'io Is the tendency Of the principle on
which 10 founded. Although in the actual condition
oil Virginia. would establish aristocracy or olgar
chy, wonld leave us still popular government vet is
wise to examine its bearing. and consider how FAR il
" proper 10 admit II into republic The principie
H. that as property must be protected il must have
representation, which would give its owners the power
the government as the only eecual means OF pro-
lection Now IL manifest that the argument in
OF such protection sreng you increase the va
iue OF the property and diminish the district in which
II Is sifua"d-so that IL the whole slave population of
Virginia confined 10 the tide water district that
district might forfor claim the rower of the govern
nent az essential to its protection. Blu, would such
claim be tolerated for moment! Could it be AZ.
lowed and leave any longer popular government 3.
No. sir Butye there is in the nature Of our govern
neni an appropriate protection for property thus situa
ed, mus exposed TO danFer-and wise majority wouLI
not fail 10 furnish IL. They would not surrender tie
power to this small minority to any other but thew
would erect constitutional barriers 10 the NJ
= their own power-and if they believed every o;ber
inefficient, they would give 10 the minority veto IN
on those laws which might invade their rights II il
in this veto, that The checks and baanc0s Of we'll adj
justed govci nmeDts must be found where the obe
Is to protect warng interests from the power of ear,.
ether The VARIOUS instances OF the restraint "; on the
power oil the majority, referred 10 by the gentleman
from Orange. (Mr Bsrbour) all ether restraints
upon The power Of the majority for the protection nj
the rights oil The minority expediens deli
bcra'Ion, and protect The majority itself from the effect
OF iaconsderate action None of them are inte nded 10
give power 10 the majority. Let US not then admit
into our constitution the principle that the of
the country. as essential 10 lis protection must
the power Of the government.
In conclusion, Mr.. Chairman, 7 beg the Committee
cTeuly and impartiAy 10 compare the two proposi-
tons which are submitted to their choceto reflect on
the simplicity the uniform character end operation of
the one, its entire conformity with The great n,
Of our government. and on the complex and varying
character OF The other it's proneness TO abuse and s
strong tendency TO discredit, IL not 10 cond the
doctrines which we have been taught most TO re,per
and revererce-tO enquire whether the one with ,
proper limitation Of the right Of suffrage does not ,Gor
the best possible assurance OF 10 all
and security 10 all rights, while the other endaDgers
the very object, seeks TO secure-and, above ali IA
mber that the leads 10 the restoration of tho
confidence and good feeling, the establishment of
ing peace and harmonythe preservation of the pow
the character the int gritty OF the state while the
other the seeds OF Devtr.dyng jeaousy and con-
teDiion, and threatens mischief which human W. 10.
dom can calculate, and patriot look upon with
out horror.
beg the Committees forgiveness, for having de.
tined them 'oDg in very laborious and
effort TO discharge my duty and have now only TO
that II any thing has escaped me, importing any ma n.
ner Of disre sp,ct, in the smallest degree vo,,ndny
the feelings Of any nne-gentlC will tecoect fa
7 have not that happiness Of phrase, which always
faithfully Translates my thoughts into ngusge ard he
assured that have too much real respect and kind
feel ng towards every member Of this Committee IN
&, allow for moment, 10 entertain towards one of
, them an offensive sentiment.
.
HIDUCATION The Subscriber, having engaged
~ Mr.. John G.. Nelson, who has had nineteen
years experience as teacher, informs the public, that