Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-01-07

that power, even although the reasons for
cstowing IL should pass away. In process
:. tim the works of intern ! improvement
may cease TO be subject OF nlousy, and the
slave population may become so generally
dindsed, as to qniel all fears on thai score--and
yet the power of the government being in the
hands of The minority, they might regu
late the axes. rs 10 retain thai power nj plea.
sure. The, would he the sole judges, whether
they WOULD pay the purchase money. Was II
TO this point. MIR. Chairman. that III. gentleman
irt IN Northampton sagac,ously looked forward
when he asked the emphatic and significant
question whether we were willing 10 pay the
whole expenses of government, aud take its
whole power No, sir. do no, behave thar
that gentleman had in contemplation any such
ADJUST OF tho power, which he desired TO bestow
on the minority ? | believe that hb was
mere rhetorical question, and yet II could not
tail TO remind us of the value which ambition
seis upon power, and lend us To enquire what
price the minority might be willing 10 pay for
thhi winch tue ma)uIify ,oanld nni ar could
not purchase. Looking back but n few years
into The history OF our own government, we
are taught. by the extreme reluctance with
W bich that minority parted with their power
in the Senate, for which they paid the price Of
double or u treble land ,ax,--bow highly II
WAS valued by them. Considering the very
small amount Of the taxes of ih,s State. IL can
scarcely he deemed unreasonable 10 suppose
that the people east the moDntnin would al
ways be willing topuy n double portion oil
them, as the price of the power of ihr govern.
ment. Whether they would or no. they Ought
npt 10 be exposed to he temptat,on-"e ons 4
moi 10 be- exp sed TO tho danger.
Another aud perhaps NOR serious objec'iun
TO the compound ratio. is the tendency of III,
principle on which Il Is founded Altl.'n9h ints
actual condition oil Virginia, il would establiS
M ar,stocracy or oIigarohy. would luave us
still popular government. yet II u wise To 81
ANNE It's bcaring, aud CONSIDER how far il Is
proper 10 admlt il mo our republic. Ihr
principle IS, that property must he protected.
" mnLt have representation, WIN II would
give its owners the power OF tho goVernmen AZ
the only nectual means OF pro'octio". Now
II Is naniiesl thai the argument IN iavor OF such
projections steugthrne, rs you inerrnse the
value of the property aud dimiuish the district
in which it's situated 20 lhnt II the whole say"
population Of Virginia were conf cd o the tide
water district, Hat dsir'd might n f0rti0ri
clam the power of the government as essenh I
q ITS projection Rat would such n CLAIM
be folera ed for IA moment Could Al be allow
Ell, aud eave any longer popular cove ~
ment' No slr j, But yet here IL IN the an
ton Tor property thus situated, thus Il psed 10
danger, and "A WISE mn oriiy would not TAI
IL furnish IT, They would not surrender the
power 20 this small minority or to nny Other
but they would erect constitutional barriers 20
he exercise of their own power and II ihoy
believed every other inefficient, they would
give 10 tho minority n vote upon thost laws
which might invade then rights. II Is IN this
vote, that the checks md balances of wei adj
juled government must be found, where the
ubject IL to protect warning interests from the
power Of each other. The Vafious lnstnnc
# the restraint upon the power OF tho msjnri
~, referred to by the gentleman from Orange,
(Mr Barbour,) are all either restraints upon the
power Of tho majority, for tho protection OF
The rights OF tho minority. or expedien', % Sc
cure deliberaiion, aud protect tho MAJORITY
itself from the effects OF inconsidefaib action.
None of them are intcnded Ia give power To
tho minority. Let us mol then hdnn mo our
constitution the principle that tho property OF
The country, as essential 10 its protection. must
possess the power Of the government
In conclusion. M Chairman, sog The Com
mttee carefully and impar'iaily to compare the
two propositions which are submitted to ihfif
choice to reject on The simplicity. the UNI
form character aud operation OF The one, It's
entire conformity with the great principles OF
orr government and on the complex aud vary
ing character OF the other, lis propeneS 10 n
buse. ,and It's strong tendency 10 dlscrodt, II
not 10 condemn The doctrines which VIC have
been taught most 10 respect aud reverence -
to enquire whether the one with proper lin
naiion ofthe right Of suffrage, does moi afford
the best possible assurance OF protection 10 all
interests. and security 10 all rights, whie Inc %
Their endangers he very objecm and, above
all TO remember that tn one leads To the
restoration Of confidence aud good feeling, tbe
as abiishmcn, of lasting peace aud harmony
the preservation OF the power, the character,
the integrity oil the State while the other snws
the seeds OF never dying jealousy and conten
ton, and threatens mischief which no human
wisdom eau calculate, and no patriot can look
upon without horror.
| beg the Committees forgiveness, for haV
lag detained them so loog, in very labor'ous
and Improbable effort to discharge my duty
and have now only to ask, that II any thing
ba. escaped me, importing any manner Of dis
respect, or in the smallest degree woundng
the feeing rs OF any one,-geniemen viii recol
lect that I have not that happiness Of phrase,
which always faithfully translates my thoughts
ipto language. and DO assured TINT have too
much real respect and kind feeling towards
every member Of this COMMITTEE. 10 allow nie
for a moment, 10 entertain towards one OF them
an od1eusive sentiment.
n sErY A N n ~ ~ ~ m