Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-22

=. It52Sad, maj lhc Editors Of Newspapers
published in The City Of Richmond, a.I oi ,hcse
publ: Cd IN The toxin Of Hauisonhurc, ana
elsewhere N Virginia lr respectfully requested
topnbli>h the same in heir re, pccliyc papcls
|
f.r tic Esqajycr.
CONVENTION-[No. H.
When the Convention terminated It's la ois in
1880, and presented 10 the people, as the re>u,oi
their deliberations (tLroush n session Of three
months and len days. our existing Constitution
The actual majority Of population, both tedi!e and
Naci, was largely on the side OF the Eastern Sec
ton; and hence The people did no, see or consider
The injustice of a rule Of representation, which
w"s destined in ten years 10 exhibit Tic anomaly,
in a Republican Government, Of securing 10 a
m'nor'tD oi flee people Ike perpetual power 10
control ne B!djP1ig--a rule which now gives To
Tic East, with ifec white population. according
10 lie census OF 1910. Of :i6939S, representation
IN line House Of Delegates uI IS members, while
ii gives 10 the Yves, with a population OF 37l-
$40, only Do mcm5ors; thus giyin. 10 an actual
hlaortiu in the East OF 2i72 The controlling ma
Jo'Hv in the House OF Delegates Of - And how
stands ii in The Senate Why the counties West
OF the Blne Ridge are entitled 10 only IS Sena-
tors, willie those On the East are entitled 10 ~
SO that in The whole legislative body together, The
East has majority OF representation Of IS
while the Yves; had n majority OF tree population
in 1910 Of 2,i12, and al ii,S ime perhaps near
10000. Let !; he borne in Mind, that those who
now oppose the call o 4 Convention ale in favor
Of perpesua!ins Il i rIic without change or re-
Taxation, Whiic The population in lie West is dos
tined 10 increase 4 rapid pace over thai d hc
E;s,; and wien t:.cv 5.! Icacn the proportions 81
a million IN The NCs', 10 i hal! million ~ hc
l.a>', yet, by the present Constitution, Tie Ea>.
with population oi only one halt, will have the
r0;ccr 10 lcg,lalc or The West TN ait ca~S ,rkat-
~trcr." Is this right, or just or Republican =
| appeal 10 The "sobcr secmd toaef OF my
Eastern brethren; 10 their cool reflections, their
candor, their patriotism, their ma.nanimtv and
ahovc all, 10 lkcirunbassed and independent ludg-
menl>; is il not rule eschewed b. The principles
OF our Republican institutions, and forbidden, as
4 matter Of morality, BY the high lehesis Of EIea-
ven, "Do INTO Gttjrs as nm kiHat fi,y Sioud
do Nilto foa?" Can we douh', that if tie East had
a majority cf population, ard the Yves, maln
lily Of representation, i.ni long, loud and impas-
stoned complains, would :ccm IN our ncwSp arcrs
and y, lcH- a..;i.ui ci~iJu, lrth'vsl ,4c'u.crcc
olauls and statesmen, unil the People, cairEinn
he Impulse ana aroused ~ i sense ot Injustice.
and wruE.. Should wiih one hear; and one mind
.enand cessation oi their grievances. AMI t.
due participation in the powcis ana benefits
OF the Government Rut while this wouli b.
The course OF The East, it i. as certain a. hu-
mainly is selfish and corrupt, that the West
would occupy position, and maintain prIncl-
pies in that event, 10 uphold and pcpctuate Their
ascendancy in the Legislative councils oil The
State, The very reverse OF those, lor winch, I'M
der different circumstances, They are now con-
tending. appeal, therefore, 10 the patriotism
ana magnaniny Of ms Wcslern brethren, Tor
whom cherish sincere goo! will and respect, 10
com. 10 The work OF laying anew The foundations
q. onr Government in no spirit .! reckless ann
hilton Tor power merely, i,ul with determination
10 rise above the sroyellng passions oiliccn,iol>
nature and the BARROW ana degrading feelings 81
sectional prejudice. And invoke the people OF
the State, Eas, and West, Norm and South, 10
come forth as whole-souled Virginans, forget
ling, in the iullncss OF their patriotism. all noun
tain boundaries and seoSra pical divisions, and
accomplish this great undertaking, upon The basis
of political equality, and according TO The plan
| and infalliblc principles OF justice.
Here il seems beh,tng that ! should sug-
pest The remedy 10 selile the controversy be
tween he East and the West, as 10 Tie
aueslion Of political power and 10 break ny
All sectional ieuis, if possible. ZOO well calcn
lated 10 arise under a Constitution. which no
...,v recognizes, hut absolutely marks out, Sc
arr sections, and bss,ows upon them an IN
p" .,ari:ulIon OF rights ami powers. Th's
cqna' y. ne, il we can consent 10 resan
il seems "~- pcgD'c, and the sons and dansh
ourselves a '.a .c4ql, not less rcnowne,
tiers Of a coij. d, lie cause Of independ
Tor lis carly struggle. "a is constant dcvotio,
cace and liberty, Than '.se:ining the pfinci
and vigorous efforts in I'M. us among III,
pies OF Democracy and equal ~.t2n be ca
people, in despite Of lis Constitute. - tians
silly and cIec,ualIy done, by either oi t.. IeG
or certainly BY both united In framing
Constitution, lei concede 10 lie West the pm.
ciple for which they contend thai representation
should be based upon free while population
Then lei the West agree with The East 10 ncor-
pora!e Il prov iSion Tor a system o! all yalorcm
taxation. This would place every ii;hcabic in
Virginia in co:,.i,icn 10 ray his iu'l share ii
taxation in proportion 10 his means, no matter
where he resided, or how much of money or other
property he pos .e>Sco; il would cqnaz. the pub.
lie burihcns, ami cause tha wealthy AMI he poor
in every quarter at lie State - feel alike; ami
hy identifying them in interest, il would unite
them in kindred spirit, 10 watch The arm ofiax-
alton, and arrest lis unnecessary or oppressive
blows Il would reach the ca,tIe and The horses
of the West as well as the slaves Of tie East
and thereby tend 10 destroy all sectional feelings
upon that subject Let il moi lie said, that The
rich property holder would lie The chief sufferer
by this system. The WIDOWS mite is AZ dear 10
her, and lis contribution as heavr, being hcr al
is The rich mans thousand, and was 50 declared
10 he by the Savior of = sinful wn..l Put tic
tax al one ctahh 81 oar pr rent, and the man
who is worth hu, thousand dollars will pay q
-, whi.c the man who is wo:h two thousaud
dollars viii pay &, -, and this is exactly equal
and usi, and mites 60A III interest as 10 the ex-
ercsc OF The taxing power, whether in The same
county, or whether una resides in Ice countyand
tt,..r III, L. pm, oil
and all experience prove, t!!a, taxation is the most
dangerous while il is, at the same time the most
uselnl and necessary power that can be bestowed
on government. II is that power, which enabled
Cyrus, and Hannibal, aud ca,,ar, and AleSan.
der, 10 crafty their ambition Tor conquest and for
glory. by mpoverisliing their own subjects. in or
Ger 10 slaughter those Of ohe! nations bv means
Of numerous AMI expensive armies, ke,. con-
SANITY in the field, and f.d al he public costs
Ii is tha, power. hy which the British Government,
has succeeded in making raupers ana slaves Of
their own reasaLtry: while they hypccsiiically
can, aboat freedom and The abolition OF slavery
IL other quarters OF The world. Il is that power,
too, which .hc s.oIl career Of our own Govern
mens, State and Federal, demonstrates 10 be
ever prone 10 abuse, and lis attendant conscfuen
ces OF mischief and oppression Is il no, The plain
warning, then, @. both history ami experience,
that in insitutin. government for free State,
Inc hrst duty OF us trainers i, 10 ue'i>e sh eyud
a Just and permanent system Of taxation, 10 bear
equally on all, rich an1 poor and 10 provide pro-
per checks and restraints upon the affiliated pow
er o! appropriation, 50 as 10 prevent extravaganza
and rrohigacy il the disbursement of The public
funds? propose therefore, in addition 70 n syS
ten OF AL vaiorem taxation, that a provision
should be made in lhc new Constitution forbid
ding ans appropriation 81 rnblic money, except
by vote II iWo.ihit,ls OF The House OF Dele
gates and the usual majority in the Senate. DO
this, and hesitate moi 10 express M undcub'ing
convictions, liza, The good people Of The Old Do
minnn will never have 10 complain OF pALLic
d.bt or Of high tere. II makes no distinction