Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-10

making stronger the bands of interest and sym
patty, which should unite her people, as
every vote have given here a,tesls. spoke,
therefore, in no threatening temper but
would admonish our friends from the West,
kindly and impressively if could, OF the conse-
quences which they would bring upon US they
forced Us either to submit to a government of
numbers merely, or 10 divide the State II hey
depercate, therefore, division Of the State as
much as do, they will pause ere they force that
issue upon US, Tor il was vain to expect that The
Eastern portion of the State could or would con-
sent to come under government of mere num-
bers. Not only does their interest forbid IT, but
that very principle from which the Revolution
sprung forbids it: 10 wit, that taxation and repre-
sentation should go together. Nor can il be said
with propriety, as il has been said, that have
the responsibility, or the credit, of Introducing
this view of The subject In truth, il could not be
kept back in any discussion of The subject, but
the House recolecls full well, that the member
fromlWythe frankly proclaimed, and ably sustain
ed the position that the West wants power, and
wants il TO levy taxes for internal improvements
and II recollecis, too the conclusive and tIium.
plant answer OF the member from Fauquier, who
Justly announced the contest 10 be- as il is, con-
test Tor power; not a contest, Mr.. Speaker, for
political ascendancy in party principles but
contest for The power Of taxation, in which those
VINO have the subject Of taxation, are asked 10
give the power Of taxing them 10 those who have
them not | con6de, Mr.. Speaker, in our Yves
tern brethren, as largely as any man can, or
but would not yield this power 10 any set ofmen,
because il is wrong in principle, and must be ru
inous in practice.
The people Of England had as strong claims
10 our confidence before the Revolution, as any
people could have, and yet they oppressed until
resistance became a virtue. What imports The
maxim that taxation and representation should
go together, if it does not mean that the in
terests taxed should be represented And how
are they represented to any effective end, il
the power TO control them and their representa-
lives be given 10 different interess7 It is bnl
mockery OF US to say, that we accord you
The right OF representation. but we will put your
representatives into the hands OF majority hav-
ing different interests knowing and intending
that il shall render your representation useless for
any effective protection. 1t is equivalent 10 de.
prving us OF representation, and Claiming for
others the right to dispose of our property. That
right is never conceded by individuals, and can
never be claimed by Government except when
some great public exigency demands il. Iii vain,
them 10 suppose that the East will consent TO such
Government and il is therefore in kindness, in
The spirit of peace, and in the temper Of Virs.
MAN. that | warn our Western brethren not 10
force this issue upon us but to continue with me
and others in lhs effort yet more 10 enlarge and
liberalise the policy Of the Government as far as
with justice and sound policy il can be DONE
Let them desst from This dislractng effort to
change our tnnnamenial law and unite with me
10 carry The bill, which now lies upon M table, 10
be reported as soon aslhe opportunity Offers 10 ex
tend The canal o The Valley, 10 develope The re-
sources of that magnificent country, and bring her
nrndnrIl In ma rreto hirfr
them and enrchiDg US, and thereby increasing
the power Of the State; 10 do for the Northwest
what she has done for the Southwest and bind
all Virginia in one tie, stronger even than that OF
kindred blood and common fame. To me, Mr..
Speaker, this idea Of a right 10 base the Govern.
ment upon numbers merely, seems 10 be so ODD
and unjust, that can scarcely comprehend IT.
II is said TO result. from natural risht-a slate OF
nalure-now, Sir, can any thing be more idle,
than when in q state OF society, TO reason about
sTJhlaaI what X9R Wgshs utAlaat since BY
that you will not continue in state OF nature,
and could not get back to state OF nature II you
would? !,
But gentlemen seem 10 forget that il they could
GET, or may imagine themselves, INTO stale CT
nature so may we; and that in state OF nature
lhey would have no more right 10 make govern
ment for us than we for Them and il we did nc.
like their government, we would not adopt it. and
conld be made to submit to j, only b superior
physical force; and then the proposition is, that
we by our action, should afford them the right
as well as power, which, BY The law OF nature, they
have moi, TO compel US 10 submitto government
which they approve and we disapprove and
which we are told beforehand is 10 ACT unequally
But how does the argument derived from
State OF nature sustain the prelension : Where
is the authority for limiting the natural rights to
free white males2 | shall mol weaken, by at
tempting TO repeat The eloquent defence OF The
rights Of The ladies, made by The member from
Albemarle; but in order 10 expose the argument
and pu the enquiry as 10 color, apprehend that
in state Of nature all males have an equal right
10 vote no matter what the shade, if any have
right 10 vote, which deny, because in State oil
nature there is no law of election, and therefore
no RICH, Of voting. And how do you limit II 70
VIII lie miles1 Why by a total surrender OF the
argument founded on asupposed natnIalrig ht,lo
vii. by conventional right, because sound poll.
cv eood sense, and safety 10 the whites forbid
that any but themselves should mingle in their
government But lei the House contemplate The
stem now being taken by New York, and beware
how il trusts itself TO that argument, SAID 10 be
founded on natural rights. New York began
with all white maleS-Dow she is about 10 make
all males. lforbear to contemplate the day when
such proposition may be made in Virginia.
trust il never may.
Mr.. Speaker: There is another and equally in
superabie objection 10 this Convention upon the
basis Of mere numbers which is 10 form go
vernmen, on a similar base. 1t will not only
force division Of The Stale, but 1t may put The
torch TO the Union. The momen, you strike out
the feature OF slave representation in slave
State, YOU give power 10 the fanatics at the
North and elsewhere which nothing else can give
them. They will ask al once why mat pfinciPle
ri representation should obtain as between you
and them. after You have repudia,ed among your
selves Z Why should their white men be count
ed differently from yours Why should you
claim for your men in Congress what you can
not clam Tor them here 3 And you cannot an-
swer them that their interest and ours are not The
same. They will again tell you 10 look at home;
and they, TOO will say we live under The same
Government, are equally patriotic, and equally
trust. worthy with your men; and what we
NAV be trusted with, so may they; what is
minis, and UNEQUAL with Us, is equally SO
with them. And in what, then, will your
safely consist?-in your power 10 convince them,
by arau ment, OF their error2 Do you believe
YOU will succeed and, il you fail, the Union IS
lost.
Blu, | have said more than | intended, Mr..
Sneaker. pray our Convention friends 10 pause;
and saw, again, do not force this issue upon US
Let them learn wisdom from the fable, and be
content with the golden egg day, and mol, in
rapacious moment, lose thai, by destroying The bird
which lays it. Let US unite, not distract Virgil
nia-obliierale The distinctions between The East
and the West, by a liberal and palernal policy,
and supersede inquiries into the basis OF repre-
senlation, by making common base OF equai IN
,eresl, OF sympathy and affection.
Correspondence of the Baltimore Americana
WAsHrNaroN, March 5.
The bill reporled BIZ the House Committee on