Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-26


If greatly to DO deprecated. =
e would vote for the majority bill because
; proposes the only organization Of the conventio
. whch is hkeiy ever 10 receive the sanction O
tue Legislature. Suppose the bill of the ;nifori
: tyswere 10 pass at The present session: do IN
irienos suppose they would be amy nearer lhei
: WISHES as No the organization than they are now
J., IL might be foand that majority of.ihe people O
me state are IN, favor OF such an organization
out now would that majority be composed
'How world II bear upon the Legislature & Tho
people OF The west are said 10 be almost uuan
mcus IN favor OF the white basis--a msioritv o
those In the Valley supposed to entertain The
same opinion, and II is hoped that there would
, be found even in lie. Easta considerable ,uinori
y t o, white basis sis. Oppose, then. we take
: unanmous'in sUpon of'.his basis, and that there
. IS Msea'ier'eg minority In The East Of the same
opinion, how would the Legislature stand ooon
/ the question: As each s-~.,,I.- a. ~ .
'ore "onId represent the majority of his
ents, The small mnoriies in the East would not
DC heard upon this floor, and the white basis
would be found next winter 10 have gained moth
ing in legislative strength by the passage of the
minority bill.
Somo of our Western friends, however. seem
disposed 10 refuse the organization proposed by
the majority bill, and to wait for the census OF
1891 In the hope that their cause will be strength
ened by the developments then to be made In
this hope, think they will be disappoirted-for
| The East will then have the same power that il
now has, and it is hardly reasonable to suppose
that they will more readily yield TO principle of
representation when 1t places them i'm minotity
than when il places them upon an eoualily in The
Convention or Legislature.
am perfectly satisfied that the East will new
er agree 10 the establishment of The white basis
OF representation, and that the question will ulti-
mately be settled by some compromise between
the basis of numbers and that of taxation; and |
am equally well convinced that the East will
never consent TO go into convention upon auv
basis which will inevitably lead TO the establish.
men' OF the white basis. How, then, does the
| question stand between East and Westt The
East has the power TO grant refuse a conven.
uon, while she has no need Of one, and must lose
power whenever one is called. The West on
The other hand, has not the power TO call con-
vention; and il her population and wealth con-
tinue to Increase as they have done she must be-
tore long gain upon any basis THAT NAV be adopt-
ed She will then be compelled to accept such
convention as the East is now willing 10 give,
LOT no other purpose than 10 gain power for
another effort in favor OF the white basis
1t seems TO me, then, that the bill of the major.
ity proposes The proper organization of the con-
veniion; that IL is the only one that can be car
ried now or within any reasonable Time, ifindeed
any other can ever be expected and that this is
the most favorable time for settling this unfor,n
nate controversy. l hope, therefore, i, will bs
the pleasure OF the House 10 pass that bill
nave SAID, Mr.. Speaker, that considered the
discussion IN regard TO the basis of representa-
lion as entirely unnecessary TO the proper deci-
sion OF the question under consideration; and !
was disposed TO avoid it altogether | have
however, formed an opinion as to the basis OF
representation, which may 10 Some extent have
influenced my Judgment upon the question of or
ganZing the convention and in order that Inv
position may be fully and fairly understood i'm
regard TO the whole subject, will, without pre-
hlnn n opta
slate that opinion. If population and wealth
Were equally distributed the State, it would
be oil little consequence what basis of representa-
iion should be adopted for then an equal dislri-
button oil representation, according to population,
would also give an equal representation to pro-
perry; and rice versa, distribution according 10
taxation would be equal as TO population. Under
such circumstances there wou!d be no controver-
sy as to the basis. In Virginia, however. this
state OF things does not exist; for while the West
has the majority of The white population of the
state, the East has the greater portion Of the
wealth, and pays seven-tenths of all the taxes
III then we were 10 distribute representation ac-
co!ding 10 white population, should give TO
those who pay but three-tenths Of the taxes the
power 10 say not only what amount should be
raised, but in what manner it should be raised,
: and how 1t should be appropriated-thu COM
pletey depriving those who own the property
ard pay the taxes of the State, of all control over
their property.
This would seem TO be an Unsafe and uninst
mode OF distributing power under any circum-
stances, but the danger and injustice is rendered
more striking, if we consider the condition of The
different sections of the State The East Day-
ing seventy cents out of every dollar collected
needs but few expenditures for purposes of in
ternal Improvement; while the West, PAYING
only thirty cents in the dollar, will require the
expenditure of vast sums of money for the proper
development OF her resources. Now, if we were
to give TO The West the control Of the levvino
and disbursement of the taxes Of the State, we
should have those paying thirty cents and need
ing seventy, holding at their mercy those who
pay seventy cents and need but thirty IL re-
CURES but little knowledge of human nature TO
foresee the result of such state of things For
! myself, l have hesitation in saving. that I
would not trnsi such power TO any people on
earth' accompanied by such temptation 10 abnse
IL and 1t seems to me, that any principle which
could lead to such result, must be founded in
error
The mixed basis contended for by the East.
seems TO me TO be both inst and safe. AS an.
derstand IT, 1t gives to white population equal
power wherever found. and TO taxation equal
weight wherever paid. In Distributing power ac.
cording to this basis. a white person in the East
Is counted against white person in the West,
ana dollar OF tax paid in the East against dol
lar paid IN the West. According 10 this basis.
1t is alike impossible that there should be anv
temptation to persons 20 assai the rights Of pro-
perry, or to property to Cypress persons.
Various modes of combining these Two Gle.
nenls OF power have been suggested, and it has
been proposed by some that, instead of cofnbin-
ing them they should be used as checks mon
each other, by giving to white population the
control OF one branch Of the Legislature, and 70
taxation the control Of the other. This plan has
been tried successfully in several States or rho
Union, and am inclined TO prefer il TO anv othe,
that has been suggested, and upon this plan.