Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-03-01

,unan ben and net as mere property a. such tey o'o
mon by our laws and have an interest In our aws
,rh NM II, considered ms maxim. part, though degraded
nart of The families which they belong ~,
al thsv had the complexion OF the sers IN the Norm oil
? ~ IN. yilens formerly III England, in other
mcsif they were Of complexion, much OF the dh
6c,v would BIZ removed But the mere complexion can
~, riye tl,,n of the character OF men, The federal mum
ha 40 !, il called particularly recommended TO attention
ing basis of representation by its simplicity lis cer
tainty its stability and it's permanency NOT Is slhil
recommendation of the federal NUMBER IN my pe" la Il
l., conformity Ia thu ratio recognized IN me Federal Con
,;,u,in The ras il is true, are not precisely inc sa'
hut there il moe oil analogy "'ah '''s w " ~ 'f
posed -. A. 1I,4;a. .xa.l
make these long quotations from MI Madsons speech
40 try prove three positions which have assumed: ISL
b,t slaves are considered persons, and not property IN
e federal basis; End the certainly the stability ana the
nernan,ncy this scheme compared WIN ixa'on and 3D.
that there is very little analogy between our STATE govern
ment and the Federal governnent-ano these are POSITIONS
that cannot be controvcred. .
Mr. Speaker, having gone through WIN my argument ~
relation the principle upon when 'hls o Is iounueu
viii proceed consideration OF the calculation by when
the gentleman from Halifax arrives at his conclusions
will also notice Of the criticisms IN when Tie gentle
man from Notoway INDUCED i'll anmadvcr'ng upon the
man nroposed BIZ nv friend from Rockbridge Sir the dele
gate from Notoway says that the mode oi calculation adopt
cd by the gentleman from Rockbridge Is an unnatural one
il is incongruous. would like 10 know lie mode adopted
v the gentleman is subject the same criticism II
understand his plan of calculation he aggregates the entire
Of taxes paid upon property ana men US ns assIr
cate Of s725l5 is 35 delegates. 50 Is The slo39 the
amount paid by the first district Ia tile number 81 delegates
TO which that district is entitled them TO find this number
he mutipe2 the SD39ii by 49, TIE nutuet Vi uce9dtcs
then would ask what is the produc; Is persons or is
il dollars would like for the gentleman 10 tell me- lie
cannot do it, sir II is an unnatural combination and the
whole scheme Of compromising and dollars and cents
IS unnatural ana this is of the why am OPP
posed this compound basis.
What are the results this schemel Why sir il is moth
na more nor less than valung persons, and estimating them
at 30 much per head And how much do You suppose they
are valued at by the gentleman from Halifax Al the p'l-
fiji SUN three cents per head that ity three cents
counts as much person. How do You suppose hc
his rJlru
III TAX paid property and then divides the sum by
the aggregate number ri white persons in the State and ii
gives You three, that yihree cents bears the same
proportion each delegate that one percon does
asins representation exclusively upon tax, and the tide
water disci would be entitled 10 i6i delegates. Basng il
upon white population and would be entitled 10 o9s add
the tyo numbers together, and makes TO- divide this By
two and leaves 3 the number 10 which the frs, district is
entitled upon the compound basis So You will perceive
that this district upon this compound basis, is entitled
fraction g delegates upon the amount Of taxes il pays
and is entitled TO but "a !. upon population;
Making the calculation with regard the second
Piedmont district and upon taxes would be entitled 10 Al
delegates and basng the calculation upon population and
il would be entitled TO 3A Add the numbers together
and makes g. Divide BY t"o and leaves 80. SO that
this district is entitled 10 fraction % dcegats upon
the Of taxes pays and fraction under Is upon its
nopulation Calculating from the same data and upon
g. the Valley district is entitled 22 delegates and upon
population IA and upon the combined basis 10 %
Here you will perceive that this district is entitled 10 fewer
delegates upon taxes, than upon population. Calculating
from the a!a with regard 10 the Trans Allegheny dis
rrct and upon it would be entitled 10 2l9 delegates
and upon population 10 49, and upon the compound ba
sis 10 35.. So You will that BY combining the two
numbers this district entitled but l03 delegates upon
taxation, and upon population 10 Aa. Here you see the
great injustice that the adoption OF this scheme does 10 The
Western portion OF the State rs gives 10 the Last 10 dele
gates upon taxation, and but 81 populations while the
We.t has but q upon taxation 81 upon popula on
regards the plan proposed BY the gentleman from Rock
bridge although exceedingly Objectionable me- yet would
much prefer il 10 the plan proposed By this BILL inasmsch
would give the Yves, increased number Of delegates
in the convention And sir would be willing 10 vote for
bill in which this mode Of calculation is adopted COM
promise. | would be willing concede something for the
purpose settling this vexed question: if our Eastern breth
rem would in spirit Of compromise But as they
ale determined 10 concede nothing, feel myself bound 10
vote agains. The bill under consideration, and ii IL is
pa sed il must be forced upon
In what particular does the paE proposed by my trend
from Rockbrdge and The plan proposed in this bill dtler
will tell you. The mode Of calculation adopted by me
gentleman from Rockbrdge add the whole white
population and the whole amount Of taxes together and
then add the population and the amount OF taxes paid
By each district; and then the aggregate of popula
lion and taxes combined 25 delegates is the
gate population and taxes Of each particular district 10
number Of delegates 10 which each Is entitled lhls
plan gives the FIST tide district IS delegates te
Piedmont district 50; the Valley district 24 and the Trans
Allegheny district 40. But the gentleman from Halifax
says this mode of calculation is unjust 10 the East a.
transfers portion Of the ii taxes paid BY The East
p the West Does il also transfer portion Of the eA
of population from the West TO the Rast Certainly
does and therefore, il cannot ID great injustice 10 the
East IL the gentleman supposes.
But sir IA lIayc already stated, opposed 10 thu
Whole system Of Compromising dollars and persons.
basis upon which 10 base representation II based upon
the imutable laws OF nature and cannot be changed by
legislative enactment the plan proposed in this bill
Ii The white basis should be adopted as the basis upon
which the Convention is be organized The first district
would be entitled % Delegates the second TO 32 the thd
-; ard the fourth 49, Thus giving 10 tho West Is III
majority IN the Convention
Now sir YOU by these statements The great mus
tIce the scheme proposed By The bill does to the West and
particularly 10 the Trans Allegheny country makes dli
ference thirty members as gives 10 the East seventeen
majority whereas upon the white basis, the West would
have majority of thirteen.
will now attempt show that ii we 10 have repre-
senalion upon federal numbers il would be favorable
to the than the compound basis least the present
time Basing representation upon federal numbers near
approximate from the data before
the East would be entitled - delegates and The West 10
Co. making difference Of Two in favor oi The West as COM
pared with the plan proposed IN mis- b To- Prove s further
exhibit table, showing the number oi white persons earh
delegate will represent
In the first district the number OF white persons repre-
sented b each delegate will be 5010In the second district
the number will be 52Gln The third Valley district 66S9
And In The fourth Trans Allegheny district the number OF
white persons each delegate would BE- 922 Showing that
one delegate from the fourth district represents 1909 white
persons than each delegate from the first district and
only l23 less than each delegate in the first district does dol
lars and persons combined ASK, SIR II ts Is night! lS
st that 5010 persons in the East should have the
power and influence in the government ia 9272 hav" in
the West?
eua rights of every citizen In his person and property and
in their management Try the provisions Of this bill by
q u
the people The people alone haze the rgh 10 direct What
the themselves alone ana To carc the law {"
that directions and this declaration only be made by
their majority That majority has right depnte repre-
scnatiyes convention anl To make the constitution
what hcy think will be best for themselves This is the
language Of Mr. Jefferson This great fundamental principle
that the MAJORITY should rule, and that every individual in
The community should possess the political power is
so clearly forth in the Bill Of Rights that must here
read il for benefit Of those who advocate This bill THAT
all men By free and independent and have certain
inherent rights Of which, when they into a state o.
society they by any compact deprive dycst their
postcy That all power Is vested in and consequently de-
rived FROM the people, that magistrates their
and servants, and al all times amenable 10 them.
That government ought 10 be- instituted for tile
mon benefit protection, dsecurity of the people, naron
community of all the various modes and forms of govern
men best which is capable Of producing the great
est degree happiness and safety and il eiiecuay
secured against The danger of NAL administration; and thar
wien any form Of government shall be found Inadequate or
contrary these purposes, majority Of the community
hath an niubabe unaleable and ndceasble right
FORM alter abolish it, in such shall be Judged
most conducive to the public veal"
would ask sir how do the provisions of this bill
pond with the principles laid down in the extracts have
made from the Bill Rights which prexcd present
constitution They violate every sacred prnc contained
therein
Gentlemen NAV say this bill leaves it 10 the majority
ub.thar fhera ,n