Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-11-11

Mr.. WISE SO am sir and lei me say that
| am properly SO, as relormer And | would
ask the gentleman from Richmond how can we
reform or repair the constitution without destroy
ing it,? am sir, for taking the ship of State
into dry dock, for throwing the worthless tackle
away, and for repairing her constitution, so that
she NAV sail forth proud monument OF our ar
chtecture. If am for destroying; it is for re-
pairing and reforming. Is the gentleman any
better reformer than | !
The gentleman has asked the West and the
East what object we can have in the earnest ad-
herence to our principle, and | desire to ask
him if, even conceding his principle, we are not
bound to wait the census returns in order TO ap-
ply that.principle? The gentleman tells ne
that he distruss both the East and the West
and that is precisely what expected from the
locality of Richmond, and from the reformers of
Richmond. The East as well as the West, the
West as well as the East, were both suspected
and distrusted on this question of reform.
Mr.. r. G. SCoTT will the gentleman allow
me to interrupt him
Mr. WISE Certainly, sir. yield the floor
always for such purpose.
Mr. R. G. ScoTT The gentleman says that
this is what he expected of Richmond! Indeed!
Mr. W1sE:-Yes, sir-indeed
Mr. r. G. ScoTr This is what he expected
OF Richmond! When that sentiment to which
he refers was uttered, did not say in connec-
ton with it, that had Just as much confidence
i'll one part of the State as in the other, but that
it was safe principle in the formation of con-
stitution TO distrust any human being! Does not
the principle which enters into the formation of
every constitution OF free government, require
that you should dstrust all agents OF the people,
and 50 distrusting them, that you should provide
checks against the exercise of their powers to
the injury of the people? If the gentleman ex-
pected that from Richmond, let him make the
most of it.
Mr.. WISE The declaration of the gentleman
is susceptible, not only of moral Interpretation,
but an arthmetical Interpretation, dependant on
the returns of the census. There are 36 conn-
lies lying on Chesapeake Bay, let me tell the
gentleman, who are tired of sustaining the pow
er of the East at the expense heretofore paid by
them. When the census comes IN, 1t will not
only show the property OF the West, which has
been taxed, or called taxable heretofore, but
what also wish to look at, the property of the
West which has not been taxed. | wish by that
census, to ascertain whether the difference in
the taxation of the East and the West has not
heretofore been fictitious one. Is it made by
legislation? Does it result from the inherent
nature of things? The people East of the Blue
Ridge pay two-thirds of the taxes of the Slate,
and in that the people of the East and OF the
West, are alike interested. You have hereto
fore You gentlemen of Richmond, combined with
doubt not paid two-thirds of the taxes, and
yet we have had representation to defend us
against undue taxation. Why should we pay
these two-thrds of the taxes; is a question |
wish answered? 1t is because thousands of
hogs and cattle of the West are driven to Balti-
more, out of your State, untaxed. | wish to see
also whether there are any other subjects OF
property in the West on which to levy taxes
and propose then to bring the East and West
II itl otbo rofa 100
to this matter. If the principle of taxation com
,bined with population shall form the basis of
representation, | wish TO see whether we can
not make the taxes of the West eqea to those of
the East upon your own principle. How are
we to decide with reference to any these Sub
jects at present? Wecannot do il without the
returns of the census. Let us wait, then, for a
list of property which the assessor canno, obtain,
and which never was in the hands of the mon
from Accomac or from Richmond in the last
convention, who INDUCED in conjecture there.
There was not, until the census of 1910, that
description OF information ascertained by the
census at all.
Now the gentleman puts me on the wharf at
Cheriston-not Cherrystone, as yolr statutes call
it; is an Indian name, Cherston-and asks me
what will say to my constituents in excuse tor
coming home at this time. | shall say | came
home because | was dsinc}ined 10 act as the
Richmond gentlemen desired, and in the absence
of information that might save you from taxes !;
that the Richmond gentlemen desired to have me
with them 60 on and pay two thirds of the taxes
of the State, and they will yield all the power
ofthe country between tide-wutez and the Blue
Ridge. That will be nay answer. What will be
the genteman's answer, if we adjourn to-day,
to his constituents? There is about $4,000 a
week expended by this convention, and per-
haps boarding house Lady, and others of that
description, may ask Of the gentleman, why did
you not keep these gentlemen here longer p
(Great laHghter.A
Mr.. r. G. ScoTT: "A single word in regard
to the information which the gentleman from
Acccmac thinks will be obtained through this
census. hold in my hand the resolution, and
il he can get anything under the sun from the
Auditor in answer to that resolution, excep: the
number OF free white people in the State, then |
am mistaken.
MIR. WISE Il can write to Washington and
get the information when the census returns shall
have been made, without calling upon the Audi
tor. want information from Washington as
well as Richmond, to protect my people from
taxation.
Mr.. Martin, of Henry, called the previous
question-which was sustained-and ON his
motion, the vote to adjourn was recorded as
follows
AYEs:-Messrs Anderson, Bland, Blue, Brown,
Garter Of l., Chambers, Chapman, Claiborne,
Cook, Deneale, Elmuuds, Faulkner, Ferguson,
Fisher, Floyd, Fulkerson, Fultz, Gally, Hays,
Hoge, Hopkins of w., Hunter, Jacob, Janney,
johnson, Kenney, Kilgore, Knot, Letcher, Lion
berger, Lucas, McCamant, McCamas, Martin of
M, Miller, Moore, Murphy, Neeson, Newman,
Pendleton, Price, Samuels, Seymour, Sloan,
Smith of j., Smith of K, Snodsrass, Stephenson
Stewart of M, Summers, Smith of G., Tate,
Tredway, Van Wrinkle, Watts of R., White,
White, Wiley, Williams of S., Wise, Wysor
.--66.
NoEs-Messrs. Mason, (Prcsident) Arthur,
Banks, Barbour, Beae, Bocock, Bolts, Bowden,
Bowles, Braxton, Burgess Chambliss, Chiffon,
Cooke, Conway, Cox, Davis, Douglas, Edwards,
Finney, Flood, Fuqua, Garland, M r. II. Gar
nett, Goode, Hall, Hill, Jones, Leake, Lyon,