Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-17

."" ,ho ous of political and other prefermen to
! every man. although no starts from the lowest
rnnnd of the social ladder. This is the spirit of
genuine democracy taking that word in its true, not
party sense ,h.D i. tho result of the argument o, the
ontemana Does it not involve insult to those who
have no property 1t is much as to say, put the
power in our hands, join us in desPong our western
Iowcitizeus of portion of the political power which
thew claim IA rightfuy theirs, and when We get it un-
der color of protection to our property, we will gra-
cously hand over equal portion OF it to you The
peor man thus becomes the rich man assignee of poti
cal mower and that without valuable consideration 1t
Is not matter of choice that enter upon this course
of argument 1t forced upon by the position taken
nv the gentleman from Richmond Mr.. STANAsD) for
tho first time in this debate He has presented the
issue and hesitate not to meet It, can speak for
nv own constituents at least. They would scoru TO
accept or to exercise power such terms Aud - to
the gentlenans constituents, desire to know if
tho Working men, the bone and Snew here of the city of
Richmond-non slave holders and men of little or
property are willing to exercise what may be termed n
ycarous power, cutched in virtue of wealth not their
own from their western brethren i'll like condition of
life Does it comport with the dignity OF
man who in obedience to the scripture Injunction earns
his bread by the sweat of his brow to receive over on
| terms like thesel This consideration was presented
and discussed before the people Of the district which
am proud to represent aud know the sentiments and
feelings which it excited there; it will arouse the
feelings here and elsewhere Human nature is the same
every where. Let that argument lie presented any
where over the wide extent of this commonwealth east
or west to that large portion of fellow-czels who
possess little property and it requires no prophet
to tell with what indignant rebuis 1t VIII be met
Mr. SCOTT of Fauquier. Will the gentleman allow
me to put question Is not that very thing done now
in this State and by the southern States generally, III
respect to their representation in Congressi
Mr. HUNTER TO that question say emphatically no.
It il not So The slave representation in Congress-
have already shown stands upon peculiar footing
Slaves recogniz to the extent allowed as PERSONS
and not property and such their must necesa
them Even if the put by the gentleman
from Fnuuuier be parallel one it is enough to say il
incts no degradation upon us of the south not
our concern Our fathers established it under clrcum
stances and for which have already explained
Aud the south has received far less than it. proper
share of benefits under the constitution i'll which it is
found Moreover it is further answer to the gcutlu
mans question to that the basis Of Federal numbers
is not before it will 10 time enough to meet it
whom presented, "s it rests upon wholly different
principle.
But sir to return to the point | was considering
when the gentleman from Fxuquier nterposc, his in
torrogaory. again ask if the ground upon which tho
gentleman from Richmond seeks to justify The
inconsistency involved in his position, is not ;stv
offensive to that Large class of our population who
oomparativey at least without property, and who look
alone to their personal industry and enterprise for the
me,ns of acquiring and maintaining position Of pccu-
MARY Independence TO examine it little more close
1 v.
power to be enjoyed by Of this class in the east,
over that of their brethren of like condition in the west,
il accorded to thcln not rs personal right or even by
virtue Of any property owned by them They sro toget
it through the wealth Of their rich ncighbors 1t is
offered az brbc to them to join i'll despoiling their
br.thcn of the west of their cherished rights equals
| md rs fresmen.
This in my Judgment is fair statement of the gen
telnan's argument when carried out to ts legitimate
bearings The spirit Of manly independence that dwes
Al.
| at it. Whenever the subject is properly understood,
our eastern friends Of the middle and lower classe
am persuaded will spurn the exercise Of political power
upon such tcrms They will not inthc matter Of polti
cal rights become tho bcnehciarles of any men or class
Of men, They will remember that according to tn
theory and spirit Of free government their west,sn
brethren are alike with themselves the real sovercgns
of the land without respect to the amount Of property
held in the respective sections Of the State.
The true and Just sentiment on this sub cc when aI-
piled to the men Of the ID at beautifully and
orcbly expressed in the following lines Of tho patriotic
| Scotch bard-thc peasant Robert Burns:
"Wtat though on namely fare we dine.
| Wear hoddin grey and a that;
Gle fools their silks, and knaves their wine,
A mans man for a that
For a that and a that
Their tinsel show and a that, Al
The honest though ere sac poor,
lgkins o men Tor a that
And again:
| "The rank is but the guneas stamp,
| The mans the gowd for a that"
This sir is the sentiment and feeling that ought, 50
long as we remain free and independent people, to I've
cherished in the bosom of every man. 1t the sentl
mennt of the people whom have tho honor to roprc
scnt And furnishes full and complete solution 10
the problem which to have puzzled more than one
gentleman Of this body-why people, situated as
ours both p respect to slaves and other property should
have sent horc white basis delegaes fc !scoSpize !.
the fullest extent the maxim, that u politics at least,
"1he homes, man though Gro sse poor,
Isking of men for n that"
Equality of political rights is cherished principle OF
true democracy ItS violation cannot stand long against
the progressive spirit Of this age The doctrine OF the
assignaLty Of political power is novel one at least
but when understood in its practical application it will
revolt not only those from whom the power Ii uusty
withheld, but also those among whom 1t Is proposed !"
| distribute it rs boon.
| Let not gentlemen raise the cry Of dcmagogusm
against this course of remark 1t is strictly in reply to
| the ground upon which the gentleman from lichnoud
has placed the Justification rather recommendation OF
| this mix ed basis No man, more than myself abhors
any attempt TO excite luminosity and lfccng between
the poor and the rich The case is simply this IN IN
ducecnt held out 10 the men without property OF the
| ems to unite in Withholding from western brethren
what they claim to be their just rights and have merely
pointed the personal degradation involved III such
proposition. Have gone beyond the line of proprety
in this course of remark Has bceu fore .d upon
Is it not legitimate argument TO show that this mixed
basis scheme now for the first time presented ito
mitigated deformity, ut with that spirit OF self
respect that individual dignity Of character without
which is fit to be freeman spirit and feeling,
US maintain that ought to be preserved and promoted,
and developed and cultivated and cherished i'll framing
all of institutions; and further, that any principle
which has the effect Of degrading or lowering an honest
poor man in his own estimation in his relations to his
more wealthy neghLor, wrong and anti-republican
| mean no offence to any But these my con-
victions and hesitate not to utter them boldly and
| without reserve.
Turning again to the west, will they, ought they
to submit to what they deem degradation 1t is in
vain to forget the lesson taught by the author of the
Bill of Rights, when he tells these have their
preiutces and their passions We have" Equality
Of political power is their right; they demand it, and
unless we give it, in the language Of George Mason,
they will rebel" will not say they will or ought to
seperate and dismember the State Heaven forbid !!
No not this but they will rebel in feeling they will
become estranged and aenated in sympathy and kind
" regard to their eastern brethren The bond Of union
may continue in FORM but in substance it will have been
broken Is there such degrading inequality imposed
upon tho west, by this mixed basis scheme Take for
example the counties Of Jefferson and Berkeley They