Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04

cessity of disturbing just then, as te as possible
the order Of things as it existed under the colonial gov
eminent.
II has been ALLEGED in defence of the mixed
basis, and in vnd:catlon Of the course pursued
towards the West. that the West has been subjected
to no nractical evils With the truth Of this allegation
have nothinr TO do at present. refuse 10 take issue
unon il refuse ia do so because am unwilling 10 make
IN an issue upon an imateal fact lis decision cannot
in any manner whatever affect the decision Of the ques
ton before sbut let il be admitted for the sake OF the
armen, and for tho sake of the argument only, that
in the practical operations of the government we Of the
West have been treated kindly, humancly, literally.
you please, how can the concession a'',' ilvso - ~
il is made2 We arc not here 10 complain OF the want
Of kindness or liberay the part of the Eastern
peoplc in the actual administration of the government
We are here tor very different purpose. WeaTc here
to deay their right govern MS at all to insist upon
white pouulation or the qualified voters the only
true basis of representative republican government,
and to urge upon the consideration OF the convention
the fact, that 1t this very moment there Is In the est
of white population. 4 majority between ninety
and hundred thousand. me Western people
can ney,, La induced to embrace the mixed or
black basi. IS tho proper exponent Of representation.
They are lrsemyablv welded 10 the white principle.
boir atta,nmcnt-;;r devotion 10 il, isas nnovably
fixed as are the foundations OF their native mou:alIs
They will never .cn.a.ncc it. They can never n,-
uome il. M legislation however heneiccnl, can ever
! indurc them IN rcaounce il. They believe II IL t,
above Ill Just and reasonable exceptions and 10 NJ III
dissolubly comm ted with their independence as rce-
men. Charge them not with otS'lnacy Their con-
duct is not withou, precedent. There is precedent
That precetcnl is furnished by the American revolution
What produced that revolution Surely not tho amount
of the stamp tax or the tax TN tea. The men Oh me
! revolution cared not Tor its aTno'mt To preserve inc
conneyi between the colonies anu the lno'iic country
the parliament was more than willingto repeal Tho tan
%. The patriots Of that dag however, Insisted upon
rcnunciat;un-a total remuneration OF tho right assumed
n tax them to any extern: whatever. The assumed
rpht was denied upon tie obvious principle. that no h.
risa,iye assembly whatever, egislac for. right
fully impose tax upon any people whatever, who are
unreprcsented in that assembly. 1t was the assertion
Of this principle the one hand. and Its denial IN the
other that hrounh, that fearful but glnro;s Struggle
which terminated ~ the establishment Of our nations
in.epaadence The men u hat day earnestly contcnd
Cd f,T the truth: w;yed w-r"..:~- ,sqpr., "a
,,al!y ,e..tsi ii,,i ,,c,an 10 ncipc. with ielt blood
Il is no wonar tlo.vipe, feeling e Nor o the rcv
ou,,op that ihe men q! he mountains, without REFER
ence 10 The question g: practical evils, should warmly.
zcalosly and pcrscvcrnely maintain, principle which
they believe IL lie identified with the peIciuatlon u
their liberties
! will here no!i,a in rs few words rs ! may
Gu
has been urged with great palshity but which. III my
;,.rment. il wholly unsound. Ii has been said that
the revolution teaches The doctrine, that taxation and
representation 90 hand III hand. and that tic friends
and advocates Of the mixed basis claim nothing hit
what is fully justified hy that doctrine. Let the p-oo
ston as hive announced 1t be briefly examined.
have already stated the character Of the controversy
between the colonies ard HE mother country, and that
the rirlt assumed by the parliament 10 tax tie was
81 a., Mo.
cire. that no assembly whatever can ri@httnliy tax
any r,pIe who are mrepresentad il that assembly.
Ard uow what analcgy Is there between that principle
and the mixed iass. Certainly noIe-lcnc whatever.
The coloies did mol ash representation N he British
narlianet according 10 their population, lhcir wealth.
their contributions 10 the government, Or upon corn'l-
nation Of any or alluf these clements. They presented
10 basis OF representation whatever. \ iG'ss was ii
together foreign 10 Their purpose. Trey denied he
rrnt Of the parliament 10 them 10 extent what
ever and al once placed themselves upon tie elevated
and nlpregnahe ground Just stated. They claimed no
representation in the parliament and would have taken
nome however freely voluntarily rendered. How is
il with Eastern Virginia She has claimed, aye. de-
naalcl and enforced her demand moi representa-
ton for her citizens alone. l for her citizens AMI their
pro,prty-tlr her citizens and their contributions IL
the public treasury. This brief view | apprclrcnd
is abundan,ly sufficient 10 shew the entire All
basis and the doctrines OF the revolution. and will hot
therefore dosin the committee by further remarks
this pint.
Ii appears from authentic official evidence be
fore us that tho political power OF this common
wealth. is. at this his very moment III !hc hands Of
q small Eastern minority. Under the sanction ii a
doctrine nov too cI1 and too well established IL he
g7avcy questioned. We Of the West as!; thai this r'"
or BIZ the c.gaEic law Of the land. he transferred from
+l, Ia hall e., We.;nru uno
of mare than ninety { psait, and We answered that
IL, continued, possession is necessary tn the protection
Of peculiar Eastern Interests Fears are prof., sSed that
these interests will be subjected In excessive taxation.
by the proposed and un1ucsonab, rghiul dcp.sor!es
Of the power These fears are Illus made the prciext
Tor deriving TO the West su:a ac, Of sheer justice.
The Eastern people the present truscesot the Pnwer
i'm question: and how ask. has the trust been executed
II iai,hiIy-Ptc Western people have found in their
Eastern brethren, honest, kind and dugent rulers.
will gentlemen refuse recognize. IL that very fact.
.rooi and su;:c:e: reason lur Tho onon, that ii the
scat If empire lie changed, the West will manifest 10
wards Inc East the spirit Of honesty. moderation
and orboarancc Or do tho obligations ri Justice exert
a feeble influence upon the Of tic mountains.
than u; :hc aen uf tie uwlands IS there less moral
I restraint in the trans montainc country Than here ;
less integrity less honcsiy? My .ascfn friends admi,
perfect equality III all these respects. but accompany
the admission with tic isquai!!ya remark lai temp
tation may 2ve too strong Tor all iIeSe virtues of the
heart TIE possible abuse Of right i!en is the pre-
text anl III the estimation al some gentlemen 4 very
sniicio;. rcason fi withholding ii altogether Well,
il tn, Vest may yield TO Inc force OF Temptation. 80
nav the Eat ii Eastern property DC not sat. from
the imputed marauding spiri. OF Western majority,
what guarantee has tic West, that Western properly
will always he secure against similar abuse OF power
by an Eastern minority II danger be great in the ole
case. how muc! greater, how infinitely greater is il in
! the other
! But for whom is this protection demanded The
tact cannot be disguised that the interests IT few
savo owners i, is supposed, viii he i,aperiiled by the
proposed transfer OF power. aud must therefore be Sc
cured. How many slave owners there in Eastern
Virginia Their number is less than forty thousand
What small portion a fraction Of lis population
.nd art the principles Of free government be sacri
feed fr the alleged benefit OF this battalion eI negro
iodcrs? hope not. Heaven forbid it. do liz. be-
icv.-i Cannot believe that Inc sacrifice s demanded
By the masses any where in Virginia.
Ha; | must he permitted 10 say that the
feeling Of disinlst. strongly manifested towards
the people Of the West, appears 10 me 10 te moi only
very ungoncTous but exceedingly unreasonable. What
is there let INC ask in their entire conduct aJ iTLc