Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

air when compared with the perfect RI ill, 81 f,n,n
Then is it true, because tue majority of the neon Of
England do not rule III that government that therefore.
they ouyh, not to rule here! am prepared to re.
ceire that ms authority for the guidance of nv actions
here.
The gentleman from Halifax Slr. Eps'cxns) referred
to the State OF massachusetts, of the old thirteen
States that furnished example or the violation of the
right Of III" majority OF numbers govern What is
the history Of the government Of Massachusetts in re-
spect of this matter. When the Pilgrims landed from
the artowcr. on the stern aud rOckbound coasts of
Wild New Englands shore" and there, amid tie wild
forests by which they surrounded! instituted their
government, it was pure nnmixed democracy Fresh
from the land of usurpaon and oppressive monarchy
they asserted before Heaven and the eselt earth around
them the rghts-the nacnable rights Of man Stand
ing ON the summit Of Plymouth Rock, whose base was
aSed by the 'a>hing waves Of the stormy Sea- with
their eyes upeti to Heaven with devout alteration for
past dcliverance and in holy suppcaton Tor future
guidance, they established their form OF government in
which recognized the absolute sovereignty and
equality Of Pure and holy the origin OF this
,!rmocracy-handed down frcm Heaven answer to the
prayers Of the pious pilgrims II instituted amid
scenes OF the deepest solcmnity when the cravings OF
wealth We're .ost amid the dangers of the place and the
calls of ambition and pride were huShcd in the silence
that regned uahrokrn through the new world rev.
crtncc the origin OF that government; adore It's prin
cp.cs. Bat not destined long last in its prs
tine purity. Population increased and the people were
scattered Then representation became necessary, aid
representative democracy. i'll which all the male adults
voted was erected upon the foundation laid BY the FL
rim fathers. This continued for MANI years. But at
Ia corruption crep into the government, and that gov
cnnet, which st first pure democracy. became
miserable hierarchy in which but members Of the
church were permitted TO vote Subsequently n union
was formed between property and religion and this
union governed the people Of Massachusetts for genera
lions. 1t cCntiraed down to the formation of the
,t.ulon referred to by the gentleman from Halifax
(llc. EDMr*Ds) And in that constitution, admit the
property power was recognized. 1t became element
uf political power i'll that Commonwealth They then
incorporated in the constitution 4 provision basng rep
ircScntation i'll the upon population and taxes
TINS it continued until the ycar lSal when the proper
~ holders attempted to grasp still power from the
people. and consequence OF that effort they lost all
in their convention in 1921 they adopted under tho
leadership OF their distinguished men, the prnc
pie OF basng representation in the senate upon popula
ton and the OF wealth 1t was submitted
the people and rejected BY them. Consequently the
provision of the constitution of 1850 continued until
1910, when the basis of taxation stricken from the
constitution and representation both branches OF the
Massachusetts Legislature, is now based upon pulation
alone. The eyes u the pcop opened the ,slir.
Ions Of property holders by their act in the conven-
ton OF ISL which lead that reformation in the gov.
icrnmcnt BY which tie property power was entirely
stricken from the constitution.
As vet have been totally unable see any reason
why property should be permitted exercise any pow.
Icr in the legislative department OF the government
The claim is uns!sained by reason, and by authority
and precedent. have examined it, think, dispas-
sionalciy could do. have looked at it in
every light could. | have weighed every argument
and carefully considered cvc.y suggestion that has been
urgcd in my hearing and altogether unable TO see
one solitary reason why property should have the pow
OF suffrage either directly through representation
in II popular government ard Of consequence cannot
see why the doctrine OF the right of the majority to gov
crn should be abandoned in government, protesting
be one of the people.
But have been frequently asked upon what princi-
pie Of right or upon wha; il is claimed that tho
u.a oriiy Of numbers should control Gentlemen ask
for Tie pie upon which this right OF the majority
is based. The inquiry, admit, is perfectly right and
proper: for ought to have reason and a good one
too for every thing propose TO d.. ana ..iIn;:
;oo it the fact that Til, right has been always ad
mites heretofore sUtcIcn. Of itself For ancient
usage should Uways be changed ii it Is founded in
and justice. am not prepared TO rest the
swer this question upon the reason assigned by IT,.
authorities for it, for do not think that reason suf
Gent che So lar rs | am advised al the authorities
place il upon the supposed physical power OF the mao
rity to enforce observance This IL liable to Oh
icctra that physical power is the law OF tvr:.is AID
l.sa.nerS ana is not the ru" Of granc" for Just
pie aud christian nation think however. The rule [
self is founded and justice. Willis; III every
community there is diversity o: tci.cct ana IN
tcigcr vet. in the average aggregate the Judgment
ana intelligence nj each one may lie supposed to uc
equal 10 that Of every other i'll that cul.nultv Ii
So thea the DIRTY III numbers Possesses the greater
IaIuuns Of reason and intelligence to bring 10 bear
determining upon the wisdom oi nil propositions Anal
think have before shown hat the a"rty of Interest
i - BE- ascertaincd onlN H. iory 4" those interest
cd and Us the amount 81 property POSSESSED r
one portion vi tiem j tina; is tcn il Is clear that
the majority OF numbers more deeply Interested la
a wise and udicuu- administration o! Tie government,
an! will therefore, reflect deeply and act
cautiously in arriving 1T :her conclusions. And the
majority possess the greater Interest, justice: according
& A
require that they shuald have the greater cont'o in it,
mana, cement This right q! the majority is latura!
right No srpposts II rests upon the laws Of ma
turc, but upon the original compact of government and
in toe investigation of It, must look u the probarl"
reasons b. which frc"!ncn governed when they
agreed to rha; regulation in the compact "f government.
For ri , Justice and and mast be the great
controlling influences in popular government where
the government Itself TESTS upon the wisdom virtue and
;tciiiyricc Of Il free people.
thu far have been examining the arguments gen.
t!cmcll on the other ,ilc--argjucntS that di-
rec,!y applicable IL the suhcc; under mmedi
ate coz sera,i"n. They however directly involved
n the principle at i<-;ia between W. which principle j.
now attempted b. indirec,:on u BE- asencd upon the
people Of lis Commonwealth BY he newly constructed
constitution The proposition now before is {"
give suffrage representation To people and property
directly, but 70 people M! taXc> It Is to base repre-
sel,ion upon the population and tie public revenues
of the government Not Tpcn The levied for they
would hardly propose base representation Gpon the
delinquent lists, bat rpoa the taxes paid into the
treasury.
: What is tax and for what purpose md upon what
reason are faxes levied J. not the unpaid tax debt
due from the taxed citizen to the government for the
protection afforded by that government to his person
and property. Is il not debt as binding in morals and
in law as the debt client you Tor the services
Won have rcn yrcd him in court! And is not yoIr fee
!. debt morally as well legally binding upon your
ellen; tie protection Afforded 10 his person and prop
erty b. means Of your yiccS in his defence. SO with
Tie tax duc. l. is an Obligation morally well L.
ya, binding or the protection received from the gov
err.nen 10 person and property And is the taxpaTer
entitled to any political power for the payment o: JUS:
debt FOR which lie i!a previously received valuable
consideration. think not, Tor lie had received the
consideration before u! payment made BY him. and
hc ought hot 20 be paid again in another way. That
would be giving the tax aer double consideration for
the amount paid BIT tic ta= when collected and paid
into the t:csury becomes pbl:c property. It belongs
couaIv and alike 10 all Inc people OF the Common
wealth No one citizen has any greater interest in il
than another /. bcloags much 10 the people of
Non soI1ery those .: Eenrico. y in Albemarle
has as much right in in the county OF Caroline,
witho: regard TO tie aiOGEt originally pad 3: either
And uow The proposition under consideration to base
representation half upon the people and the other
half upon tic money i'll the treasury