Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-11

diyesitics. IT, under these circumstances, We give TO
the minority OF ticsc great interests dominion the
m, iori;v must encounter the hazard OF inusc
and opprcsson' The dagger lies in the tTo lavish ex
pendture Of the puoic money, aud the oneros assess
mes consequent upon its Indulgence, and the
danger in tie bonndess wants u hc West FOR
internal improvements the enormous cost neccss-
~ for their construction.
The State 5 contributions 10 these works. has, in at-
ter years been raised two-ilis, the ioraier rate
10 threcGf.hs; but satisfied with this tic West Dc
maads all improvements IN that section 10 he made on
State account insisting that the absence OF accumuia-
ted capital in that section. and the agricultural nature
OF the population make it impossible Tor them 10 sup
ply the individual subscriptions necessary TO carry on
the works upon the three and two-f1th principle Give
to the West control over the public purse ard what nt
their will measure their exactlons: attribute
no qualities 10 the people of the West cacS!ated, IN
any way 10 Distinguish them njuricusly from their
brothers Of the East; For intelligence, manness ana
virtue. accord 10 them all that their warest irie'ss
can claim in their behalf In the vast increase OF Their
population, ne rapid growth OF their agriculture ana
general anceTcnt OF their prosperity, experience
the satisfaction Of brother and the just PRIDE oil n
glnan. II is to that quarter most look Tor those ac
cesio1s which to lift the State from its sunken con-
ltion and speed her forward Until she shall be made
to emulate the successful in her contributions 10
the great cause Of human Improvement lRdeed when
contemplate the dangers that threaten the glorious tio
OF which size IS member and detect inc pfociiIiY
to disunon sentiments that manicss Itself III portions
OF the East, il is with heart iu CT thanSincss 10
henefccn Providence. that recognize in the great and
increasing West, patriotic devotion TO this institution
OF our fathers. that forbds doubt ha. in whatcv
er peril it may stand Virginia will prove true to the
great CT ci,i and religious liberty involved IN lis
integrity.
Sincerely entertaining these feelings to- ards the
West, nevertheless think, in our present condition.
the people that section would he unsafe deposito-
r. Of the power Of legislation When pressed the oti-
er day. under YER. extraordinary circumstances y TIE
gentleman from karawha (Mc. ScMMERs,) to state 4
reason for claiming consideration or property III c
apportionment OF representation. answered IN short
that it was TO good government, and guard or
proprietary interests. which would be in danger OF be
Ing pundered, ii left at the Gcrcy OF an unchecked,
dominant, numerical majority. y more eau phase
might ccraair have been employ ed. but II was intend
cd in no offensive sense; all that meant was 10 con-
yey clear of the danger that apprchcnded IRON
he success OF experiment by which the tax-ayns
aad Incorporating powers were TO Dc cohiiaeu 10
section whilst the taXpaying duty was TO be cci-
Is confined the ether. In such condition. no intel
gcncc. no probity, virtue would be safe against TIE
everlasting temptation to abuse. When necessities
urgent. will never be wanting to satisfy the
uG -aent CT and the wishes OF IL" constituent
must inevitably be expressed in The repreSeii-
a,ve body. This is the law oil the representative sNs
ten, and would indeed be strange. il. in the lmpor-
:ant matter Of t.xation. the system should fasy The
first grea. iaw Of lis creation. We have been ear
nesty eRtreaed to allay these fears. and confidently
assured of the reason justice and equity OF the west,
but when have these had force enough 10 govern
I the councils Of men; undisurbcd by interest, they
would at best prove but irail securities but when
posed to that influence how long would the scales hang
cqual' In the ardent pursuit of favore object. our
friends the other side lose sight OF considerations
that otherwise they could not fail to perceive: they
greatly oycrrate their sclf-dcnyng virtues.
derrac sagaci;y and in either commit blum
der for they not lifted high he exempt from
the common frae. incident 10 their nature.
We blind ~ not TO the danger which threatens
Discard property altogether clement OF represent
tation aud make the apportionmcnt upon population n
proposed and with this continue the present unequal
contribution of taxes and lie is blind who does not
that throughout the extreme West the public treasury
will TO be regarded vast und Tor purposes OF
eeconeering. and he will be most popular At home
who shsl! thrust the representative arm deepest into
the public isc. How else We to understand the gen
tlenan from Greenbrer, (Mr. SMITH, who opened thi-
debated We all remember the !oryid eioqusnee ri;h
which he pictured minds the vast capacities AND
illimablc of his cherished Wet its f,r:ic
lands. It's rich minerals. wanting only the hand of
, 10 develop their wealth We remember the warmth
with which he exciamed-as in ,iuaticn lie ALREADY
cluched the rich piizctl,a it wanted onl The
of his f;vore basis to GAUGE all these to spring into n:
slant life What is there in this white basis that is
accomplish SO much Is there magic in it, which is to
level mountains make roads dig canala and dsembowc
from the earth is mineral iroascresi b. wiiat encai
ment 10 the wonderful change u ne effected, and this
glowing picture start before the sight! The gentle
man, sure, looking to no su,erlatura! agency
but oonen plating the accomplishment Of results by
hu.lsn 1neas and the great agent in his min was the
money of the Staeis i, too much to say the monc.
OF the Esstl If We state account of tie pnbis
pentliturcs--such s. belong properly TO the civil list
and charge 20 the Allegheny counties their f;g
prorcrii"n, viii Exhaust their contribution 10 the
pub ic treasury upon any rate al taxa'ion yet aoopcd
~: leave the enti~o htsd-n d ia WORKS OF i,nprav.
,.ient moon tho portion, of II. STATE r eiri
condition OF thnrs, il oe wise adjustment. o. the
Constitutions 10 enl!i.st the control If tie purse 20 that
sec.ionl The gentleman rom Augusta Cdr. SaEFFEY
said the present appcr.ionmen. had ust 7ecurel the
power from abuse. aud in SUPPORT Of his assertion
tered TO the large expended in the Piedmont
counties upon works Of internal Improvement. Ifthere
had besn purde:ing Of the public treasury, he said
1t csrcab," upon tho representatives frcm those
counties, AID IN that work lie added, had been chief
est Of tlca III. 1t il true that from, the first tic when
TOOK my sea. member Of tie general assembly
9eca'' IN afden supporter Of the system Of internal
r improvement and representing Of INC largest tax
iS' '9'eS u 'ne tate. year after year continued
TO fninsh my contribution to the great cause when not
cent W. asked Tor IL behalf # NIX Immediate colsti
tuents and when they were expected to derive the
least local advantage from the o;itlsy sto, mot to
Inquire whas Locality TO be bsncii..od or ;cla. NO.
liar interest to be advanced but loasipy 70 tl .,o
q whole and myself exercising n co,,n,i.s;on !,
behalf Of ALL sndsavorel to govern mys.r ly tIos.
liberal and enlarged considerations that leloo, 10 thr
Statesman In later days my immediate c.n..:t,on+s
have partaken of the benefits Of this system and oir
the blessing Of public liberatv. about to omerr
from the difficulties thar have 50 long oppressed tlcr,
to THEN agriculture ping into new life, and Ii. .c
nrous earth yield 10 industrious hsbaadly. the fruits
with which it is Gods will earth that patient to;
should ever be rewarded. Charge to tina. division all
the expenditures for the works constructed therein
then turn your tax lists not of to-day only of yes.
,erday but of years gone by and how the
will stand
! If large expenditures have been made in tie Pied
mont tina; division has contributed largely toward. III"
colrtaon burdens. But is it fair TO charge all these
works to the counties through which they passs Is
tho James River cnnal exclusively a Piedmont improve
mentl Is the Central railroad exclusively Piedmont
Improvement Does not every gentleman know to the
contraryl Could The Piedmont counties have alone
forced through Tho bills required for their construction
are they rot in part tidcwatsr improvements, and as
such have they not been pushed forward by tdcwater
votes and nrc they not in part western improvements
and is not their due to the constant untirng
united support from that section of the Statcf The
gentleman from Augusta well knows how bills for works
Of improvements carried through the General As
se,aby and he knows tlat it is always by western