Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22

spurious Professions Of those who profess TO be the nd
'ocasGs Ct property They desire to ~ distinction
sstao!'hGi III your organic law by which wealth. ehe
II ilvi:" or in districts sall be d;ni!ed with an
,l'ee;a an peculiar political powers and privilege;
meg "no dcSfot because ley regard il ,inncccssnr
i" t!l $i|y 0! their Observation-Disclosures it 'rru!l BE- IN
1'-t aai "!rESiie 70 their fellow rcn and they bccv
tl,a Whatever II popular government is unjust AM
"'sSEc !" large portion 81 their fellow citizens, mus
lec.i%!ri!y be- neXpatcnt and unwis2; and because
sHci distinctions were desirable 80 far rs any real
P'"H+" '9'rtt can b. give, property in Tie "rg3uiza
zen .! y"tr government j! wholly ia!lra"t!ca
DC ana 'i!ttt.i;''b!e i; this Commonwealth! "a n!
s;:ll most satisfactorily show be-, leave TO ASSURE
my distinguish Il i:o! from the county of Lououn Mr.
JAN that The" look Upon every scheme in yo,r STATE
so'efni;"I-roir-sng IL giyea representative nluenc,
10 PDcr'M While ~ the .i!nc time i; denies h.t
%cHH any ;"cc IN creating tr' repro sentatinn at III
f'S-' something very little ,hcr Of political Giack
erI-;cry lizzie short. although tot 20 intended of an i'm
posture upon the lolic credlIiSv They believe tLa
tic hlm-, sccuri; which property can have in any
Community, l. TO be ton in governments based upon Tho
VIII ana affections OF . v:rtuous and patriotic l,e"pe-ir
which every Just and wholesome limitation i; imposed
u" The agents ot -ovcrumcnt-in which wise ant
p"circii; sym al LAYS is administered b. pure
upright, aud independent judiciary; IL government an
de- winch Il. are l"t ~ liberty 10 indulge the instinct
Of their nature in the honest acquisition Of property
ana where, coi!sc'n' y Ill l:u- feel mutual intcrcs
IN preserving. from violence and aggression Sir hcs,
republicans. They r":,:' the people The true s"urc,
and Eo,lls::n G" pnwar AMI governments only 50 ia
legitimate. ana free tr",a the dangers Of abuse rs the,
reri np" Their win. and derive leir authority from
tie'T consent In lhrir t-'ina;ioH the Language
OF ;l cs!:icnt british writer:
Power ii the pe"l!c !, H." i.l,. IN the SYMPATHY,
I ORIGINAL, nhc,un' u:.'i;ni!rI by y;,im. human
II !ntir agents, i; but Tie rejected ii.!t OF The Eluon
borrowed delegated, limited ~ liz. vii! ui lie l-op"
W." ifr a";e f,!r,!'!@ az is Exercise IL tIl.ii God
Of policy
Sir these people are not merely practical men aue
practical rei'ubiic:lis bal tic. are Thoroughly and ful
rg!Iir M al their sentiment. and feelings l!">
love the STATE AMI they love every Iirl III Ia" Stat.
They know ~ distinction between east ana west IT,
admire all tn"t i WORTHY Of ::iiatior i'll y"nr
character .nd they adm. TIA. there is much That !;
worthy ni t!"i. highest admiration They feel !rou,l o
the public me-! !" whom! yo have given hirth,oi their
expansive aifio':&n shium: abilities, and Godlikc
virtues. Iher .:!orE in the !art
That flra:y's !no:a;, is tlci. mo,cr tongue,
And Less .5ea! con,a,ri"; wi! ils!r own.
lcs, sir, such are their feelings but they love their
WESTERN itci''rc ais They admire their hardy enter
prise OF character !cir elastic energy their rr,al!iy
their Industry, ,h"iriawah,iin- disposition their sound
ii"s, OF intellect, their patriotism. The synpa;h-c
with them III the Question under consideration and
they Eyiaati! wish Them to that extent that they
mean !" stl' b. th"n in al the phases which this
With ih.s" views before me Of the sentiments and
wishes Of my constituents in all Of which most hearth
~ concur am called upon IL select plan Of govern
mcnI best c!lc::!a"! 10 guard and protect their inter
eats. res, ar. ha gentleman from Halifax (Air. ED
MrSns has truI, sail a!n here 10 act for fha--to sec
TO hs;r interrs,s BAT whilst admit kat my primary
obligation i t" !on The ntcrt l. AMI wi..ts of those
who" immediate - present AMI from whon held
:;y commission. ~ Wit! t!.a1 -;.!it!c
man that Ii. horizon 0: r representative duties
and mast -:rv".- il. connection with this question. the
i'!crc = o: III. STAT II large well these c. the
particular !ist5;c: which represent
i Two plan, .. representation before for
sheraton.
Tie first poscs to Base til. legislative power of thr
government u;n the qualified vo:er-, which. under ~
extended yst.. 81 suffrage; is equivalent i'll ts result
t" BASIN; Il u,ri, tic rcy %:c po.!acn Of the State
Til, plaza Tc,:tta The !"G;e Of this STATE lornia
:tent Crtl!.o'i; m ,,.f'"icI! homogeneous il it,
interests an. sentiments "a live under one system Of
general nd equal ,;"a. 1t regards every clE"a Of the
State tic member 81 ccl!'lpn political hoaac
mold: . lows 10 my: :1l- discrimination wealth
locality bat regards t;Ic:n I'll linked :ogctlcr in
CONNER! d",;iI,? and connected b. the mutual tc-
Of interest and affection The i;-c: characteristic 81
hi. pa, e,;aai: -ilividaI anu political quality
anoi,r 81 IL people Of the State 50 far that eqa&
ity can b, enforced consistently with the preservation
our cxista.. COUNTY lines.
Secoaiy The other plan proposes TO organize the
rrisa,ivc department u the government as 10 max"
the s;cc;a guardian oE ;.c property of the State
and eek, - accomplish! hi, result BY making cle
half Of il no:1r c representative Of persons and the
other !ra Tie representative o. property. That is &
say in hp;:'" o; delegates 0i one hundred a.d fifty
members assigns five. the representative
of prcper:v CT taxation. at -cvry-:ivc the repre-
s.ratiycs u nrini0;s. t: r largest amount of the
aggregate property Of the stat" lies G. III" Blue Ridge
mountain the effect Of hi, an i, vest in sectional
minority residing east oil The Blue Ridge the absolute
dominion and contr"! over The legislature OF The State
notwithstanding !ar.r n! ,ritI -, IL Tree white nhabI-
rans reside west nl :iat dividing line. This plan
cards the Stale !ln great i'd!ll-I5c common
wcal-uni,cd in mtarcs and feeling, D;.t IS conclc-
racy Of Gi,codau and hostile sections. It's great char
.c,rr;,,ir is Observation-Disclosures, il not OF the common hon
c>lv and integrity Of The PEI" T. At least, Of thci. den
ti,y with ard yai: 10 the srcat interest, Of Virginia
II seeks 10 effect It's purpose Of power hy unequal
allotment OF representation amongst the different portions
of the State; uy invinns Determinations amongst Sec
tons founded Upon their greater or less wealth, and BY
tranDling most unnecessarily under foot. one OF
,hr nischicvio ;oc: Of French democracy, that grca
nriuriplc OF popular gorcrnncu.-.c right Of the pea
pjc hT which aIon" can he mcaa, tho right Of maj or
i,v Of the people prescribe lis laws and To REGULATE
It's general policy
scheme OF government t: which have last desert
bed s,:nrsi.lr il 10 accomplish the protested object
I, advocates hus be satisfied by lhcm tina: there
exists in this ..!c stern and overriding ncccssit;
and ro,cscy than lie p!incirlc oithc aci"s ronuE am
prcnarcI 10 admit that governments TO >" well organ
xcd should be adopted to the condition and circImsta-
ccs of the community which they are to act.
know there are many nations. Indeed, on his globe Ia
which . free gov .uincnt would nc c heaviest curse
which an angry heaven: IN lis wrath. could inlict upon
them iiui tEr-t :!,e people G Virginia have mol
rca .ll., that ToIt :r, Il, make us doubtful 81
t:r capacity Tor al tlr great purposes al se!i-gc:c:
,orrt Before. therefore S:cti"n any surn '!"
!ch der Ti.rc rt: III principles OF pure representa-
liz. government. 'ust b" satisfied ut the existence OF
STATE of thing, a!:tr, far dangerous to M
crty and Property thAM bc.yc there Is any coor VI
fonda; !ol for ri ;h.s inc. mist believe the rights
Of property sihieci much greater Pers IN tins stale
Than row believe them 10 be. TO 'y nc III adopting
ans such principle. for their protection. Least OF ali
cniId give IT. il there ne other means less
offensive ami Ear efficient. which ar" fully AIDE
rlac IL" protection OF every Just calm ol property.
The difference ciwrcn these two systems CT repre-.
scntation is marked. The plants itself upon Inc
great principles which distinguish The popular from IN
other ,or.ls Of government The other inYohcs 10 Us
ai ONLY those arguments derived from cXE"dlchci
and interest which have been rescr:cd 10 II all times
n,. and which will DC rc,or" TO III all time 10 come
mo matter whal tic particular form Of cl'il pcihj
10 iustii, the ,ujcctun OF many TO the few. Ire one
rcsards the people the true soa"cc aud fountain VI
II ru,ifory of power Inc 0n-