Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

side, that there certain restrictions which they WIS
to impose upon tho Legislative department, ~ 10 u
power OF taxation, and as 10 future action upon ir"c
relations; and understand that they propose TO accom-
pli>l their object BY these much abused paper sua'a'
ties. Do gentlemen intend TO say to us. that ines
paper guarantees arc sufficient TO limit and restrict III
eastern people, but that they arc of force. - ag;s
the western people; When the western majority re
qurc restriction upon the eastern minority, II Is 10
AFFORDED ny these paper guarancs-bul when INC caster
minority wish to place restrictions upon The "cs'cr
majority, 1t IS 10 be done by dcpTiving the wcsl oi nc
just proportion of representation WHY will moi gentle
men permit the rule to operate east and west
IL the western people must rely upon constitutions
limitations 10 secure their rights, why should dicre
measure of security be dealt out TO the east:
II has pleased gentlemen the other side. 10 say 0
the western people, that they honest, generous: a
trotlc and brave, and that they regarded by then
WIN inc feelings OF brothers, and with TIE PRIDE Q
i 'iTSiians confess am al loss 10 reconcile INT
professions with the acts Of gentlemen OH this ;onr
Ibis question has been discussed here as If The ives
tern representatives regardless of the rights o
property, and proposed to leave wholly unprotected
by constitutional provisions. 4 large majority ot tL'
people OF my district have deep interest in this sub
BY industry and economy have had the good fortune
TO acquire some property large proportion Of wc'
consists OF slaves Nc member upon this floor is moro
deeply sensible of the Importance Of throwing ever!
guar and protection around the rights Of ;!e property
holder than myself: and in making this declaration,
but reflect the sentiments Of my constituency and as
beieye the unanimous opinion O! the western people
y universal consent, them property must he protected
and We differ only to the mode OF accomplishing tha
! object. Gentlemen the other side. contend that Il
ought 10 he protected by giving it representation N lht
Legislative department. while insist il should be pro-
teced by proper constitutional restrictions. There
arc three coordinate departments of the go'crIIne!
with such limitations and restrictions upoG their powers
as render them Independent %, and checks upon each
other And it must be rccollcctc that the concurrence
and cooperation o all three OF these departments, are
essential 10 the complete protection Of all the rights and
interests of society So if the object be 10 protect pro-
perry alone the is just important clcr nl Tic
others. Now. i. is proposed by the advocates -; the
Mixed Basis that the Governor shall BE- elected hy the
qualified voters and ii seems 10 be understood Thai nc
! Judges are to be elected also hy the qualified voter,
Thus ihey adopt and approve the Suffrage EAsis ri repre-
scntatou in the executive and judicial departments
while they insist upon the Mixed Basis in the legislative
department. What is the reason for his distinction
Why should the power flow To the legislative drPart
ment in different channel: They arc satisfied with
paper guarantees to restrict the executive and judiciary
WHY are they not sufficient 10 restrict the Legislature
Hy adopting the Suffrage Basis the executive and
judiciary. they admit that the western people w!I mol
violate paper guarantees. to those departments WI,
will they violate them 10 the legislative department
bee gentlemen TO be consistent Ii there he ncccs-ii.
for adopting the MxcdBass to orc branch The same
necessity must exist 10 the other branches.
But lei rs attempt t. carry ont t, nn,cl idea, o.
giving rcl!fcScnl:rn in the Legislature To the various
promiac! interests of III. State. We have al agra'
tlral interest which is coaii"cd principally To two dis
tricts have commercial and manufacturing Inic'
rest, confined to Underwater am, We have iron, coal
salt and grazing interests. confined 10 the valley AM
trans Allegheny. All these interests more ~ tcs'
sectional, AM, not being general; dillsri rnuglo,
the State. occupy the position 10 localities WIT
! thatepccuar property. which gentlemen on the Other
side, insist shall be represented. And while the mpor
lance OF that peculiar property. comprising II does.
great State interest," may be conceded, II c;imot be- de
MED, tina, some, iI not all Of the Interests ADORE named
arc equally important and if Representations necessary
for the protection of the onr it is alike necessary for r
protection Of the others. And what member upon ih
iioor is not prepared TO admit that il Is utterly in:acli
cable TO give To all these various Interests special re
presentation IN the legislative department. But u spr
cia representation could be given to all. wod seen
that the quantity OF representation should depend upo'
the Importance of tic interests to be represented a'
if portion Of the people who hold of the arscs
and most important interests should demand for 1t repre-
scntaon propor;ioned to its Importance, ask, how /
il possible 20 apporton that representation cinltab
among all the various and diversified interests OF III!
State:
But let us whether the plan proposed will accom-
pllsh tho object designed. The Mixed BASIS gives Il
4D2 900 white inhabitants Of the east, decided aiori
~ in the Legislative department 4?3 ,O1D Of white
inhabitants of The west, and this with the ayowcd pur
pose Of securir. the slave property Of the east
There about 10000 slave holder, in the cast an,
about 400 i'll the These 40DO. cannot with
OUT Inc atl Vi lic cpitrUl lc lcg!Sa
ton Of t:e state IT.: success %: the p!an therefore
must depend upon whether the non, Shareholder. oil tin
west. the avchoGcrS OF the east. arc mos; friend
" TO this institution. will not elaborate this point 70
tho purpose of proving that d,iirciiUn, If di>accr:
there be- must prcpondcratc in the cast Il must ~
manifest TO all, that as the Inequality n09 cX
listing between the cast and the west shall be removed!
and the western man restored 10 equal political rights
you place him above and beyond al! luminosity and hirc
To slavery lie will longer feel thai scnsc Of dcgra
d,tin ,rhicL ol,,vs
non-slarchodcr, who is constantly brought in con,ac
with and TO some extent occupies, the position Of TIT
slave, and who secs slave labor strongly compc.in
with his own, as 10 threaten 10 deprive himself am
family OF comfortable subsistence 4 brief review
of the relative position Of east and west
will leave no doubt upon the unprecedented mind, Of In
correctness of the position have assumed
Then should abadon the and r,y,racti
cable notion of securing all The important interests of III
State by giving TO each, special representation in tn
legislative department, and adopt in lieu therefor tn
well tried, simple and efficient mode OF placing cons;
tutional limitations and restrictions upon the power q
all the departments OF government. And thus carry on
into practical operation, 10 all the dcpartmcn,s In
principle adopted by gentlemen on the other side an
proposed BY them, to be applied 10 the executive an
judiciary.
But in support OF this plan. the constitution Of y,
State Of South Carolina has been referred TO and il Ina
been said to be analogous to. if not identical with In
principle in the federal constitution giving cprcsrnto
to slaves In both these Instances, that inconsistcnc
which is proposed here. does not exist. The powe
flows to all the departments in the same channel Bp
the case of federal representation is NOT parall Ther
slavery existed in several Of the States exclusively an
was not known 10 Others The trainers of the cojstit,
ton no doubt believed that the best mode OF sccur,,
slave property was to give il representations And how
ever wise that measure thought to be ut the tim,
subsequent Developments, and the existing slate
+ things. must create doubt 1T least, upon the minds
all who are acquainted with the history of our govern
ment as to its true policy What is ii that has excite
the abolition feeling and the fanatic spirit Of Tic north
What gave rise 10 the rcc-soiI doctrine and y kccpn
up perpetual agitation threatens the very existence
this institution: May they moi be attributed in part
least, 10 the provision in the constitution giving slav.
) representation: The norhcrn peopi, may take I'll
same view OF this subject which is taken nv The wes;er
people of our State Who is prepared TO say tn,
if this representative prncpi had been wholly omitted
slavery would have been insecure than ii is At prt
sent WIFI gentlemen on The other side he satisfied wit
the security for this property in our State const
tuition that is afforded under our federal government
They certainly do not apprchcnd more danger from thc
western brothers than from the northern fnatics The
will do us the justice to that the danger is not to
expected from the west, but from the north flrei
candor will constran them admit. that if the StLt
constitution shall as cccually guard them against il
vason from the west the federal constitution pro tee
them against the aggressons of the north they rfit
satisfied How is this property now held un der III
constitution OF the United States Not b. virtue Of I'll