Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-14

ncit for the many to burden the lev l"r the Hc pun
pose is dcspotc aud autrepubicau. Power "lohl H''
TO he lodged in tho bands Of either as to give I" Que
the inevitable temptation which is a""' successful "
expressing the other.
In consulting the interest of every part of th!s con
lth so that there NAV be just distribution o.
the legislative ro.,or among these various parts we hnd
that teerc is great diversity IN the character OF s III
habitants and great c"nrariety oil interests IN us i
divisions Unfortunately, not only do mountains lnter
pose between them making distinct geographical dlyl
-ions but they III great measure contribute dNiuihs
lines between the interests OF Its population IN one
division there is majority OF tho white population
whilst in another there is n minority OF the white po
pulaton but large majority of human beings, OF nina
bitauts And this division. which contains the minority
of white population, but the majority OF human beings
pays more than twotrds of the taxes OF tho State
The majority of white population in the other portion
of the State, claim that they have al inherent and ndu
bitabc right md govern this minority OF white
population living upon territory which contains the i
ger number of human beings and contributes the laiSes
amount to the support Of the government ana has pos
session of property which, if unjus,y taxed OF hp'o
perly mterfered WITH the section would bc l'e
and oppressed, while the other would DC Deheh'Icu' VI
but little iniutcd.
With these facts before us. it becomes our duly 10
apporton the legislative powers OF the state. 40.
will YOU do il What are the just and equitable pf'nei
Piles to govern this distributions Forget lot 'h'e'''
the particular scheme arrangement whs'i hes's .1
eternal and unchanging upon which any scheme OF az
raugemcnt ought to be based. Would you iiiaH1 'ne
settlement of these principles by au arbitrary lu., VI
would you first inquire into the character ana cohul,'
of the society for whom yoa are 70 MAKE 'i' ,;
tion and into all the clements which now ao VI
are to compose it Can there tie any doubt VI Inc a
tional course and il the inquiry Ia instituted LOT "s,'
purpose is it done Is it to let the acs connoe.eu
ts character aud condition have their weight ana i
ence upon our judgment Then what 40 lhe .a,,' -
;,,tr
TINT il il true that the east pays the much larger po
ton of the taxes and has much the largest portion "
inhabitants if all counted and that TINS ln"Jo'ty -
made hy n class OF population who Are owne' rs s'es
which i almost confined the section but hat AZ
this ought to 10 dsrcgarded aad that the west rs she
has muioritv of the white population ought 10 nave ''
unlimited control of the taxing power although the
property which is to he the subject OF this TAXATION mere
than ,wothrds of which is paid by the east and the '
tuition of sigY, which will become subject TINS coh
exist in the greatest degree in the east INA, tne
power shall hr taken from the community IN WIG" ''i
greatest number OF human Icing 1--we, and where more
than thirds of the taxes are paid ana when cannot
within the bounds of any reasonable pr"'ahiiufT'
ercisc the taxing ofthe legislative powers ~ ''
injury the oppression Of the other portion I'll the ''
without their being equally injurious and oppressive t"
it. and shall lie LOGGED IN hands that q" MOI pay "'
| third ii the taxes AM! i'll community when /. h''
composed of rs many human beings, and Is not maj, Il"
with ~ many elements Of society - exist III the "iii
| Ii,
raise . distribute money and YET We are tod that y'
ought 10 TAKE 10 consideration vi those who ar" ~
puy the taxes or receive the benefit OF distribution
| in organizing the money raising ani the h'"n'y
lisbursing power ii such hc your Interpretation
Of the facts before IL. b: what process "i rct
soning. by what sentiment OF justice d" .'' "'''
| al il.
What il the proposition presented 10 us on TIA" other
sid. We are told that representation shall Away
lie regulated and ascetan-d by the number Z" qualiled
voters in the commonwealth tina, the res, OF the ab
tant and tn. other elements Of society must not MI u"
considered in the d-trilnton o the taxing power that
an entire disregard must b. paid To everything except
suffrage This basis constitutes new position III which
the western delegation have placed themselves III this
contest So far | have any knowledge OF the opln
ions Of the western people np" ms SUBJECT A. express
ell in memorials and resolutions which they have sen;
IN here they advocate the less of white popuat
the only true for the distribution Of Legislative
power. The gentleman from Grrcnhrier. mir. PRICE,
presented to this Conventions some time ago the resou
tons adopted by the people ot Pocahoas in which scy
say We believe the Instrumental doctrine of republican
ism to be- that the white population of the State is the
sole depository Of political power that the representa-
ton in In, councils OF the State -ould bc based upon
its free white inhabitants and that is the only doctrine
compatible with the bill OF rights in Virginia. They sav
further that while accept ns constitution except il.
Contains the white basis principle We will sanction no
guarantee to the east other than the ci 'ac.ta system
Of taxation Many other resolutions adopted by other
portions Of the western people express nearly the sane
doctrines The white basis and the suffrage basis
not the same Ii they are the why have gentle
men dropped the in favor of which the western eo
pie expressed their Appreciation and taken one OF which
there i Is not the same approval Have gentlemen
thrown aside the and taken the Other from rcascs
vi expcdicncy-irom motives OF policy. If they bc
different I'll. bill OF rights sanction both 1t has
heretofore been contcnled TINT the ill of rights sane
toned the basis Of white population. Are We now to b"
told that repudiates tha basis md sanctions the
suffrage bnss IT. however. the white basis be- idc,-
teal with suffrage basis why do not gentlemen hold on
to that basis for the number of votes being
matter of calculation while have accurate infor-
nation about the number Of white population gentle
men who advocate TINT proposition are now preparing
statements which approximate to the trut-thc facts,
the facts themselves when sometime ago they secuted
all statements, matter how obalncd, which approSl-
| mated to the number of white population Then there
was great unity OF feeling among the friends Of the
suffrage basis against this approximation Now they
have abandoned that ground, and prefer theory to
fact And if these two bases the same there can
be no Justification OF this aandonmcnt-oi th4 prefer
enca of an uncertainty over certainty. 1t Is arii.
,rary one,-not authorized by anything in your bill
OF riglt--not justified by anything which ought To
govern us in the administration OF republican govern
ment
When society Of people assemble to forma govern
ment for mutual benefit and protection, all being 10y
nature equally free aud independent all have right To
''s'"e
until by the operations Of its provisions some are re-
cognzcd as the only fit and proper persons TO exercise
the power Of controlling the rest anil shaping the action
of the government. This limitation "i the right OF
voting and thereby Of controlling the government to a
particular part of the community, does not 'livest the
residue Of all interest in the government Not at all
Il MAJ be that those who vote, or many OF them Will
have other interest in the government than desire
:; have is actions shaped to produce results bene-
.cia! to their selfish ends and purposes. Those who
are excluded from voting may be deeply interested in
all the results Of governmental Northumberland
through TIMER rights Of persons and property crested
IN every aspect except tha: Of voting. Why then ex
rlude them from all consideration in the distribution Of
Legislative power Look ut the objects for which gov
eminent is formed /, is not that those who exercise
the right Of voting should merely through agen.s oxcr
else power IL /, not that lhe yolers should enjoy the
pleasure OF power. ly no n.es, That is thc doctrine
Of other times. and Of les sepui lean landa The right
OF suffrage exercised ny portion OF the community
not merely for their own benefit s pleasure Int for
the good of the whole. and I'M, construction of yor
bill of rights which would recognize power as existing in
the veters for their ben"; exclusive nj the right, and
interests of the rest Of society would make that decar
alton of great Truths the INSTRUMENT oi oppression the
watchwords Of violence and injustice Whether you
regard the right OF suffrage right conferred lv The