Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-04

think, or he would Lave others think that there is
thing in the form of the substitute in the nature Of
trap, and that my expectation is that in Some way TN
detined--because he has left it misunderstanding
will be gained over the party with which he acts.
Mr. SUMMERS. What have sail upon that sub
j.ci felt justified IN saying because OF the remarks of
the gentleman from Fauquier (Mr. scolr9
Mr. SCOTT That was laleinngly said 10 the gentle
man IN response 10 his own figure he complained that
the substitute did in express terms fix the fractio
and demanded Of me, after had explained solae haiti
dozen times again To state The reasons wici. uiGtfced
me IL leaving those blak lie Says that there can t'
no difficulty Whatsoever in my filing the baiS az ms
time. Does not the gentleman knnw--havo not al
ready eAplaneis
| Mr.. WISE Will the gentleman allow he to inter
| ruptf That is not my proposition.
Mr.. SCOTT. am speaking 10 the gentleman from
kanm"ha. Tho reason why these fractions cannot he
adjusted now IS that We have not determined upon the
number OF delegates and senators Of which we shall
compose the two legislative bodies. Fix those numbers
and you relieve from all difficulty whatsoever. III re-
spect OF the precise amount of the fraction The gen
teman says that offered him pill Compounded IL part
OF poison Ana h. desires 10 know before he takes the
pill in what proportion these ingredients arc to enter
into its composition Ia it Of objection to the
gentleman that We require him IN the first instance to
determine whether he will compound this pill Of these
two ingredients leaving for after consideration to de
tcrnlinc the exact proportion ot the two! What fair
ground Of objection is it, that the substitute proposes to
take The question frat upon the ingredients Of which the
pill shall be compounded leaving il for the wisdom Of
this body 10 aLnst hereafter the proportion Ought
he not rather to meet the proposition IN different spirit
Ought he rot 10 consider 1t concesslon as nteat-
ed, i'll spirit of kindness il not al mercy, tia! We
leave him a vnirc hereafter in determining the proper
ton, IN which he will lake the wholesome fool and the
poison The gentleman SAYS That he iasiirs &c know.
and the people OF tl,is commonwealth Also the reasons
for another feature in this rep":t II W. arc 4, orsa
nze the government upon Tho rncp orcpt alton.
lanj lI. NJ fyo off
legislative department according I" population anc tax
alton why docs the substitute propose 10 deprive the
west Of The benefit it may derive from its ia'reas-
Ing taxation. did not expect ha; tlt feature in the
substitute would have been singled on. by the learned
gentleman from Kaawha. Mr. SuNNE#s) ana m,ni" the
subject of this pointed assault But the purpose i Oh.
vous IL is purpose of fairness and Of Justice. 1t is
intended ia Tie me hands of the legislative department,
when il shall to exercise the power thai it is pro
posed tn vest IN il this subject Of apporti.I-
ment prevent il from practising ac- Of alj,ls-
tice. To tie its hands that ii can commit nils'ice
neither to the east to The west: provide rule
which in ali time TO come will put out Of Tie power
of The legislature hy the arrangement "f its ta% bills to
pc,pctrate injustice Without that restriction which
seems mich 10 have excited the opposition Of my
friend from kanawa does not every gentlemen perceive
that with the power to ortion representation. and
with the power oil taxation ii will b. IN the power Of ic
the Legislature. il you are 10 reapporiicn accn.cg n
the latest assessment, arrange ts tax bill
for the single year the proportion Of taxes TO be paiG by
the two sections Of the State ard thus acc; the proper
tion of representative.
The legislature by It's lax bl enacted tho year before
the reapporticnmeat is In bc made laY adjust 1T rs
to collect III the eastern sections Of Ike State larger
proportion the taxes than may BE-, collected il The
western It may o this for the specific purpose of COST
ing in the appnrtoniaent nca. to be made lao-
pondoratng majority in The IS Tor the pus pose
preventing that Justice for the purpose of securing to
the western section representation upon this principle
it- son
is inserted IL Is FOR advantage 10 Virginia.
and is for disadvantage To western Virginia. bat to
secure justice to both If tie legislature shall adjust
its tax bill Us to throw undue amount Of taxation up
on the western section, dun.. any Of the preceding ten
years, when they GENE to reappor;ion representation
c1rdng "a the substitute the west will obtain rcprcsen
tson IS IN equivalent for it. There is really lar
ger that, in arranging the TAX bill! eastern Virginia for
the mere purpoec Of swelling its majority will cuail
upon itself undue proportion Of the pccl;narY bur
dens of lllc commonwealth II western Virginia will
assume upon itself M ority of these burdens viii
vote now to give them aiorty of representation.
If they will take representatives in prcpnr;icn 10 their
contributions 10 the public treasury if cy will agree
to pay majority Of the tax IS they claim haze ana
jority Of the representation will say tke il; # yo
pay most OF the taxes you shall enjoy most ri the
presentation. The gentleman desire- TO know reason
for this novelty Why lii the ajusIment "f tie consi
tuition Of this state II IL proposed 10 put the Legislative
power i'll the hands OF minority: lie says Le desires
10 have the reason ard The PEOPLE of Virginia desire to
have the reason. will give him the rcascu in few
words 1t to promote the general welfare. to
good government it Is to guard the interests Of The
community against "lnsa ii j. 10 property that
in present social condition. believe will b. cnlanger
81 by srrrend"riny the legislative control macrl
of mere numbers. If the gentleman wants ,cson il
his constituents want reason think they have ito
guard the power Of siation aain., arso TO sccnrc
the rights Of property wei! rs the rights Of persons
to promote the interests o all To orair gov
ernmcn which shall contain within itself lls: priur.s
Of protection
Dir WISE. have not done with The gentleman from
Fauquier yet in my effort 10 get at l- proposition.
call the gentlenans attention again the fact that with
out la2 the blank which is ia propose the number al
representatives lie hll fhc blank that proposes III,
proportion between population AMI taxes. ael IN,
gentleman tc give me reason fcr this iact that whilst
the nuaber Of white Population in thn s.ata in round
numbers is sasooo, and the number the sum OF taxa
ton exclusive Of the items which le excludes il I9J oU0
why il is that to the $4,000 of tax he gives nearly The
same number OF representative. that he would give 10
the $685. 900 ofporuation The Of population aud
the sum of taxes combined in round numbers is l. gas
900. The son OF the white population is SO nearly dl
bic that of the Of taxes that yon may .ay that il
double it. yet lie as house of one hundred hc wo,Id
give to the $4,000 people fifty representatives and he
would give to the s4G5ooo Of taxes also 6ty reprssen
atives! Why Ia 1t, ask him again, that dollar in
money shall he counted as more than two white men
Admitting even that his principle Of tho mixed aud com
bined basis Is Correct ask him to give me Reason ioI
this proportion in the Jose lie asks the gentleman from
kanawha to take the dosc frat and then he will fix thu
proportion for him afterwards Doe. not the gentlemen
from Fauqusr perceive that it is an all essential and
vital matter to tho gentleman from Eanawha to have
him settle the proportion to ascertain the proportion
bread. little arsenic in the pill might do no harm
but overplus of arsenic might send the interests
The constituents Of the gentleman from Kanawha to the
t tomb of tho Capulets. Now want to know the pro
portion tho exact proportion, the number of people
Is double the Gum OF tnxatcn But got from the gen
tleman from Fauquer what intended to get from him
BE has let the cat out of the meal my Satisfaction
! Mr.. SCOTT, of Tanquer. There is no cat in it.
u Mr. WISE There was this cat in it.. The PROPOSE
ton told liz that could value white maa at Just
y about fifty three fifty FIVE cents apiece do not
know but the gentleman from Fauquier values white
y ole the sum Of tax rs two TO one Value the white
man at dollar Well, if he would he might have got
my vote perhaps. At any rate, there would lave boen
less Of srsculc in his proposition than in proposition A.
But understand him to tell us TINT he must give US
the sane double Dose And in response to the inquiries
put to HIM BY the gentleman from Kauawha, why ID it
the patience OF this Commonwealth to be abused
any longer By 'is attempt to weigh the minority against
majority by throwing dollars and cents in the scale