Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-17

cuIt to settle upon principles of equity III country
| which renders its members As w"oie' .
Now. sir do not quote Burke as authority laying
the foundations of a republican anoIns;r.l, 81,
Paona;,..ncv Of our mixed basis friends. The
the rich and the poor Says he, and 80
| saw Te) is not q strusgls between W 49, =; ~ ~ -
poration-not struggle between . oIui.y ~ sne ~es
| :: o. .on.-but it Is struggle between man
i not between districts and grand sons,
h, mountains other less definite boundaries,
but classes and descriptions Oh persons: Hs not
ou. O.t il springs from the nature of man, and
soe pi.oos NJ life It il the prnc pie Of jealousy,
M oo. end Il developing itself in earliest infancy.
alu MIA Init few years old its companion
Ino of TOYS and baubles more attractive and
the earliest uP1s ing OF tins a e.
| n.y. ananst which all have to struggle. will
~, .ten hare to inquire into its origin; it may be
n;usI sin It's existence in greater or less degree
S"1.n ~ ayory man. When engage in the strug-
H. IF I;fs TO win our way to fortune, it mngles in
| nlona and mara our peace It requires the best quail
Rs # r nature to be kept IN active exercise to main
t; tbe ascsads,cy over it. The political asPirant is
md.d by Jealousy against his successful competitor.
Gon tho arm and comparatively unselhsh hearts Of
our dauphtars all their virgin purity, are no stra
oarv to this untoward feature of our nature 1t is ell
twined with their brightest hopes and tinges their
hoiest affections In word, pervades human nature
in every form Of existence. But to bring it more near
l ly
nropsrtv brought in ju1taposiion with his grandeo
npahbor who feels most sensitivey this Jealousy thus
found prevail in greater or less degree among all
men and all ranks and classes Of society 1t when il
thus threw in immediate contact with his more fortunate
uciyhbor that he feels upon the slightest prorocaton
the "old Adam rising in him Burke well knew this
when he indicted tho conclusive argument have just
cad But the poor man. afar of in his western hume,
neither knows nor inquiries into the happier and more
fortunate condition OF friends the descendants of
the Cavaliers in eastern Virginia He neither feels nor
cares about it, unless you force it upon him by some
such wrong and insult involved in this scheme of
the mi1sd basis They alone who have 1T ntruded up
them every day, most and feel most the wide a.
parity in the matter Of fortune between them and their
wealthy neighbor. They IT, upon whom is thrown
most likely to be troubled with morbid sesiEty on this
subject. Well therefore, might Mr.. Burke argue, and
may wo argue. that it 10 a competition not between
counties districts, or grand divisions, but between
classes and inividuMs-h competition that de-
precates moro than do but it ii ayeidable.
Clearly then it would better tho purpose pro-
posed if the scheme inverted, the political power Of
The different sections made equal and that Of individual
voters graduated according wealth; and who will dare
propose thisi The object is the protection of prop
erty-to secure it in tho hands of those who have it
against the aggressons Of those who without it,
who have but little. And how do opponents pro-
pose to accomplish this Not by boldly meeting the
issue and placing the political power in tho hands Of
those who pay tho aud who, consequently Accord
ilE to their principles should have the power to
control the appropriation of the revenue, but BY kind
Of political eKerdenlan, the principle abhorren to
every republican feeling, when applied to individuals
is masked under the specous guise of sectional app
cation.
county, for example, in eastern Virginia. in virtue
Of lis wealth. is to have the power of electiny two
three representatives. while county Of greater ppu-
atoa west Of the Blue Ridge, having less wealth.
elect but one or two to state the proposition moro
precisely county paying the larger contribution resu
lated by its wealth. into the treasury shall have the
benefit of choosing larger number of representatives i'll
proportion to the amount Of those contributions The
rich by this indirect method IL TO exercise inu
sce III the management and control government over
the poor man. IN proportion to the amount of his wealth
Now, let US for moment look to the practical results
Of this scheme and in order TO understand the qucs
ton properly, must bear in mind that by almost
universal consent it is understood that the right Of
suffrage is to be extended substantially to every free
white male citizen of ths Common wealth Of mature
age for has, and venture ~ say one will
show moral courage enough, to attempt opposition to
this demand in behalf Of the popular sovereignty. The
venerable great mon Of the last Convention were, at
least fur behind the present age on this subject.
Every one who has vt all looked into this suhiect
aware that generally at least, if not universally. in
every county majority of the voters will be those,
who either have property, or that very limited quant
tv which their personal industry has enabled them to
gather around them tho men whose only wealth
intellect given them by the God of nature. If, then
there be this enmty between the rich and poor giving
rise to the necessity for protection of the former
against the latter; if it be necessary to give the
property holder protection in tho shape of repre-.
sentation against him who is without property. if
reliance is to be reposed in the virtue, and
of Justice Of the if there be sympathy or bond
Of union betw tho different classes Of society what
the RESULT 1t 10 in the power of the non-propcrty
holder and will DO greatly more when you extend
the light Of suffrage, out-rote the property holder.
In the worry county that wies increased amount "f
political power by virtue Of its VIZ ";E aud
IN the spe of taxes, argued by Mr..
afn. tntnIS opsrty holder, by out-voting the pro
erty holder will not only defeat the ldea OF protection
property but become by means OF his wealth invested
with additional power to against the rights of prop
erty If the principle DC correct why not apply 1t so M TO
be efectuul: Why not at once limit the suffrage, and in
crease the power the hands of those who have proper
ty and who Interested to have that property pro-
tected, Why is it, ask, that gentlemen shrink lack
unwilling to do that which the renerated men nf the
invention of 1S29sO did not hesitate to dof Sir the
genius of true repubcauism has advanced the spirit of
national progress has reached even our dormant neigh
bors of eastern Virginia. In obedience to The bcests
Of the times they are prepared to extend the right OF
suffrage yet they cling with deathgrp tenaclty to
what must be pardoned for designating as the Exploded
absurdity of past age.
! again press home upon our opponents this qles.
ton, why will you not meet the issuei Why will
you not carry out your principles Why seek TO
| svade the res ponsibty of your position by vain
attempt to discriminate between communities and
individuals Permit to illustrate this matter 10y
reference to curious freak Of nature believe in the
county of Hardy there is certain river that down
tearing around the buttrssses Of the mountains working
it's way through and overcoming oil difficulties that lie i'll
its course until at last encounterng obstacle which
it cannot overcome what does it do Not like our own
noble Potomac and Shenandoah rivers which, uniting
their strength dash through the very heart of the Blue
Ridge and scatter s broken fragments far and wide
below. No, sir the stream in question having none
other to unite with it, accomplish such mighty
deed Of river daring to sntitle it to immortality i'll
the writings of the sage Of Monticello but it must
pursue its course, it does that which fur
politicians than to riyers-t makes the grand dodge
1t quietly dives under ground, and passes for mile
believe out OF sight, aud presently, having thus
passed the obstacle 1t forth frothng and bubbng
away if it had done mighty deed. And
mixed basis friends being no longer aided by the kin
tlred principle OF restricted suffrage. in like
uer compelled to take to the earth If may be per
mtted then for moment to lay aside the character of
the politician and don the sacertotal robe, would
reverenty baptizs this evasion Of principle by the
of the lost river argument. Laughter The celebrated
| e. I,l. of