Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09


Thea is il true. hecassc the MINORITY of III. neon. nj
England do rule in that government that therefor.
they ought to rule here: am not prepareI 70 r
rerc that authority Tor the guidance Of my actions
htie.
The gentleman from lnli.:x Mr. Er,trxnsl referred
to the State Of massachusetts, of the old thirteen
States that Furnished, example us the violation of the
right oil tn majority of numbers IL govern Wha; is
the history q" the government Of Massachusetts in re-
spcct of this matter When The Pilgrims landed from
the ilayiiowcr The stern aud rock bound coasts of
wild New Emyanis shore and there, amid the wild
forests by Which they surrounded instituted their
government, 1t was pure, unmlXed democracy Fresh
from the rand ui usurp.ton and oppressive monarchy
before Heaven and the desert earth around
iic:n tc rlgllts-tie liieabe lights ri man Stand
ing the >Hiit III Plymouth Rnck who's. has. v.as
..trd ~ The !ashing waves Of the stormy Sea- with
lhcr eyes up.!ltet ~ Heaven, with crou alteration for
past dclivcr.icc. and IN holy supr.cato! Tor future
guidance they established their form Of government in
which vs. recognized the absolute sovereignty and
equality oi Pare and holy the origin of this
claurracy down !rcm Heaven in answer to the
prayers OF the pioGd pilgrims Il WAS instituted amid
scenes "t the DEEPEST snlcnntv when the cravings OF
wealth .ost amid the dangers Of The place and tho
call, Of ambition and pride hu>lcd in the silence
that reisr'cd Ubrokcn through the world rev.
cr,icc the origin OF ,.at government adore its prin
cir.c Eat il i"t destined long last in its pri
tine pnrity. Population: increased and the people
scattered Then representation became Necessary aid
WHICH AL Inc male aclts
voted erected upon the foundation laid bs the Ill
rim fathers. This continued Tor man.; years. But at
Ii corruption cr"; into government and that gov
ln:llc:.l. which first pure democracy. became
miserable hierarchy. III which none b.t members Of the
church were permitted to yOtc. Subsequently, union
VA. formed b,iwcrn property and religion and this
union governed the pee" lc Of Massachusetts for genera
tl"ls il cGnii!Ied down To the formation Of the
-ti.ution REFER i 10 b. the gentleman from Halifax
(tl:. EnMITDS.) And i'll that constitution ADMIT, the
ii poli:ic; power in that Commonwealth. They then
incorporated in the constitution provision bas,ly rep.
rccttiiun III the >ciatc upon population and taxes.
u- it cont ;nc until the year Sa when the proper
" holders attempted to grasp still more power from the
pc, pie and rs cull." OF that effort they lost all
IN their convention in ISL thcy adopted. under the
leadership, e" their most distinguished men, the princi-
pie Of ba>ins representation III The senate upon popua
"a and the assessments Of wealth 1t submitted
10 the people and rejected, By them. Consequently the
provision Of TIE constitution Of 1850 continued until
1910, when the basis Of taxation stricken from the
constitution and representation, IN both branches of III,
Massachu>.t, Legislature is based upon y plla"n
alone" The eyes u the people were opened the u>,r.
ationS oi property holders, by their in the convrn.
ion of ISL which lead To that reformation in the GOV
rrumcnt, BY which tie property power w:,- entirely
strckc:. from the constitution.
Is vet have been total Y unable see any reason
Ylv property should Lc permitted exercise ANY pow
rr III tie legislative department oil the government
and precedent. have examined il, think dispas-
>iona.c!y Is Il could de-. have looked at il in
ever" light could. have weighed every argument.
and carefully considered suggestion that has been
urged in hearing. and altogether unable to see
solitary why property should have the pow
er OF Suffrage. either directly through Representations
i'll popular government; and OF consequence cannot
why the doctrine OF the righ; OF the majority TO gov
should De abandoned III 4 government protesting tn
be one of the people.
BrtI hay, been frruunutly asked ybot
pie Of right upon wli: it is claimed that tbs
majority of numbers soul! cmltrol Gentlemen AJAX
for lie principle npon which this right OF the majority
is ba",l The inquiry. admit is perfectly right and
proper: for ought 10 nave Reason ana good ON.
loo. for every lhinS "" pro"-. 10 a. a!'n adm.
800 :i. the fact that hi, right has been always adj
luc heretofore, is not sutclcn! Of ITSELF! For ancient
us:.. h";! always Gr chal:"i, II ii i not founded III
REASON and Justice am not prepared 10 rest the
swer 10 this question upon the reason assigned by ,l
authorities for il, Tor DO not think that reason stuff
Gent one Sn Tar rs !m advised AL the authorities
plac" il upon the supposed physical power OF tie ua w
rilv to enforce IN observance This l. Liable t. ,l
cctr:l that PLY sc. power is The law of ivr:ts ai.i
,rer>. ana Is not the ru'" al guidance for usr poo
Die an,i christian nation l!!Ink. however lhc rule t
-cif j. founded ali Justice Wills; ii rvcr"
con:i.iitv there 4 diversity o: '.cct AM IN
tc!iig,!rs, vet; in the average aggregate, III" :,Gcai
ana .ill. .,ncr I" each one may l." opposed pc
equal L, t!tl ii every other one iu That Community II
"a. the, the ma ",i:v al Numbers po-s"->c, the greater
t:lutn "i AMI n'ri!IS"m"" to br't= 10 bear IL
.i.!r: min; upon the wi-,.., 81" All prpD~un@. Anil
,Lln have h..rrc shown ;hl the MAJORITY Of Interest
is - il. l>cernci Only - .na or;ry -: those interest
cd aid no l.. The amount II ir,pcf' po,',,& -
one portion i".. j. tta; is ttci. l. clear dat
tie E.jory OF :unlJcr, are more deep: Interested la
wise ami iutc!uu, administration oi the government
an. will. Therefore. reflect more deeply an' act
cautiously IN arriving III .hclr conclu.ioas And the
n,uritv possess the greater inLcrcs !>.c: according
~, H.. of other WDuI
REQUIRE tina, ahuad have Tic f";er control IN it.
mana cement This RI 4 the majority atur:
right No >inpU-.S ii r">t> upon the laws al ma
urc but upon the Original compact Of government: and
IN rn. Investigation al il; must look /; The probable
rra-r% BIZ which irr"m"n were governed when they
,srr,? I, Ina; regulation in til" compact .. government
For ri ' Justice ami reason are ana must he the great
so:.,rulu" influences ~ popular government where
t. -py"rirr!'r nj '! rests n!'pn the wisdom write and
iutr ..f,cr ii Il free people
Tin. fr haze bern examining The arguments Of gen
t!c,urn ,i The other -ir--3rg imc:t- that i
rect aoIicah!" 10 The suhj"e; now under our imnr
ate ru.. snIrr.,on They ars however directly involve:
the principle at i~-;.r w ..r u. which prinripl" i,
now ATTEMPTED II? ;ndrc2:o!i - bc iastcncI upon Ike
prot'c oi tbs Commonwealth ~ the newly r,:cic
constitution. The proposition no." before Us l. not I"
give suffrage representation I" people and property
drc.y hnt Peep, ana taxes. II /, 1" base repre-"
scnt on upon tn population ;'! TIE pnh!lc revenues
of the government Not anon th' lakes levied ior they
would hardly propose tn base representation upon the
Delinquent lists, bat ur"a til" tax"s paid into the
Treasury.
What is tax, and Tor what purpose md upon what
re:so, are taxes levied ! tic unpaid debt,
due from the taxed citizen tn the government for the
protection afforded bv that government III his person
and property l. il not debt n binding in morals and
in Law, Is the d. BIT client you tor the services
vou have rcn red him in court And i, not yo,r fee
a drld morally aS well n legally, binding Upon your
client Tor tc protection Afforded to lis person and prop.
,rv b; means Of YOUR .er'cc III his defence So with
lie lax due l. is litigation, morally we'll as ".
aliv binding, In" protection received from the gov
er.nrn: to person and property. And The tax-paver
entitled to any political powc: for The payment o. jus.
dep, f,r which he ha- previously received valuable
consideration. | thr.; irr ltc had received tho
consideration before Il payment Wa made hS him! and
h. ought lot 20 be paid again in another way Ia,
would be giving the taxpayer double consideration Tor
the amount paid BIT Tic Ia: when collected AMI paid
ii,o tic lrc:.s:,r. becomes ilc property 1t belongs
equal, and alike 10 ali The po"p,c OF the Common
wealth. No one citizen has any greater interest in j:
than another. Il belongs much to the Ieop.e ot
Mont .oG,.ery - iios, .; Henrco y il Altenarl
has .s much ric; in il in The Comfy Of Caroline
wiihoG regard 20 tic originally paid h either.
AID ,o,s he proposition untcr consideration Is to base
Representation enc hall upon the people, AID the ether
hall upon ,ic aoiey IN the treasury.
W. 'E9eI,i That would be a Sci mar basis a. .h.