Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07

be absorbed; IN western improvements II" S'n.i',
forget that whilst the power remains on l's Sue
Of the mountains the revenues of tho west are lae "
be absorbed III eastern Improvements. May nor n'"'
has NO, .uch been the case: II may Ire answered. 'i
the burden OF taxation falling more heavily upon no
eastern tax payer, because he has more taSanse
~ thcro is on that account, danger OF suen III 'D
of power. Let us soc. If wish to improve my 9.
tate, there s hardship in lerying contr'poa r,
that estate which to receive back AGAIN u, III. .ad
Of improvements on that estate 80 that aa III am at
two dollars and my neighbor only one doia, "a to
last gamer il the whole three dollars d.
my benefit. The llsey therefore OF such 40 ~ .bn Nv
is obvious since an eastern majority can TOLD that
pcaton Of the entire revenuea bnt We =. .;ncs
the Legislative power he's been IN eastern J b urer
the Organization Of the commonwealth anu n,a !;
been abused When gentlemen are driven 10 su.n W
lema they seem TO forget another y, r. .
cinln much insisted ON by some Of thch-i mean the
sehslness of mankind justify ing ci'sta' .,
distrust But | would simply inquire '',e no. Tue
80, ,oonla a. yrtunis end patriotic as tile eastern
reop,e. Do gentlemen pretend 10 sas thes ai' ny
Tb.n yhv M, give us the power You have enjoyed It
reasonable length Of time on ousns ~ oe M
and complain, If We are "iiNN9 - ''@
benefits and its burdens :, e
Still referring to the lust OF power and the plea OF
selishnesa allow to suppose case. suppose liie
east retain the legislative power IN the han Of the MI
nority; and suppose hat IN Inc ;orSs 81 .ih' w. MIN.
cnos Of apportionnent III tie mixed Msis, the west
hould no entitled to majority of representation might
not selfish minority. prompted by the rove VI power
refuse to make thai aprorticnment? Would 1t exceed
the eastern idea of the seisAhess oil mahhina 10 ''ie
il noasblc that this minority, under .uc. circumstances
might he induced modify and multiply taxation On
eastern property a, to keep the mixed basis always
above the popular standard as to retain the power,
especially since this minority would always have 1t IN
its power appropriate this increased revenue to its
own heneft
take it upon myself to say that there is no ground
for any alarm that any western majority would could
Cypress the eastern slave holder by exhorbtant taxa
ton BY any enactment affecting slave property Look
ut the condition of the valley To say nothing OF the
counties Of Wyhe and Kanawha in the transalleghany
district let invite the attention Of the committee to
the following facts The county of Augusta pays tax
2S0l slaves the county Of Berkeley on lUe9; the
county Of Botetourt o0l9 the county of Clarke on
1881 tho county Of Frederick on l40i Jefferson on
24l9; Roanoke 1876; Rockbridge aiaS Rocking
1888 These nine counties would be entitled 10
Is delegates the basis of suffrage in house of one
hundred and ffty-:Io members. Cannot any body see
that in al questions affecting slavery slave property
all these counties would unite with the ensi III such
: n the whole valley would unite with the east.
lie, ME ask where all this time the lives and the
liberties the souls and tho bodies Of the western people
desire to repeat this interrogation Where Nil this time
are western life and personal rghtss Are they not to
to be considered in organizing the government HoT
ia it! Constituting IA We DO majority OF near one
hundred thousand souls we are asked modestly asked
they can be affected by the legislative power of the gov
eminent, to minority. Disguise it IA you may, you
regarding your goods and chattels with higher
distinction than you The life and liberty OF the ives
tern citizen. Are you no;' Are you not demanding
that vc.r property shall virtually have place ana pow
cr in the legislative department Of the government to
the exclusion OF the free men OF the west Is this right
Is it tolerablo: Is there below The blue ridge
who ii transferred beyond the Allcghanies would sub
nit to it : Not one! Not one
ha~1 oaya IN hats hia 10
little personal estate which possess consists OF fam
lily Of slaves. / slave holder and regard the t.
tie this property TO all other property rs sacred
equally sacred But, cannot allow my interest in this
respect to override the natural rights and liberties Of
one hundred thousand Of my fellow citizens. No !!
You, mere minority of the people claim authority to
lesatc foT the ra;ority-to control their interests civ
H. religious political even life itself iouhavc right
to such control speak with all due Difference to tiie
opinions Of others, and with the ditdencc which my
humble position this floor ought to inspire i'm
putc none but the purest motives to any gentleman but
speak the sentiments of my heart and when remember
that speak the sentiments of my constituency too, am
omboldencd to declare, here i'll my place that such as
sump.ious if carried into effect and made part OF the
organic faw, would BE- m0nstrons oppression, utterly
sbycrsive OF the dearest principles Of political liberty
and republican equality.
am weary Of this cry of sensnes.-this inferen,ia
impeachment of western integrity II has been ringing
in for the last quart # centurythe stereo
typed decree against every petition have preferred
fnr political equality. When ask for natural
Liberties, told that camoring for abstrac
tions-ar-art DISQUALIFICATION CUE for equal and
Just participation III the administration Of the govern
mcnt are answered that men selfish. The dis
t; sGishcI gentleman from Fauqucr Or ScoTr cries
out" How long shall patience De abused BY this
e;ern. camoriny Of the west to get their hands
pursc-srings." The fears of eastern gentlemen are
idle What ia there 10 justify them in the history q
the past Upon what acts do gentlemen predicate their
apprehensons Of integrity There fact. to
!, ustify them. These approximations the bug
bears Of excited ulagnation-mere speculative
sumptiona having their origin in their theories of human
selfshnese.
appeal to the record. The gentleman from Halifax
(Mr PrRKiss) has made it Necessary. do with
luctance. Self commentator ia hardly over in good
taste. But the gentemans remarks in reply to the
marks OF the venerable gentleman from Greenbrer Mr.
I WILLIAM SdITH) require some notice Besies, | feel
mysef in compelled refer TO those events
of which gentlemen have spoken. to Offset the constant
reference of eastern members to the moderation and us-
tcc with which they have exercised the power in their
hands and TO repel the iaputations against western
fidelity and patriotism. confess | feel some pride
wi:ha in making this reference. appeal then to the
record Hoy was it some forty years ago when the in
vader was enticng sway your negroes, burning your
villages pllasng your property and driving your fani-
lies into the interiors How was it then with an enc.
my in your midst who, when you sough! 10 repcl the
invader from before you, might recall you BY tic mid
night gre Of your dwellings in acs' You called
for help And the echo Of your call had hardly return
cd from mountains till the roll of the western drum
heard on your capitol square. Where were your
ideas of aeishness tlen Where was your distrust
when you We're arming for your defence We came
Mt your call. The district which l. in part have the
honor represent. sent down her men, her Haymond4
her Morgans her Tenants, her Jurrys her Stafor,is
and Others equally worthy. But they did not al come
back. No. Many desolated wes:arn freside-nnany
widowed family attested the fidelity of the western
heart That day And now the gentleman from Halifax
Mr PtRErss) tells ia that received our wages-we
were duly paid OLIVE had our reward and ought to
be content Yes the bones of some these brave men
nov lie bleaching your pine hills and pine barrens,
along your coaso reproach you for your ungencrous
disrust and the gentleman from Halifax (Mr PrHKss)
cries out from the midst of these affecting mementos Of
western delty-I an tired fhearing of these things
you have haa your reward-he content"
must pause here 70 pay n tribute to the memory Of
great good 'an. Under whose banner did those true
hearted Western soldiers rally, 1t was that Of man
ruchearted they, any man that ever livedthe
noble General Robert B. Taylor There and then it
was he learned our character our fidelity cur devotion
to the State, won; regard section or locality. #
fitting. that afterwards, in the hour of our exirom
y h. should be the 6rs unfurl the flag of the snf
frase basis in tho Convention of lsae-s0 The same
! unmtgated, unrelaxing spirit of the money nouer