Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-15

antics in the constitution and restrictions upon the
legislature defining we'll the powers and duties OF the
legislature, what improvements they shall make, and
what taxes they shall levy and II not opposed to the
public welfare, l am for them
Sir We al desire proper guarantees and restriction
to all our rights of ykind whether peculiar or not
but can for giving GUARANTEES to slave
property that will not apply with equal force to oil pre-.
party Then let have guarantees OF all property and in
ali pnrts of the State alike Surely the people of
ern Virginia can make themselves safe by constitutional
guarantees, even against the plumber Of the west And
if they cannot they had better not associate with US
| any Longer Sir if we cannot be bound to be honest
towards neghbors and their property oy our hands
and seals in the shape OF constitution advise sep
araton not only from the east but from all other hon
eat people Yos air. if this is character let the
east run the line of separation along the top of the
Blue Ridge and we will stay on our own side ! am
willing, il they shall desire us, to do In my
science say don't want to associate with any PEG
lple who have not enough to bind me by written
stution to be honest And again repeat that
ern gentlemen may put all their heads work and
haus all their learning in shaping constitution in just
as strong terms possible for the purpose Of securing
good behavior in the State and if they will only make
it apply to east well west will take ityes sir
| will thank them for their pains l hope l will bt
hardened for such intimaton about the east But
Mr. Chairman | hope l will be pardoned, and moi
thought out Of order, when say that with my OWL
consent cannot unite with eastern Virginia any
other psupe, ask advise my neighbors to do II
knowing them do in government otherwise IN
less i, the usual terms ofequaty. will never nlo
i'll ubecng the present generation their Poserty t.
such of yussalage No sir in western Fir
ginia will neither be told that too stupid MOI
Il mi nui
will be told that Virginia will take care o.
us if she be allowed to retain the power; sir let he.
take care of herself and no more aud let do the
thing.
Mr. Chairman if there is any kindness and liberality
of feeling in the breast of any people, and yet enough
resentment wul injustice it is in western Virginia
And don't tell me- eastern gentlemen have done here
that if the western people transferred to the cas-
side of the Blue Ridge and situated the east nov
are aud the people changed into our present 10
caty that we would do just what theyare doing-tha
lit is nothing but human nature No sir !; do not be
eve a word of it. Sir, there is CONSCIENTIOUS peop
On the west ofthe Blue people that minge too
much among the free sovereigns OF the neighborns
States of Kentucky and Tennessee to tolerate such NJ
idea one moment And will still say more, that this,
eastern gentlemen not under the influence OF the
wav-bs as they call them and left ut liberty to exercis
their proper of right and wrong OH this cub
lect would soon have their verdict upon It, rs wei
as upon other questions, as the verdict Of any othc
people whatever. Sir, have US much confidence ant
pride in the Virginia character any ought to hav
even in eastern Virginia upon almost any question ex
! cept this.
But rs to this question OF power. eastern gentlemen
seem to be almost crazy they must have ALL or al
will be lost the whole country ruined Well our east
ern friends should recollect that western men
sons aud grand sons of the worthy Old Dominion ans
inherited large portion Of that indomtable thirst 10
power peculiar to ancient mother and let then
remember, too, that We have not long since arrived
our maturity of numbers md anxious TO take upon
our shoulders some Of the awful responsibility that la
so long burtheued Them and under the weg ht Of which
some of them have 50 signally failed. Sir. mus
;. have partition Of our patrmony of power nSw, anc
commence the business Of life for ourselvcswe hav
been under guardianship long enough. Don't tell II
anything more about your governmental majorties no
your pcculiarties; we have had enough OF that. lu
lave made power out of these things long enough.
am unwilling to return to my constituents again nit"
II aiding in anything like your mixed basis If had sup
posed such work this scheme to be the result
of our labors here am sure should never have COM
here And am strongly inclined to think that when
ever all prospect of any better basis is gone. shall
tender to my constituents the trust they have conferred
ION me. And think there are others here who will fee
bound to do SO too Sir, my ope do not desire to
Represented III such work All this cant about up
preSsve taxes protection peculiar property, DC, dc
/ won't do these things might do while We were in
minority of numbers. but we know ourselves too wei
now There can be no apprehensons ms to oppressiv
taxes BY western men; the records here in the Cnpto
will show that generally the western people are NOR
opposed to oppressive taxes than any other part Of tn
lState Gentlemen quiet all their fears BY lookn
int this matter Sir if the west have any character
a upon this subject Of taxes, it is that OF being actu
d ally close listed and stiugy.
i And Mr. Chairman are told here. too, by east
ern gentlemen that have not got much property tt
tax and that they have much. This is very true sir
got e have not much but we are improbable people
aud intend to get more; and from all accounts here
our eastern friends somewhat upon the standstill
Iimproving slowly at best and wait while Mr. Chair
. Imau and then make the comparison. But, sir, upol
our little we are as able and willing to pay taxes il
good cause as eastern gentlemen are to pay the
s abundance.
Y Sir we are not only improbable ourselves, but W
c want country improve-we want to see pri
waite and public improv OF every kind going aheaC
j. And for this purpose We desire to bear part i
taxes upon whatever worth upon the a paiore,
jpriuciple We arc not the advocates of opp essiv
taxes but wish give the Legislature the power max
ul such public internal Improvements as the prospert
Of the State requires. improvements may drag hcay
at first upon the State, and cucumber her in hear
o debt; but if prudenly managed in Virginia els.
where finally they will prove be good investments
e source oil profit instead of loss and without them
# community can be happy and successful Therefor,
It let them come, the sooner the better Every provden
government fluids them c1psdent, yes, absolutely nece
sary. And, Mr. Chairman, Virginia is too old Stat.
uu has naturally too many inestimnbe advantages
soil and climate to occupy her present condition in thi
e enterprise She ia now too fur behind the age, an
unles, the means Of used need not ex
). pect the end.
Il Mr. Chairman, hare been told here that the fed
eral constitution is authority for mixed basis in yir
Q gina, which is Just feeble ground for it as an
other that has been will be assumed for it. In til
il b-is of that government the slaves persons, an
not as property, q certain extent included Bu
this is very different from giving property n rep
resentaton Moreover, the organization Of the fedora
government established it was, for few nationa
purposes only by the States Of the confederacy fo
q the regulation of such matters them ALL n
those States in their State capacity could not as con
veniently transact, and established, too upon mer
compact among individual States possessing every con
trurety of interest and sentiment proves nothing at al
rs to the proper basis Of municipal government
For authority upon this question let look to Other
States similarly situated to Nor do Joint stock COM
pauy regulations prove anything here has been con
tended BY some, being formed wholly and solely for the
direction and control of the capital therein employed
therefore we'll may that capital be represented in tn,
laws of those companies according to its amount TIL,
=. a. o,Jo Il.