Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-22

ancestry II we dd not carry out the prlhcics "ncf
Iyon have 30 nohlv taught us
This question has already upon more occasions thar
one III this Commonwealth, assumed threatening an;
dangerous aspect; and when Of those fearful eie
mcnts We're mingled mp in it which arc nav SO PANT;
visible To the eye of every statesman, and when nave
been so distinctly alluded TO in this dcb':r twenty
years ago this struggle filled even the intrepid SOUL
| OF WATKINS LEIGH with Apprehension ana d'"hay
and CAUSED him to submit proposition :" c"!i"'l,lse
which, when compared iii It's p:i1cip!e win 'h',
now before ~, might well he termed liberal ana
Yet how feeble all the circumstances a'''h'''''
tina! struggle, compared 10 those which no" Su'fouh
The present and which every d:y Svs increased
violence and intensity to the question IN 49, Wien
the existing government was framed Il c"s''''pe ma
or;ty of the free white population resided Il OF t
Blue Ridge mountain Now there is near enc hahnIcu
thousand majority west of that dividing line AT that
time, upon every principleyours Is we'll rs our OWL
You were entitled 10 the government o tie H''t" IL
you assume it now, upon what principle can you ASSUME
1T! Certainly unon none recognized BY lie r.s Io-
stutlor of this State upon any lrnlPle "'ch ms
yet beon recognized and sanctioned III tic "stnic
law Of this Commonwealth III You rel H. IL hl'st o'
by tho incorporation into our organic law oi some nc"
element Of power heretofore unknown I" our
tOnal system and to Ire borrowed from TIE eAaip!e VI
governments. other than Virginia. You can Only 70! II
b rerolmipti:ing the principles of your anu
minging i'll its political organism e,en.it h.fcl"iore
foreign To it. Against innovation a&"inihS you
perceive I'M: led aud concentrated roi!!ao" OF hai
million II free white inhabitants residing wrst Oh Inc
Blue Ridge mountain, cnlhracinga large majority ol inc
wi.c inhabitants of this State, raising an ,ps+i"htu
cry OF rcnu,l.i rance and resistance o ind he east
itself c"iied, and wherever the ii;! 81 free d';'-si'
Gs reached the people on his question h cart: c:cry
where cayi;r, in under yomr feet You lar" noted NE
intensity Of leeiingcall it lanatics il yo please
wEici. has marked the advocacy By iic N"-t oi th'
principles ior which they ending. Alnl you iln
The :srt physical ma uritg of the State dcaa:idn5 MI
an rit uu,
NAL wrong too ntnlcrahc b. borne S'f !. u
canc prudent statesmen /" look s: iii' -'Jcct III
Ill its cravits and i:npnrncc--.o il there te not
some mode i'll which these rnn:cn, "i'll",S "i inc
people Of ;hc two great divisions 81 MS 'o'll"' y
wealth, may bc harM1nizcd and adIusI"d--o!c 1"'c
il Which those claims Tor the protection OF property
may be respected without tranp'in- nf"I, the f''s !"
persons. y" period !rcin.s IL: the east IMAM
tic present could have been selected for he settlement
Of tbs question ailuc not simply 10 mat cfls's ~
NATIONAL affair l> past: l:d which L:s caused ti:e
hear; Of every Frgnian to rally with more iE'n ot
mar; zeal ami enthusiasm in support oi the ihaiit!"
III slavery aud To ssiail il against ever aggression
that might BE- !ne,a;eI against ii. Bat aitade ais"
to that predominant OF di-s7; anI '!ar, III tie
public mind At the reckless :.rd wastcul expenditure o.
he pntc treasure a,! which has prepared % large
nrrn of this Commonwealth: residing both east and
west II, impose upon TIC d,ht-crcain- and taXin5
power OF III" government AL snrh Wis" ard juS!"i'
limitations may guard them lr"i ahi.e IN l',of:
Sir bog gentlemen from he dismiss rom t!cli
minds that sentiment of retention OF power "lIc! ma
been 50 rllc1liYncy expressed il: this rha"-;. sent
acn lit only fox IN age rot distinguished Tor us al
vance,, civilization a enlightened! freedom =, tn" pres
cut--an asc tn. coGid give tcrance ad ro.G 10 the
maxim
That good ola .u.--;h.; simple plan,
That they aaL! hrrp who haze tie power,
And they mGy lane "io can
/ Let no suppose THAI i'll organizing t'!N govern
r.c;, sia!lhc found di>rrEaT'i:ns ie .'i claims OF
property. c:Iccrl"!!y concur IN the proposition hal
lie great ED an: plWpG.. u! C!, government Is iiic
protection OF persons and r"3Trt:. would sly" PR"
pcf;y proicc;io IL y0i orT@:.r iav. 20 Tar a. CO..
sii,Hii,n oi go7crl,ar'ii ,nay .:.luy a:i It'll a;sy
protect property. aai., OH behalf ny OPT. de-
mad TIC most ample and adequate projection. sl. t.
lowcyer, ask that s.,tcctic. N a mode and upo =. in.
cir!cs which can reflect ,ho.lr .:l d,:e .iini G"
no free citizen Of t..> Commonwealth shall ass i,
upon assumption :tt will cla! Ia me -yc:icn % t,e
Estate deeper interest il is wcl!i:" :!orc sturdy
lain OF its rights, and loft and elevated
patriotism th2i may belong 10 another. dial. osk !!
from want OF confidence il. til, .,i,.", col We"
whether they reside upon the ;"t;era al tn. Chesapeake,
or upon the t'ks Il lie OHIO, but upon principle UNI
yc.sliv recognised hg the snidcs aud Thinkers
upon popular government and incorporated into
most ci the State constitutions ni 'hs CONF Ter
acv. The experience OF The Statc-thc experience :"
he worI-:,- shown, that t!i"r" i, ia I'LL dc";ate
ro,7tr Il tendency abuse; and while ever govern
nyt should possess all the powers necsssary or is ex
,:race and irr the welfare ri lis ci,:cn-ye' srHcnj
ha, point. the less POKE: vu: conidc the age;ts
government over persons and property the per
fc Will sc government be III hencv. ANA the les.
i.l!, 10 ai:,. in r:ac;icr would therefore rctcc;
property mo- b; siins to property an active Dominic:
over the Legislative power OF the State bu, ~ with
holding irc:I the legislative power, IN unchecked do
nlin;na over propcrt%.
Much HIS already beea said in relation to that dis
trict which have Tie homo: IN part 10 represent this
floor. and ror. peii!aD THAI. may 10 this
nittcc IN goot! ta,;c And vel must be admitted that
"ur position is such to Justify aison 10 il iii
! this debate have "bservc. that few gentlemen from
tie west haze no: seemed particularly pleased by the
nanac- in which nlY colleague Mr. Lucas spoke oil the
a.ricu!tu ral wealth an! attractions vi M district and
have lcicd 10 sec IN his remarks some reflection upon
their less favored localities. it entered
"to the heart Of my colleague to speak hat section
OF the State i'll any spirit II vain and empty boast His
a!!airn it grew n.scssaril; o o. the argument and
had important and pregnant bearing upon Il. | can.
! not imagine II fact entitled 10 il. Just weight in
this discussion, than that people distinguished for
their intelligence as the people of this district unques
tioaahiy are--so :agacous, marked b. srcwd and
enlightened regard 10 their ownnclcsts and with such
important interests here st stake should in defiance OF
all the appeals which have been made tn their ayaricc
srn the scp!3lrie4 which have hc" 20 earnestly a
dressed to them and throw tho full weight Of their IN
huence il support OF these great principles Of popular
equality for which tho ~est il crnt"9,ing That
single fact, coming i crre from pro l.: w. % In:
Il bette r opportunity Of Known: The western ippt.tior
than can be enjoyed further east. i an arr,r::.ni-:
practical y,,uncnt !4uch nore potent than lalv with
which we have been favored iuslify that ronideuc,
which they claiming from the Stat" at ar.,,
Sir it is true. We have important interests a. stake
Ny district small. embracing "a much crritoria
area as the sire cotny ai Alhcnrc and little more
than on.!lt. Of the If he county of Hard, ind
VT, the r.a estate u ;,a t-iric, u, been Assessed i.
round numbers NJ Il !, op and lis sllyc ,n2;aiinq
!n:r he s;;.i ID III between Three and four ~, 81
dollars in value. it pays higher RAJ" cl taxation il
proportion t. is population than any other district II
the Common wealth; AMI Is taxable pro,,eriv-[ mean
Chat which, under your cxi.tns revenue laws i. subject
to t;txaor--,nay he fairly set down at SCI 100000
And yet is entire white pnruat"is but o& 7!3 show
ing an average IF omc million of dollars be added 70,
property not subject 20 t!xa,ion of near - O0o to
every white man, aud child in the clis.rict-ar
average Of wealth unparalleled as believe in ANY
rural district III ti- coneerasy end Of which some de
may be formed, when wc learn from reliable statistical
writer's that the average Of wealth 10 each white per
son in the State Of Ncw York but $500 in Ohio saT6
and in Massachusetts Sl0G PER head lis agriculture
has already attained hi: degree of Improvement and
is rapidly advancing under tie light which modern
science is casting ha; important branch of human
industry The mechanical arts cYerywhcre flourish
Prosperous towns and villages abound WOODEN paper