Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-10

- common to the east and not known to the west 1t will
"a reasonable it appears to me, for gentlemen to
s.1me the ground that dlsrust the west, because
tbs aa.t Is largely interested in the shipping interest
which is increasing every year and every day Noriolk
Petersburg and Richmond all have large interest IN
/ tL sL;rninp business and the west nonc Why Is not
H. onpIahsnsion entertained that the west will lay
r clutches upon, and impose taxes upon the shipping
Interest, 81 well rs upon negro pr"perty Why, is that
nor,icsr species of property to be eternaly the SUBJ
.ct Of di.cord throughout this country Is it not
nno ~ be troubled whit in national councils
without Introducing here in domestic circle.
where one man sound as another whether he comes
from the east or the west. Will eastern Virginia,
cnnnromise this question with the Northern States os
this Union from portion OF whom, there has been, il
there i no, now danger of interference with slave pro-
,erty in the cast VIII they compromise that question
With the north and not with the west
| have III TO this time made out comparison
b.twe.n ms proposition of compromise and that
Of proposition A. have not yet made reference
~ rrh. substitute offered by the gentleman from
IA Ln so Until the blanks filled up in that
r,tl.mau's proposition, | know not what it will
H. II true it recognises the principle of proposition
A bt to what extent he proposes give us this mix.
ture OF compound blss cannot be ascertanei until lie
himself has proposed TO fill up his blanks in the pro-
no.i,on There two portions Of his proposition thu.
do understand, and never, never representative Of
mi, district will gJ my assent to them. presume
;hnt there il no gentleman upon this floor representing
th. section OF the country that give his 10
them although rumor with her thousand tongue. la-
sail that the live delegates from this city, stand commit.
rod in c,uc,,. Cr IT, do not believe il, will not believe
liz The ruIn,rs that have been circulated abroad in re-
linton TO nv and views contained in this
e,nromsc hare been perverted and misrepresrnted
that dscredit altogether this runor rs having no io
datiun in truth. Here IS portion Of his proposition
which reads Representation in both Legislative b.
dies shall be apportioned amongst tie Counties cities
uI tvus ayrorlinq 10 tie Number or hjir inhabitants
contained and tie amount Of all tares paid in cach de-
ductng from suchtares, all tares paid licenses md lar
process Now for what reason is tax upon licenses
be excluded from the consideration By this proposition
and from being entitled toa representation than the
tax upon land or negroes IA tax Is t1x-it Is paid by
the citizens Of Richmond and goes into the fund
the public treasury Of the state used there alike for all
PURPOSES by all parties aud all sections of the State
WHY, say is this tax on Licenses 10 be stricken
from the cnumerutonf Is it sufficient reason because
the tax is paid i'll the city and not III the country Now
this city Of Richnond pays into the treasury
$4,000 anda fraction OF taxes per annum and according
to the ratio of $1,000 and fraction for Representations
she would be entitled upon her taraton alone to ten re-
prcsentaives When YOU look little farther down the
proposition OF the gentleman from Faugurr Mr. SCOTT
vl will find not the precise number he proposes fill
il with but YOU will lind that it imposes restriction
upun the representation of the city, for which never
can aud never will for it because in
nv Judgment it will he sacrificing the interests OF nv
,tituents What is iii " In making such app9rtionmcnt
there shall be- allowed me delegate for cvcry-part
Of the said inhabitants and one delegate for cverv-
part ufthc said taxes; and in like manner there shall d.
allowed one Senator for cvcry-part Of the same!
rordtd that the representation Of no city or torn snail
at anv time er.esd-delegates and-scnators."
Mr SCOTT, of Fauquer. II the gentleman will allow
me, will perform now the daily duty which it seems
necessary Tor me- to discharge upon This oor-an1 that
i. again 10 explain that that feature in the scheme upon
which he is commenting has been stricken out oft.
rs have said forty times before.
Mr.. Bolts. If the gentemanhas stated it forty times,
has been my misfortune to have been forty times alb
sent from this Convention when he did stateit Laugh
ter. | took the proposition rs it was presented Gen
: tlencu around, tell me it is only Withdrawn for the
pre- ent. And do recocct of hearing the gentleman
propose to withdraw it for the presct since the matter
has been brought to my mind Only for the present.
but rs suppose only be renewed after it has Caught
birds of every feather for the general proposition Come
when it will, it shows disposition to curta rrprcscn
tutiou Of cities and deprive them Of the power. which
upon their own principles, gentlemen acknowledge them
10 be entitled TO- Come when it will. will be found
in opposition 10 IT, "Render unto Caesar the thing.
that Caesars II the city has population, and
pays taxes into the public treasury, which upon your
own principle if il he sound one will allow her
half Of the Legislature. give it TO her BE- my vote -hc
shall have it, and by the vote of her people she will
claim it,
Ii there i. any great object above all others thai
I | desire ~ see established by this Convention
about to adopt constitution for the State. it is to
political equality, nearly may be, established in this
land. Talk about equality among men. There is but
ulic species Of equality that man can control Man has
NJ control over the nature of his fellow lie i,
made By his Crolor and until you change the de-
Of the Most High making the pismy equal TO the
siaut, until YOU make the i.!ia equal to the sage
until YOU make the man Of feeble, delicate culsiiu
ton equal to the strong hearty and robust nlal until
you make the pauper equal to the millionaire in hi
influence, you establish 10 general equality among
men, But you establish political cqa'tM That
business and your duty and that you are particularly
bound 10 do because the people in their aesty demand
it, are entitled to it. and will have it. And they
right to rest satisfied for until they
have obtaued it. And will give it to them while
have the power to do it.
Mr. SCOTT, of Fauquier Will tho gentleman allow
me to seek little information from him, which can be
conveniently furnished Mt this point. The scheme he
has brought III proposes to divide representation half
aud hulf between the western and eastern sections.
do see any where in the scheme any Indication rs
the manner the principle upon which the members
allotted each section of the State TO be distr
bute amongst the counties Will the gentleman explain
! his scheme;
Mr. Bolts. l am very glad the gentleman has called
my attention to it, IN proposing this scheme Of
promise, confess, and have confessed before, my
friends will bear Witness that the only difficulty that
presented itself to my mind upon that whole subject
related to the apporoument that is to be made between
the two sections Of the State And the conclusion to
which came this, that what desired to do and
what this Convention should do was first to establish
principle and then after you have established that to
work out the details upon that principle to suit your
selves How shall be done; have devised no scheme
Of apportiunment-nOt l. | did not feel myself in the
first place competent to the task and did not feel in
the second place authorized 1t is properly the business
of committee Of this House. But ut the time it
did suggest itself my mind, that the proper mode BY
which this question might be settled would be-f You
adopt the compromise and establish this princ pe-then
refer the whole subject to QUE if YOU choose TIVE
committees, western ind All eastern committee and
let the west take their por ion of tho State with their
scveuty-ve delegates, and apportion it to suit them
selves upon the white basis principle and let the eastern
committee take their portion Of the State with their
evcniy-iive members and apportion it-snce 50 over
wlelnlIg majority are in favor Of the mixed basis
upon the mixed basis and give the city Of Richmond
tile delegation that she is entitled to- Then each party
will be satisfied, ought to be satisfied to have its
peculiar basis retained itself without forcing il
upon the other party. Now, wish to know if gentle
men will so for the mixed basis upon that principle.
wish to know, if this compromise is adopted, and a
portionment is to be made seveutyve to the east and
-eventy-ilve to the west, whether shall find this
whole eastern delegation unite i'll any proposition to d
vide upon the mixed basis and give each county city
aud town in the State the representation to which it Is
entitled upon population and taxation. wish to know
whether they willing take this odous draug that
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