Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-18

the very course which CIR western friends who advocat,
the white basis. propose to pursue toW' + Us of Tx
east. They upon sins. p1ncip'c, III seek u
rear upon II IT, whole superaructuFc ot government
without reference to the great diversity OF Interests
among the people different sections OF the State, an'
wholly uxndful Of the fact that our people have live
for seventy five under government III which pro
pery has cxcrtcl Il partial influence and contro-undc
which rights have been acquired and property accmula
ted il Is now proposed 10 Introduce herca totally new
princip,e and make the whole government conform 10 that
princinte-a principle nimca Ia those hiS and whcl
NAV prove destructive II that property. Til. Is ne
Their wise, Just, nor staesma,ilke
Another objection To this scheme of the white basil
is that il places the taxing power of the government
in the hands of those who practically irresponsible
to those who pay the taxes and thus virtually destroys
the great check III representative government which
freoucn: elections were designed to secure. Let u:
inquire what is this taxing power, and villa. IL tax
The gentleman from Augusta, tNr. SHEFsEfl who nj
dressed the committee the other day, told rs tina; taN
was due paid by the people iur the protection of then
property Now this j. new definition Of tina; term
/ i the very definition which the British ministry
rave when thew claimed the right through parliament.
10 tax these colonies. They SAID 1t tirc which in,
colonies owed for the protection he mother country gave
them Was thu. the language Of American frccmea
then inst feeling the spirit If liberty aroused IN their
boso.n.l No: their definition was. that q
voluntary ,onri ion g Ven by the consent 81 the peo
pie or OF the peoples representatives. That i or teh
milton of iax and il is 50 expressed in the hIi Of
rights.
No mali then IN DE- bit tia; this taxn3 power
the creates; that Il free people can entrst u thc!:
agents n on cns but that it il more liable to abuse
than any other power, AMI shoad therefore. he more
safely and >rici, r. r.lrl Che 81 the Nos, ciirctia
guards which can b. p!ate On this taA' ''sr = IRE
ven, il abuse is tina: Of frequent elections. Let Is
then examine and see if this wi:c ba.. scheme doe
not dcstrur that :tn almost every other check Nh.cl
wise people in granting; delegated power. vii ever
place around that power Wha, is ia. scheme Why
it propose to constitute this legislative department
rs To eve the western people 81 t.- State m"r
ity Of -ix:ccn OIL Joint ballot Now, give them thi:
majority and sancc 1T TIE diversified Interests Of he
State viii show that frequent election will n"
practical responsibility iii body thu organized. Is
hay, before .,cil; toned more than birds Of thu
entire revenue of the State i paid b. the people east
of Blue Ridge am the white basis proposes to a-
portion representation in the legislature IT, give a
maiori.y OF its mc!..bcrs to Ike peop" west oi the
Blu. Ridge this placing the laXin. power :;ncr the
control of section of the state whilst The taxable
property j. i'll another section. Where is the response
tlv of tc representative entrusted with the t:x
power tie pcope Payin. the tax Let Ia tcst III,
practical working of such body. Take any one sub
FEET III taxation merchants licenses for example From
th:, source there i, paid into the treasury # th.
STATE :lss,i91. OF this SUN eastern NrgiEi;t pays
Sl33sS. and tho west only SILL If heaTy taxa
ton sc imposed this interest. II the tax on these
Il, cnsc u: raised ~ high amount AMI eastern Nir-
sia complains that ,hi, interest has been oppressed
Will her voice b. h.rcd i; legislature hn organic
Of What avail will it be IL tax al commercial t"rcs;
10 western ma GRITTY whose pT.uits are chiefly ayr
cultural What is the n;Tcs: which they have ~ til.
subject con ,red to that which III" east mas They
haze iercs; in il, i J, lrCc but ours i fa'ri Id
IL great. DO won no: perceive thai ::cy may ah-c ti-
t.yn, power y putting o"erons and heavy brihcn- ."
this interest in eastern Virginia aii that her VOC"
::li, it lie uttcriv di-rc,lrcd: i 10 be III?
IN np ~
tina; We holding TIL. great interest will put i .n i!s
hand. Of ho-, who practically irresponsible. to y;
Why. wha; effect would saeh transfer OF power i
abuse / have upon ea-;".a prosperity 6GG II no. de-
-r"y ii Would cities a..I villages, that
any 10 mart. Of commerce. and rcsoGnia; with ;hr
busy n Of manufacturing Industry, become " VASE
and a d,-oiation. Wo, ilut the very grass grow
IN .r streets and might the p,ough share pass
their stea. ii this power should be abascdf
will take another subject IL -how how this taxing
power m - be aLiscd b. legislature organized upo;
the white basis. Take the interest have STATE
that there 1892 slaves IN the STATE; ii.,i@S u
OF these are in Eastern Virginia AID III; G,.% il Wc
crn Virginia. /, i, evident tina. OF tax upon t',i Hb
ice; Eastern Virginia pays SIX ,eyent!'s and "ssieFo
Virginia hut seventh. ! ask il the taxing power
of thi, : ate i safe Ill the hands oI majority wlic!
pa.s but seventh Of The tax such an ntcres!
II they absc it what j our security. Where Is the
scci.ri.r which frequent elections are designed L
flrn-hi We mi lit hold an election every month in h.
vear Throughout ;;i time. and 1t would give Ii" rem
civ fer rc,r,- against rockies, abuse Cf this power
Tho i.xiu. power this propcr;; night be 30 a5;ls
as utt"y, to destroy the property itself cy might
levy tax n auy other property until II b"co: vare e.
inhe hands uf ii Gr:.t!.-e: IL have referred
ia the bill of right, sraa cl: IL overioos prv.
nen, clause IL That which ecrc- t" L. and our pos
tcrtv the O acquiring and possessing properly.
II i the latter part ii the first section oil Tie bill and
though western gentlemen have discussed III. other por
tons Of thar section they have referred t. thai part
la -.ll IN
clause and force the oi slaves 10 cmanclpa'-
them and thus destroy this great Interest III the CON-
wealth. These no idle approximations. ThsT do
not u. sl.c with he but they aplreen-ion- which
were expressed ia the convention whea assembled 81
wonder hill III view ol thi, bning Patrick Henry ana
George Mason whose names have been mentioned her"
with 20 much commcnda;cn made this objection To the
taxing power which the Federal Convention gi:cs 10 tie
Congress of the United States. They said tha, this tax
ing power hi b. abused upon this sub Of property,
and 10 is destruction that II might De- loaded with
bur;hcns that the owners would be driven to the M.
c,-i.v of Kidding Themselves of it in order get rid of
The burdens. invite the attention of the committee
10 so.!c If their remarks The. vii! gle weight t. Tie
view am presenting Patrick Henry made il one oi
the leading objections To the Federal Constitution tia.
the taxing power Of Congress might b. ahlcd ~ the
northern people who had orjv utterly to destroy
the slave property "f the south; speaking o the excr-
Else o this power he said: they gh lay -rcn heavy
taxes on Slaves would anoan; emancipation Thi-
might compel j.. southern STATES to il'.""ate .icir
siaycs. The danger 20 this property o:. the tax
ING raseI w. felt ~ tieoce Ma>o; who SAIL ihcy
NAV iav such tax slaves Will amount to n!an;nii-
sion. The Genera; Gor, ..nca vas not prelude! from
lawn. the proportion Of a:it rarc.i"r stat" any
ic specie, Of proprrv ihcy please; FOR instance ii iv.
airca t.ios.nl dollars TO 10 raised they i.!h
iay la who, Of tie proportion Of the southern state.
on the black. g: ans sacie- Of properly 80
b. LAYING; taxes he.vr On s!a-cs th"T r.hr totally
a.;ila,e that kind "i r"perty." VIA; sai Madi.o
and Nicholas il reply. The showed that tie Objection
lid no; exist beca5e s they. from Tie mode of rep
rcscatation and taxation Coagres, IL: such
On shares = will amount to inanumi,soa' The taxa
,ien Of this State being equal only 10 il representation
sch tax cannot BE lal" Tina, representation al
t,x,iion went haai in hand and d. &c, proper
ton t. each CHER. Like approximations ne->ed
in In. conventions Of North anl s. :,h Carolina md
D.vic il. the one State aud nckney N ,. other CAV,
the same answer that taxation an Representation Wen;
i,ani III hand This The check the ;gx:., power
J. yo Increase H. ,a>l;ia yeu !.reac The re?rcsc'
talina, and that ne.ea,e presentation viii arrest I'll,
ab.,e Of ,h@ taxing power. |; caa therefore e:er b.
come oppressive invite the attention Of gentlemen
particularly the gentleman from Accomac whose devo
ton t. this interest vii! dru5., 20 the appreea
SONS expressed b. these enlightened statesmen. They
merit oar calm reflection This il Nil Ia sec'ri;y we 81
IN. eas ask lor or property. Let representation bea:
so:aa prop irtion 10 ,,Aatio:.
Mr W iSE am listening to gentleman who is id