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

Farewell, long f:se... 10 all MI greatness
Mr WILEY. feel that some apology fro.. my
sell ia due IL this committee on many consideration
I,r the ca.crac,s with which have sought Tie !"or
The rcaa"ns are not entirely personal an:rc ri CHAR
';eier somewhat pressing in .ha: Respect as,ur" yoa
liai II va, not with the vain hope Of being able 10 ~.
.ertai' this committee TO en- hten ii, nnr indeed II
iliicnc" the opinion u" solitary member ot the com
mttsr. | entertain such vain hope g that ] stan;
here coming from the -;ilI, small quiet crc- o pri-
Ta'e life, az find myself for The first time in life
not very extended indccd-in he presence oi dr!i.r
atv' assembly, At least in tho a;titi;I1 If n nehor
That assembly, without eN,rri-ncr. without aniity.
without anything 10 recommend n,c the cn,..i,"r,,-
ton Of the committee. . therefore. entirely anl lao
respectfully cast myself simply upni the r!:r.'" IL.
diligence ri the committee. while attempt !rrs-
II for Yer: lew moments. ! have found -lte
came here iii; il Id, hrca Necessary. least
To come extent; I" define ones position, e,en on"- Ioit
cal position. feel that my position is too humble 10
need definition Bat il il nor, IN that rc-pcc.,
would sti! dcrn, IL do it. -ha address n.ysc!r l."
the Subject ;.-t, wi:!c: re.rrrnc" II political q,;cs
".l- aul hope that will" | shall ha," ;i.c homo
10 b. member o! this body. action cf mirc will n-
lic'te to wc 81 the great political ls.-!ics b.
long. shall al rass soll 70 the Gue-. on to-dl,
without reference 70 sect nr section. -n!l 10; al
'.re.' y'' = al east VS.. Nir@:nau 5a, lr
.;;nlan an! l'cpr ii will ~, h. presumption il III"
I" assume still h.o...r ground S,andia upon the
lt''i' ~ III American equality. -.E..l
address myself tn the question in Inc i.lt oi Lis
great fundamental principle We mr. .ng;.."l in
10 new CONTROVERSY I!i- controversy rofnr.c"i :aa5
rer to tn agitation Vi public sentiment W c c:,c,i.
~ th- bni. This contfoves,? con;litileI hong irio;
~ thr convention of $50 and ls:: II il Il. old
~ the lust "t power. l. i. tn. -. old con
test between the iew am! The many. Il il the s:n.
struggling effort continued through centuries past, -
ecntralz" power in the hands Of The few aeain,, ih,
antngon'-c struggle Of the many TO have il dii-el
abroad ii the community. 1t is the SAME oil Contest
that has been co7vu.-ing wnrl: ever stc lii. work!
Wa r"ulat"l-ie :ru.,'e between The money power
ani th- many I,o.-ci. lor while and indeed mos.
generally. since ,ha .-ory II ri. world commenced Ii,
contest has been a'!vcs-o iiacrty. or own birth
na'I"n' IN c.s,p;,2n--or - approximation 20 it
- u" general rule " came irt., "a -t.ncc II
"orie upon '.;.r.m pfncis,e ircin ,', .nynvy prin
r:'e--irom the prize u" hat would concentrate .,c
government in Il" hand Of the lew. Wc cu;.s iuto
"xst.n'" under The ;,r:S"ccs Of tho grea, ioc:ru,
ni !'o!uIar FL: .cnacy .rr the operation of thai
princ pie have ,,iri,:lcd for t!iicc-f1riis at
century in manner which it seems 20 me OUGHT
I, nave vin'!ia!cd th.ir Irncii'c-. and -ii"i.'ed
a.! Opposition to ii. Bot it seems tina; even here
i'll The good cid commonwealth al Virginia tn,
same battle il 10 bc fought again III lcl-; the proc
lanarioa Of war has been i--iiv invite thu attention
Of t:'r comni,t-"tnii Il moment. Tie ol; cn
cot between the power Of wealth and The power rne
people i -;arie here. AMI il l. insisted that al
c.'a'' the Legislative power ol government upon
tie i'lI'wns principles:
Representation in both legislative bodies shall be
appGroacd ;.lncng -. counties. cities aa towns.
corine . Inc aanltcr oi white inhabitants contalrl
e! AMI lie amount OF Ill take. !miG in each de;iic;in
from sic taxes all taxes paid licenses al law pr
cts This part OF the proclamation III again-,
the friend OF popular government
The i the proposition now before committee ard
which l. offered ~ -ubrtu,a TO |her propositions
1t lis- frequently been remarked the di<cussio
this b,,!,,-i. Iey,n the ,lI-t
eI gentleman from Fa"9uar (si(scoTT.l prior 10
a:iourntrn--;lat orr orefathcr- had cuiiatcd the
doctrine oi democratic government. IL is purity and hal
discovered ncw prac RE- If government. whicn M
evc, !! ! aca.'~.T correctly. !ca";;;;c'. he
rle lainrip." Of republican government; namely,
"r" II mi ,re.i- IKE III" legitimate roiTc'
the Legislative p"w.r "f goscr..:r,.t: :i the
assertion la, been renewed since tie :,ec'ubn.; ii
H.. Convention: DGri-. the :,res, II he discussion
before this committee the present amendment :" the
r.,eian .om Eaa?uier, tie Iriuci,, ~ which the
western portion ri tie committee III he basis 81 repre-
scatio pr"In' predicate III. legislative power has
been Graoune, n nn,s ation. Ii Ia been -t..na-
t,zr, ~ Innovation u!vn tho trde principles If goy-
rrco- ;1e III this country May no, be n
LEVIED Ia ask he al the committee Tor very w
;norc.- to whether that i. the l.ct. What j, til.
D.a!o.;n:l:ng JGncp, III regard {, Il. bl. of GOV
.rfn.,'i. recognized throughout ti' United stat
The rr!nr:pr d, The amendment, l. n: n:l :" an i'll
ayaoii lpo The rxi@, IN, constitutional aw ri ir-
IL
rc.,tatinn in Virginia i based neither Lt.on the
G,. nor ~. ether Int solely upon arbitrary arrange.
meat! What, then. i iha American doctrin" On thi-
.n;,;.c i,,;c taken -, roi. - ",srl,. III" scv
efa c:,-:i;u;in;, ., he stat. in ti re-pca ,i The
result ri this examination .i.l show th; hc :,.iT:c
l,as, IL. ~ os,"Ai"t /" The charge Of aa"c,!v q:
iunoyaii,n have nu; hal aecc-- to IL" constitution Of
California THIS State is It'll :" ir or .? the Union
thai il may L.. i,btel whether j, j. I!r. ii ii Il al
will not ticn alace that authority lut brgiu a. tie
T.. N.tutn. ot,if b.,r.., .l.ls
In Wisconsin the basis Of representation Is whit. in
ha;,ant- in Iowa white inhabitants in Texas free
popu!aon: in Arkansas free white male inhabitants
in Mchga white inhabitants; III Florida federal rcpn
la;io;, in Missouri free white males; in Al.if''na
white iiia !l;.n.>: in Ilian, white inlab ant; Ii
Mississippi free white inhabitants in Louisiana qnsli-
lied voters: in iniiana white male inhabitants: IN oi"
wl. male inhabitants: iii tennessee q:aii" ycte!s !:
in Kentucky qualified voters: i'll i'""rGIa -e'i;".> ~
districts lower house free white inhabitants ~ %"rth
Carolina; senate taxation house II TrPfrst n:a!."c led.
era population. We have now 10 ~iiink''ls q;
the mixed ba-is principle. Ia Nicsiia V" have *fh',
rarv di-:r ct- wi;laut rci"rc': /" any r;L" based
apon the caprice Of m arbitrary sill Mar 'i'ao
i N n sta!r III abeyanrc. The le!sis az relrrSri'.
a,i,a ia indefinite IL is. however, r"; the miSr'i
s.;. i,enn-yl,aria taxable inhabitants, New .ier.cy.
scn,te b. ronn.ic- and house 81 representatives upon
"nhabitan,, " New York pop, iaiop; Connecticut b.
town. DC: l,ho,ic Island population and towns err
mont taxable inhabitants; New Hampshire ~rl'a:e Oh
taxes and house oil re ir,tfatiFt> VI f.''"'' i"'
,iassachr-ct,, tie -ame Maine Oh inhabitants
Now suppose that M! tie preceding instances ARE to
have no elect The mincip. it sc"las H?,n w!ic:' 20
are To arrive at conclusion lhs. the if'@e basis = III
innovation upon the constitutional pciicy 81 In mic"
state. a. bcsarse it does n"s accord M The '"hr''..
ion Of Sou.h Carolina within lie !raad ml OF i'
coni.rracv that is the ony Stac .: recognises 'h'
very Identical principle a, is se forth III TIE 'he'''-
mon, to the proposition Of the c,in i1e ri f~'''!
.nur. Well this would probably h enough Tor ne 10
sov on this subject. have s""#n ti'a Il ls TO !lio';
tim md have shown from fact that tn" wei! f.''s
nyrd constitutional prir: lc-in.I'"i
;nc;rc a: ca,;--i- thar ii popaai'on III ,ohe form tx
other AMI consequently it would iAf"" TIE h;en o.
ra, and argument nrnn the acnlcna" IRON faiiiier
.nJ r,on tho. wo thin; With him. to snow 'h' pro-
nr;a,T 81 their sch.a" which MAJ more properly eau
m Innovation upon t., constitutional r''i 81 tins
~ n,ry But tie doctrine the ha-i Of representation
-, snoro =; las been o'.oxious II "n''er inalci'''i
w. ,Ln gentleman 'ro,: Buo.lnerfi, Ar ftetS ""c
.,n,n.e- /. I'll arraa abstraction Lei Us i'oh al
t, a,ra.t :5.raciion for moment. snHpns" y
,. an a;-tracton vi i.i that re Pfihcip!e m
~ ,,,;rh suisagai- taec. 40 a.,s:fac' prncre b"t
~ IN" !, fnw hat becus, i is r-act a ~ character
w., !; !. :, le totally excluded ;Taa Ill Consideration
.l'a ..a,,;, cou.uion Every ;.iii NAT v" hss"
~ ,.niny ! in so,ae sort abstract idea Therefor:
ex,,d- principle il the establishment Of govern
10 a Il j. abstract in IL, character, would L.
/ 7 .i,a:f bau., =;