Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-28
REMAINS or NR RIDLEY, on TUESDAY,
March g. 1851.

-,
Mr.. RIDLEY, of Southampton heilciiHt nj All
times to engage in angry cx'tei deoat' hoeh
could induce to .lo nj this time bnt ien qua
commanding sense Of representative reslr"',o'i''.
Heretofore have been content L. ca- silent vote
ION tho various propositions that hay" engaged your ~
tentlon, but occasion exists, when longer ior
bearancc my part might Justly subject ne l" charge
of criminal neglect Of my duty is due 10 that pee"
pie who generously extended to me h"'r confidence
and support is due 10 the aniire tide waller 'isrct
particularly that portion of it from winch came 'h,'
they should be heard this great question: Ana l.
one of tho humbest of her delegation propose III 'he
name Of that section. to declare lis rights to INSIST
upon and demand their protection.
That people, whom III part represent, a-E n'thing
but what is right Their delegation TIL, floor VIII
submit to nothing that they consider Ia he wrong Tins
il the rule Of conduct which We have prescribed to orr
seves this il the rue that invite others I" ADOPT
Why here assembled Why the unusual IN
tercrt that attaches To the question now under consider
atnnt Our mission here is of great responsibility
We engaged in the execution ri one q" the most
important trass that engaged the att"nti"i al pa
triot statesmen. We are here consider ANA report
To the rood peuue of This Commonwealth for their
ratification rejection form oi government Tor them
selves and their pusterv: and II hchoNcs u !" con
slider we'll every provision that may CONE under ON
rovow least depart from thee great 'ai'ii'iarN'
that were erected by the great ami good men VINO O.
tnbsLed and transmitted 10 IL that inrm oi government
under which we have lived happy and con'cntel. st
long as the principle "f republican liberty iat crowned
their ubors were interpreted according I" Their trn'
intent aud nearing VIVA, lho,c great prlnclp!c
If republican liberty Where They registered
How should theY b. interpreted: Loot I" Your d"
cla,n;;on or bill al rights and consider WILL IT. pr"
vision, before you arrive conclusions; for IL IL mp"
that instrument that stand II i here that We tax
our position side hy side with gentlemen VII" are ."
pose. To ,is Protesting they d." II he governed b.
tho principles therein declared 1t is strung, "passin
strung. that W. SHOULD arrive Ill '"''''''''> ~ "
tposite. i.
nj, nv purpose briefly to allule to this dcrlarati"
or Hi ,i riyhis: and shall do only lar a
necessary for the PURPOSES Of ms argument. prr'
reading those articles upon which Inean I" base wll
few remarks shall offer. The first article declares. tina
"Allmen are by nature equally free and independent
and have certain Inherent rights If which, when tn"
enter into II state of society," they cann"', hs any c"'
pac, deprive or dvc.t then po,tcriiy namely: the IN
iioymcnt ol life and liberty, with tn nras Of acquiring
and l"ssc--ns property aud pursuing and I"N-e,sin
Happiness and safety
III. right Of property ii will be observed, Is her
enumerated a. being equally dear and sacred witt
life nn liberty, and thu prince pal m"nns niii Inn,
saw ~ tho oily If securing III" and liberty
and with ,,ol reason for without the fruits 81 o;ics
Industry neither lie nor liberty .naI long b. main
tanned The third article declares.
That government j. ought 70 bo instituted for III,
nation community: Of Ill III" various fprma al,
modes that ia the best which ia capabir IT rroluci.
the greatest degree Of happiness AMI safety. aud i
most elfrrtuav secured agaiu; the danger II nal al
Manifestations; and when any government shall lac toun,
la.iue contrary Ia those purposes. majority %
tr community hath an nluli,blc. unae;af'c. and III
deea-lh- right to reform alter. sboiis! H. in -uci
mauaer shall bc Judged most conclusive 10 the PM,
lac veal.
The tr-t sentence Of this article i rroi 81 gen
i,mcn i'll opposition f,r thu purpos. Of maintaining
their doctrin. Of the natural equality nl man The -
sentence j. relied on by them 10 establish tie ,ir
the majority arbitrarily I" alter, reform abolish i
existing government. II you will ooh at the Who'll,
article it will be- found to h. declared ,hal when gov
ernn"nl is found t" he inadequate u The protection
life liberty aud rrcpcrty--ycs property, which, IN til
ir-t article il enumerated az the principal lacans .
nr,utainin, liberty and c-and is no, -.cur~! a.ails
tc dangers "f INSTRUMENTATION t;lcn. anl H.; ill
then. have YOU right III alter. reform. abolish tn
existing; government
Now, ii the Interpretation just given l.. true lo!,
il Ia b. incumbent gentlemen proposing IL chang,
the fundamental principles upon which our government
rests 10 show us that the existing has lar,
in some other Of these essential particulars
thew can show wlrrcini, has failed To afford protection
Ia life ar liberty to afford security To the rights a
property, then will concce I" them the right 10 re-
form. But wh.n they .roilic. their new form uf GOV
ernmcnt, let them remember that it is mike incumben
on them tn look I" the protection Of life, bor,y nm,
property, and ii the form of government which The,
propose he found inadcque to the protection Of f.
liboity, and property either III them Tell then
tha they cannot obtain for ii nv support b..ca,..
moments reflection will show il /" h. in opposition tc
the very principle to which they have referred and b,
whic, they profess 10 he governed This third atic,
declares another important principle for which
tend From 1t we dclucc thi. l. that il il the dut,
of those engaged in the formation of plan of gov
Of shan
merely, but wise and just sovcrnment---on. that il
adapted to the circumstances Of the people far whom
it il intended Now | submit. if any government rar
be pronounced 10 be just wise that places the powc
Of taxation in tho hands Of al men and impose
the blrtheu- Of contribution an other set sub
NIT il the wltn suffrage bn4- i adopted If 80,
will not cfectmy do this very thing. il you will no
place the power al taxation il one set Of hand. an,
impose upon another set the burlens oi contribution
Ii there be any principle Of government better csab
li-le than another Is that contributions for the sun
port Of government should be voluntary ANY form o
government therefore, which imposes upon In. comnu
nifty tax for Its support III form that does not reccv,
tho sanction Of thu people or their representatives con
trary to this fundamental principle and NAV Justly L
pronounced despntic form of government Nov, il i.
my purpose to show that if ia" white basis OF repre-
scutation should prevail that the power of taxation
will DO vested i'll set Of hands whilst the burthen
of contribution will be imposed on another set IN or
ler to demonstrate this the clearly, have com
piled some tables, with which dislike Ia trouble tn,
Committee, ind tue only apology offer for dons
L. that docmit incumbent on me to sustain the positions
have taken not 10 indulge III determinations not to spcli
for the benefit OF thos" who ocrnpv galleries. bu
to address To nv fellow members facts substantial facts
and ask for them an attention and respectful conscra
ton: for should be sorry if ! could persuade mysc
that welauthcnticatcd facts would not receive thai
respectful consideration III this body which they
entitled and thai their legitimate effects would not d-
/ play themselves III the future action of The committee
In tho compilation # these tables | have pursued
course in which western gentlemen can plainly zee that
IN every calculation that have nade have given Il
them an advantage. The abl. that shall first intro
dce proposes to show the proportion of lind tax slave
tax, and lax on all other property together with the NJ
grege Tux pad by tho grand division. o the State, re
sp"ctively In determining the lanl,ax have adopted
is the basis oi the values according to the late
assessment and have assumed he same rate oil taxation
that exists ut this time OF this the west runno, com
PLAIN Tor it i, really giving to them an advantage Of The
land-tax
I'll" Trans Alleghan- .sG5,ao4 6.
. -, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. oV,@io "
| . 0AAon'.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. @i,ola -
rue Wnter... Observation-Disclosures. 3l,3io 81
| Total soo- AK, &
- !. ....:l $50 -
-" - '>S'' i--'o'' -