Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-11

involving the right of personal liberty n"t an
power between the two sections Inc 'u' 'I""
political equality is efficiently preserved W -
and purposes although there Is an ,a, ;nd;
the sections If the principle would produces lnI n','
vdual inequality which ia arcrltea 10 II, 's
admit il 70 he odious If it's effect was TO oiScFi'hl
between the voters a. individuals and M Feeneh par
ticpating in the powers of this government u ~"u1'
be odious; bu, it is very different "ns' you 'tIl TN
power in section, III which ea'n '' NV. :,
ton is entitled to but vote anu ..'"' uo'' -
IN. same qualification What matters IT, thcil u
community does cast larger vole III your esl'''N
body it. ut the same time rs CHS. anu
each casts the same vote rsk II 1us - no! nun, m
al political equality end you can produce ncquaiit!
in amy other x.sv Than hv requiring that man III TN
west must possess certain qualifications rs voter wle
you o not require of i man IN inc east p.'V ~
excellence Of the principle winch IS embraced III I'M
mixed basis proposition, H. that While II docs "lei
to protect communities and to give the most eecti'
sacrv N tho interests Of those who most exposed
IN ,bo ah.ss az government at the same time docs M"
Discriminate ;uy;dously uuiusty between ndivl'ia
members Of the government. 1t has been announced
her. and reptlcncn have argued that this was an su
betweeu dollars and men, and contest between power
tv and wealth. Gentlemen may deem 1t so, but TO M,
mind If il false issue. 1t is one too, which may,
allowed to prevail sudanger the very rights OF opert
in this commonwealth more than any provision winch Gu
be put in tho constitution 1t is even when imaginary
a fearful issue.
4
such an extent to bring beneath the ruins OF the gov
ernment the rights of property with the rights {" MAJ
You nav pcrchance, do that mischief 10y making ina
issue here but repeat. it is not the real Issue. VIVA
are the facts The poorest man IN my district SIAM
on an equality with the weathcst man; and represril
some Of the poorest and some of the wealthicst TIN
poorest man in this community, has equal p"lit'c;'
power with the wcalthest and both are equal III tn
government
Mr.. MARTIN. of Marshall. VIII my friend per
nit to ask him, whether the poor man III my 81:
ton stands upon III equality with the poor man III III
section :.
NJ. TREDWAY. He does stand equal in every per
sonal and political right. admit shat there Is oc
ence in the amount of representative power ars'-
from the difference in the power which IS co"eo W VIZ
respective sections: and that difference OF power re
suits from the inequality of interest aud responsibility
resting upon the two sections But to "l ieh's a',c
purposes politically the voter IN the west Is perfectly
equal with the voter in the east The right "i SUI
fragc accords to each precisely the same privilege {"
the same terms The difference Is only IN the Snlo"ii
Of political power welded by the aggregate of eact
section aud that difference have shown I" be ht-cd OF
Just and corrcc! prnci pies have not hing III 'e CIR
cumstarccs which surround me- to make me The adv"
cate of arisocracy or of wealth have ncyer tc'H'
soin"d myself to look upon wealth as an id", a.! W
haps Inv fault has BEEN that have looked upon t"'
much in different light. There is no man IN TINS e''iy
whose sympathies are with the poor. and rrSarS
the mixed basis principle IN giving adequate ana eeo
tua protection to property, rs measure as c"7''
tive of the rights of the poor as OF the rights t" lie
wealthy. We are forming constitution when 10 I,
operate we trust not alone upon the people OF the pres
cnt day. but long there shall be Taxpayers and
property holders in Virginia We shcs'ld adopt pri
cipe. not for any present emergency merely but Wc
shall last in constitution, ucangcale ana uniform
amidst the changing and shifting circumstances {" til,
people of the conllonweal which shall protect and
appreciate property prize, for the industry and
enterprze of the poor man "a well as the rich.
l appeal to the history OF property and wealth IL
Nirgins for the impressive fact that the wealthy 'i
OF to-day may be the poor man OF tomorrow Estates
are continually changing hands, under our institutions
and wisdom. and justice and policy, invoke protector
70 that property through whatever mutations ii may
pass without reference ephemera propretors or sec
toual location
A NAV be a wealthy man, and paying large amount
Of taxes the present year while B, his neghbor may
be poor man. and pay very small tax but Ill another
year by the force Of circumstances always controlling II
this country the enterprise of the and ndscreoI
OF the other the position of the parties may be
versed and himself may be the po,sessor {" the prop
ertv once held by his neighbor A. and therefore require
this very protection in which now he may feel but little
direct interest The poor man, or his children who now
NAV feel no interest in this subject may and always can
BY their industry and economy acquire that very prop
erty themselves and with it's acquisition, incur the hc
yer burden of taxation This j. also true of commune
ties as we'll az individuals Wealth may pass-nay /.
now passing from the east to the west. What have
gentlemen told us while they have denounced tins pn
chile "a odious and unjust, in bitter jealousy OF the
vending its wav westward; that wealth springins
No in the west and that the spirit of internal improve
nicpt was producing rapid and complete development
of their resources. They have increased rapidly Ill
wealth, and comparisons have been made =; western
cntlemen TO show that the west increasing III the
clements of greatness and prosperity in ratio far
ceedinc that Of the east re DICED ut every evil
ence OF her Improvement but III the advocacy {" this
principle, | am influenced by consideration as to
whether the west should be poorer or the east richer
have not looked to whether II will operate TO the
advantage of the west or the east but desire it To
operate alike on EACH under these circumstances; are
gentlemen consulting the interests Of the west, when
thew see the wealth passing from us and gong beyond
the mountains; when they believe, the day Will
soon arrive when they to pay the heaviest amount
of taxes they propose to renqush this power M pro-
tecting their property They may now while the pow
e is in the hands of the east denouce it rs "ous and
tyrannica but let them remember that when they get
tho wealth. they will need the benefit of this principle
as much as it is needed in the east now. Therefore,
ssy that tire principle is just aud equal in its operation
and will in all time to come best protect the interests
of all the people Of the commonwealth 1t X commend
cd to the poor and the rich to the west and the east
1t will protect all your interests OF property while 1t
will not ieopardre any moro than the suffrage basis
wou the rights of peraona In view OF all these con-
sidaraton. then does it not behoove us, wise mes
it not Incumbent us i'll faithful discharge of our
duties to the people, DESTROYS to preserve the peace of
tho commonwealth, to allay the excitement which has
been aroused and promote the happiness and prosperity
of the people, to adopt this principlel
That property ought to BIO protected is admitted by
every gentleman: but we told il may be protected
otherwise than By representation believe that this
question was put right by the gentleman who addressed
us tho other evening (Mr. MooRE) when lie said that
property entitled and ample protection in
the government but he maintained that ii not ne
ccssry, TO insure that ample protection to give it pow
clement Of representation. There is the qucs-
ton at issue. Some have declared that we would be
safe under system Of guarantees, of which have
been proposed to u.s. We maintain that there is no
means by which property be safe! protected other
than by representation, and that you nus. commit its
care to the power of those who i. If you regard
human nature it is and not gentlemen would
fancy it to be- to support their argument better than
is YOU will make the interest of those who the
PROPERTY and who will feel its loss andnury to watch
over and protect it. Men may be just and honest but
not having their interests at stake they would never
atch over it with jealous This is in all va
reties of human action might be illustrated by
thousand examples drawn from every days transaction
do not saw that all men influenced by interest sole
Nv vet we know that interest in government must he
coupled with duty or there is safety 1t may not be
30 with individuals al individual will net less under
the influence of interest and oftcnmes will be more
ra tia aud honest in the discharge OF act of which
no il 10 take the whole responsibility than he would be