Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-09

establshed-her agriculture developed
and improved look forward to see the day when
railroads and canals will nersect every district and
wealth. like mighty river roll its tide from
one extremity OF this proud commonwealth to the 9th
er. represent district upon this floor, the agrcu!
tural capacities of which, thong till recently not prop
erIY appreciated are surpassed by but few portions oil
the State represent one county at least that feels
peculiar interest upon the subject OF public education,
very small county, that in addition to its usual contr
buttons to the public treasury, aud county levy, gives
some S. 900 annually for the purpose of public cduca
on that has given within the last two years $685.
900 more, for the purpose Of internal improvements
in which that people directly interested But that
is not the question The question is whether they not
only shall contribute their funds educate their people
and to build up schemes Of internal Improvements, in
which they directly interested, but whether por
ton of the State the east, contributing wo-thrds Of
taxes, and requiring lesser portion Of the appro-
priations shall give up the power of imposing the bur
thens and the power of making the appropriations; and
when heard the gentleman from Wythc (Ar. FLoYn)
get up here and talk about home and all its endcamels
so eoquen.iy, and upon another occasion have heard
him describe graphically that rich and beautiful
try which he represents, thought to myself that ii
had home in that part Of the State, with the hard
actos of others to construct my roads and their conri
buttons to educate my children, that it would nc an Ely
stun indeed. But, the argument of my friend from
Rockbrdge (Ar. MooRE)> is answered from another
source-whcn the gentleman from the county OF Wood,
iMr. VAS WINELE,) comes 10 address the committee,
what did he tell us Did he sustain the view OF the
gentleman from Rockbridge Does he say that his por
ton OF the state was provided for anu mat nc wants
appropriations for the purpose of internal improve
mcn,s: he does not say exactly that he IS opposed to
all guarantees, because believe he tells us that he
wants protection. But the protection that he wants, is
to have roads to his county to protect his
people against the competition Of the citizens OF neigh
boring States, who have good roads leading to market
But that is not all. Next comes the gentleman from o-
gan, (Nr. FERcUsoN,) and we told from that quar-
ter that internal Improvements needed there; ard
VIC are informed further by the same gentleman, that
whatever basis Of representation maybe agreed upon
by this Convention, that whether you establish the mix
ed basis the suffrage basis there is least great
scheme of internal improvement, viz the Central
Road which is to be prosecuted the Ohio river; and
sir, he might have added with equal propriety that the
Manassa Gap road is to be pushed far up into the val
ley and that the Southwestern road is to be extended
TO the Tennessee line; and that heavy appropriations
will he required to make various lateral roads leading
to these general lines Of improvement. Gentlemen
have during this debate, entertained us often and co
quenty upon the subject of justice equity ard equali-
ty. Now, submit to those gentlemen, in spirit of
Kindness and fairness if you need these great schemes
OF internal lmprovcmentS-as you here admit you do
to develop your great and growing country, common
country, in which all have and feel inter-
est, and when you know the east will have to contrib
ute tHo-tlrds of the means necessary To
struct the-s il fair, is ii just or equitable that
should have voice in Saving at least, when and how
Chairman having noticed some of the objections urged
BY western gentlemen to the mixed basis of representa-
ton, TO notice very briefly OF the views enter
tanned BY gentlemen from the East who support this
suffrage basis OF representation.
| was rather more familiar with the eastern argyll
ments before came here than was with western ar
guments AS said before, argument has been made
before this committee by western gentlemen in obicc
ton to this mixed basis, in spirit of honesty and frank
ness and have doubt but that they believed ithat
il degraded the constituency that they represent upon
this floor. regret do not the distinguished gen
tleman from Accomac, (Mr. WrsE,) in his seat and
learn he is absent from the city, for he has told
more than occasion that it was no question between
the east and the west contest between the Glicrci;
sections for power for political power, that il was no
degradation Of the poor man in the west when contrast
ed with the poor man in the cast, but it in fact
degradation of the poor man in comparison with the
Of wealth and capitol of the country II was not
contest OF sections, but contest Of classes and hear
the cry raised that the poor OF the country de-
graded by this principle Of the mixed basis. need
scarcely say that if such the fact that would not
receive my support, nor do believe that it "",ih find
much favor on this floor. have listened atlcnlyeIy to
this argument, and should like to know, and would be
pleased for gentlemen inform me, if it dcsrades the
poor man in the west as compared with the poo" man in
the cast how it at the same time could degrade the
poor in the east when compared with the rich man
in the east, and should be pleased to hear from
gentleman east or west how any ono is degraded by the
neither does the the other, and hence the
of both propositions. But have heard on more than
one occasion, appeal made to the feelings Of the
classes that compose thls community. have heard
gentlemen talk about the in which the aristo
cratic STAKEHOLDER lords it his poor ncghbor. Now,
that all sounded very finely, but have been wholly
able myself to its application TO the subject before
us. very much interested in this question OF
slavery, either the one way or the other. live, how
ever, among q community who arc. | have been told
| nj
perhaps thousand shareholders, and four thousand
more non-saveholders. That is true | live in 4
neighborhood where there are shareholders and non
Shareholders was born and reared in 4 community Of
that sort my intercourse has been among community
OF that kind, among gentlemen who very large slave
holders in the State Of Virginia | have been TO their
houses and know 10 great extent their personal re-
atios and venture TO say, without the fear OF
that there is not community in the civilized universe
where men Of all classes who respectable more
upon an equality than they are in eastern Virginia. in
all respects and in all particulars.
Now, this basis Of the white population and taxation
combined, does not give the power to the wealthy men,
but difuscs it through the whole community: and if
there were not slave in the State, and the inc
quality of taxation existed as does now, would give il
my support Did it not occur to gentlemen who make
such arguments as have just referred to- that they are
suspectmg the very people whom We who advocate the
mixed basis, are willing TO trust As have said this
principle dltcs the power to the people Of all classes
equally and although other gentlemen may say that it
affords no protection 10 property, because it does not
give the power 10 the property holder yet for say
that am willing to trust my neghbors though they are
not shareholders. Nay more if there be any difference
the man Of small property needs the protecting in
uencc Of government from excessive and burtheasome
taxation than does tho large Shareholder for those
always the most oppressive which are paid by the
man Of small income. And gentlemen commit sad
mistake when they suppose that it is the large slave
holder only who feels interest in the success Of the
mixed basis. It the middle classes and the of
industry and economy, who do not wish the unjust
actions Of an oppressive government to cxtort from them
their hard earnings.
But am DEPRESSING further than intended. come
very briefly to notice another view of this subject
relied on to some extent by different gentlemen who
have addressed this committee, ard particularly BY my
friend from the county Of Berkey, (Mr. FAULKSER)
He wanted TO Know how long this mixed basis waa 10
be pressed upon when from the history of the
try and the signs of the times it was easy that it
was giving way in all para of the State of Virginia.
Now, when heard that declaration a little curl
Gus look into history of the matter and TO how
far il was Gazing in the State of Virginia. referred
to the discussions of the last Convention and the state
Of facts in that Convention to how the matter there
stood. found by reference to the vote upon the sub
ect of the basis of representation in that distinguished
body that from the district Of Loudoun and Fairfax
there were -four white basis delegates from the Abe
marie district, then composed Of Abemarlc Amherst,
Nelson Fluvanna, and Goochland. there were four