Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-04
Total in Y. States
6,296,oG0 90

Aggregate amount in all 9,035,lS9 SO
The apparent liabilities Of Virginia for
guaranteed bonds issued by companies
and corporations, to complete her I'M
nsoveInents 9,4257e. 40
Total debt and liabilities of the State ls 46095l 10
THIS il up TO the 3Oth Of September The apPropri-
aous made last winter Of not embraced it
The localities in which the principal expenditures
have been made will appear from this docunent-por-
tions of which will proceed to read for the ed,aio
of nv tdewater friends 1t is the report Of the Second
Auditor nude to this body the 9TH of March We
lind here that there have been appropriated for works
iof internal improvement as follows
In Underwater Hi9d,o.5 10
N the country between Underwater and the
Blue, Ridge. Piedmont 7445,o5o ~
In the Valley @,ll5Lo" %
| Trans. A lephauv 1.504O?S 60
Now note this The northwest has received about n
million and half the valley little over two millions,
icur Piedmont friends under whose banher are sum
u,ope 10 fight for the protection Of Underwater from The
exac;ng demands and oppressive taxation OF the north
west and the Valley had i'll the mean time received the
snug little sum of seven millions and nearly half And
how much has Tide received Only the lnSlSIii-
can't amount of come seven hundred and ninety three
housand-about one dollar to us for every nine that
has gone into the pockets Of the Pedmontese-and my
district the Convention district represented in part by
me- has out Of this vast expenditure OF nearly twelve
millions dollars, received one solitary d:T!dr
No sir, not 90 much rs one cent
I AM well aware that far as the four grand uvlS-
ions of the State are concerned this statement OF the
Auditor has been condemned BY sone and that differ
ent statement has been presented by committee of this
Convention showing much larger charge against Tide
water but believe it leaves the account uuonehed as
to nv district There is another document the correct
ness of which believe has not been questioned. BY
that it appears that the last General Assembly passed
internal improvement appropriation bills to the amount
of two millions five hundred and thousand
four hundred and twelve dollars and eighteen cents
o59S4lo lS) Of which Tide-water received MS her
magnificent share the sum Of twentysix thousand SIX
hundred aud eleven dollars aud eighteen cents. (c6
81 about one dollar out of every hundred Of the apro
priations and Piedmont friends the sum OF one mi!
lion one hundred and thirtythree thousand eight hun
dred and seyenty-6ve dollars, about forty-two times
more than We and nearly twice much rs the other
three grand divisions of the State put together Ny
Convention district received usual not one cent
beg leave to inquire respectfully OF eastern gentle
NEIL on this floor do they believe that the amount o.
State Indebtedness would have been increased one cent
if Underwater had not possessed solitary delegate or
senator on the floor of the General Assembly Conld
we have been worse treated under the white blss !
Can we suffer anything under tins compromise OF
under no basis mt all Could times have possibly gone
much harder with US had al the representation belonged
the west, and not single eastern menoer oee mere
Turing the whole time :,
! answer the question: say, no "orsc we couiu
not have been served and worse defy any Legislature
assembled under any basis to treat us III time 70 come
The State has been involved in debt OF So, o.
sTe a. To meet this it's true she has some available
But subject to this offset the principal and
interest must be raised by taxation aud tor the
If this principal and interest my constituents VIII nave
% bear heavy taxation though no road has been graded
canal dug mountain hus been tunneled IN All that
region of country Some good works have been COM
oleted elsewhere. At this heartily rejoice whether
these worka be located in Underwater, Piedmont, the
Valley or Trans-Alleghany. But in the main "g-rol.
ling and the most niquitus System OF barteging and
raicking in votes have hourshed in rank uxuriance.
Truly may we repeat the complaint once uttered for at
licted Ireland, that we know government only by
no annual risits of it's tasgatherers that we feel ITS
protection mainly from the pressure OF the burdens with
which it is weighing us to the earth
Yet this same system we are required and exhorted
% sustain at the peril OF both safety and our honor
md to guard with veneration religious III the eyes +
,ome-supersttious in mine. To dare withdraw our
constituents from the kind embrace Of those generous
guardians, under whose protection they have thrivcn
md prospered narveously, seems to be regarded rs
os sublimely horrible and in the estimation Of some,
would be more abhoreut to the feelings, more !Ium /.
iuv to the pride than it to the selected champion
n the cager of battle to utter the horrid word
Well sir, we shall zee how this is. These gentlemen
rofess to Judge only for themselves and not to pass
ensure others. Be it 50. It concerns me not, for
;ouch should be gratified to have the communication
If all vet in dschargng my duty here | look to my
,wn Judgment aud to the approval OF my constituents
is them, not for Eastern Erg nia in body though
look to the welfare of the whole State to award the
PATRIOTS bays, to consgn to the punishment OF
heir displeasure.
" hat then am to look for Principally and prima-
y it is my bounden duty look for some system that
viii afford that section of the State protection in
ard to its slave property and also protection in regard
o taxation Which secules that most efficiently A
lin, meagre, unreliable ma ority in the Senate and
louise Of Delegates, strong and reliable majority
ono body That is the question propounf'ed to me,
nd which am called upon to answer BY my vote /
m decided in the intend to pursue touching
his compromise, because believe it will give better
rejection to the east than the mixed basis ITSELF could
hat be obtained; and therefore eastern man |
ave considered it my duty sustain it. 1t has been
aid by the gentleman from Fauquier orr Scor that
his compromise involves the SURRENDER of the principle
which the east has been contending, house.
t once and eventually the surrender of that principle
the other house II is to Inc a matter of surprise TO
,ear gentleman Of his clear comprehension and accu-
acy of expression, speaking of the mixed basis rs
principle. The principle lying the foundation OF all
mr discussions is that contained in the bill of rights
hat That government is best which is capable of
ucng the greatest degree of happiness and safety and
most eectualy guarded against the dangers Of NAL
is eectuates this great leading object of all Just gov
st deyotee of the white basis would hardly contend for
t. establishment in the Republic of Liberia But do
Weld the mixed basis md surrender to the principle
f the suffrage basisi Far from it. Schedule is vo-
ed down and its most sanguine friends entertain no
hope 1t will revive. But to return to the inquiry will
decided majority in the Senate afford more protection
than slim msjority in both housesG This seams 10 he