Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-05-13

intp
distinguished writer-the same to whom have before
alluded-has laid down certain principles on the subject
of representation which have commended themselves
to nv best Judgment and sense OF political justice
little strange that the authority TO winch refer Is
the same TO Which the gentleman from Berkeley, (r.
F,,1KSrR who favored us on " Wednesday, last with
| y most able spcech-quoted from for very opposite
purpose On that occasion he presented us with ap-
porant triumph the concurrent views of Edmund Burke
and Sir james Mcintosh on the subject of representa-
t;on The latter was quoted by the gentleman of course
correctly from his celebrated defence of the French
revolutioi-as denouncing with Dir Burkc-l quote
the words and believe they are the same that We're
ouoted by the gentleman from Berkeley 1.-THE nd
mission Of territory and contribution elements
entering into the proportion of representation.
The representation of land or money is monstrous
relict Of ancieut prejudice. Men only be rep
resented, and population alone ought to regulate
the number Of representatives which any district
delegates" Now, it will be borne in mind that
that this celebrate; defence written in 1891 jus,
sixty wears ago Well, in 1915, twenty four years af
forwards we have from the pen of this eloquent and
very able ethical ami political writer, his view of repre-
,entation-in treatise on the rights # parliamentary
suffrage, and which suppose-,o fashionable
phasc-may be termed the sober second thought of the
author In McIntoshs miscellaneous essays, pages 476-
All and the two three consecutive pages find the
following passages:
ua majority &c. dc II they considered form
ing in this respcc; class of society share i'll the
REPRESENTATION may be allotted to them sui lent to pro-
tect their interests compably with the equal protec
ton Of the interests OF all other classes and suated
by due regard to all the qualities which required
in we'll composed Legislative assembly. But, if repre-
scptaton be proportional numbers alone, every other
interest in society is placed at the disposal of the null
ttulc No other class be cifcctually represented
no other class have political security for justice
no other can have any weight in the deliberations of the
e Legislature.
t Again
1.-The end Of representation is not medium between
+ wealth and numbers, but combination OF both II il
the result of the separate action OF great property
deliberate opinion and OF popular spirit on different
n part. Of the political system
When property not allowed great weight i'll fire,
e State, it will destroy liberty
: Once more:
in Congress- proportioned to their population whcth
or slaves or freeen provision arising Indeed from th
} most abolnnabe of all human institutions, but rccogni
6 zng the just principle that property is of the Gle
i ments of every wise representation Sir accept thu
Z authority which the gentleman has aduced 1t is goot
n it is high authority and am happy believe tina
the weight of it is On side of the house. Now i
If these propositions be founded in truth and think The,
d are mprcgnube, to what conclusions do they lea,
US? What do they dictate? Why-Iot to'basc repre-
l. sentaton on property alone-not numbers alone
d. but upon combination of both The west, think cal
really apprehend nothing from the in relation t.
, the power of taxation. And deem it sufficient an
swcr to the remarks made this subject by the gen
teman from Cabel. (Mr. McCoMAs to say that in III,
past she finds ample security for the future On III,
other hand the feels that she has interests which
Il may suffer- unless sufficiently protected and this SHE
y believes only be done by retaining that weight il
/ the Legislative department of the government, which hs
IS population, in combination with those interests have
heretofore given her. Not that she dstrusts the senst
e of Justice of her western brethrcn-by lncans-bu
she is admonshed by the nature of things BY all past
experience and by the teachings of history to sur
render principle which she deems vital one, and that
is that political rights worth nothing without thu
constitutional means Of enforcing them. In planting
/ herself this ground she is borne out by the highest
authority. One of the best writers government
J. perhaps the first living writer political economy
(Sisuontli HAS laid it down q leading principle
that those who have not the constitutional means of re-
sisancc are always liable to aggression. If under
stand my position here representative of the
crn portion Of the State, that principle is which
am bound to sustain 10y all fair and legitimate means
o believe that the principle is inpregnablc. admire
: the irmuess the consistency and ullanimy which char
acterizcs gentlemen of the west cannot doubt that
) TO exist-whcn the of words, of argument which
has for many days been waged in this hall shall ter
inmate, will bear in mind how sacred and nYolable ART
the principles for which we contend and come up in
solid phaanx, the II has been repeatedly
said minated that the cast may safely trust to the
sense Of justice of the west, and their good faith Nv
t friend from Gooc!Iad (lr LEAKED .dvertct to tina,
point fully, that hardly any thing need be said
In social point of view, reciprocal trust and conf
dcncc among men forms one of the most pleasing lcs
t. lures in life. Il is practical in its benefits. 1t is
essential to the well being Of society Without it the
beauty and harmony of lie would be destroyed and oar
every days pursuits to great extent, be interrupted
But when political relations are involved the case is
wholly different Because these derive their peculiar
and indeed only value from the constitutional power
that may exist for enforcing them know that it has
been said that the social affections the exercise of
the moral sense, and above ALL III the purifying nfl-
Of the christian religion, men may find security
against the preparation of wrong. This ought to be
Is it so In grave matter to leave nothing
to suppostion. We not to take the wings of fancy
and soaring into the ions of romance, people at WILL
another Utopia We are to deal with facts they
and men they areas they have been in all cmes
| and ages. What is the lesson TAUGHT What is The
response that up from the universal experience Of
1 mankind! That perpetual war exists between labor
and capital that property would have security Tor
instant, but for the strong and abiding of The
{ law.
In connection with this view of the subject am i,r-
chilly reminded ola sentiment uttered by Patrick Icny,
in the convention of 1888. That voice. always potential
should he stronger now that it sounds from the tomb
would said that immortal man, guard against it
he power of taxaon) by proper checks and balances
and leave nothing to accident chance would nev-
err, continued he, depend upon slender protection
as the possibility of being represented by vrtuous
men,"
did not desire intend ut first to dcain the com.
mittee but short time have taken but a rapid and
cursory view of the question: promised. should
regret were it not frutcss to do that natural causes
should have placed in state of antagonisn those whom
it would ought to have but one common interest
one common object. But as have been truly told
unity of opinion on political subjects is only to be
pccted under an Asiatic despotsn. How then can We
reasonably look for it among those who daily breath.
the air of liberty, and whose views and opinions are
rendered contrariols if from other cause bv diver
sity Of interests The time may come or according
the calculations of some gentleman must come and that
at no very distant day-for think the views of nv
friend from Marion ar NELSON are in this particular
matter, unique-not generally cndorscI-whcn the
west, on the very principle for which We now contend
will have the ascendncy in the government of the State
When the prophecy will be fnlfed-though in some
what different sense, aud to much more limited extent
than its author ntcndcd-that
/; westward the course Of empire holds its way"
Sir when that time arrives venture predict that the
great body of the people of eastern Virginia will yield
the sceptrc gracefully That they will it depart
from them without nvidolls cmoton-one feeling
of regret. Sir sir, the paramount feeling will be that
Virginia is still the good old mother of us all. The
paramount desire will be that Virginia may remain what
She now is ever ought and most levouv trust ever