Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-24
and limit the powers and ac-

restriction upon the agents of the people.
These guarantees are offered that our
friends in the East may be well secured
by constitutional provisions in the enjoy
ment of slave property, and have a seou-
rity against undue taxation. Look you
to the resolutions upon this subject adopt
ed by the legislative committee. The
honorable gentleman from Henrico, Mr..
Bolts, the other day, read you resolu-
ton adopted by that committee, intended
to be inserted in the constitution, in refer
ence to the right to property in slaves
That resolution was offered by myself
and it was modified in form at the sug'
gestion of my honorable friend from JET
ferSon, Mr.. Lucas another member from
the West, and it was adopted unanimous
lvI believe I stated in committee at the
time. that did notthink it at all necessary
that believed, independent Of any pro-
vision in the constitution, tho Legislature
had no power to emancipate the slaves of
the State, without the consent of the own
ers. was willing and anxious to see
that provision Incorporated in the consti-
tuition, to satisfy the abolitionists that all
they had effected in 90 years upon this
subject was to have constitutional pro-
vision, when before there was none,
Now, with regard to taxation, can there
be any improper discrimination upon that
subject prejudicial to the East by the
adoption of the 0d ValorSm system? l
confess, when this question of ad valo-
rem taxation ives discussed in my district,
and even to the time of the assembling of
this body, had some doubt of the pro-
priety of it, for l believed that the true
policy Of taxation was to discriminate in
favor of articles of necessity, and to in
crease the taxes upon articles of luxury;
but my honorable friend from Accomac
has satisfied me upon that subject, by
showing that provision may be incorpo-
rated into the constitution, so as to CLASH
fly these various articles OF property sub
ject to taxation, and give to the Legisla-
ture the power to tax gold watches and
other articles of luxury to ahigher extent
than the farmers plough-horse. A pro-
per arrangement Of this kind obvistes the
only objection have to this mode of tax
alton. Look to the resolutions of the leg
islalive committee, and the committee
raised on the subject of guarantees. l
say, ifany eastern gentleman. let his pre-
JUDGES be ever so strong, will coolly and
calmly sit down and examine these pro-
visions, with a determination to arrive at
proper understanding of the matter, he
must be convinced that it is not necessary
to give representation to property, in or
der to give it protection. There is pro-
vision limiting the amount of the public
debt Cannot yon control this appropri-
ating power in that form? Cannot you
control it by declaring that laws making
appropriations to works of internal i'm
provement are to be passed by a majority
of the delegates elected to both houses of
the General Assembly, by providing the
means for the payment of the annual in
terests and the debt itself within reason
able time? There can be no difficulty
whatever upon that subject. The fact is,
that it is contest for powcr-for powers
sake, The West plants itself upon prn-
ciple, upon justice, upon equality. The
East has the power. and wishes to retain
II. and these arguments are offered AS a
justification for doing so,
/ have been asked, if come into this
body to divide this old commonwealth.
say moi But do come here to obtain
justice and equality for my constituents.
My constituents have commissioned me
TO do this, but it is not for me in this body
to menace or threaten it with division
of the State or any other extreme mea-
sure. will not go as far upon the sub
ject Of division of the State, as the gen
tlcman from Richmond Mr. Lyons, has
gone. have my own views. l stand
ready to cooperate with my constituents
in any and every measure to obtain equal
ity of political power in the government,
and tell you there is q firm determine
ton on the part of my constituents to
have it, l may say, at all hazards. l
think l understand the views of my con-
stituents upon that subject, This idea
that has been held out that the resolutions
sent here by them are intended merely
for effect, l say, is founded in error
These resolutions speak the sentiments of
my constituents, | say, without hesita-
ton, if you rel ect the proposition to sub
nit to the people whether they will adopt
the mixed or suffrage basis, and you palm
upon them for all time this odious mixed
basis scheme, that they arc prepared to
adopt extreme measures. We are told
by our friends from the East that they
want quiet-want rest for the public
mind, l tell you that you cannot effect
it by adopting the mixed basis The ink
will scarcely be dry upon the parchment
containing that provision before you will
hear the voice Of the people crying out
against it, and seeking redress in some
form or other. ask my Eastern friends
to hesitate before they adopt this extreme
measure.
Look you to the proceedings of the
Convention of Kentucky. A day was set
apart to enable the members to sign the
constitution having the suffrage basis in
it. You present western member the
constitution To sim with thn ,,,irnd hn SO