Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-01

| II gentlemen intend to give uS the al HfoF1'
principle Of taxation, they ought to sG So
Why conplicate these two vexed queStpns b.
joining them together, and making one leper
dent on the other? The report Of the Com
mittee enunciates the ad palorem princpe c
taxation, and the provision submitted ly tn
gentleman from Pittsylva says that ccprt
Sentatiou in one House OF the General Assen,
| bly, shall be based upon taxation and ppula
ton, aad the other upon white population
| The two propositions arc SO united and intend
ed so to operate, as that if you take on' yo'
are bound to take the other.
Now, am not willing to take the report
the House shall place the provision of tm gen
tleman from Pittsylvania upon it, | b,liev
that the report enunciates the right primiple
But if gentlemen think differently and 'iscd
not to accord il, le, them say so. beiev
that the voting population CT the State il tn
proper principle to constitute the basis Of &c
presentation.
Now, sir, these two propos!liuns IRE to.all,
distinct in tho Constitution. One il in on
-, i:,s other In different article. Un
likes representation in the two houses oil rs
scnlLly. That believe is the very first article
aud thu one in reference to taxation came
alter | shall not think bad Of my friend,
he votes against tie al aalurem principle; blu
| 10 rot think that he ought to join this odiou
principle with the other by way Of defeating
the report by side winds
Mr. TRrDwAY.-l am very reluctant to lax
lip the time of the Convention at such periot
as this, in discussion for really am bec0m
ing impatient OF having so much discussion
hsr k,,ui,ag, D,t ,ir
cat1ot, consistently with my duty, remain 81
lent when | hear At such time as this ant
in such manner as it has been DONE lie
mand made upon us to submit 10 the taxation
Of our most valuable property, without resrrv
ing to ourselves the slightest protection i'll ths
Constitution. And when llcar gcnlcrsn
like lay friend from Grecnbrier, (Mr. PEicE j
ore OF bis prudence and his ability, when hea
him say, that proposition which only ask.
that you shall give in one branch Of the Leg.
islature, some power to be put into the hand:
Of those Eho bear the burden Of the govern
mcnt-when hear him tlcnounce that nj or
odious proposition, am astounded. He lauds
the proposition embodied in the report, which
puts taxation upon all property according
to ts value, as 4 nst principle, principle
which was never in yOnr Constitution. |;
never has been until to-day principle i'll t;ie
Constitution Of Virginia. Until within tic
last few years the ad ra21reDl principle was
not the principle or whia!. taxation was based
in Virginia.
now they say it is the only just principle, and
;hay come here to demand it in crisis like
tnis, and hold over our heads, If not menace,
at least a declaration of dissatisfaction, which
is very significant.
1t has been stated aid reiterated that unless
tue East comedies this measure to the West,
in the language OF one gentleman from tho
West unless the East gives them an interest
in our negroes, which is the power Of taxation,
power which the Eastern minority could not
resist-we could not exoect the West to sard
by us in this crisis Why, at period like
this, when no man knows how long re will
have this property; when the people of the
North propose 10 wage war of determination
against it; W hen Tho West comes to the East,
and say we must tax this species OF property
heavily; when they come and assal it by as.
stunning the power OF taxing it Mt will, what
lu you expect, gentlemen, We consider liz our
situation Are you to come and drive this
property from the State By taxationf We all
know that oppressive taxation is one Of the
most cfftctual means by which you can attack
an institution. It is the means by which II
can be extcrminatcd We in Eastern Virginia
stand in this condition, and at this time imme.
diatc action is demanded By Western gentle.
men. In regard to my proposition, it simply
proposes to give us power in one branch ol
The General Assembly, which is necessary to
our protection. You propose the ad Sat0rsm
principle Of taxation. If we vote for that
proposition and my amendment, We cuncede
all you ask Tho gentleman from jackson,
MIR TCRSEg,) who came here at the beginning
of this session, and said that his people would
then 90 in Tor immediate secession, and help
US to sht the battle, now insinuates that dis.
confetti and dSaffcction V i'll undoubtedly arise
in his section, if this report is not adopted.
hir TCRHER. OF Jacksonville gentleman
rnisnrjerstanis my position. did not come
here in favor Of immediate secession. On the
contrary, | was in favor Of eahaus;ing every
means to adjust tho difficulties which led to
secession.
Mr.. THGpwAT.-l know that some gentle.
man from the West, Tere for prccipltatlng
us into this state Of things which we are now
beginning to experience, when large portion
Of the Z .stern men-those who represented
the largest portion Of slave property-were for
peaccablc adjustment, if possible, of onr DIFF
fcuties by resort to Border State Confer
once While The gentleman from Welzel,
M. HALL and the gentleman IRON Barbour,
(Mr. Woops,) ard others from that section
stood here aud told US they we're ready to
pledge themselves that they would stand by
lhe East in tine Issue, gentlemen from the East
were quietly pursuing. the even tenor OF their
way, seeking if possible to avert the great
crisis which III now upon US.
Understanding that there is some important
business to be acted upon, will yipld the floor
and move to pass by the subject under discus
sion for the preseat
Mr.. HAYMoND of Marion-l wish 10 know
whether this Convention means 10 disI,oae O.
this question or not, and by way Of ascertain
ing the purpose Of The UOusc in regard to It,
| will ask the yeas and nays upon that mo
tion.
alr. EoULDis. of Charlotte II will state tina
a. the moment the recess was taken, Tesolu
tion was before the committee in relation tt
the appointment OF II committee to meet tht
Commissioner now on his why from Mont
gomery.
MT. HoLcoMpE, Of Albcmsre.-is il in orde1
to say a word why this business should bt
passed byf
The PaEaIDENT.--lt is in order.
Slr. HoLc1HEE--I trust il will tE th'
pleasure oi the Convention to pass by this sub
;rct for the present, that ! msy I'll i pTopo
sition which is enc requiring, as conceive
immediate action. have Tot taken up much
Of the time Of the Convention certainly
have net occupied its time in any debate upor
abstract propositions; and | may truly say
that never trcspsss upon The time of th
body except to discharge what ! believe to b
an imperative duty involving the interests o
the State at large. Ii is in the discharge o
such duty thai now rise.
The Governor OF the Common ealth at thi
time has every moment presented to hin
greater and more important questions thai
ever came before GoyeTnor Of This Common
wealth, requiring from him immediate deci
sion. hear from sources which make me re
II l,pon the information, that in all probsbi!it,