Year: 1861


thorzing the issue Of one million dollars il
treasury notes, to be used IN arnling the
State, etc.


Mr. Speaker Year after year, and session
after session, have steadily voted for any
and all bills having for their object the de-
fence of the Commonwealth When this bill
passed the House some two months ago, |
was il favor Of it, but noao ! am opposed to
it. The sovereignty Of the State assembled
at the Mechanics Institute has indicated IN
mistakably that you shall not fight if you
want to, and only the other day by . very
significant vote refused u the poor boon Of 4
Committee to which the subject Of taxation
might be referred If we pass this bill, very
soon it will become necessary to increase the
taxes, and am utterly and forever opposed
to any measure which BY any possibility might
increase the tax my people would have to
pay in order to protect an institution which is
made the instrument Of their oppression


The gentleman from Monroe, MIR Caper-
ton, who is a member Of the Convention,
tells Us that the Convention will not eq4ulize
taxation hat the rank injustice to the West
will BE continued, and yet gentlemen come
forward and ask me to vote million Of dol
lars To protect their negroes, and 1T the same
time say their negroes shall not Be taxed as
our property is taxed. And some 60 50 far
As to say that At time like the present it is
elsgrdceful to even moot the question Of tax
alton Sir, my sense Of discrimination may
not be as fine as that Of other gentlemen, but
it seems to me that if there is any disgrace
connected with the subject i is upon the 9th
er side Of the house ID asking the people Of
the West to pay taxes to defend all lnstitu-
tion which Eastern members will not permit
to ~ taxed as other property for that pur-
defence Of ! wronged, injured and oppressed
peoplc--if it is disgrace to demand the re-
cognition Of our rights and our equality in
the State, then am willing to submit To,
some members Of the Convention here. and
desire to say to them that i'll the name Of
the people Of Preston, | aenaad that full
and ample justice shall be done ny people
and warn them that will hold them account
able before that people should they fail to
earnestly and faithfully labor to accomplish
what We have q right to expect at the hands
Of the Convention, and that which / have
demanded


Sir: 1t has been said that the West have
majority III the Convention, and the ques-
ton is asked why is not that majority used
ID accomplish the reform asked for n True,
Nr Speaker, the West have 4 majority, yet
1 blush for my section when am compelled
To acknowledge that there are weak design
ng7traitors among them Yes sir, traitors!
who are mlsrepreSentlng their constituents,
and violating all their pledges; traitors, who
ia their eagerness for power and place, il
their willing subserviency to Eastern rule and
dictation, have entirely forgotten and ignored
the true interests and disregarded the known
wishes Of the vast majority Of the people ot'
the West. But, sir, it will not avail gentle
men to say that It is the fault Of Western
men. | 40 not forget neither do intend
that my people shall forget that upon the
resolution Of Mr Brown, Of Preston to raise
Committee on the subject Of taxation and
finance, the Eastern members Of the Conven-
tion il solid phalanx voted against it, thus
clearly indicating that W. were to expect 40
favors Or sympathy from the East Sir let
ne warn gentlemen that if they derire to


x1 n n .1 n
Northwest, they can devise 10 more effectual
means Of doing g, than 70 stubbornly persist
il their course IF injustice and oppression


| am just informed b. my friend from the
county of Botetourt Mr. Anderson. thar