The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-30
COMMUNICATED FOX THE ENQUIRER.
Vindication OF Virginia.
No. ~.

minittration or our government embrace few
queftious, more nteretiDg in their coniequen-
ces, and none more curious and difficult in their
nature than the one which is here preiented to
our confederation. 1t appears to be one of
thofe cafes in the theory of representative 60
vernment, on which politicians have not fuif:ci-
emily reflected on which the experience of ma
tons has yet had no opportunity of de-
Gliding. Go back to the hiitory of anci-
ent times and examine the contributions of
thoie countries, which were denominated free
you will find that they partook of the demo-
cratic and not the republican form; that the
people infead of employing representatives to
manage their political affairs, were themfelves,
accultomed to gudethe helm Of government by
means Of General AiIemblies. Come down to
modern times, and furvey the. iituation of
exiting nations, you will difcover that
the Britih Contribution, the very freeft
which Europe has to boat of, is eminently
defective in the election of its representative de-
partment and that for the purpofe of proving
how unequal was the representation in the DIFF
ferent parts of the empire, fome authors have al
ierted that of the 55s members, which compo-
fed the Britiih Houfe of Commons, one-ninth
was elected by s64 perfons, and one half by
572s perfonS.* Examine the fate contributions
OF our own country, you will diicover no anala-
gous iuuftration. The ftatcs, which contained
very few ilaves, would have fcarcely regarded it
as worthy of their attention to have calculated
the number of black inhabitants, when thew
were about to adult the number of reprefenta-
tives which ihould come from different diftriGts
or counties; and in thofe ftates, where this
race of men has principally exifted, the boun-
diaries OF the diftricts and counties, which Oh
tanned an equal number of representatives, have
been arranged by the population or convenience
or the whites, and not by the number of their
tawny inhabitants. 1t was not until the impor-
tant 3ra arrived, when a general government
was propofed for the American ftates when
contribution was demanded, whole provifions
ihould be equally adapted to the ftuation of
thoie ftates which had naves, and thofe that
had none, that the important queifion was flg-
geited, whether the Southern States ihould be
Represented in the iimple ratio of the number of
their white people, or whether they fhould de-
rive any additional influence from their black in
habitants! This great queftion was fuggefted
at time when all the various provifions of
complicated fyftem of government were about
TO be diicuiied, and when the public mind was
! thus expanded over Gichi a variety of iubiects.
that the preient queftion did not probably meet
the satisfactory inveitigation to which its i'm
menfe Importance TO jufty entitled it. Since
the adoption of the contribution, other topics
have aimoit completely engrofed the public at
tentlon; and it has only been within the period
OF the few laft months that the federal editors
OF the north have introduced it once more to the
notice ofthe public. This fubieS at lenethalumes
aform more official and more impoiing. MIR. EIy
! member of the MaHachufetts legislature. has
brought forward a ferries of reiolutions. whole
proteiied object is to obtain an amendment to
the Federal Contribution Without any expert
mental chart then, to direct us in this unknown
quarter OF political fcience; with fcarce Jingle
calculation of an. experienced navigator to afiift
our progrefs, it will not be wonderful ifthis pro-
greis ihould be tedious, defultory and uncertain.
With all thefe difficulties then, amply fpread
before me, ihould eminently miitake nv own
powers or the difficulty of the undertaking.
thould l adventuroully foar to any higher OBJ
ject than an imperfect inveftigaton of a few on
| ly OF thoie points, with which this auction
aboundS. Thele points will be found to relate
TO the principal arguments of Mr.. Ely.
The fcheme of our federal contribution is adj
! mirable and peculiar. Its influence extends
only to general fubjects Whit it referves every
local concern to the more accurate fuperinten-
dance ofthe ttatc fovereignties. Whit it ey-
erclieS the power OF operating upon individuals
III general matters, it referves to the ftates the
ineltimable andfacted power of operating upon
| individuals in all local concerns. As each of
thoie powers is equally neceffary to the pro.
per defence and general accommodation of the
fociety, no proviions ihould have been omitted
W Sudiu thC WCdkcT dSdltlit the 1trOnger power
to protect the fate fovereignties agant the pro.
greflive encroachments of the federal govern
ment. That contribution however, would have
| obtained no effectual provifon ofthisfot which
imply defgnated the general powers that
ihould devolve upon the federal government.
without allowing at the fame time to the ftates,
Tome particular controul over the federal head.
in the exercife of thofe powers. 1t is from this
cauie that we difcover in the prefent conftitu-
ton, 70 many express privileges conferredon the
ftate fovereignties. Each fate has an equal in
fiuence in the federalfenate. In the election of
Prehdent, the votes of the ftates are not propor-
tlonate to the numbers or wealth ofeach fate.
but they are fixed in compound ratio of their
influence in the fenate, and their influence in
the houie of representatives. Even in the cleo
ton OF members of the houfe of representatives.
the dlltlnction of ftates is TO certain decree
preterved. A member of this body is not cbo-
len for every $4,000 inhabitants that are in the
United States, but for every $4,000 that are in
each fate 70 jealous is the contribution of anv
tendency in the federal head TO verge towards
coniolidated government. No prudent politi-
clan will Object to this jealous fpirt Of the con-
itltution. Perhaps no one will deny thatthere
ought to have been fome particular BODY, in
which all the ftateS ibould have enjoyed ane1taai
influence for the preiervation of the fate fove-
reigntles. Few then will be prepared to object