The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-06-30

lePreiehtatiVes IN the lower houfe proportional
to their hlackpopuation; {fcayte they had relir-
quiihed that part ofther representative right
the ienate, to which their hyperion political i'm
portance had entitled them; but they ihould
have poffeiled independently Of this compromi-
ling expedent, greater number of teprclenta
tives than the Genius of their free inhabitants
fhould have entitled them to-, beeGn6 they
poiieiied this hyperion political Importance.
III we apply this principle therefore in all
Its extent, we ihall at laft arrive at this
conclufon, that the fouthern ftates are e.
quitably entitled to a greater influence in The
ienate, in the houte of representatives, indeed
In all the departments of the federal govern
ment, than the eaftem itates have right to s.
that TINS influence ought TO be as much greater,
as the number of their members i'm the lower
houie is greater than the number of repreIenta-
tlves from the eattern ftates that is, in the RI.
ito of SIS to 49,
"A new view may be taken of this fubieSf per-
haps more interefting and appropriate than the
one which has been already delineated. This
view will ierve to Introduce another principle.
on which the fouthern ftates may fupport their
right of qualified representation, and it NAV
1erve to explain more diftinGtiy another iource
OF compensation, which the eaftem ftates are
permitted to enjoy. Taxation and reprefentati-
on mould IN certain degree be commemorate
poiiefs greater number of representatives IN
the lower huufe, which makes the TARGET CON.
tribuuons towards the fupport of the govern
ment. lhis principle is certainly not fepubli-
can or proper, when IT is applied to the dife-
rent individuals of fociety. No rich man
mould be entitled to as many more votes than
man of moderate fortune, as his wealth il In.
perior to that of the latter. But the cafe of
two individuals is not efficiently analogous TO
the cafe OF two fovereign ftates. A wealthy in
divldual, who fhould have feveral votes, would
very frequently direct the votes of others to the
OBJECTS OF his choice. But "t is not probable
that the richeft fate in the confederacv will ever
influence the choice of Jingle representative IN
any other fate" +
In TINS country taxation would be nearly
ProPortonate to wealth. Thofe ftates which
are the mott wealthy, will probably embrace
more taxable commodities.
Wealthwouldben nearly proportiohatet olabour
The differences exiting in the REFLECTIVE cir
cumitances OF the fevera ates, are not 70 preat',
as to occaiion any coniiderable difference in The
bour.
The labour of five naves is committed 70 he
equal to that of three freemen.t
From thefe maxims, will it not follow. that
the representation from the different tates.
mould be apportioncd among the fevera
Understanding to the reflective numbers
winch fhall be determined by adding 70 the
whole number CT free perfons, -three-fftbs of
all other pertons" Docs not this abftra6t prin-
ciple contribute then to give new efficacy tothe
representative rule of the contribution S-.Ob-
terve TOO the coInpcuiation which this principle
holds out to the eaftern ftates. If the Eouth-
ern itates are entitled to greater ihare in the
representation, becaute they contribute more
towards he rs 81,
not the eaiten ttates experience proportion
al diminution of the oppreffive burthen of taxa
ton 1t the fouthern ftates pay more, do not
the eaitern ftates pay lefs
The eaitern ttates may, however, denv that
the burden OF taxation falls upon the .fos1tbern
tates, IN proportion to s-5ths of their negro no.
pulation. But light ketch will be fafiicient
to demonitrate the accuracy of this ratio.
The taxes which the federal government laws
upon the people mutt be eitherdire6 or indireA
Ii they are direct, they mutt, by the very confti
tuition ltfelf, be adjufted by this ratio. MIR. Ely
however, contends that all the ADVANTAGES III
this provilion have been loft to the eaftern ftates
by the repeal of the internal taxes. Had the DO.
iitlclans OF the north, however, extended their
reflections beyond the prefent condition of foci-
ETY., they might have eaily forefeen that the cir
cumttances of the times will probably call this
clauie into operation. Should a war srife. ard
block up our fea- ports, will not the principal
refourccs of finance be found in the afieiinent of
direct taxes? The inevitable progrefs of our
country, too, by multiplying the number of
agriculturifts, and occafoning greater EN-
ployment ofcapital in manufactures, will IefIen
the demand for foreign goods. On the fmaller
quantity which is imported it will be i'm.
poffible to raife an equal revenue be-
cauie an increafe of the impoft would
only ferve to multiply the number of fimug.
glers. Mutt not the revenues of the country
be confequently drawn from internal taxes !?
and what tax can be more eligible than direet
tax upon land
The fouthern fates contribute more towards
the payment of the indirect tax, than the eaft.
ern itates and the ratio of contribution is re-
gulated by the number oftheir black inhabitants.
The northern merchants who import the goods.
advance the tax, but they afterwards recover
their capital with mercantile profit from the
perfonS whopurchafe them. Whether the foutb-
ern or eaftern ateS then pay the greateft part of
the indirect tax, can only be determined bv
another queftion are thefe imported goods mot
abundantly confirmed by the fouthetn or eahern
inhabitants Thefe goods are certainly cheap
rim the eaftern than fouthern ftates becaufe
when they are transported to the latter,the price
neceilafly rifles with the expence of freight, and
fometlmes ofinfurance. AS far as this caufe ope-
rates, the eaitern ftates may be fuppofed 10 con-
tune amore than equal proportion ofthefeimpor-
N..l- H..