The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-12-08


propofed by us; that under the articles of con-
federation, the value of improved lands was
the ftandard, which had been found to be I'M
certain, unequal and impratticable; that it
was coniidered rs highly advantageous to
thus, and the other eaitern itatcs that an alter
alton was long urged, particularly on the part
of this commonwealth; that, at our reque1 &,
Congreis in the year 1882, propofed as fub
ititute, the ratio of number, including three
htths OF the flaves; that it was adopted by this
tate; aud alto by Virginia and mott of the o.
Their ftates, and became the general fentiment
OF the nation; that the principle thus introdu-
ced, as an amendment to the confederation,
was thence tranfplanted iuto the new conflitu-
ton, becauie, as Mr.. King declared in the con-
ventIon OF this Commonw calth, I" it was the
language Of all Anerica"-that it was one of
the points in which all parties then aaneed-
that to fubttitute any rule which might
the people of this commonwealth to higher
rate of direct taxation, would be giving up
claim long aiierted by this fate, and would be
unjuit in itfelf for deduction of two 6fths of
that Description of perfons denominated Glayes,
from the Genius or apportionment, on account
OF their condition, was as much as resion and
juitice permitted the citizens of Malta
chufetts, and other tates, having but few
laves, would not willingly content to a greater
deduction ; that it would be UNREASONABLE and
idle to expect the tfates which have more Daves,
TO agree to change the ratio as to reprefentati-
on, without correspondent change as to taxa
ton, and there is doubt whether the principle
OF the Genius, 20 direct taxation, is conftituti-
onally auendable, without the concurrence
OF every fate--that even if the prefent ratio
were not originally the beit that was poiiible
yet having been thus deliberately introduced and
ettabliihed, as fundamental article of the con-
- e
it would be unwife to difturb it
that there is no probability that the propofed al
teration would be agreed to by more than two
or three ftates-that there is even moral GER
tainty, It will not be ratified by a contribution
al majority of the ftates; and therefore the eff
feet OF the proposition will be to produce ir-
rtstion, without any rational profpeG of fuc-
ceis.
But, even If the refolve, containing a propo-
lltion ofthe amendment, were to be adopted,
MIR. B. commended, that the preamble ought to
be truck out, becaufe it was untrue, abfurd,
improper, irritating and impolitic. He faid
that TO give gentlemen, who merely wifhed for
the propofed amendment, and not for an nfla-
matory addrefs to local prejudices and to party
pafiions, an opportunity of voting feparately,
the motion was made to amend the refolution
by ftriking out the preamble.
The clanfe, which ailerts the exiting ratio
OF representation was 70 manifefiy unjuft, at
the time the contribution was framed, that it
could have refulted SO only from the Iorit of con-
eiAation and eoniproniS qvbieb Influenced the
safeyn RafeJ," he declared to be incorrect in
point of fact; and, in proof of his declaration,
read, from the printed debates, the obfcrvati-
ons of Mr. King, MIR. Gorham, Mr.. Dawes,
Judge Dana and feveral other learned members
of the fate convention, who unequivocally de-
he hat of ma ~, ,tf.
and advantageous TO this ftate-He alto agreed,
from the hitory of this conititutiona proviiion,
and from Its very nature, that it was the refut of
mutual concefhon, and not, as the preamble
pretends, merely the conceliioa of the eaftern
fates alone.
re faid that the reafon aligned in the pre-
amble, for confidering the constitutional ratio
in rate aobere THE .RaVeyy efn1an is eta
6lJ9ed by Lazv, the flares bape no yoice in the e.
IeG'ionJ," is equally applicable to women, chill
dren under the age of twenty one, and other
perfons disqualified to vote by the fate confti-
tutions ;-that as thefe descriptions of perfons,
as well as laves, are excluded from any voice in
the elections and yet are included in the Genius :;
indeed they compofe much the grestef part of
the Genius that without lie fiuII,,
tuppofe i've lixths of the nation are excluded
from voting in elections that other perfons
thus excluded, as well as flaves exit in une-
qEal proportions, in different fates that in
New-Jerfey, for inftance, women are admitted
to vote at elections but not in other ftates ;
that thoufands in this, and fome other ftates,
are disqualified for want of property, whereas
IN fome ftates, particularly Pennsylvania, fuch
Pecuniary qualification is not required that
the proportions of qualified perfons, as to
voting at elections, was not the fame, he believ-
ed, IN any two ftates (; that the numbers of vo-
tiers, in the REFLECTIVE ftates, were by no means
the ftandard intended by the contribution. If,
therefore, the federal ratio is in fact uniuft
and injurious" on account of the admiffon of
three flfths of the iaves, the reafon aligned for
it in the preamble is falfe and abfurd.
He alto denied that " planter poLcGne ftiy
RaveJ may be sonfdered as bapigg fbirfy uoteJ,"
as is aGlerted in the preamble on the contra
ry, commended that he could nomorebe faid to
have so votes, than man with wife and ten
children under twenty one, may be faid to
have twelve votes that fuch exaggerated and
falie declarations ought not to be inherited in a
folemn Legislative act becaufe, befides the
intrniic improperly of the thing, their infertion
would tend to fpread UNREASONABLE aud falfe i'm
preffions.
He obferved that there was no evidence pro-
duced to fupport another reafon alledged in the
preamble " an augmentation offbe number of
HaJeJ in the /oHtbeyn RateJ," by which mutt be
intended All augmentation of their proportion,
compared with the number of freemen other
wife the ahertion has no bearing upon the quef-
ton.
Another claufe in the preamble, declaring
H. r