Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-12-12

II Inc Legislature OF this Commonwealth hav.
kfqussted me to inform your excellencv of tbr;r
plhSs' whicn are stated in the incloaed rc.olr.
pm, and TO request that similar mea.,,,,o
be adopted in the State of Virginia. ba,,. ~.
hPnor to De sir, with great respect, vour e-c.l-
ltncy's most obi. servant,
", CS4lsned) CALEB STRONG.
His Exccllency the Governor
OF the State of Virginia. A co,
cCif-EcNtYEHLTH or AL1Ss.4cHJSE7fS
In the House of Representatives,
June 10th, 1904
, whereas by the Constitution of the United
States, II is provided, that REPRESENTATIVES sbon
be aPPortoncd among the several states. accord:
in5to their respective numbers, which sha1l be
determined By adding TO the whole number Of
free persons Including those bound to service E,r
r. term OF years, and excluding Indians not tax
ed' three niths ot all other persons and furthe.
that for the c-lsice of President and Vice, Pres.
'ent OF the United States, each STATE shall an
ONT numoer OF Electors equal to the whole
''ilHef Oh senators and RePresentatives to which
ne state may be entitled in the Congress:
And whereas the said provisions We. so ma
nIsestiy unequal, at the time the Constitution was
formed, that they could have resulted only from
tle spirit OF consultation and COMPROMISE which
influenced the Eastern States because in con-
sequence thSrcof, representation OF the st2tas
Ii produced, unjust and injurious in it's operati.
on, both 40 1t regards the number of free ;nha-
dieantS IN she several states and their Dropertv
y, IN State where the slavery of man is esta-
bi1sRed by law, the SLAVES have no VOICE ~ The
elections ;....Sut planter possessing fifty slaves
may be considered aa having thirty votes, while
a farmer o. Massachusetts, having equal or
greater property, Is confined TO a Snf.le vote:
And whereas she eaect of these provision.
h's hcen rendered more unequal and injurious.
y "l1 course OF events, since the constitutions
Was established, bs an augmentation ofthc num-
Der OF slaves In tbs Southern States, and ai,o bv
eii increase OF Personef property in the Eastern
otates, arising iron.-!A commcrcis spirit OF the
inhabitants: 80 70 ''i0
And whereas the said provisions haze bcer
rendered more injurious, BY important political
oranges, introduced during the present admin.
S!Cat!0h' IN the purchase Of Louisiana. IN KEN
slve country, which viii require treat numbers
cf slaves tor It's cultivation and V hen admitted
mo the Union, agreSably to the ccssion. will
contribute by the number Of its slaves. TO dee
1Oy Lhe real influence o. the Eastern States IN
tGc tFAtlonal Government and also in the oyi-
gina 'Node OF eleCting the President Of the IT.
0'ates, whereby IN the appointment OF tbat ic,
3ortant magistrate, the right of the small states
among which arc most of the Eastern St,tas1
"ner- there are few zo slaves, is greatly iii.
minisicd:
And whereas in the apportionnisnt of the diff
ferent taxes, the only compensation proposed bv
the constitution, to The states not bo;din sIavcs
TOR the atoresaldunequal principle in rcpresenta-
uon, is now merely nominal, - the national re-
venues are principally derived from commercial
lmposts, tbs present administration having re.
psa!cd rhe excise laws, which operated in some
measnrs, by tax on luxuries, TO euualize srorr
the several states the contributions to the bubble
oufthens and having also recently assessed adj
otlona mliliono on commerce, OF which the Eas-
rem 0'ateS must pay much more than their due
proportion, so that instead of contributing less
than tier proportonate share of public expense.
az was contemplated by the Constitution. as
counterpart 10 unequal representation, they con-
tribute more:
And whereas union Of the states. a measure
80 important IN its consequences, cannot harno-
niousy exist, for a long period, unless it he
tcunded on principles which shall secure to all
fres citizens, equal political rights and PRIVILEGES
n the government, SO that minority Of free ci-
Zens may not govern a majority, an event.
MICH ON the principles Of representation nov
Established, has already happened and may al
lays happen:
Therefore, to preserve the Union Of the
tates, upon sound and just principles, and to
'tablish foundation for general harmony and
'nfdence among all the citizens Of the United
atcs, by securing 70 them now, and ut ali flu
&c periods, equal political rights and privi-
IS:
Resolved, that The Senators Of this Common
aith in the Congress Of the United States be,
d they are hereby instructed, te take all pro-