Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-21
Nh. QuINcY's GRAFTON.
CONTINUED.

this Union, have been Cndp5ca, " $500
and usurpation, since the adoption Oh
the constitution, admits of a very varied
and extensive illustration. ] shall Con-
fine myself to the statement OF one or
two facts, rather by way of indicating the
state of things than describinglt. ms
cannot be done, in all its relations, With
in the limits of the present occasion
To show the progress Of political power
to the south and the west, state this
fact. AT the time of the adoption OF The
federal constitution, the three states,
Keatucky, Tennessee. aud Ohio, did n1f'
e1is.. Their territories contained some
what more than one hundred tbonaand
souls; and had no pcrceptioie weiaat
in the national scale. They now, toSe-
Their, Contain white population, some
what exceeding that of Massachusetts
Of commerce and navigation, they have
none at leas. none worth the estimate
The revenue of customs. which they
hare paid, since the adoption Ut the con-
siitution. is scarcely an item in the books
of the Treasury. Yet these states, on
every question touching The interest OF
that commerce and navigation, 80 vital
to the prosperity of Massachusetts, have
f1yeatg-izyo votes in the house Repre-.
sentatives, while she las tzycnty and
while Massachusetts has fspo votes IN
the Senate, they have sig
Without TT icrcHce 10 other consider
atoms, and Yiewe' only in relation to The
most familiar notions of equity and G.
o., ,iiiy, is it not monstrous that mass OF
population, scarcely more than equal to
,bat of Massachusetts, recent OF twenty
rears collection, Tor The most part emf
grants from Europe or the elder states,
located a thousand miles from the sea.
board, knowing nothing of its interests,
Caring nothing about them, in fact, hsv-
ing direct interest in embarrassing
them, should have one tenth more weight
in the house Of Representatives. * three
dimes more in theScnate, than the ancient,
rich, Intelligent, powerful population Of
Massachusetts? Apeople, whose insu-
tutione, habits, manners. Industry, inte-
rest and principles, have been nearly two
Centuries consolidating A people who
have arts, and arms, and virtues. A
stat which alone POSSESSES nearly halt
million 'ons of shipping and all tho
capital and cultivated intelligence neces-
sary for its employ
Take another fact. The states Of Viz
ginia and Georgia, together possess
white population but a little exceeding
that OF Massachusetts. Yet through the
effect Of The slave ratio, and the prin:i.
pies OF The constitution, while Nassachu.
seus possesses in the senate & the house
If rep, escntat'vcs, III eniy lspc votes,they
possess thirty three /! All these states,
which have named, Virginia; Georgia,
Kentucky, Tennessee s. OHIO, have paid
into The treasury ot the United States,
on customs scarcely more than 8 5000,
.; ,lnce the adoption OF the coU&t:tu.
lisu. g The single state Of Mesxachu.
sets has paid more than .forfy-taOo nil
ions net revenue. Yet upon every ques-
tiCa touching the life tloOd Of our COM
incrce, while Massachusetts,, in both
branches Ct the Legislature, has but !!ve'!-
fy-i7v0 votes, those states lave sirfy-onr.
! state one other fact. The power at.
tanned, III the house of representatives,
the effect of the slave ratio is fzveGfy
votes. The state OF Massachusetts has
bot sGyeaty. So that this great and an.
cient and once proud, but now, consii-
tu;;~o ~ speaking, BUNDLED commoH.
wcalta, las absolutely no more weight
in the national scale, than species OF
beings, in fact. as destitute oil political
rights as the brute creation. open the
ore,icAI principles, can any thing be
more shameful? The PRACTICAL effect IL
worse thdn the theor
Perhaps however, il may he said that
this evil is temporary ard that toe eau
scs which have produces. this inequality
are csasiBg 10 operate. The fact Is
decidedly the reverse. The ca are
permanent. progressive ard unlimited.
althe policy OF the government, = shap-
e. Is strengthen them. The conslnu.
tisn itself, has been violated in order
to augment the oppressive preponden
cy OF that quarter Of the country.
Natural causes, and the enabarrass-
ment OF the industry Of The Atlantic
states. sill. continue to augment the po-
pula,ion Of tnat country, %ith an unPa-
ralleled rapidly. Within the next ten
years, an addition Of three more states,
ON this side the Mississippi, is spoken
OF confidently Some say there will be
more. But be they mere, or be they
less, of this rest assured, that they vii!
be multiplied with TO sert ct reference
either TO the convenience, CT the neCes-
sities even of the people Of those terri
tories, Int solely with reference To the
political wants of the leaders of the pre-
dominating csbal, at tie seat OF govern
men,, aud with distinct view, TO creafe
new conhterpoise, in case the political
scale appear to vibrate in favor Of the In