The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-06

4
ono election there was an union between
the six New. England States, New-Jersey
and Delaware, and the six small states in
the valley the MississipPi;, these fourteen
states can give but 80 electoral votes.
Ncw-York and Pennsylvania, contiguous
states. with Virginia in the vicinity OF the
latter. have eighty-seven electoral votes.
Those three States, so situated that they
can act in concert. always liable 10 unite
from one the candidate for the Presidency
NAV he taken, from another the candidate
fnr the Vice Presidency, and the claims Of
the third may be satisfied with assurances
of n place in the cabinet, have more power
in tho primary election, than the other
fourteen, although the populous state OF
Nassacb,lsetts rs one of the fourteen. II
such he the comparative strength and force
of the large states, how can the iederatlon
system be preserved, and the political I'M
portance of the small states sustained, eX-
cen; by this final vote, this contingent adj
VANTAGE. whenever the election comes to
This House. Sir, it is the old states, long
settled. whose population has been drain
ed To supply new states, that will be the
most sensible TO this loss of power. Their
representation on this floor, | will not say
never. but may not for one hundred years
increate. Connecticut, New-Jcrsey, IL.
Islant, and Delaware, have not the pros
pects before them of Indiana, Illinois, Ala.
barnl, and Mississippi. Let the small
stat,s retain all the advantages 1t was IN
tented they should realize under the con
stiution, their influence ut best Will be
snail, and less than was originally conteln-
! pated.
While tho smaller states had not had,
jy the common operation OF the consitu-
ton. all the benefits and advantages which
they had n right to expect, | will proceed
to show that the influence ard political
power of some Of the larger States have
increased beyond the calculations OF the
ramers of the constitutions and, perhaps,
Ithe increase has been much greater than
the States to which shall refer anticipa-
ted. | approach, mr. Chairman, this sub
lect with reluctance, enm mGnt6us csTfe
iremuiis. Knowing how sensitive many
gentlemen on this floor are, whenever the
subject propose, but for moment, to eXu-
mine is brought into discussion, and kellev-
ing it right that their sensations should be
excited, whenever any discussion should
remind them Of their unpleasant and untor'
: tunate circumstances; but, sir, gentlemen
will do me the Justice to believe me wher
tell them speak the undissembed sen
. tlments Of my heart, when, in my opinion
declare that the proposed amendment
aim deadly blow at the political power o
, the State to which am Indebted for sea
in this House.. SbNl not, then, be justi
4, fed by the occasion, in drawing an argu
ment from any legal source that will hav
0 tendency To show the tallacy of the argu
. ments in favpr Of the resolutions, end th
: Injustice Of the proposed amendments
The constitution was framed ana adopte
by the States in spirit otcompromlse: OF an
. . shall one portion Of the States enjoy all n
benefits, while another shall be deprive
= of what it wasiutended they should ENJOY
o Sir, one portion of the States have enjoy
d ed all tbst they could ever have eXpectc
D or hoped for--nay; speak IN reit
't renee to States with "a population OF cci
b. tain kind" ] will not, on this occasion
q nor on any other, If can possibly avoid
N III this hall, use n term not used in the cor
g stitution Of the United States, Who ca
,e y. read the third paragraph in section :, an
"a article /, of the constitution of the Unite
20 States. and not sec the concession made
W many Of the small States to the States
,c which shall call tho Httention OF the con
n mittce Representatives and direct Ia
n, cs shall be apportioned among the sever
We States which may be included within tn
u. u Union, according to their respective nun
y - bcrs, which shall be determined by addir
~ ~ to tho Whole number of free persons, i
cmdng those bound to service for term
~ years, and excluding Indians not take
ac three, ftths ofaH other peiSons."
he IC0rcludti on the SecOrd page.
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