The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-09
FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
SLAVE REPRESENTATION.

FOR THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY.
SLAVE REPRESENTATION.
The Southern States consented, though not
unanimously, to extend protection to the cot
ton manufactures, because the raw material is
furnished by themselves; the opposite reason
induces them to withhold it from the woolen
To show clearly that the interests of the
north and south are not considered the same
however they may be in fact, we find, by re-
ferring to the votes taken on the woolens BILL
bill deeply involving the interests of the ma
ton, that majority of every State, south of
the Ohio river, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
were in opposition to majority of every State,
save Indiana, north of the Ohio river, Penn
sylvania and New Jersey, including these
States. 1t Is to this division that | refer, when
use the general terms north and south
Now If this difference does exist, and if it is
founded on the climate, soil and situation,
which are in great degree immutuable, and
which enable the south to furnish England with
such kinds of produce as cannot be raised
there, and which will, therefore, always be re-
ceived; and also on the character of their
slave population, which is such as to render
manufacturing impracticable, so that they must
always purchase manufactured articles abroad ;
while on the other hand, the productions of
the north are such as can be raised in England,
and therefore l1W not be receiCed there, except
IN times of great scarcity, and the genius and
ingenuity of the people make it prOper, and
the want of home market for the produce
which cannot be disposed of abroad, makes it
essential that they should manufacture for
themselves If such is the difference, there
seems, at first sight, too much reason to fear it
is irreconcilable
| shall not now undertake to prove that the
real interest Of all the States requires the pro-
lection of manufactures this is true at all
times but particularly in case war with the
nations on whom we have been dependent for
supply, as has been proved in theory and by
experience.
If, according to the Yeoran, " no change in
that particular" (slave representation g is to
be expected still it is subject that deeply
interests the people, and should be seriously
considered
Nothing is more essential to the we'll being,
and would add, existence of free republic,
than habit Of investigation, freedom of dis
cussion, and Jealous care that our liberties
are preserved inviolate. 1t especially becomes
a people, the price of whose freedom was their
fathers blood flowing from hearts that beat
nigh IN their countrys cause, that they watch
over treasure SO dearly bought
IL is seldom that free people are deprived
OF their liberties by force and arms It is while
they are sleeping on the lap of pleasure, and
dreaming ofsecurity, that, like the strong man
OF old, they are beguiled of their strength, and
wake only to sense of their weakness and
degradation; and repent of their folly when
regret is unavailing. 1t is in times of peace
and tranquility, if ever that the enemies of lib
erty throw around the people the silken cords
which will soon assume the rigidity of iron.
One of the greatest preventives of this tor
pid indifference to the affairs of government, is
the liberty OF the press. 1t is through this me-
dunn, principally, that the voice of the people
IS heard and the people, in their bill of rights,
nave declared 1t to be g essential to the securi-
fy of frAednn )" E-aaAn.,, &c -,>>Aal.,- a.aA tho
liberty OF the press, are two chief pillars of the
temple of liberty remove them, and the
whole falls in one mighty ruin.
intended to say few words in reply to the
remark, that " Virginia may now as fairly COM
PLAIN that Rhode Island has an equal voice
with her the Senate, as we can that three-ffths
OF her slaves are reckoned as freemen." But
have already much exceeded the limits had
proposed to myself, and shall, therefore, only
remark The case as respects the Senators
and Representatives is different. The Senate
represents the States numerically while the
House of Representatives pr0feSSeS to repre-
sent the inhabitants of those States numerical
ly. Now, were it so in reality, there would be
no cause of complaint. But it is the want of
we complain of.
The Senators are chosen on a principle that
operates, on the whole, fairly for the States
of small population are nearly equally distrib-
uted among those which have a large popula-
ton so that no great sectional interest can be
subServed by it. Were the small States stu
ated like the slave States, in one part of the
Union, there would be more ground for the
objection.
By comparing the population of the several
States, find it would be as much the interest
of the north as of the south, to have the Sena-
tors apportloned according to the number of
inhabitants. In making this estimate, Ireckon
population rather than size supposing it will
be granted, that the extensive uncultvated
tracts of land in some of the new States, or, in
other words, that mere acres should have no
influence although, to say the least, there
would be as much propriety in giving landed
property an influence in this respect, as prop
erty in slaves
Bat we have nothing in our national govern
ment which represents, fairly, either the pop
ulation or wealth. Not the population for a
larger number of citizens is required in some
of the States than in others, to be entitled to
an equal number of Representatives as in the
case OF Massachusetts and North Carolina,
which send an equal number. The number of
free whites in the former was, in 1920, 5lG,-
419 in the latter, only 4I9 900; making a
difference of 81 ,2l9. Not the wealth for, out
of % Representatives, Virginia sends to Con-
gress in consequence her wealth Tin slaves)
Massachusetts not one and so of the other
slave-holding and non slave-holding States.
LlBER HOMO.
- 49,
LIBERaLTTY Acknowledged.
Tho TruStnps of fhn paroPhial E,nJs cc ti,o