Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-02-06

the pubic wca! 1t Is further asserted in the bill of
rights, ';liat set OF men, are c:,titlcd to
exclusive or separate eIou,nents, or pryileres from
the toninani;, but In Consideration cf public serr-
ccs'
These, sir, are the great fundamental principles
which my constituents Insist, ought to govern us in
the organization of the proposed contention And
lay down as fair and legitimate Reduction from
those principles that the whole free white population,
(who compose that community in which the right to
govern, Is declared by the bill of rights bel have
just claim, TO be equally and fairly represented in the
convention. The opposite principle to his. Is that
Whc asserts, that the right to govern Uses out of
the possession Of property and is the great f,n6a
mental principle Of all arbtrury and despstc royern
incntS Every despot IN Europe lays claims to the
sovern:nent not trust reposed in him by the peo-
pie hut as property Inherited ,rasq bis ancestors;
AID he cuins the right in many to ,ispos
Off as property. Anal acsnowle,te tina. cannot
perceive any substantial dterence, bssyosn Claiming
tue government itself property, and slri,,tr +
,s aeseauent upen the poSsesssln OF property
The doctrine contended for that the reht to rovcrn
IS derived from the possession OF property is
not less aTcpublica, according to INV conception of
It, than that OF the divine rat of kings which is so
descrvedlv odious in this country. AnJ coDfaes I
should feel more disposed to submit to the Govern
me.~ot who claimed his authority 10 rule me as
the Immediate gift of Deity tl,r one who cluimed il
on tho ground that he til. owner Of slaves
The gentleman from Wcstmereani mir Newton)
asserts Thar, no government, founded upon
hiIstfact elementary pgncil'Cs This may be tru;,
as to most OF the governments in existence, but |
nod To be o. as to al the governments cs-
taDl!sacd by the several stats which compose this
Union. The gentleman asks uswhat will be the etic
OF a strict adherence 10 that fundamental principle
set forth IN the Declaration of Independence which
declares, that all men are BY arturo free and equa
ana asserts that we act upon this primo pie we must
allow full representation fou all the slaves. He
asks us, what we to do with the free negroes, five
act upon this principle? In answer it may be said
that the full force and justice Of the principle is ad-
united as 10 both the slaves aaI free negroes, hat it
by means follows that ernnent can be formed
by the whites based upon tI principle without incr-
ding the 81 ayes and free negroes There is no abso-
lutte necessity why the negroes the natural rights
which may belong to them men, should be taken
INTO the eatiihae by the community of white people
when engaged i'll forming government Tor them
selves any more titan ii they he negroes] were still
In Africa. Separate and distinct nations rnav and
often have existed within the same territorial limits
The Turks " the Greeks aredstinct nations of people
In al! OF the o. States where slavery exists the ne
groes regarded distinct people from the whites
and the Indian tribes distinct from both The lat
ter have III almost all been measurcably rcrar
ded as independent nations. No ever vet thought
1t easental that any form of government adopted
by the whites, should extend to the Indians or
THAI by excluding them from the social com pact
the great fundamental principle of natural equality
amongst mankind overlooked or disreeardcd.
~ question has been started, whether slaves are to
DC CONSIDERED as persons or property. To my mind
1t Is perfectly mnatera how that question is settled
Insmuch, they cannot in any event be entitled to
tho least consideration IN liking the ratio ofrepresen-
cred persons (Which they undoubtedly are, they
arc not entitled TO representation, because they do
not constitute any part ofthat community, by whom
and for whose sole henc the social COMPACT was for
ie, and it is contemplated that they are now to
he admitted into the community.
Bat grant for moment, for the purpose of testing
the question as to the right ofthe negroes to be rep
resented that they to be considered as q mart OF
the community to which We belong. and Us such en-
titled to Representations and see what further rights
and privileges they will ne entitled to- as CONSEQUENT
upon such admission. lithey have right to be rep
resented IL the Convention, they will have the RIGHT
to instruct teir representatives and the representa-
tvts Will be bound to obey: for apprehend there
are few persons here, disposed question tue rcht
OF the constituent TO instruct his represent aves or
the corresponding obligation upon the representative
to obey If tie slaves can be represented in Con-
vcnlon, they may act in Convention us the represen
tatvc5 OF others. The only true reason according
to what understand the republican doctrine the
subject, to be, why the people choose represen
atves agents to act for them, IS that it would be
extremely nconvenient not Impossible for them to
assemble together, for the purpose ransactng their
own business If the size Of the community was
such to allow the people assemble in their sove
rlgu capacity, for the purpose OF framing new con-
stitutlon, they would have undoubted and unaue
ionabe right to do and the slaves being consider
cd as part OF the community, would have RIGHT to
assemble along with their masters and take part in
their deliberations. The very idea of such an assem-
bage, where we are to meet our slaves and consult
With them as our equals, is sbhorren all our no.
hols OF proprloy, aud shocking to our prciudces
that our feelings revolt, at the bare suggestion of
such astnte of things And yet if we once assent to
tins odious doctrine ofsave representation, we cannot
deny to them the exercise ofany of the rights and
privileges, which belong to them part Of the peo-
pie IN whom the sovereign power resides.
But appears now to be pretty generally conceded,
that slaves not entitled TO representation as per-
sons, but is contended that they ought to be
ted property, and this is ali that understand the
gentleman from Westmorcland to insist upon.
fernt me now to enquire into the origin and foun-
datlon Of this principle Of property representation
which have already asserted to be the Fundamental
principle of all arbitrary governments, and which
shall now endeavour to shew is utterly unsound and
wholly incompatible with al tie true principles of
free governments.
Ifthe principle can ever be regarded az sound
one, it can only have its operaton where the people