Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-12-15

N"N "SiA nus Ocen pcrIOriDeu, with now
much Illness the iaeaus have been adapted TO the
end ana how much practical good has been attained
Atese 81 t-a's AND. Rbusrs III the government, which
citay nave not been few or trivial, and which de-
selSenot to be excused or palatcd, are ncvc.thc-
.cSs incident To the imperfccton OF human nstitu-
'on anu the incurablc fr1ity Of human nature and
ought not perhaps To be nscrbcd to auy particular
liuit III the constitution. To the cxomple of tins
constitution then, ain willing TO pay great defer
ehce aud respect, that we must De careful not to
inisappiy the example. We must rccollcct that We
are not the deputies OF thirteen independent sovcr-
eisntics' endcaVouug TO form conicdaracy and e.
.HoIish government charged with its foreign rela
lions, Commercial ard diplomatic, with the conduc,
vi It's errors with the Common defence, ard with The
preservation OF peace and harmony Gnung lis sever
a '!choGTs'--thut we ave not charged with the du
Oh SurFchdctrs part, and retaining part " the
sovereignty OF ndrpcndc", State. that we ar, the
ue!cgates al u Single people, members of the same
Pohucai society, ewing undivided all g,ancc To
Tic same government hvinr under n constitution
W"ich acknowledges the rght of the majority TO re-
'oIin--ahu now charged with tie duty of nakinr
such re'orm, as will best serve fair ust, and Wise
expression ot the public wall, those measures of
Internal domestic legislation. which are Intended IN
secure the property, liberty, aud hi Of every cit zen
""n promote the property md happiness of all
IL Is obvious, 'hen, that as the districts which wc
'PrcScht nave no separate independent sovereignty
none OF them can impose n vote ON orr meas rrcs
none prescribe Indispensable conditions otonr nc,ion.
while IN The Federal Convention each s,n,e cvon
me smallest, could dictate the terms on which nno
! - would be bound by the measures agreed upon.-
Nha'cNer therefore can fairly truce 10 that snir
oi coilp."H!iSe M concession, which was ndispcrsa
nc 10 The success OF tie Federal Convention will
lose It's authority here in u discussion OF what Is r. m
81 P.iHcPIc'-What will be gust and wholesome in
P'dci!Cc'-whai the majority ought in prudence 10
'dnp-A little attention the history OF the cousti
tutIOn OF the United States VIII shcw Think that
'hG app"rt'onrnt Of representation among the scvc-
and concession
When the articles Of confederation were reported
10 We old Congress IN July 77G, they proposed that
CONTRIBUTIONS to the General Government should be
among tle several states in proportion To
ne whole number OF inhabitants in each and tIat
state should have equal VOC i'll tire councils
- nc ni 'oh'-both these propositions were strenti-
ouH IeoiJeui-lt was agreed by all that contrbu-
'ps shonid IN proportion to the wealth ofthc res
FcCuFc states in proportion To thci. ability TO psy;
o't there was great diff renee of opinion as TO Tie
measure ofthdt wealth. The Southern members So |
flouSy commended that the most accurate measure
was tiie number ct trccfa"n.-that slaves were nron
cry Only, and no more standard of wealth than
ait!f or other propcrtS-while tic No.tlc1n mem
'eFs contended that the whole number OF nh4btanl,
was the better measure because although slnv.s
we're property they wrrc productive laboTcrs md
ne .acoi o: county, the sLrcst mo sure of s
Fc"itn'-A member from Virginia suggested that
nc iaOor oi TWO slaves were not more than cGuiva-
cnt 10 the llbOr OF white man nud nronoscd
hat two slaves should be counted as ono in tic nm
'oT. lonmcnt OF taXes:-And member from PennsvI
"''H' W. w ithersppOn, was Ofopiuun that the st
Measure G" tle wealth of nation, was the value of
Is lands and houses-Onthe orcs, IN of sutH ae Tho
''''cF sues insisted It was due 10 their indcpcn
renee ana essential - their preservation that thev
hould each have an equal vote with the larrcr
'acs'-wine the larger contcnded, that the vote of
dC should De prOportIoned 10 the numbers rcDrrson
-"d IN each or il lot, to the amount of tbry
JuNons.-Mr wilson Of Pennsylvania Thought ,thut
taxation should be in proportion to gealih hI fh,t
repfeschta'I0m should accord with the humber OF
iEeehen' These articles of confederation bnyinr,
cen debated from time 10 tmc for two yca,s
we're adoptcd IN July 1873, making the yaiue of
hS lands and persons, the standard Of c,n,r;
~, ~" from Tue several states, and giving TO each
'Idte an equal vOtem Congress the larper states thus
urrendeTing their claim ~ power as tho price C
nat union which was Indispensable to success TO the
common cause, IN which the interest Of all we're en-
parked. " '
Experience soon demonstrated that however iu.t
he standard OF contribution which had been abonIod
was 700 expensive and lncUnycnleut for practical
'u'PDseS' Tcnohstrahces were presented against il
"hch resulted IN resolution of Congress to propose
as SUBSTITUTE for It, the apportonncnt Of centrum
IONS according to the federal number in which, tho
abor oil i've slaves Is regarded as equal 10 the lhr
Vi three free men. This resolution was adouied IN
too' o. committee consisting OF Mir. Madison
Mr. Ellsworth, and Mr.. Hamilton were appointed IN
address, communication 70 the sevcrai Statc, 70
commencing IT with other amendments 10 thor aJor
tiOn' In tbclr address to the Sntes, tn, committee
mus speaks OF IL This rule athouoh not free from
'oejcctons - liable to fewer than any other that
could be devised The only material difficulty which
at'cndcd it, in the deliberations Of Congr ogs IN
J'r he proper difference, Getueen he IaJor and indus
'Wy 9Jree tntlabitdntI, and Of dHOLicr inhaJianiy
: The ratio ultimately agreed OH, vas The effect of
Inu.unl concession"
Tins substitute had been approved by eleven out !
Vi the thirteen states, but the concurrence Of the
Dl - TWO not having been signfed, and unanmity
oeing ncccssary, does not appcurto have been adop
ted as nm article Of the confederation.
When the federal Convention assembled in 1877
AMI had agreed TO transfer to Congress the exclu.
1We power over lmposts and duties, almost the
whole power Of indirect taxation.-,Lc,c sco,,,
to have been no difficulty at all in regulating the pro-
portions IN WHICH dlrcc taxes should DC levied, in the
several '5tates.-Thc federal numucr as rccomfnen-
oed by Congress and approved by eleven States.
gave the Obvious rule Of superintendent, and be-.
heVc IL was adopted without opposiion.--It was.
however an ordnous task to rcR,iat, the power Of
1uc SEVERN '2talca IN TIC now government. Here
arose the delicate and difficult oneetions bc,uc,
soYcTegns having equal right, claiming equal pow
o. eaI possessing unequal numbers, and UNEQUAL