Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-14
GUNWRM1VQNe
(De60tc Confinued }
! BASIS OLE REPRESENTAY Z
Speech II Mr.. Mercer on the An and sta .Norcnb


IN Continuation.
Having endeavoured. with what success il Is for tn.
COMMITTEES to dsiermine 10 show that the ba.i. of rep.
resensston proposed by the gentleman from Cupepsr
(Mr Green) practical 10 unstable unjust and in
sxpedent beg leave to tho original
Of thu Legislative Committee in order to demonstrate
that POUNDS the representation Of the people, its
-sniy proper basis
This course deem the necessary, since the
kiends OF the amendment have sought sustain it, rat-
srby opposing the basis contained in the resolution
than by enforcing the justice, expediency the a.
sa'nlment itself Their reasoning has shown. ir i, Ia.
proved any thing that the entire slave population of
As State. threefths Of at least, should be com
ted 10 any now superintendent Of representation which
The resolution asserts that this superintendent should
have reference exclusively TO the numbers of the free
white population OF the Com monweaith.
Referring Ia Tree. white population, alone the Lepi,-
1ative Committee have designed reject any compnta-
ton whatever of slaves. Although no gentleman ha.
far offended the public seniim;nt in terms, a. TO con.
sund slaves with freeman. Yet in their arguments in
favSr Of compound basis they have relied with grea,
feivor the protection which of slaves
would afford 10 this species OF property.
The gentleman from ChestciiielL, (Mr. Leigh J has
gone 80 TAR as to the computation Of the slave pop
.'on In whole or in part, on grounds OF authority. Of
justice, and of expcdiency.
His leading authority is dednced from the articles of
e Confederation aud perpetual Union among the
stale. which gave place TO the present Constitution of
the United States, wherein, lhrcc his of the slave
population added the white to compose standard
4 Of direct tdrotiOn and representa- ZION.
One Of my purpose. is to show that these authorities
are nconcusve, in themselves or inappcable TO the
present que stion.
The honorable member insisted on former occa sion
that tho articles OF confederation did actually authorize
computation Of three hfhs of the slave popul. of
the south. Had this been true il would not have
warranted tho use OF the fact authority in fixing
tho basis OF representation in the Constitution OF V
GINA The articles Of confedera ion formed compact
nst between individuals. but sovereign states who re-
Corded themselves mutually independent Of each
sthsr The compact like treaty, could be ratified,
emily by the express assent Of all the parties which
vas not obtained, until the accession Of Maryland, in
March l75 In the Congress, which that compact pro.
vaed, Tor tho exercise Of the authority the United
States psrfect equality OF power .ubsei among the
st.'es-The sense OF part indeed te govern the
whole boiy. but this taken by the votes not
Of individuals (any one or several of whom nigh, re-
Pesent stae) but OF states each state having vote
sne sniy As the articles OF could be
- they could be altered, amended only by the con-
them. -
No rule of pecuniary contribution, in such a gov.
eminent Tor the power to tax did not ex, could there
ioe have the remoest relation any basis
taisn whatever. The states expected to conri-
butte to the common expenditure according their res.
pectve ability. Their representation was equal. Tho
9Th OF those articles provided treasury, and
required II TO be supplied. by the several states pro-
portion 10 tho estimated value OF all the lands granted
tn each state, with the building, and improvements
upon them Until 1871 however, this like all the other
articles OF confederation. had no validity whatever.
In tho interim, the revolutionary gsvcrnmen Mt sus-
famed itself by loans and by the sue paper money
m from the excessive issue of this paper lost all val
us. and ceased to circulate.
Hwas discovered by the authors of the confs,e ton
snat tc means did not exist, for making such vaIHa
NON Of real property Ia the several s'aes the arti-
cies OF conf- alton required. Adam Smith had in.
formei them that it took the Emperor of GERMANY
more than half century, 10 complete survey, Of one
only ofthe states Of his dominons. The presentday
would add to this inform alton the vast time onsu,ned
az the late Triangular surveys Of France and En- Gland
IN Virginia alone, would then have taken se eyal
years, 10 have gone with olersbe accuracy through
such An assessment the Sh article demanded Amidst
hese enharrassmenis aud the alarm Of national bank.
Ipcy, itwas proposed subst'ue, the standard of
h'cal contribution by the states. computation of the
numbers OF the people, for the actual valuation of all
their estates. difficulty here arose, as 10 the
proper subjects o: such an enumeration Whether il
should be restricted TO the free white population Alone
81 the several states, comprehend the slaves also!
ms OBJECT being to measure the ability TO pay, the
sout', naturally enough ccncudcd AMI with truth,
eir slaves were not regarded in their institutions
eevii polty as persons, but prop. ry; and CHIT not
70 be enumerated. The north insisted on the other
nsa 'ha WHISTLER persons, or property, they suberv
Cd the end OF other Iabor, and adding the wealth Of
TIE community, should he counted in that estimate of
the relative ability Of the states to contribute TO the
common treasury, Of which propo.ed TO make
nsmoers the coninon MEASURE. The discussion OF ihi.
subec in the Congress of the conferacy termn atcd
~ vote to recommend il to the 'ersi states to amend
the articles OF confederation, by substituting for the
rule oil .pporionmen therein provided. only,
anienniai enumeration OF the whole number Of white,
anal Other Tree citizens, with three hs Of al other per-
sons, except Indians, not taxed.
In the decision on this reconine alton, in Anil
l7s3, II carried by 10 votes out Of H. Rhod- Is.
land being opposed TO IL; New York equally divided;
Mr. Floyd voting for IL, and Mr. Hamilton against is
snd Georgia being absent. am thus particular in re.
In. NJ
hereafter explain. The Legislature OF Rhode Island
per'eyered in the opposition begun by her Delegates in
Congress: and Virginia. after giving reracted her az.
'snt so that the recopme nda,ion totally Jailed. This
state OF things continued till the Convention assembled
which framed the present Constitution Of the United
Sates, when the topic Of discussion aud Of disa-
greement was renewed Nor was il easily adjusted in
this body "a intimated by the member from Chester
held, (Alr. Leigh) No proposition which agitaed the
Convention, consumed much of its time AZ early
IN its deliberations the 10Th of May 1857 i; appears
on the Journal Of the proceedings of that Assembly A.
mong the resolutions submitted by Governor Randolph
OF Virginia, in this FORM "ha tho right Of suffrage In
tbo National Legislature, ought TO be pfop0riioned 10
TIE quotas Of contribution to the number Of FREE in
abi'ants, "a the the other may b. in diff
fercnt cases ~ "
The following day Mr. Hamilton moved to alter This
rolu'ion. 10 II read THAT the rights OF
suffrage In the National Legislature ought TO be pro-
poriioned 10 the number OF free inhabitants"
% the LIib OF June IL moved by Mr.. King Of
Masachusets. and seconded bv Mr. RutledEe OF South
carolina THAT The right OF suffrage in the first branch
OF The National Legislature ought mt TO he according
70 the rule established in the Articles Of
THE rule Of equality among the States, we have
sesnJ but according TO equitable ratio Of repre-
scntston."
The ssine day, along with several Other amend.
ments OF This resolution, II moved nv Mr.. Wilson
Of Psnnsylvania. and seconded by Mr. G. Pinkney Of
c. 10 add, after the words equitable ratio Of repre-
sontson," Sin proportion to the whole number of in
those bound to scrvilude for Of years and three