Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-11-10
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VIRGINIA CONVENTION.
ruUp ~. NOVEMBER >.

per Mr. G,ecn) # practicable, is unstable. unjust,
and meXrclltnt, beg leave TO To the original
resolution at the Legislative Cuulmtc,, in order 10
"c'nuntrac that It inunds the representation of the
people, on as only proper basis
/ I $ course deem the more niece >s.ry since the
fr'nS ot he anne dnIrnt have sought To ss am IT, ra
th'r hN orp sing the basis aimed IN the resolution
than h' "hr''ng the justice, expectancy uI th,a
me dmont itSct Their rcasounr has shown If y bns
proved any thing that the entire sla,c p,p aton of
the State or hrrekt h> A.! il nj least shnnd he compu-
ted IN any new superintendent oi representation which
shall 'c made.
Tia resolution asserts that this apportionmen,
should have reference exclusively 70 III numbers of
tho free White population OF the Comnunwcal H.
Referring to free white population, alone. tho I.c-
slslavc Committee have designed to reject any com
/ pu alton whatever of slaves Although grntemin
has So far offended the public sentiment IN terms u to
coni"und ayes with rremen, vet in heir arguments
IN favor ut compound basis, they have relied with
great iervor on the protection which representation
III slaves would afford TO this species OF property
The gentleman from CheSte riicld, Mr.. cui has
goue So far u To urge the computation of the slave
population IN whole in part grounds of author
ity, otjustice, and Of expediency.
His leading authority is deduccd from tho articles
OF Reconsideration and perpetual Union" among the
states, which gave place To the present Coustltu-
ton of the United States wherein, threefhs of the
slave population added to the " htc to compose
standard Of direct hix'diOn and representation.
One of my purposes is To show that these au. horl-
ties are InconclusNe III themselves, inappIica bic to
the present question.
ne HOHOraOle memhCr INSISTED former
sion' that the articles OF confederation did actually
authorize computation of three ffths of the slaye
population OF tile south. Had tins been true, II
would not have warranted the of the fact. as on
authority IN fixing the basis of represent alton IN the
Constitution of Virginia. The articles of confcde-
ration torneda compact not between individuals but
sovereign states, who regarded themselves a rnu,u-
ally independent of each other. The compact like.
treaty could be ratified only bv the cNp css assent
oi all the parties to 1t; which was not Obtained un-
III the accession of Maryland in March 1891 In
the congress, winch that compact provided. Tor the
exercise OF The authority Of the United States per-
rect equnIy OF power Subsisted among the Il
The sense Of part indeed was to govern the whole
body, but this sense was taken by Che votes no, of
individuals, (uny one, or several of whom ight re-
preseh state but OF states, each state having
vote aud one vote only. As the articles of conf;de
ration could be ratified. they could b" altered or
""""iod' "hIy 10y the concurrent assent or nil the
states who were parties To them
No rule of pecunary contributions in sucb \ nov
crnnent. for the power TO tax did not exist could
therefore, have the renotest relation to anv basis
OF representation whatever The states were ex-
expected to contribute TO tie common expenditure
according to their respective ability. Their rcpre-
sentatlon was equal. The 9th of those articles pro
Vidcd common treasury, and required il TO be sup
Pled by the several states IN proportion to the esi
mated Vaue OF all the lands granted each state,
WIN buildings and improvements upon them I'm
III I78l however. this like all the other articles of
confederation, had no validity whatever.
IN me interim, the revolutionary government s,Is-
toieu lJScH, by loans, and by the of INNER
hey I'LL from the issue of this PAPER il lost
all value, and ceased to circulate.
II was discovered by the authors Of the conf.de
ralon that the means did not exist for making such
valuation OF real property III the several states ma
the articles OF confederation required Adam Smith
had informed them, that il took the Emperor of Ger
many, more than half century, to conpcte n sur
Vey OF one only OF the states of his domnions The
present day would add to this information the vas,
time consumed in The late TRIANGULAR survevs ~
Franc" and England. In Virginia alone il wouId Then
nave taken several years have rome with toeroble
accuracy through such an assessment the 8rh ar
icle demanded. Amidst these embnrra-srnents md
the alarm OF national bankruptcy it was proposed IA
substitute as the standard of fiscal con- rIbtion bv
inc slh'cS computation of the numbers Of the pro-
pie, Tor the actual valuation of all their ststes
new dihcuy here arose, TO the proper subjects Of
such an enumeration. Whether IL should he testyict-
ed 10 the free white population. alone Of the scve.
RAJ S'ntes, or comprehend the slaves also2 The OBJ
J'ct being to measure the ability 10 paw, the south
naturally enough cOnten6ed and with truth thai
thcir slaves were not regarded Ia their institutions
o cl' PoHy as persons, but as property; and ought
MOTIF be enumerated The north insisted on the other
hahd thnl whether persons, property, they sub
served the end of other labour aud adding TO the
wealth ot the community, should be- counted in that
estimate of the relative ability Of the states 10 CON
/ irbutc q" the common treasury Of which If vas
propoSrh TO make nuabeyi the common measure The
discussion of tins subject IN the CONGRESS- of th,,
cou'cd"racy, terminated ~ a vote 10 recommend -
20 INC several states, TO amend the articles ~ conE
provided revenue only, ennal enumeration Of the whole
nGnOcf OF whie aud other free citizens, with 6hhs of all
oihef persons except indians. taxed
~ '9s decision ON this recommendation, in April 783 was
Stg ~ ~ votes out OF - hodc Island being opposed TO ~
New York equally divided Mr. Floyd voting for ~ and Mr.
ilaml3n against It; and Georgia being absent am thus
Psg'I ~ relation TO this vote, for which WILL said
Mr. NJ hereafter explain The Legislature Of Rhode Island
persevcrcd the Opposition begun by delegates IN Con
yes ana Virginia, after giving, ctaced her assent that
we fccommendaton totally failed This state Of things con
nucd iH Tie Convention assembled which framed tho present
constitution oi the United States. when topic Of
DISCUSSION aud o disagreement renewed Nor easily
ADJUSTED ~ tins body, As lnraed by the member from Chcs
e'hed lNf Leigh No proposition which agatcd the Con
Veuon Consumed 80 much O IT, time IS early is delihe
Ians as the 20lh OF May 1857 appears the journal Of the
proceedings OF that assembly among esoutiOns submitted
oy oyeno Randolph Of Virginia ia this FORM "thai the right
-oi suffrage IN the National legislature ought be proper
"oned IN the Of contribution, the number
nhabiians the the other may hest different
ceases"
The following day MIR Hamilton alter this resol
ton, o road THAT the rights suffrage in IN,
National Legislature, ought to be pTopononed tire number
'Ot free inhabitants"
On the llh Of June moved by Mr. King Of Al.ss.
oudse Inv Mr.