Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-18
NtrDtlro,I0 321DtH.
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY Is, 1879.
Js6erson's Memoir and orrespondsnee-B Basis Of
Representation.

Representation.
We continue extracts from the interesting Memoir
and Correspondence of Mr. Jefferson, selected from
the Virginia Literary Museum, &c. No. 5.
The Editors of that interesting Periodical, very
justly express their curiosity, the change dictated
by interest, the complete swapping indeed, Of the
guments and feelings of the different portions of the
Union.
Mr.. Chace, of Maryland, slave holding repre-
sentative, may fairly be supposed to express the
mon feelings and wishes of the slave holding
munty, at that day, when he protests against consid
erng siaues any thing than property, and as
such, ''not to be distinguished from the lands and
personally held in those where there are few
slaves 1t is not only curious, it is melancholy, to
the binding Influence of interest over the under
STANDINGS of men. When, in the debate before us
The question whether slaves should be Jared, as
constituting portion of population, the South rcfi,-
sed admit that they entitled the distinction
of being considered persons, and would acknowledge
them as nothing but property. Now when ques-
ton of pocer involved, when interest has changed
sides aud certain divisions of territory NAV percancs
lose their undue asccndaucy in the Government, ii
slaves are deemed merely property, we find the ar
gument coming ffem the slave holding community,
protection of life and limb The phlan.hropic Mr..
Martin has secured by his excrtions in Parliament
very nearly the extent OF protection horses
Had the question i'll tue Old Congress, been OF
represent atfon, OF power, instead OF taxation, in all
probability, we should have found Judge Chace aud
Mr. Adams 10 have changed places.
| Mr.. Adams argument in favor OF taxing slaves is
irresistible but it proves nothing in favor Of giving
them representation They ought to be taxed, be-
cause they wealth, but wealth merely do wealth
is not entitled 10 representation. Wealth is an in.
cident attaching to the person and eau claim no SUI
pcriority the incidents of personal beauty. tai
ens, character aud many other qualities, mucl
as most oil them Yet who has heard of giving rep
| resentation to any of thcse1 Wealth gives its pos
SCISSOR great MISUNDERSTANDING him from hard la.
Dor, leaves him in command of his time and motions
and gives him weight and consideration in the com
aunity, often dispIoportonea To his merits, and
passing that of wiser and better men. Ought the
wealthy man not to he content with these great adj
vautages which his riches give him. and refrain tC
claim superior representation because of his numer-
ous slaves , That which is entitled to representa-
ton is the man. he for whom all rights exist wilt
owns the land and all in it, and has formed il into
community and protects and defends it by his arm
All political power resides in him, and he alone ha
the right 20 depute it to others, exercise it in The
shape or laws. If mon, heemen, are represented
the whole community is represented, and every thin,
that belongs to it, Is it justcr that slaves should 20
unrepres cnted in part OF Virginia, than freemel
in another part Yet one of tlfse must virtual,
happen. FOR If slaves well ther masters aro rep
scented in part or the State, il must so happen
! that two white men ard their three slaves on on
side the mountains, will have as much power as fv,
white men on the other. 1t follows, that if you give
representation To- slaves, you exclude il from pro
portion Of white men, and tins derive from sLfyes
the political power which you reject from froemcn
| This is n complete surrender OF ReBublicanism
Property is made superior to the rights of man. A
Government on such foundation, might work we'll
might answer Tor what VIC can forcte the ends o
all Govarnment; bat unquestionaby, it would be n,
Republic. Itwould be an Aristocracy, or an Olipar
chY. Wealth would be the vital principle Fo
our own parts, much prefer living under Lq,
rep''bfedn form of Government, to better Aristoc
racy Oligarchy.
We are well appraised that the advocates of ia,
basis of representation, which takes slaves into it,
constitution, disclaiiL Indignantly, that they ash
representation Cor slaves. IL is, they say. not fol
slaves that we demand it, but for the peculiar sort
Of property, possessed almost exclusively in one par
Of the State, in the Shape Of slaves. They wish ont,
to protect that peculiar property fron excessive
burthens, by retaining the balance of power in the
Government in their own hands. The gentlemen
seem TO have particular objection calling things by
their right names Slaves constitute this peculiar pro-
pcry they ask to have this pectiar property spec.
caly represented but they will by no means consent
to acknowledge that they wish or demand reprcserr.
tstion for 'iaresi They much prefer 10 give it tho
more euphonious oppellation of taxation and rep
rosentation,' the "mxcd basis ofpersons and pro-
perty.' These terms certainly sound less invidious-
y to Republican ears than representation of slaves,
yet is it entirely eOsy to drive these gentlemen from
their refuge and to prove that howsoever, or what
socver they denominato what they claim their mean
mo Is 10 cLnn represenInLin Ina. aLrrna Ono sinnnlc