Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-15

III,
much fitness the means have been adapted to tie
end, and how much practical good has been attained
These errors anc abuses in the government, which
certainly have not been few trivial, and which de-
serve not to be excused palliated, neverthe-
less incident TO the mperfecton of human nstitu-
tons and the incurabie fraty of human nature and
ought not perhaps To be ascribcd to any particular
fault in the constitution. To the examine of this
constitution then, AIN willing to pay great defer
ence and respect tina; must be careful not to
msapply the example. We must rccollect that we
are not the deputies OF thirteen independent sover-
eighties, endea voring to form coniedaracy, and
tablish 4 government charged With its foreign rela
uons commercial and diplomatic, with the conduct
OF It's errors with the defence, and with the
preservation of peace and harmony among It's scver-
! III nemoerS--that we are not charged with the du-
ty OF surrendering part and retaining part OF the
sovereignty of independent States;-that we are the
delegates OF a single people, members of the
poiiticu society, owing undivided allegiance 10
the same eovefnment-llwng under constitution
which acknowledges the right of the ma oriiy 10 re-
! foim-and now charged with the duty Of making
such reform as will best serve fair, just and
expression of the public VIII, those measures of
internal domestic legislation, which are Intended to
secure the property, liberty, and life of every lien
ana promote The property and happiness of all
Ii is obvious then, that as the districts which we
represent nave no separate independent sovereignty
Zone OF them can impose n vote Oh our measures
none prescribe indispensable conditions ofour actions
"hIe III me teucral Convention, each state, even
tue smallest could dictate the terms on which alone
It would be bound by the measures agreed upon.-
w haieVer therefore fairly trace TO that shirt
OF compromise and concession, which was ndispcnsa
Die TO the success OF the Federal Conventions will
lose Its authority here in discussion Of what is right
III principle,-what will be Just and wholesome in
PF1c'ice'.what the majority ought in prudence 10
auopt'-A ittle attention To the history OF the const
luton OF the United States will shew think that
The apporonment of representation atnonu the seve
fai States was the result of that spirit Of compromise
and concession.
| When the articles Of confederation were ronor,ad
CONGRESS in IuIy tIo
contributions to the General Government should be
appcrtloncd among the overall states in proporton TO
the Whole number of inhabitants in each and that
caeh state should have equal vote in the councils
ofthe natIon.-But these propositinns wern st~au,,
ously debate edit agreed by all that cont ribu-
IONS Should b" In proportion to the wealth of the res
Ptcti'e s'ates-in proportion to thei: ability to paw
-nut there was great difference osopinon as to the
measure ofthat wealth. The Southern members So
iousiy cOntcnded that the most accurate measure
was the number oftrcemcn.-that slaves were prop
| Gty only, and no more standard of wealth tion
%i'''e or other propert y;-whie tie Northern mem
pers commended that the whole number of inhabitants
vas the better measure because although slaves
were property they were productive laborers, and
the iaoor OF country, the surcst measure of ts
Weaith.-A member from Virginia suggested that
/ the labor OF two slaves were not more than couiva
iGht 10 the labor OF one white man. and proposed
tIa' Two slaves Should be counted ollie, in the ap
Portlonmcnt oftaXes-And member from Pcnnsvl
Faha, Or. WltherSpoon, was of opnion that the host
measure OF the wealth of nation was the value of
lis lands and houses-Onthc question of s,ffrane the
smaller states insisted it was due to their indenen
oece ana essential to their preservation that thew
should each have an equal vote with the larper
StatesWh!e the larger contended that tho vote of
each should be proportIoncd to the numbers
teu III oarh or IT not, to the amount of their contr.
butons-hr Wilson of Pennsylvania thouq 9Th ~
taxation should be III proportion TO wealth. Inv, tba
| representation should accord with the nunbar Of
reehen. these articles of confederation having
been debated from time TO time for ,n -,-.
were adopted in July 1878, making the vajne If
| the lands and persons, the standard Of contr;-
button from the several states, and D;,,nr 70 nL
otae an equal vote1n Congress- the larger states Thus
Surrendcring their claim to power as the nrico 81
that union which Indispensable TO success IN Tho
parked " '-o '"i-
! Experience soon demonstrated that bo,,o ;.
the standard OF contribution which had been abop{ed
1t WIS 100 expensive and announcement for practical
pun P1seS' henohStraoces were presented against it.
Whlch resulted IN resolution of CONGRESS- to nrono q
as substitute for it, the apportiopment of c6ntribu
tons according to the federal number in v,hicl, tho
VI i've slaves Is regarded equal to the la.
OF three free men. This resolution ,vas adoneJ i;
!iPrl 1913, d committee Consisting of Mr. Madison
My Ellsworth, and Mr.. IIamilton we're appointed r.
duufesS communication to the several State, re-
commenting 1t with other amendments to their adon
tiOn' In their address to the States the commit 90
thus speaks OF it: This rule altbouob M, fe So
"obJectons Is liable fewer than anv otl,er tfot
could be devised The only material difficulty which
attended 1t, IN the deliberations of Congress- z,1s 10
~ ~ ,NVe'"soS' oeLceen Hte IuboT md indus
ny 9Jree inhabitants, and Of aklother ;nhabi,,nfy
THE ratio ultima ely agreed on was the cfc, of
mutual concession" ''0 oh'O' u
Ihis substitute had been approved by eleven out
VI the thirteen States, but the concurrence of the
HtGeI TWO not having been sgnifed, and unanlmity
beng necessary, it does not appear TO have been
ted as an article Of the confederation.
WShen the federal Convention assembled in 1887
ana MAD agreed to transfer to Congress the exclu
sMe power over imposts and duties, almost the
whole power Of indirect tayafian tboro .,1--
TO nave been 10 difficulty at ali in regulating the nro
portions IN which direct should be levied in the
several States-The federal number, as recomtnen-
aeu Dy Congress and approved by eleven States,
49, !.c OBVIOUS RUE Of appor'ionrnent, and be-
lieye 1t was adopted, without opposition-It was
however, an arduous task to regulate the power Of
Ine several states, in the new government. Here
aIoSe tne dslIcatc ard difficult questions between