Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-11-14

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ence = the proportion Of wealth. Of which is in na
case precise measure, aud Ia ordinary cases rerl
yf one' But notwithstanding the nperfection Of Tn.
rue as applied 10 the relative wealth aud coutribu tons
o. mo states, sevidenty the least erceptiolabIe a.
mong hose that are prdcticdJie;" and he adds what
the journals Of the Conv ention now published as
a. NE anteceient conduct OF Rhode Island New York
ahd virginia, must be allowed least qualify to some
EXTENT that had too recently obtained the general
sanction OF America, not 10 have found ready nre.
terence with the Convention"
In another part Of the essay" II is agreed
says inc author, on all sides, that numbers the best
scale oil wealth and aon they are tho ouiv proDer
scale representation" Tho last is the doctrine for
which the advocates of the resolution contend against
'he doctrine OF the amendment which would found re-
presentation on numbers and taxation combined.
MIR. LEIGH rose aud said the gentleman would much
oonge nm ny stating who was the author
prehxed to 1t the name Of Mr. Hamil;on.
Mr.. DoDDRIDGE rose and said that the paper from
when me extract had been read attributed ia some
OF the editions Of the Fedcralist. ts MIR. Jay
Mr. MADISON then and said, that although his
was not DESTROYS to take part in this discussion, yet un
der all the circumstances he perhaps called on to
state mat the paper i'm question written by Mr.
with that work.
Mr. MERcER said this volume, third of an edition OF
Haniltons Works." the editor Of which he supposed
had derived his key the names of the authors of pub
icus irom manuscript Of Mr.. Hamilton which he say
many years ago, in the possession of the late Richard
stockton, an eminent statesman of New Jorsey would
constitute, he hoped, apology for the error into
which, in common with many editions of this work he
nai pcSn oc.rayed as he now perceived that tho
Der OF Publius, which he had quoted was the wor, of
distinguished member Of this Convention.
Although not able TO avail himself of this paper for
the precise purpose which he had proposed he was clad
came from such sources from the venerable Chairman
OF the Legislative Committee who had already Welded
ms support to the resolution in debate.
For the opinions expressed by Mr.. Hamilton the au-
thor OF more than moe,y of these very able ESSAYS in
relation to the present topic of inquiry Mr. NJ said he
would refer this Committee, only his votes i'm the
Congress which preceded, as well as the Convention
which made the Constitution, but prior number of
lhoc admirable essays written in favor of its adoption
which bears his name.
"The right of equal suffrage among the States" Mr.
Hamilton says in the 22nd number another excep-
tonable part OF the confederation Every idea of pro-
ana every rule oil iar Representations conspire
10 condemn principle, which gives Rhode Island AN
equal weight ia the scale of power with Massachusetts
| or Connecticut or New York; and to Delaware an
equai voice in the national deliberations, with Pennsy
wanna, or Virginia. or North Carolina. Its operation
conradicts the fundamental marin of republican go
se'nnent, which requires that the Of n,ajor-
~ should prevail" The conformity of this language to
that OF the friends of equal representation in this Con-
vehuoh Is too apparent TO need any other proof of it.
WICK Tor " Delaware" and Frederick, Loudoun, for
Pennsylvania" r"New York" How far the an.
swer to this reasoning, which Mr.. Hamilton puts in
the mouths Of his adversaries speaks the language
oil our opponents leave il to the Committee 10 Judge
" Sophistry," says Mr.. Hamilton, 'may reply that
sovereigns are equal ana, that majority -" the votes OF
no States will he majority Of confeerated America
For the words "sovereigns' and estate" have onv
to insert the word counties in behalf Of those who de-
sire no cnahSe OIL the present Constitution and
federated America, the people OF Virginia.
1 close this quotation with Mr. Hamton's reio,nder
~hch needs no commentary. But this kind of logica
ieSerdemain he adds evil never countcract the Main
suggestions Of justice and common sense tmay han.
pen that majority Of States is small minority of the
people oil America and two-thirds OF the people Of
| america could not long be persuaded upon the
credit OF artificial distinctions and syliogusfic sub
etics, to submit their interests the and
disposal oil one-third The larger States would after a
while revolt from receiving the law, from the smaller
10 acquesce in such prvaton of their due importance
In the political scale, would be- merely to be nsensi
oe 10 me love OF power but even to sacrifice the de-
sre OF equality 1t is neither rational to expect the
hrs nor Just to require the last Considering how ne
cuarly the safety and welfare of the smaller States de-
pend on union, they ought readily renounce preten
son which not relinquished would prove fatal to it,
duration" - ~
The Committee will readily excuse nv sub.t,uton
oil The words OF this able and eloquent writer for any
language that could invent TO express ths same ideas
such course il the more expedient for nv purpose
since IL arms all the truths which labor 10 sustain
oy the appeal OF statesman and patriot Of the re vou
ton to the people ofAmeca in support of the pnci
Pies for which he had contended, eli in arms as in
| council. "
That he did not. any than his equally patriotic
associates, conound taxation, with repre ton az
has been so often done in the course Of this debate
passage, which beg leave 10 offer to the committee
from the preceding number of this able work. suf6.
| GENTLY msnes,s.
"The principle" says he, "of regulating the con.
rouiions OF the States, to the common treasury nv
qnotas is another fundamental error of the Confed.r,
cy 81 speak Of it now solely with view TO equality
among the States. BY equality il will be n that
MS does not mean the payment Of equal sums by equal
NUMBERS but in equal just proportion to the r~spec
tive abilities Of oss who required TO pay them for
the common benefit Of all. "Those who have been
accustomed 10 contemplate the circumstances which
produce and constitute national wealth. must be sati,
ncu t,at there Is no common standard, or barometer
nv winch, the degrees Of it can be ascerta jned-
Neither the raipe Of the lands nor the numbers of The
people, which have been proposed az the
rule Of State contributions, has any prefenson to being
aust representative" "I.rt Virginia he contra sted
with North Carolina. or Maryland with New jersey
and we shall be convinced that the respective abilities
~ those States, in relation TO revenue bear little or
no analogy TO their comparative stock in lands, or TO
their comparative population. t. position may be e.
qnaly illustrated, by similar process between the
counties OF the SAM State. No man acquainted with
The State Of New York, will doubt. that the active
wealth OF Kings county bears much greater propor-
tion TO that Of Montgomery than 1t would appear TO do
we 'ilouid lake either the total value Of the lands or
| the total numbers OF the people . a criterion.
"lhe wealth ofnaons depends upon an infinite vari-
ely oil causes Situation soil. climate: the nature Of
The productions; The nature Of the governments the ge-
MUS oil the ci'iZsns; the degree OF information they
possess the state OF commerce, Of arts of industry;
theso circumstance and miny too complex. mi
n"te' or sdvcn'itious TO admit OF particular spscica.
ZION, occasion dHerences hardly conceivable in the re-
dtive opulence and riches OF different counties. The
consequence Is, that there can he measure
Of national wea!ih and, Of course general or sta
onary rule by which the 0jiify Of state 10 pay lax
es can be determined The attempt, therefore, n re-
gula,e the contributions offbe members Of a Confedera
cy, by any such rule. cannot fail 10 be productive Of
gidring inequality and extreme oppression
There j. method Of Steering clear Of this ncOnve
uience but by authorizing the National Government 10
raise it, cwn revenues In its own way"