Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-07

the policy VI our laws. whicl, b,ncs around them
the letters Of scryiudc, and transfers to another
the fruits of their toll Stern necessity, sacre ed
regard to peace and order, the paramount: duty of
selt-preservation, plead our Justification Tor ihe
continuance Of policy which we did not origin
ate. which violates the natural rights OF man, and
at which our feelings OF humanity revolt.
In the organization Of the House of Reprcscn
tahves. said MIR. D. slaves are included and recog-
nized as par, of the population. The govern
nent OF the United States is mainly federal in its
Character; but the House Of Representatives is
national, and was designed to present tho feature
OF popular representation. The II. Of X. founded
IN the theory OF representation of the people, !
enumerates and embraces slaves portion Of the
people. The principle urged, az ] under
stand in the federal Convention that the represent
ta'ives should be apportioned agrseably to the
number OF Inhabitants and that slaves constituted
part of those Inhabitants; but il also con-
tended, that direct taxes should be apportioned in
conformity with the same rule. Because much
larger, nearly the whole number Of slaves, were
found in the Southern States, compromise was eff
ected. The South yielded representation in
behalf Of two.tiiths of its slaves, in consideration
that in the assessment of direct taxes two iilths
should be likewise excluded. The north conced-
ell, that the whole number OF slaves should not be
included in the distribution Of direct taxes pro-
vided also that the whole number should not be
included ia the distribution Of Representatives
when view the vast disparity in the slave popu-
iation in East and West Virginia, and consider its
peculiar and degraded condition, in spirit Of libe-
rali;y should feel disposed to consent to similar
compromise. AS at present advised, would adj
init the tedera ratio the basis of representation,
without exactns Of my trans montana brethren
correspondent compromise as to taxation. The
appointment Of President Of the United States
rests principally upon the ground Of popular cleo
ton" It was desirable, that the sense of the
people should operate in the choice of the person
90 whom so important trust to be coniided."F
In the superintendent Of electors among the scve-
raj states. the same rule is observed as prevails
in the arrangement of Representatives; with the
addition oil two to each State, out of complime at
presume, TO their equal sovereignty. Now, il il
be right toenumerate slaves part Of the pop
ua'ion in the election Of President of the United
States, and in the election of Representatives in
Congress, can il be radically wrong to urge the
same doctrine in reference 20 the distribution of
popular representatives in yirgna. With what
appearance OF consistency it be denounced
and rejected at home, and yet defended and main
tanned abroad! 1t we mould state govern
ment upon the admission, that the free white pop
uation is the only correct basis Of Representations
we must abandon the support of a different prin-
ciple elsewhere.-We shall be constrained TO weld
10 corresponding modification of the Con sttution
| OF the United States in its national and popular
aspect, whereby shall sustain sensible loss of
numbers and influence in the House of Repre-
scntatives, and in the election Of President.
/ Shall we permit struggle for sectional ascen-
dancy TO lead 10 the espousal of doctrines, which
must present US in an inconsistent and humiIiating
attitude, with reference TO the other members OF
the coniederacy? Shall Virginia, heretofore dis
iinguished by her devotion to the Union, so often
| pledged TO support tho Constitution and maintain
its principles. become the first indirectly TO attack
those provisions, in the preservation Of which, her.
self and all the slayehoidng states have deep, q
| vital concern: