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

clpcs OF concession and compromSe;-and it fol-
lows that the example cannot be proper for our i'm
itatiou till that day shall arrive,-which NAV God
in his mercy, forever avertwhen the large districts
of our State having separated from each other and
formed independent governments. shall have sent
deputies toiorm for them, u federal constitution.
That the apportionment of representation accor-
ding to federal numbers not intended to ufford
protection to the slaves of the Southern States is
plainly to be Serred from the utter inadcauacv of
the means TO the end 1t would afford M such mo
lection, because it left the FIVE Southern States the
principal slave holders, 4 decided minority in the
House OF Representatives, while they were in still
smaller minority in the Senate The protection To
that property from the power of Congress- is to be
found, III the absence Of all authority to lcgislate
concerning it, except by the imposition of taxes and
IN the restraint upon the power lay any capitation
federal numbers.
The provisions of the constitution the Uni,ea States do
not warrant Tie conclusion that introduced appoon
IN the popular branch of the legislature,
contributions of the respective States The Contributions of
me states are drawn essentially from nposs and duties
ie no a.ePl 10 aPtoTton representation To theu II
manifest that the from tits source would furnish the
would be the subject only of occasional resort Ye, The e
resenation Is the same whether direct
each o,her;they only referred a common STANDARD the
federal number, which govern always whether
called INTO existence.
Blu! suppose conceded that object of the federal
constitutional to appoIion representation contributions
each oherand conceded moreover that apoun,en,
was light upon priucples there nothing the consider
While TO
conduct of our external relations alone
nave charge of all our internal afairs,whe 60
Vefie' acts IN the general and
and upon large nassesthe State governments act upon the
interests and upon each individual ~ s
relation which he bears society," there no fair infer
IRON Tins considerations that while representation apportioued
10 aEeS fairly e'nbooy the public WILL in federal
councils and give sufficient o,racton the ar;ous interests
on winch they ac'a representation in proportion the mum,
Der OF treemen might be required in Virginia to express y
the will of her people to epresen, and protect the various
interests s on which her government continually
The constitution of Massachusetts, New Hampshire South
CIona aud Georgia are referred to, furnishing examples
REPRESENTATION OF property in republican govenments,-
ana the gentleman from Orange (Nr F. Barbou1 particu
aty comments TO our attention the experience Niassachu
e VINO alter so or 4OyeaTs trial OF her government has ap
Fe. ms by refusing to alter it, late revision OF her
constitution In Massachusetts the representation in the Sen
oaed upon the ratio of taxes, with provision
shai ehd more than Hand in the house epresen
aure based on the number taxable polls each election
IG' peg entitled to one for the frs, $50 polls and
" are large and have become populous thai each nn
urI 70 many ePreseDativeEos,on for example 10 about
gu. e districts are not required to elect the whole mum
e each sends such proPouon of its whole delegation as il,
OF them is this Constitution which experience Of Mas
acusetts has not induced her alter Would any gentle
AZURE as model for imitation? Would he give to Our
election districts the power of eectng from 20 members
renee OF Massachusetts, one branch of her leeat
why should he desire to be governed by m respect TO the
us Surely that check upon the mower of the eona
should be introduced into the popular branch the lega,ure
should be introduced into Seuate;- teaches us To- r
e OF the gentleman from Cu!pcper, which it has
The Constitution of New Hampshire is similar to that Of
ssachuses and requires no particular commnn,a, "a
OF South Carolina has been on as furnishing more
appropriate example South Carolina slave holding state
by her constitution adopted in the YEAR I79O had
number Of representatives senators fom each election
usc not varying with the changes population and NOT
representatives. changed by introducing into i, the
compound bass now proposed by the ge.sman from
CupePer-the Senate left formerly confused of nre
scfneh number of members from election district The
Peoeaen, as regards the popular branch of Legislature
seems to be in point and how far respect its autory
II is for the good sense of this TO decide The slave
Eoiuao, learn, aGounded IN the lower South
Saf0la As does IN the lower districts of Yrgina as
mere the slave population in the western s,rir,s
wie population rapidly ncreasing representation verv
unequal the people OF those districts insisting on more
$ MIA the people of the districts ea ring
their property would endangered The eae,ev t!',
anticipating the time when they would not he abe n es;s
themselves great ascendancy bo ana ayaps
legislature adopted the amendment which fixed the bas nj
OF taxes and white population Their constitution au,or,seJ
amendments by maortcs of twords Of both Houses Of the
current vote that this was adopted and hnre an
u, , stronger evidence OF the ascendancy which at that time
ue eastern districts had in tie Legislature Tina, an os
heiins majority then, should imposed such terms
o,e t'noy can' III my humble Judgment furnish no good
s 'edSo why the minority here should impose like terms
upon majority But the subsequent history of T,arols
e strongest refuaton of the argument which upheld
e Poy OF ms measure there, and recommends IN ne
oI 'fhsanmg this exLedent compound basis rho
political power, the popular branch of the cga' me
passed from tie eastern slave holders to the mas
ahu YET the government proceeds perfect harmony and an
well informed, that ger TO tie propeTv of the e.. am
wise threatened, and is no longer feared WIN TO- no
danger be feared, from permitting the western eemen f u
Virginia LcgisatU1es fi "'''" Vi the
BY the Constitution of Georgia adopted in 7g8 their seua,
composed OF one member from each county and their Hone
4 has graduated representation rpon
he federal Number How this operates in the practical d
Duon OF power or upon tine interests society we are
"0ime9 we cannot therefore appreciate the example
ut ms question tried by example of our sister
states surely The weight of authority greatly prepon
uee against the limitation which proposed upon The mower
OF the free inhabitants Among slave holding States While
MARYLAND and Carolina have county approximation with
U regard 10 numbers Louisiana has House of Representa-
yves aPpoHoncd according 10 the qualified voters and Senate
VIVA ilAed plumbers from prescribed MISUNDERSTANDING lie
apooned to the qualified electors and Senate
10 he Tree male inhabitants above 81 years-Nisssenn re-
appooned TO free white inhabitants her gena
i Is 70 'he eG whte taxable inhabitants Aabama has both
houses based upon free white inhabitants N1;seour ~
aIn upon 5ee white male inhabitants and Tenpessee npon
I ,.O.e nhaDtanis-that is, as well informed free
s,y. hoiJ; g., ares may De imposed Here six