Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-02-21

ueman from Massachusetts, that In the decision OF that
question all the slave holding States, Deaw Mary land
Virginia, North aud South Carolina (Geogia being div
ded9 voted in favor OF the amendments and New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts,, Rhode Leland, Connecticut New
York. New Jersey, and Pennsy vsnis, all sub tdn,ially
non slave holding States, voted against the amendment,
aud rejected it, IL is worth while [, notice the
by which this decision sustained and for tlS pur
pose will read an extract from the speech OF OF the
most distinguished, eloquent (and notwithstanding that
the violence Of party spnit induced many TO uhdetvaue
his services and characer) will say oil the pa.
trotic Of our evolutionary
read from the speech Of MIR. John Adams He OBJ.
That the number Of people taken, by this
article, AN inl-x OF the wealth OF the State and
subjects OF taxation; that, to this matter, it OF
consequence hy what uan'e you called people, whether
by that OF ireemcn or slaves; that in countries the
laborng poor called reenlen, in others, they
called slaves but that the difference TO the State was
imaginary only. What matters it whether landlord en-.
poying ten laborers his farm gives them annually
much money will buy them the necessaries OF hfe
gives them those short hands The la
borers add much wealth annually The Stae-incre
its exports much in the the other. Ger
tanly, five hundred ircemen produce profits
greater supplies Tor the payment OF taxes than five hun
dred slaves. Therefore, the State which the lahore
are called ireemen should be taxed than that in
winch hey are Called slaves suppose by an eX'rdordna
ry operation onare, OF law one-ha of the aboers of
State could in the OF night, be ransforne
into slaves; would the State be made the poorer less
able TO pay taxes: That the condition of the aborng poor
in most countries, that uG the fishermen particularly Of
the northern States, is AFFECT that of slaves Sc
Here is the argument n which there is certainly great
force) upon which the southern States taxed, from
the beginning, in proportion to their whole slave popua-
"
contribute to the support OF Government equally and
orzcs the inference, Legitimate deduction, that they
are entitled to the kind and degree OF proeco and
In tho same modeby being represented But the argu-
ment here is, that different and additional protection is TO
he given to the aborcr Of the NORTH aud that the
Of the labor othe South though the character of
the labor is the same, TO The State well the actual
condition of the laborer.
There Inconsistency in the course and opinions
OF the distinguished man, whose argument have lust
quoted Immediately after the decision referred TO- came
another question: how the States should be
the fal IIae in,
oil each State voting in proportion the of her
people Some of them who had voted for taxing us ac-
corng to the number OF Inhabitants aud who repre-
sene" large states were IN avor OF voting in proportion
TO the number OF free Inhabitants On this question the
interests OF the small States peponderaed and il was set
tied that each State should have one vote.
In the Convention these que sons again arose; and the
arrangement OF the subjects of taxation aud
Interference 10 tue Saves constituted one OF those distract
ing subjects OF controversy which brought the Convention
to the verge o. dissolution without agreeing plan of
government. II could but produce difficulty: was
not question that could be settled by any II abstract
right For, to borrow again the language OF Mr. Adams
IN the same debate, Reason, Justice, aud equity,
had weight enough the face of the EARTH to govern the
councils oIInen it is interest alone which does it, it is
interest alone which he trusted that therefore, the
interests within doos should be the mathematical repre-
senives oil the interest without doors."'
The representatives Ut The e-hoing States, in the
eonvehlon as wei a. thSe OF the non slave holding
states, were fully sensible OF this u,h and. by their
course IN that body gave illustration OF il, the in
teress without doors represented by interests with
ln and the slavehoirg States insisted that they were
emit led TO representation tor heir hole slave
aud the free STATES that the slaves should be counted
at ALL This resulted in the adoption of the rul. oi
aPporlioning representation and direct by IL same
rule and estimating ree-hihs only the slaves in re-
gard to each On what authority, then, does the geLte-
man reler TO tits clause OF The Onstiuion, conerrng
peculiar projection 10 The slave iueFestn the SOUTH Why
may not we with as much proprety nsis, that had SO
cured TO the lahour OF the Norlh on advantage IN which
was not enhIe'i add Tor which, iO the administration
oil the Government, ought have an oniyaIent In
stead OF having our whole population represented
"ougnl ought To have been, and for which had die
~ "A
was told IL The result Of that spirit OF compromise
which presided the OF the uo: which
oa several occasions suce its establishment has
lis preservation which be invoked again and now:
and VIII not be invoked in vain the professions of de-
Notlon 10 the Union they are oud FREE
quent and ostenaiOus
The gentleman irem Massachusetts tells u.s. if the bar
gam were TO be made again, he would 10; make that
compromise 30 not wonder at all tit. ttha unyieling
spirit OF tOTfttude (as he calls m which he has
ha1 prevailed IN The Convention or tythe part oi we
should never have had this glorious Union which he now
Processes much anxiety preserve Ihis spirit OF for
ntnhe be substituted for their spirit Of concord con-
cisIOn, and his doctrines the power and ahorv
OF the Government prevail it requires little foresight to
perceive that the Government must end sooner or later
either in irrerevabe dissolution of the bonds of union
or be converted into consolidated Government
which would be the speedy precursor of militia
ry despotism.
Sir had fondly hoped. that at this momenous epoch
Massachusetts would have been found standing bv Vir
glna, In the cause OF peace and harmony / could M,
TAIL TO remember with lively sensbity their early and
oo'd" "ssoclaionn the struggle Of Independence To-
gethcr they rocked the crade OF the revolutions together
they nursed and ostered the glorious offspring of that re-
Vouuon-the union OF these States while il was rearing
INTO Vlgor and maturity They have differed indeed hui
trust IN no hostile spirit to the proper construction of the
ue-deeds and the most iudcious mode managing the
estate YET did hope that, animated by the same bov
and ardent love OF justice and liberty they would vet he
FOUND standing together again, and employing their moral
ana pOcal strength the preservation of the noble in
heriance OF union from being despoied by the hand of
lusuce or It's existence destroyed BY the hand of vim
lence Sir that hope is gone " "
Inc spirit which is here indicated was not that which
animated The veneraed band Of sages heroes and patriots
VINO composed the cOnvenOn they had not vet learned TO
Iorget-they were deeply imbued with that 6aternal
symPaly anu affection which had been generated in the
"eI"o u'e american people, by their common suferngs
-tnoir common pers--thsir common tiumphs in com.
mon Gsuse-when the old confederacy upon the eve
OF falling TO pieces, and from causes which would nav.
led inevitably to conflicts between the parties 10 H. the
members oil that convention, many whom had bazarded
ther ves sacrificed their fortunes and in the cabnet
or IN he held given their support the cause To which
they had pledged their sacred honor came forward and
WIN true and genuine fortude, laid upon the altar of
the country, their prejudces their passions and their
local interests The idea OF resoring TO arms for the pur
pose OF avoiding The spprchenlcd conflicts and tbe
eNsung disputes was the last that would have entered
into their minds II was the alternative most abhored and
yielded. 80 ~ " 0
But now, when crisis scarcely less appallino ia nor
ceived by all to oSist what is the spirit Displayed the sort
oil J0TttUde' recommended Us az more worthy Of adj
Inahon even than the fear OF doing niusce3 Every ex
hsperang topic, calculated 10 uame passion and gbten
away harmony - sought for and forced into the debate
am we nave an exhibition Of iorttude which if il does
not delight IN, Is determined do nothing to prevent
civii commouon. Forutude which enables gentlemen