The Arkansas advocate., 1835-12-25

more influence m the government inai he himself should have. But suffer us to car ry out the case supposed. Suppose that every free white man in this Territory should meet in a great plain to form, by their joint deliberations. Gonstitnt:cn.-= Immediately on assembling, ii IS discovered that thls assembly is composed of two great divisions, of clashing interests-of two par ties, in short, and that the northern division consists of two thousand, five hundred indi- viduaIs more than the southern. The northern division would say to the south let us form a House of Representatives, which shall consist of members 10 be elect ed, one by every five hundred free white males. To this the south would agree but, they would say, in that House you will have five members more than we. If, therefore, we are 10 be governed solely by that body, you will always be in the majori- ty-and we, who are the minority, will have no share of the power-no aid from the Government. True, the north would re- ply, but the majority, in free countries must always rule, and therefore, if the majority of lfee aslaite males is against you. you. as republicans, must submit. Not so, would be the answer-the majority should govern, 1t is true, but not with an absolute dominion. If so, we would be slaves. We are now free. We have come here as freemen to make a compact by which to govern our selves, and if, in making this compact, we can have no check on you, we shall remain as we are. We are not here to discuss the question or argue against the principle that might makes right. You advance the very doctrinelagainst which our forefathers fought against which the brave and patriotic of every age have contended, that the majority should hold absolute sovereignty oyer the minority. True If we were to commence here the contest, and you were to conquer us-then you, being the majority. might of right rule over us. Even that would be doubtful--for the minority has often strug- gled with the majority and conquered. Yet we are not here for such purpose. We come here to make compact with you and we will only make 1t on condition that the provisions thereof. shall contain some protection for our rights against your greediness-to check your proceedings when interest would make you unjust. We give you power over us in the House of R Representatiyes-giye us, therefore, anoth- er House, in which we may have an equal vote with vou-or tee auiH not sign and seal she compact.
 In all this, the north would see nothing that was wrong-nothing contrary to the spirit ofrepublicanism. They would, there fore, pretend to be anxious to give that pro- tection--that check. We will form d Se- nate, say they, which shall be composed of men of age and experience--of thirty years of age, at least. Every thousand free white males shall elect one Senator-and third part of the Senate shall go out every year. Thus will you have a check against the low CT House.
 This, the south would answer. Is indeed, the sheerest mockerY with winch you in- suit us? You will have majority of two, in the Senate also-and at times, of three. Where, then, will be our cheek against your Lower House! Every measure which you are enabled to carry in one, you will carry in the other. No, Yon must form a Senate by dividing thss country into Districts of equal extent, and giving each District one Senator. In this way, the extent of coun- try which you and we occupy, being nearly the sane, we shall have an equal voice with you in one House, to act as a salutary check against your majority in the other. You and we stand upon equal ground, as high contracting parties-and if you do not give us this aes aeiH net mahe the compact.
 The free white males, then, should be the only basis of representation-an House of Representatives should be elected by equal numbers of those freemen. But every district of country should also have the power to send another agent, (also to be eleesed by the free white males of that district) to be one of Senate,--to act as agent for the people of that district and to see to their sectional interests-for unless that district can have such an agent, it will not enter into the compact. So in the Un- ion. The small States, and the thinly pop ulated ones would be in effect unrepresented in the popular branch and therefore each, by the compact, has two agents in the Se- nate, to watch over the interests of their State.
 The other principle, that the majority